Letters Policy

Lack of incentives for utilities prompts Bethel City Council to move on RCA

9-1-10

by Greg Lincoln

Bethel City Council heard the introduction of two resolutions aimed at the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce and the city’s state legislators to enact legislation or adopt as a legislative position that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) incentivize utilities to lower their costs of operation.
The RCA controls the rates that private and public utilities may charge consumers of utilities and allows utilities to base their rates on a ‘cost-plus’ basis.
Resolutions 10-40 and 10-41 outlined that the cost of producing electricity in rural Alaska is very high and that there is little incentive for utilities to lower their costs.
Council member Rick Robb asked that they be pulled from the consent agenda to bring the issues out in the open for the public to hear.
“As we have struggled with Bethel Utilities and the pending sale, and we’ve all learned about how the utilities set their rates, and as the city is currently intervening and trying to prevent a further rate increase, I think it is important that we bring out that maybe there are ways that utilities can lower their costs and still maintain a profit and pass on those costs savings to the consumer,” he said. “Right now there appears to be minimal to no incentive for private for-profit utilities to hold their costs down. And this in turn is one of the reason why we are paying one of the highest electric rates per kilowatt hour in the nation, I believe.”
Council member Allen Hippler originally authored the resolutions.
Additionally, the local Bethel Chamber of Commerce has also adopted the stance that they are in favor of any type of incentive to lower the costs for rural Alaska based on the cost to do business here for small business owners.
“It just looks better when there’s more from our area and from all of Alaska when bringing it before the state chamber that there is a lot support throughout Alaska for utilities to lower their costs,” said Council member Heather Pike. “I think this will show clearly that Bethel is in full support of lowering energy costs.”
Both motions to adopt Resolution 10-40 and 10-41 passed unanimously.

Ban on non-biodegradables
ordinance effective Sept. 1

8-26-10

by Greg Lincoln

The City of Bethel ordinance banning the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and polystyrene take-out containers by Bethel stores and restaurants at the point of sale will take effect September 1, 2010.
Bethel City Council voted in favor of an ordinance to prohibit the use of non-biodegradable plastic carry-out bags. Also to be banned under the new ordinance are polystyrene (Styrofoam) take-out containers widely used by Bethel restaurants.
The vote came during the July 14, 2009 regular city council meeting for Ordinance 09-12, which was introduced by former council member Beverly Hoffman. The vote was 4-yes and 2-no. Council member Thor Williams and Vice Mayor Eric Middlebrook cast the dissenting votes – Williams felt that since the community reversed a similar ordinance after the council voted for it in the past, the public should be the ones to make that decision.
Middlebrook voted no because of concerns regarding the lower quality of the biodegradable bags, and he also felt it should be a public vote.
Dan Leinberger, who was serving as a council member at the time, asked to be excused from voting due to a conflict of interest since he owns a business in Bethel that sells supplies to local restaurants.
During the public hearing on the ordinance during the June 9, 2009 meeting, 2 people testified for it. No one from the public testified against it.
Back on May 8, 2001, Bethel City Council passed Ordinance #01-17 banning the use and distribution of certain types of plastic carry-out bags by merchants. This ordinance stated that the area around the landfill “has become littered with blown trash consisting mainly of plastic carry out bags” and that the plastic bags pollute the environment, constitute an eyesore, and threaten wildlife.
On October 2, 2001, that same ordinance was repealed by a referendum vote of citizens of Bethel.
The styrofoam take-out food containers are made from petroleum, a non-sustainable, heavily polluting and disappearing commodity when introduced to the landfill will never completely biodegrade, says the ordinance. The ordinance also says that it can take a plastic bag hundreds of years to breakdown and when that happens it is in toxic bits which seep into the soil and the river.
Ordinance 09-12 also states that with the closing of the current landfill a projected 25 years away, and with the continued use of these products on their current level, the City of Bethel will be facing extremely high costs of landfill closing and opening of a new site.
Exemptions include:
•Prepared food prepared or packaged outside the City of Bethel. However, purveyors of food prepared or packaged outside the city of Bethel are encouraged to follow the provisions of this ordinance.
•Food vendors will be exempted from the provisions of this ordinance for specific items or types of disposable food service ware if the City Administrator or his/her designee finds that a suitable affordable biodegradable or compostable alternative does not exist and/or that imposing the requirements of this ordinance on that item or type of disposable food service ware would cause undue hardship.
•Polystyrene foam coolers and ice chests that are intended for reuse are exempt.
•Disposable food service ware composed entirely of aluminum are exempt.
•Emergency supply and service procurement: In a situation deemed by the City Administrator to be an emergency for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, city facilities, food vendors, contractors and vendors doing business with the city shall be exempt from this ordinance.
Bethel joins Aniak and other delta communities in banning plastic carry-out bags. Bethel also joins the Lower Kuskokwim School District whose Board of Education moved in 2009 to abandon the use of Styrofoam trays, cups, and bowls to serve student lunches.

WEIO celebrates 49th year
[ WEIO Photos HERE ]

7-27-10

by Greg Lincoln

The 49th annual World Eskimo Indian Olympics was excellent this year with the tremendous show of traditional artwork and craftsmanship, song and dance, traditional regalia, sportsmanship, and athleticism. Many talented artists from all over our state representing many cultures were selling their crafts – the displays and vendors handiwork were all skillfully and beautifully made.
Favorite events at the games included the Race of the Torch, the greased pole walk, ear pull, the 1 and 2 foot high kicks, the muktuk eating contest, the exhilarating blanket toss, and the popular Baby contest.
Highlights at the event include: Nicole Colbert of Napakiak who won the women’s Ear Pull event. She was undefeated throughout this most painful and excruciating event. Casey Ferguson of Chevak won the men’s 2-Foot High Kick for the second time in a row. Also winning an award in her traditional parka category was adorable Lila Moses, the granddaughter of Mark and Juliana Springer of Bethel. Her Cup'ik name is Cimiciaq. Another winner was Kelly, my beautiful wife who tied for 1st in the women’s Eskimo Fur Parka regalia contest – you took my breath away. Congratulations to all our YK delta athletes and winners who represented us well at WEIO.
22 year old Casey Ferguson kicked 94” to win the men’s 2-foot high kick. He wasn’t able to stick the landing on 96”, although he admitted he kicked 101” the previous year during practice. Ferguson competed in the Arctic Winter Games in March and took home the All Around Athlete Award. He kicked 108” in the 1-ft high kick during the Inuit Games.
His younger brother Conor was also at WEIO, leaping and kicking 72” in the toe kick and winning the silver medal after only 2 weeks of practice. Ferguson would like to invite more YK delta athletes to compete at WEIO.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s the 50th anniversary so I recommend coming up here.”
The newly crowned 2010 Miss WEIO is Marjorie Tahbone of Nome.
Colbert, former Miss WEIO, also competed in the muktuk eating contest to see how fast she could finish a chunk of muktuk.
“It was really good,” said Nicole Colbert after competing. “I just cut it up in small pieces and threw it in my mouth. It was nice and chill.” She came in 4th overall.
Here is a little bit about WEIO from their facebook page: World Eskimo Indian Olympics is a non-profit organization implementing an annual summer event of traditional Alaska Native sports, songs and dances. Along with these, WEIO hosts a queen pageant offering a scholarship to crowned participants.
History: From time immemorial, Native peoples of the circumpolar areas of the world gathered in small villages to participate in games of strength, endurance, balance and agility. Along with these athletic games, dancing, storytelling and other audience participation games took place. This provided an opportunity for friendly competition, entertainment and goodhearted fun. Hosting villages provided food and lodging to their guests from near and far. Visitors brought news from surrounding villages and renewed old friendships that often carried through multiple generations. The World Eskimo Indian Olympics seeks to replicate that atmosphere and provide a venue for the continuation of those traditions and relationships. The WEIO was established in response to fears of the traditional games being lost during times of rapid Alaskan development.
The mission of WEIO is to promote culture, social games, skills, dances, and traditions of Alaska, Greenland, Siberian, and Canadian Eskimos, the American and Alaskan Indians, and Aleuts.
My family and I were so honored and happy to be able to attend this year, quyana to the staff and volunteers of this great event and good luck with your plans for the big 50th gathering. WEIO is held each year beginning on the 3rd Wednesday in July and has been held since 1961. Quyana!

Bethel PD to get new
fingerprinting supplies

7-21-10

by Greg Lincoln

When Bethel City council member Thor Williams heard from victims of crime that the Bethel Police were not taking fingerprints at crime scenes, he was very concerned.
So he brought it up at council.
Bethel City Council approved a resolution to support a grant application to request funds to purchase crime scene investigation equipment, supplies, and materials during the June 22nd, 2010 regular city council meeting.
Williams’, who supported the resolution, said his concern was that the stuff would be put on a shelf to gather dust instead of being used due to lack of certified officers.
“I’ve had personal friends and businesses lose tens of thousand of dollars and have been broken into twice and we have a police department that walks in, takes a couple pictures, and then says ‘we’re sorry,’” said Williams. “My concern is, are we getting more equipment that’s going to collect dust or is it a training that we need for our police department? We can go out and get more equipment, but if we don’t have the staff that are certified to use that equipment, then we are putting things on the shelf. When I heard we we’re not taking fingerprints at a crime scene…that’s basic law enforcement. I’m very concerned about that.”
Council member Heather Pike echoed his sentiments.
“I myself have been through that whole scenario and no fingerprints are generally taken in this town that I know of at any crime scene. It is pretty much, ‘we’re sorry’. So if we’re going to get this I want to make sure that our police department can get certification to be able to use these items and that this will stand up in court where these people will stop robbing people over and over,” she said. “They need to be punished.”
The question was, do the Bethel City Police even do fingerprinting?
Council suspended the rules to hear from Chief of Police Lawrence Elarton.
“The officers are trained on how to do fingerprints. The problem is if we don’t get called right away, they can’t do fingerprints. If the things are dusty or oily, we can’t lift fingerprints,” he said. “Now I could fume their whole business and throw a ton of powder everywhere, and then they won’t be able to stay open. And it will take them about 3 days to clean it up. That is why we try for other methods to try to do that.”
A reminder came from council member Rick Robb who said that this ordinance was simply an authorization to apply for the grant.
“It is money to improve our public safety. I see no reason why we should question it. This is just authorizing the grants manager, the police department, to apply for a grant. I think we should go forward. We have concerns about fingerprinting and this is probably something that will correct it,” said Robb.
The motion passed unanimously at the end of discussion.

CVS holds Quality Fish Training for local fishermen

6-16-10

by Greg Lincoln

Nearly 150 commercial fishermen from Bethel and the outlying villages attended a mandatory meeting for all potential 2010 Coastal Villages Seafoods (CVS) salmon fishers last Friday.
CVS is requiring that every salmon fisher intending to sell fish to CVS become a “Certified Quality Producer” to ensure that the fish they catch are of the highest quality. CVS is planning on buying fish from the coast up the Kuskokwim to Bethel and beyond. Coastal Villages Region Fund and CVS celebrated the grand opening of their 300,000 lbs. capacity fish processing plant last year in Platinum.
Fishermen will be paid a higher price for delivering the high quality fish. CVS will be buying chum salmon at 25¢ per pound – 60% more than last year’s 5¢ per pound price, if the fish they are buying meets CVS’s new quality standards.
“Quality is of critical importance to CVS and the fishermen,” said CVS’s Sales and Logistics Manager Nick Souza. “We want to pay the highest price on the river – to buy the highest quality fish at the highest price.”
Other prices will be announced prior to the first opener. According to Souza, the first opening may be a June 24.
Souza said that CVS will be providing insulated half totes and full totes and ice to fishermen prior to each opener. A half tote can hold up to 400-500 lbs. of fish and a full tote can hold up to 800 lbs. both depending on how much ice they have. The totes will be distributed at the dock and from the tenders and can preserve the ice for up to 12 hours.
An ice boat will also be available to distribute ice as needed. The ice will be manufactured at the fish plant in Quinhagak.
A concern arose regarding the size of the totes – that they may not be able to handle the potentially immense number of fish. Aaron Mute who said he fished most all of his life in Bethel brought up the concern that the totes are limiting because a full tote can hold up to 800lbs.
How many pounds of fish can you catch in an opening?
“Peak season it depends. I’ve heard anywhere between 1,000 lbs. to 6,000 lbs. – just depending where you’re at,” he said.
“Small totes can only hold 50 fish,” one said. “You can catch 100 fish in a drift. They will be forced to deliver.”
“With your system I can only get 500 lbs.,” said another. “With my boat I can fill it up to maybe 800 lbs.”
The half totes are designed to fit in a 16’ or 18’ lund boat. Souza encouraged the fishermen to use common sense.
For those that have slush bags instead of totes, those must meet the icing standards and be able to be lifted by the CVS crane at the dock. CVS has a limited number of braillers that can be used with the slush bags.
Fish must be bled and iced immediately to keep them as fresh as possible. They must be handled gently – no lifting them by their tails, throwing or stepping on them, which causes bruising and internal bleeding.
Skiff management and cleanliness of the fishers’ boats is paramount to stave off enzymatic deterioration, mushy flesh, and a lower quality product, said the training video.
The cleaning of the totes will be taken care of by CVS, said Souza. He also said that non-bled or non-iced fish will not be bought by CVS.
“But if the state mandates that we buy it, it will be bought at a lower price,” he said.
No cash payments will be made to the sellers. Payments instead will be available through direct deposit or through a credit card issued by CVS, or through checks which will take up to 7 days.
CVS joins another fish buyer this year – Kuskokwim Seafoods – who announced last April that they will be purchasing salmon during the entire season.
The overflow crowd of Kuskokwim fishermen filled the meeting room at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center to capacity – and more were coming in the door half an hour after the meeting was scheduled to start - so organizers opened up the partition to enlarge the room to double size.
Matthew Wassillie of Akiachak was one of the many fishermen at the meeting. He said the meeting was good.
“Assillruuq, amllernek-llu elilluta,” he said. “It was good, we learned a lot.”
Stickers were given to the fishermen to put on their boats to designate them as having attended the quality fish training at the end of the meeting.
“Our goal is to pay the highest prices in Alaska,” said Souza. “If necessary, we will continue to lose money to support the fishermen.”

New Bethel Armory groundbreaking event

6-11-10

by Greg Lincoln

The groundbreaking for the construction of a new National Guard Armory in Bethel was held on June 1.
According to a statement from the Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, the new armory, the Bethel Readiness Center, is designed to be approximately 23,000 square feet and will cost approximately $16 million, with 75 percent of the money coming from the federal government and 25 percent from the state.
“It’s very important that this new armory is built in Bethel,” said Mike Singleton, Facilities Maintenance Office building management specialist. “The current armory doesn’t meet the Soldiers’ needs; they have more equipment than what can be housed in the current armory, and a renovation of the old facility would not meet the new mission and current status of the Guard. So the old armory will get turned over to Bethel, and the Guard will still lease space in the old armory so recruiters have a central location to work out of downtown.”
The design of the new armory will accommodate personnel not only from Bethel but also the outlying Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta area and is outfitted with new lockers for Soldiers to store their military issued equipment. In addition, the design will add six classrooms, a distance learning center, library, and storage areas for the military police company, infantry and airborne units. A physical fitness area and warming kitchen are also in the works for the new armory.
“I think it was designed for approximately 75 troops,” Singleton said. “That dictated the amount of square feet, the number of offices and other design improvements we were authorized. In the current armory, the physical fitness equipment is jammed into what should be the men’s latrine area because the gym is utilized by the school, so we are working to make it better for the people who need to work and train there.” Quyana!
Like most things in Alaska, building an armory in Bethel is very challenging, so even before the groundbreaking, weather, geological concerns and logistical details are taken into account.
“Everything in Bethel is permafrost,” said Capt. Ryan Feil, Facilities Maintenance Office design and project manager. “That’s why everything that’s out there is either built on pilings or has the anti-siphon system. Everything on grade has the anti-siphon system -- that’s the only way you can do it if you are going to put the building directly on the ground.”
“You also have pockets of peat moss, and you don’t know how deep they are going to be until you get into them,” Singleton added. “Once they excavate the ground, we are going to have to bring in soil and fill it back up to grade. And before we put the building in, they are going to have to put a freeze-back system in, which with the use of an anti-siphon system, will keep the ground frozen under the facility so we don’t get shifts and heaving in the foundation.”
The architect had to also consider the environment and weather conditions when designing the new Bethel Readiness Center. It is designed to handle earthquakes, a higher wind rating and extra insulation requirements for the arctic environment.
Projects in Alaska are often very expensive to build, especially when building structures off of the very limited road system.
“Any place that’s not on a road system, where freight has to be barged into, requires longer lead times and that makes it difficult to easily make modifications,” Singleton said. “Here in Anchorage, we have the ability to modify projects easier; however, in Bethel, if we ship something, we need to make sure everything is correct because the distance, logistics and cost are all concerns.”
One of the ways they will try and cut cost is to use local labor to help do the job.
“More local assistance that help in the project will definitely help keep project costs down and is good for the community,” Singleton said.
The location of the new armory was also a concern, so plans were made to build the new armory next to the Bethel Army Aviation Operating Facility.
“It was planned this way so they are co-located,” Feil said. “If Soldiers have to do anything involving the Army Aviation Operating Facility, they don’t have to get shuttled back and forth; they can just walk over and schedule a flight, and that will also allow for a quicker response time for other missions.”
The completion of the project is scheduled for July 2011 but won’t be turned over to the units until the building is furnished, which is estimated to be sometime in December 2011.

Ayaprun Elitnaurvik celebrates
2010 promotion

6-3-10

by Greg Lincoln

The Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Immersion School promoted 14 students who will now move up to 7th grade at the Bethel Regional High School this coming fall.
The Qaqiucilriit ceremony was held on May 20, 2010 at the Bethel Armory. The soon-to-be promoted students entered the armory with drumming and singing, wearing traditional qaspeqs and headdresses.
The welcome was given by Qanganaq Slats. The Yuuyaraq pledge was led by Yugpaaq Mason Alexie before student speakers addressed the gathered crowd of parents and relatives. Speaking about Ayaprun memories were Umgar Jones, Angilan Lowrey, Aliit Naneng, and Imguuq Olick. Qerrataralria Ayuluk and Nuqarrluk Kuhne presented the Accomplishments from the past year, and giving her Proud to be Bilingual speech was Aarparalria Kimberly Typpo.
Appreciations were given by Ciquyaq Hoffman and Aliit Naneng followed by an Eskimo Dance with parents as guest performers, which was greatly enjoyed by the crowd. After the dance, class awards were presented.
Students stood with their families during the Name Presentation following the conferring of their completion certificates. The guest speaker was APC member Kaagyugaq Angaiak.
It was also noted at the celebration that for the past two years at BRHS, the valedictorian was a former graduate of Ayaprun Elitnaurvik. In 2009, the valedictorian at Mt. Edgecumbe High School was also an Ayaprun Elitnaurvik alumnus.
The celebration ended with a slide show and the presentation of gifts to principal Agatha John-Shields. This year was Shields’ last at Ayaprun Elitnaurvik. She was a strong advocate and tireless force in the advancement of teaching the Yup’ik language and cultural values and traditions to the students at Ayaprun Elitnaurvik for many years.

Visit Camai photos

4-1-10

3-17-10

by Greg Lincoln

The 23rd Annual 1A Coastal Conference tournament took place at the Bethel Regional High School on March 4-6, 2010. Hundreds of fans packed the gym and cheered for their favorite teams. The Kwethluk Lady Kings and the Napaskiak Hawks will be heading to the State 1A Tournament beginning on March 18th. Congratulations and good luck!
Girls
Game 1: Chefornak 75 – Quinhagak 15
Game 2: Kwigillingok 57 – Akula 55
Game 3: Kwethluk 53 – Toksook 27
Game 4: Tuntutuliak 58 – Akiuk 42
Game 5: Akula 81 – Quinhagak 28
Game 6: Toksook 53 – Akiuk 44
Game 7: Chefornak 45 – Kwigillingok 32
Game 8: Kwethluk 59 – Tuntutuliak 54
Game 9: Akula 55 – Toksook 51
Game 10: Tuntutuliak 70 – Kwigillingok 59
Championship: Kwethluk 41 – Chefornak 30
1st: Kwethluk Kings
2nd: Chefornak Shamans
3rd: Tuntutuliak Blue Jays
Sportsmanship Award: Akiuk Grizzlies
GPA Award: Tuntutuliak Blue Jays 3.49
Free Throw Contest: 1st Andrea Tunuchuk – Chefornak; 2nd Kelly Ayapan – Kwethluk
Hot Shot Contest: 1st Fredrica Lupie – Tuntutuliak; 2nd Renae Keene – Akiuk
Girls All Stars: Matilda Alirkar – Toksook Bay; Stacey Panruk – Chefornak; Clarissa Manchuak – Kwigillingok; Frederica Lupie – Tuntutuliak; Krystal Michael – Kwethluk; Renae Keene – Akiuk; Renae Fox – Quinhagak; Andrea Tunuchuk – Chefornak; Kira Wilkinson – Kwigillingok; Minnie Tinker – Akula
Boys
Game 1: Napaskiak 59 – Toksook Bay 54
Game 2: Kwethluk 68 – Kwigillingok 66
Game 3: Tuntutuliak 60 – Chefornak 53
Game 4: Akiuk 64 – Tununak 43
Game 5: Toksook 78 – Kwigillingok 47
Game 6: Chefornak 60 – Tununak 47
Game 7: Napaskiak 65 – Kwethluk 60
Game 8: Tuntutuliak 72 – Akiuk 71
Game 9: Toksook 68 – Chefornak 36
Game 10: Akiuk 74 – Kwethluk 52
Championship: Napaskiak 55 – Tunt 53
1st: Napaskiak Hawks
2nd: Tuntutuliak Blue Jays
3rd: Akiuk Grizzlies
Sportsmanship Award: Tununak Coasters
GPA Award: Tununak Coasters 3.55
Free Throw Contest: 1st Harry Berlin – Akiuk; 2nd Frank Link – Tununak
Hot Shot Contest: 1st Travis Andrew – Napaskiak; Chris Panruk – Chefornak
Boys All Stars: Adrian Andrew – Kwigillingok; Chris Panruk – Chefornak; Alexie Brink – Akiuk; Frank Link – Tununak; Jerome Carl – Tuntutuliak; Leon Jimmie – Kwigillingok; Jason Tulik – Toksook Bay; Jeremiah Jackson – Kwethluk; Harry Berlin – Akiuk; Travis Andrew – Napaskiak.
T-Shirt Design Winner: Zachary Joekay – Napaskiak
“I want to congratulate the winning teams, and even more importantly, to congratulate the teams and the parents and the coaches. This is a huge tournament, one of the largest tournaments in the state at the high school level in terms of numbers of participants and spectators,” said LKSD Assistant Superintendent Carlton Kuhns. “Every year it comes out real well with the high levels of sportsmanship and camaraderie, everyone is having a great time. We just don’t have any problems, the kids are great sports. There is never anything like bad sportsmanship here. These tournaments are just a lot of fun to be involved in and our kids deserve the best, so we’re happy to do it.”

ABC Board votes unanimously to deny Bethel liquor licenses

3-2-10

by Greg Lincoln

The Alcohol Beverage Control Board voted 5-0 to deny the issuance of the liquor licenses applied for by six Bethel businesses. Their meeting was held last Friday, February 26, 2010 in Juneau.
The Board of Directors read into the record the 6 applications for consideration: 123 BBQ Express, Alaska Commercial Company AC Value Center, Corina's Restaurant, Dimitri's Restaurant, Osaka Restaurant, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The decision to deny all licenses was based upon the City of Bethel’s protest based on the advisory vote held in January 2010.
During the meeting the Chairman of the Board of Directors Bob Klein posed 2 options for the members' consideration:
1. Approve with delegation, which would require finding the protests of each license application by the City of Bethel to be arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable, or
2. Deny the licenses based on the protests of the local governing body.
The Board voted 5-0 to deny the issuance of all of the six licenses based upon the protest. Also taken into consideration was the fact that all statutory requirements were not met by the applicants.
What about all the application fees?
“Applicants lose the application fees, fingerprint fees, and fees for a restaurant designation permit if they do not get the licenses,” said ABC Board Director Shirley Gifford. “The only refundable fee would be for the license itself.”

Cab fares drop in price wars

2-24-10

by Greg Lincoln

Last week the Taxi Cab Company of Bethel announced they were lowering their cab fares. In-town fares are down to $3 from $5. A ride to the airport is $5 (reminiscent of cab fares in the mid 1990s), and to go to Kasayuli Subdivision is $7.
On Sunday night, Alaska Cab fares were $4 for town-to-town rides, $6 to go to the airport, and $9 for outlying Kasayuli. A Kusko Cab cabbie said their fares were $3 for in-town, $5 for the aiport, and Kasayuli was still $10.
However, the lowest cab fares in town are being offered by the Quyana Cab Company. In-town rides are $3, a ride to the aiport is $4, and to go to Kasayuli is $8.
So what tipped the delicate balance of the cab economy in Bethel?
Other services in Bethel include the two busses – the City/ONC operated bus service which has been in business since November 2008, and the newly-licensed and permitted Northern Lights Bus service. Patrick and Carol Oulton, are the independent owners of the native-owned Northern Lights Bus. Their service officially began on February 15, 2010.
Competition is tough in Bethel, where the person-to-cab ratio is reportedly the highest in the nation and gas prices are over $5 a gallon. But competition is what drives down prices for the benefit of the consumer.

2010 Bethel Annual Dog Show

2-11-10

by Greg Lincoln

Bethel’s annual dog show was paradise for dog lovers this past Saturday at the Cultural Center. There were nearly 40 dogs who competed for trophies in the traditional and fun categories. Zeke, a German Wirehaired Pointer owned by Kyle Jones took the Best of Show for the traditional categories. Rex, a Border Collie owned by Aki Komulainen took the other Best of Show honors in the fun categories.
The volunteer judges this year were Amanda Barker, Diane McEachern, Jackie Klejka, Sue Angstman, and Sabrina Woofter. The MC was Reyne Athanas and photography was done by Sean Denning-Barnes. The dog show was sponsored by the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center.
During the Best Vocal Performance, none of the dogs entered felt like howling so the audience got them into the mood by doing a little howling to get them going. In the Best Tricks category, the dogs wowed the audience with their roll overs, playing dead, jumps, barking, and other tricks.
Traditional Categories Results
Sporting Group (5 entrants): “Zeke”, German Wirehaired Pointer owned by Kyle Jones
Toy Group (8 entrants): “Jonas”, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owned by Christy Davis
Working Group (5 entrants): “Avalanche”, Malamute owned by Lee Foley
Terrier Group (4 entrants): “Duncan”, Scottish Terrier owned by The Keplers
Non-sporting Group (4 entrants): “Mishka”, Bichon Frise owned by Gula
Herding Group (4 entrants): “Rex”, Border Collie owned by Aaki Komulainen
Hound Group (1 entrant): “Bess”, Dachshund owned by Sarah Angstman
Delta Mix (7 entrants): “Rosey” owned by Nate Davis
Best in Show: “Zeke”, German Wirehaired Pointer owned by Kyle Jones
Fun Categories Results
Most Independent (6 entrants): “Avalanche”, Malamute owned by Lee Foley
Most Unusual Markings (3 entrants): “Brother”, Australian Shepherd owned by Mike Chung
Best Tail Wagger (10 entrants): “Neesa”, American Rednosed Pit Bull owned by Richard Young
Most Mysterious Heritage (1 entrant): “Chica” owned by Barb Ramos
Best Vocal Performance (4 entrants): “Avalanche”, Malamute owned by Lee Foley
Most Obedient (7 entrants): “Rex”, Border Collie owned by Aki Komulainen
Best Old Timer (4 entrants): “Samson”, 11 ¾ years old, Yorkshire Terrier owned by Andrea Ruble
Most Original Costume (9 entrants): “Kiska”, Schnauzer owned by Cindy Andrecheck
Best Trick (10 entrants): “Rex”, Border Collie owned by Aki Komulainen
Most Adorable (15 entrants): “Spotty Douglas”, Chorkie owned by Cindi Mondesir
Best in Show: “Spotty Douglas”, Chorkie owned by Cindi Mondesir
Bethel Dog Pound Note:
Is your dog or cat missing? Are you looking to save a life? Would you be willing to adopt an animal? Are you looking for an animal to warm your home? If you answered yes to any of these questions, call the Police Dept. (907) 543-3781 to make arrangements to save an animals life. The City of Bethel Pound currently has three dogs and 2 cats available for adoption. Save a life, adopt today!

City Council unanimously
passes special election ordinance

2-3-10

by Greg Lincoln

The Bethel City Council voted 7-0 to pass the ordinance allowing for a special election to opt back into local option during their Jan. 26, 2010 regular meeting.
Ordinance 10-01 is “Submission to the qualified voters of the City of Bethel, AK at a special election the questions of opting into local option AS 04.11.491 (a)(1) Prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages in the City of Bethel.”
“The city council, when it comes to scheduling this local option special election, is subject to state law and to local option election law,” said Hugh Dyment, one of twenty-five opt-in petition sponsors and former city mayor during public hearing of this ordinance. “The only responsibility and authority you have when it comes to local option special elections, is scheduling the exact day of the vote. That is the only authority that you have.”
Dyment was speaking to the fact that during the last city council meeting, council members Tom Valadez and Heather Pike voted against introducing the ordinance to schedule the election. Both later changed their votes during the Jan. 26th meeting.
“Some members of the public are encouraging the city council not to schedule an election. For one thing, they cite BMC special election law and that is incorrect. The city's own attorney has refuted all those claims. A municipality does not have the legal authority to prevent a local option election. This is a right given to the people of a municipality or an established village by the state of Alaska,” he said. “You have no legal authority to suppress a vote that state law allows. If opponents really believe that they’ve got valid legal reasons, their option is to go to court and get an injunction to postpone the scheduled election. But only a state court has that authority.”
He further stated that if the city council fails to schedule this election, that they would be inviting an investigation of the City of Bethel by the U.S. Justice Dept., the State of Alaska Attorney General’s office, and the Alaska Division of Elections. Dyment referenced the 1965 Voting Rights Act that supervises special elections in Alaska and eight other states due to their history of discriminatory voting practices against racial and language minorities.
Dyment also expressed sympathy to the fact that some Bethel residents are concerned that it seems unfair that people can vote to further restrict alcohol regulations as frequently as they wish but can only vote to loosen alcohol restrictions every 2 years.
“Your own (city) attorney has said that is the law of the land now and a fundamental constitutional principal is if you believe your rights have been infringed, the situation isn’t remedied by you infringing on mine. Your solution is going to be legislative.” Dyment said.
The special election to vote on opting back into local option is scheduled for May 4th, 2010.

Hooper Bay celebrates grand opening of Multi-Family Housing Project

1-21-09

A grand opening ceremony and an open house for the 19 unit Multi-Family Housing Project in Hooper Bay was held last Thursday.
The opening address was given by David Bunyan from the Hooper Bay Traditional Council. The invocation was delivered by Rev. Grant Funk, Pastor of the Covenant Church.
Other welcoming addresses were given by Joe Bell, Mayor for the City of Hooper Bay; and Allen Joseph, Vice Chairman of the SeaLion Corporation.
Robert Nick, Chairman of the AVCP RHA Board of Commissioners, appreciated the traditional Eskimo dancing by the children during the opening of the ceremonies, and spoke of his gratitude.
“We are very excited for this particular development, since this is the first of its kind in our region in a rural setting,” he said. “I would like to thank all the people involved in this project, and thank the housing authority staff as well. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.”
Also speaking was Ron Hoffman, President and CEO of AVCP RHA.
“During these critical times, we must work together to establish sustainable communities and address many problems we are facing,” said Hoffman. “Despite the challenges, we are able to, by working together in partnership, collaboration and cooperation, overcome these challenges to be able to come together today to celebrate a new dawn in Hooper Bay.”
Hoffman asked his housing staff to stand and be recognized for their efforts, along with the major partners supporting the project.
Other honored guest speakers included Jeff Judd, Vice President of the Cook Inlet Housing Authority (invited but could not attend); James Wiedle of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation; Donna Hartley of the Alaska Office of Native American Programs; and John Moeller - staff to Governor Sean Parnell.
Special recognition and awards were presented to the Hooper Bay Traditional Council, the City of Hooper Bay, SeaLion Corporation, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, HUD and ONAP, Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young.
The ribbon cutting took place after the opening ceremony, followed by refreshments and a grand tour of the new facility. Eighteen families will be moving in to their new apartments beginning on January 15, 2010.

Congratulations to the brave and strong mushers participating in this year's Kuskokwim 300, Bogus Creek 150, and the Akiak Dash. With this year's rough trail conditions and freezing temperatures, we stand in awe of your great accomplishments. It is something that some of us can only dream of doing! You are and will be forever honored and engraved into the history of our region for taking on such a great endeavor. Quyana!

Yup’ik singer releases Christmas album

1-6-09

by Greg Lincoln

Alyson McCarty, the daughter of Thomas and Minnie McCarty – originally of Napakiak – has a new CD out entitled, “Nunam Yui Quyakilit – Joy to the World” that was recently released on December 17, 2009 in time for the Christmas holiday season.
Alyson, whose Yup’ik name is Panikaq, sings 10 Christmas songs all in the Yup’ik language – the language of her mother and her grandparents. The 10 songs on her CD are Christmas favorites: Joy to the World, While Shepherds Watched, Hark the Sound of Angel Voices, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Glory to God the Father, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Our Father We Thank Thee.
Alyson is now 12 years old and is a 7th grader at a private Christian school in Anchorage. Her Yup’ik language learning has advanced and she is now reading and writing in Yup’ik, says her mother Minnie.
Alyson also sings at school auctions, memorial services, and most recently at the AFN Convention. She also loves to sing at the Anchorage Moravian Church every Sunday when she can. Alyson hopes to produce 2 CDs each year.
In June 2009, Alyson also put out another CD called “Atawhayugtukut – Blest be the tie that binds”. In this album Alyson sings 11 worship and praise songs – Jesus Loves Me, Just as I Am, Take the Name of Jesus, He Leadeth Me, Praise Ye the Lord, How Great Thou Art, Sweet By and By, A Charge to Keep I Have, God Be With You, and Keep Me Everyday, including the title song.
Both of her latest CDs are available for purchase at Corina’s Case Lot in Bethel, and Napakiak Native Store and Jung’s Store in Napakiak. In Anchorage they are available at the Alaska Native Medical Center gift shop. Anyone wishing to order a CD may contact Minnie McCarty at 907-748-6101.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza needs Community Support

12-9-09

by Greg Lincoln

To all of Bethel’s cookie bakers, it is time again for the spectacular and tasty Christmas Cookie Extravaganza. Here are some statistics from years past: In 2004, cookie bakers made 166 pounds of cookies and added $1,163 to the swimming pool fund. In 2005, a new record was set – the over 160 lbs. of the baked goodies were gone in 8 minutes! Over $1400 was deposited into the pool fund. For 2006, over 150 pounds of cookies disappeared in 10 minutes ad the fund was increased by over $1201. In 2007, 38 cookie bakers made 189 pounds of Christmas cookies – raising over $1700! Last year bakers made over 120 lbs. of cookies – raising over $1200. Here is more from Beverly Hoffman, sponsor and advocate for the Bethel Swimming Pool project:
Over the last 17 years the Y/K Delta Lifesavers Cookie Extravaganza in Bethel has helped raise thousands of dollars for a swimming pool support fund. Between a Wells Fargo Account and the recently created Lifesaver Endowment fund with Bethel Community Service Foundation, the fund has reached $145,000 through donations, open gyms and fundraisers like the Christmas Cookie Extravaganza.
The 2009 Christmas Cookie Extravaganza needs your support. Bethel Cookie Bakers are needed for this event scheduled for Sunday December 13 at the Cultural Center. All the homemade cookies donated are sold by the pound. Approximately 190 pounds of cookies are baked and sold by Bethel bakers for the swimming pool fund. Contact Beverly Hoffman at 543-3239, Nancy Elliott at 543-1987 or Kathy Baldwin at 543-2682 if you can help.
Cookies can be brought to the Cultural Center on Sunday December 13 between 11:30 and 12:30. Volunteers are also needed to help during the event which starts at 1p.m. For more information on the Lifesaver Endowment Fund and how you can make a tax deductible donation go to www.bcfoundation.org.

Petitioners seek to opt back in to Local Option

12-3-09

by Greg Lincoln

The process to return to damp status has begun in Bethel. Petition sponsors have submitted their names to the city clerk and are: Ana Hoffman, Myron Naneng, Hugh Dyment, Susan Murphy, Bonnie Bradbury, Mary Pete, Gene Peltola Jr., Allen Joseph, Juanita Asicksik, Shari Neth, Renee Crow, Jody Sleppy, Donna Bach, Mary Nelson, Daniel Picazo, Regina Lieb, Will Updegrove, Karen Sidell, Fr. Chuck Peterson, Michelle DeWitt, Ray Watson, Darlene Mojin, Jerry Domick, Barbara Liu, Christine Christiansen, and Jill Hoffman.
“This is a diverse group and we are working together to return Bethel to damp status,” said Ana Hoffman to the city council during People to be Heard. “We plan to gather the required signatures and provide them to the city clerk before the Christmas holiday break.”
Once that is done, the process will be turned over to the city council to schedule an election to vote on the proposition.
The petitioners also asked the city council to postpone the advisory vote scheduled to take place during a special election on January 19, 2010 regarding alcohol sales in Bethel. “Our suggestion is to allow the people’s initiative to take precedence to address this issue more definitively,” said Hoffman.
Approximately 40 people came to the meeting in support of the petition.
According to Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Director Shirley Gifford, what she said at the Bethel Chamber of Commerce meeting on November 18, 2009 still stands regarding the fact that there is no timeline as to when a petition can be initiated for more restrictive options regarding alcohol status in a community.
Under AS 04.11.507(f) removal of local option or to change to a less restrictive option may not be conducted during the first 24 months after the local option was adopted. This does not mean that a move to adopt local option or to make a change to a more restrictive status has to wait 24 months and can be pursued now.
Gifford is scheduled to be in Bethel on December 9th, 2009 along with Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska, John Novak. They have agreed to do an informal session in the morning with the city council and a public forum in the afternoon for the community that will be broadcast live on KYUK radio.

Justice awaited in smashed car windows crime spree

11-21-09

by Greg Lincoln

It has been over 5 months since over $20,000 in damage was sustained by vehicles around Bethel at the hands of vandals, and the victims are still waiting for justice.
The vehicles suffered smashed windshields and windows in what appeared to be random attacks on the parked cars. Throughout the time of the attacks, Officer Corbett of the Bethel Police Department responded to over 20 reports of damaged vehicles in the Ridgecrest, City Subdivision, and 6th Avenue areas of Bethel.
With the help of citizens, Bethel Police eventually caught three juvenile perpetrators – ages 12, 14, and 16 – on June 5, 2009. The officers were able to obtain an admission of guilt from the three juveniles. The parents of the juveniles apparently did not know where their children were at the time, according to a report by KYUK. It was approximately 2am in the morning.
The victims that had filed reports were told that they would receive a letter from the investigating officer as to the status of the case and that charges would be referred to the Division of Juvenile Justice for prosecution.
During the November 10th, 2009 regular Bethel City Council meeting, a citizen stepped forth to speak about her personal experience about the incident.
Debbie Fairbanks told the city council during “People to be Heard” that her own vehicle was one of the cars damaged by the juveniles during their crime spree and that nothing had been done.
“In early part of June, vandals broke lots and lots of car and truck windows around town, my own included. The two kids that broke our windows that night were caught. During the investigation, the kids pointed out all the cars they damaged and the newspaper reported it was over $20,000 worth of damage,” said Fairbanks. “We got a letter on June 15th, all of us that were involved, from Joe Corbett - police officer, telling us the status of everything and to be expecting a call from juvenile justice in the near future and to please cooperate with them so something could happen. Well the situation to date is, the police reports have never gone to juvenile justice, and its over 5 months.”
Fairbanks further told the council that she had her car windows fixed, costing her $2600 – which is what most of the victims had gone ahead and done. But her real concern was the lack of discipline for the kids who committed those crimes.
“The fact is, nothing is being done to these kids so that they get any consequences,” she said.
About three weeks ago, Fairbanks said she called the police asking for her report for insurance purposes. The next day, juvenile probation also got a copy of her report.
“Obviously paperwork is getting backed up,” she said. “But I think the real crux of the matter is kids need to see a consequence real soon after they do the damage for them to get the point.”
Council member Beverly Hoffman offered to suspend the rules to hear a response from Bethel Chief of Police Larry Elarton who said the reports did go out to juvenile justice – but had been lost in the shuffle of employees.
“On the initial case, those reports did go to juvenile justice. However, they went through some new people - they say they didn’t get them. We show a record in our report that they got them - we ended up having to resubmit them.”
And as for the slow processing of police paperwork, Elarton said that they are changing their records management system that puts more accountability on the officers to file timely reports.
“By policy, the officers are supposed to have them done - if it’s a misdemeanor by the end of the workweek, and if it’s a felony by the end of the workday.”
Elarton assured Fairbanks that the reports were in the hands of the Bethel Youth Facility.

VFW Post 10041 celebrates 50 years

11-11-09

by Greg Lincoln

The Robert V. Lindsey VFW Post #10041 celebrated its 50th year anniversary last weekend in memory of the original charter members. The post was first mustered on November 5, 1959 with 23 founding fathers. Of the 23, there are only 3 surviving members – Donald “Sompy” Elliot, Howard V. Elliott, and Paul P. Jenkins. Each surviving member was presented with a US flag that had been raised on November 5, 2009 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the post. The flags were certified by the post commanders as having flown.
Reverend Paul Jenkins gave the opening prayer before dinner. To begin the ceremony, the Bethel JROTC represented by Kayla Tony, Natalie Mochin, Julia Mochin, and Timothy Hare posted the colors. The BRHS Choir sang the National Anthem, America the Beautiful, and the Alaska State Flag Song. Singing in the choir were Jalene Herron, Kathleen Young, Ian Sanders, and Michael White.
Representative Bob Herron serving as Master of Ceremonies read the names of the deceased Post 10041 Original Charter members and was followed by Taps.
The evening commenced with a list of distinguished guest speakers included VFW Alaska State Chaplin Tim Albright, Post Commander Henry Hunter, Post Quartermaster John Guinn, Ladies Auxiliary President Donna Gibbons, Senator Lyman Hoffman, former Representative Mary Nelson, Bethel Mayor Joseph Klejka, Representative Reggie Joule, and Gene Peltola.
The VFW as a non-profit organization gives back to the community, said Post Quartermaster Guinn. “I’m proud to be part of this post,” he added. The VFW helps veterans and their families with donations for burial assistance, caskets, and food. It also donates to the local schools and to students through scholarships and youth programs, and supports the upkeep of the cemetery.
Paul Jenkins, one of the surviving members, spoke about his service in the 1940s. He was drafted into the army in 1943 and was sent to Adak, Amchitka, Kiska, and Rat Island in the Aleutians in 1945. He spoke about the large rats on Rat Island and having to search for bodies on Kiska where he saw the small abandoned 2-man Japanese submarines. Upon entering one of them, he said the only place he could stand up was where the sub’s binoculars were. He saw Japanese-dug tunnels and even a trail made by the Japanese. During that time he met his good friend Joe Sallison. Jenkins also spoke of making a patriotic pledge to serve his country.
The families of Robert V. Lindsey, of whom the post is named after, were presented plaques of remembrance and appreciation as did the families of Ben Dale and Ellery Herron. The families of the original charter members were also called to receive plaques. Many said a few words of appreciation and praise for the VFW.
Towards the end of the celebration, the Tundra Sisters made a special appearance and sang several harmonious melodies including “God Bless America”. Members of the Tundra Sisters included Sadie McDaniel, Kim Jung, Jan Vanasse, Amy Johnson, Cathy Dale, and Suzi Israelsson. The evening concluded with door prizes and a performance by the Winkelman Brothers Band from McGrath.
Founding Charter Members for the VFW Robert V. Lindsey Post #10041
James T. Active, Oscar N. Anvil, Thomas E. Atwood, John H. Dow, Donald E. Elliott, Howard V. Elliott, Robert D. Ellis, Thomas F. Haley, Charles Hoffman, James Hoffman, Ronald W. Humphreys, Paul P. Jenkins, Ray P. Jenkins, Carl A. Kawagley, Fred Kawagley, James Kohl, Jack W. Larson, William J. Lyons, John W. Roush, Theodore Samuelson, Donald F. Shantz, Keith Swanson, Melvin O. Troseth.

City council votes to
hold special alcohol election

11-4-09

by Greg Lincoln

A special election is planned for the city of Bethel for the purpose of making it clear to the City of Bethel Council what direction they should take pertaining to the issuance of liquor licenses within the City of Bethel.
The vote is scheduled for January 19, 2010 pending pre-clearance from the Department of Justice. Ordinance #09-40 was passed during the regular city council meeting on October 27, 2009. It states that the voters of Bethel rescinded local option in the October 6th, 2009 election and that anyone can now apply for a liquor license within the city of Bethel.
The ordinance also states that it is the desire of the Bethel City Council to allow the citizens of Bethel to have the choice of whether or not to support those applications.
There will be five questions on the January 19 ballot during the special election that voters will decide: 1) Should the City of Bethel support a liquor license application for a liquor store within the City of Bethel? 2) Should the City of Bethel support a liquor license application for a bar within the City of Bethel? 3) Should the City of Bethel support a liquor license application for a restaurant or eating establishment within the City of Bethel? and 4) Should the City of Bethel support a liquor license application of any other type within the City of Bethel.
A fifth question was added by Council member Rick Robb to ask the citizens of Bethel if the City of Bethel itself should apply for a liquor store license, which was approved and will also be included on the ballot.
During the meeting, the city council heard from guest speaker Doug Griffin – a former director of the ABC Board and former member of the Rural Justice Board who helped craft the legislation for the alcohol database.
“He kept insisting that Bethel wants to be wet,” said Vice Mayor Eric Middlebrook. The council will decide if they want to hire Griffin as a consultant.
Sponsors of the “Opt-Out” petition to abolish local option have said that their group does not support any alcohol sales in Bethel.
“We in no way support liquor sales in Bethel – legal or illegal,” said Gary Vanasse, speaking on behalf of the opt-out group during the last city council meeting during People to be Heard. “The petition sponsors never supported sales, they just wanted to get away from the laws of the state outside of the citizens of Bethel’s control.”
The City Council also passed a resolution requesting the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board to not grant any liquor licenses in the city limits of Bethel for at least the full 90 day limit for making a decision on any liquor license application.
The resolution, which passed unanimously, will be forwarded to the ABC Board for their consideration.
As of last Friday, four local restaurants have posted or are in the process of posting notices in The Delta Discovery newspaper declaring that they have applied for liquor licenses.
Piurci!

Jimmie receives 2009 AFN Award

10-28-09

by Greg Lincoln

Alvin Jimmie of Bethel has been awarded the 2009 Glenn Godfrey Law Enforcement Award at the 2009 AFN Convention.
Jimmie has been the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Coordinator for the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) for 5 years. Prior to joining AVCP, he served 13 years as the VPSO for the village of Kwigillingok. He coordinates and negotiates with the State Department of Public Safety for VPSO positions, recruits potential candidates and works with local municipal governments for support. Currently, 20 VPSO positions are filled in the AVCP region. Alvin uses his years of experience to support all the VPSO’s in the villages. He advocates strongly on their behalf. He speaks Yupik and English and is very patient in a job that is highly stressful. His parents are Peter and Elsie Jimmie of Kwigillingok. His wife is Julia.
Other 2009 AFN Presidential Awards
Della Keats “Healing Hands”: Christian Tigluk Stein , Sr. - Kotzebue
Culture Bearer: Julius Rexford , Sr. - Point Lay
Hunter –Fisher: John Dilts - Hydaburg
Roger Lang Youth Leadership: Rachel Philemonof – St. Paul
Small Business: Melvin Squartsoff – Port Lions
Health: Lydia Olsen – Kodiak
Elder of the Year: Clare Swan - Kenai
Public Service: Anna Frank - Minto
Eileen Panigeo Mac Lean Education: Agnik Polly Schaeffer - Kotzebue
Parent of the Year: Noah Naylor – Kotzebue
Quyana!

TDX Village Power Group presents at Energy Fair

10-22-09

by Greg Lincoln

The Tanadgusix Corporation (TDX) is the ANCSA village corporation for the community of St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands and they are in the business of running rural electric utilities.
Last Saturday, Connie Fredenberg of the TDX Village Power Group, which is owned by the TDX Corporation, was one of the presenters at the Bethel Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation Fair.
As you may have heard, TDX has bought Bethel Utilities Corporation, Inc. According to Fredenberg, the transfer won’t occur until 2011. “The deal is done but BUC wants to hold on to it until then,” said Fredenberg, who is the Community Relations Manager for TDX VPG.
Fredenberg accepted the invitation to be a presenter at the fair so she could let everyone know what TDX Village Power Group is all about.
Through a powerpoint presentation, Fredeberg said that TDX VPG is devoted specifically to all aspects of education, research, design, and implementation of renewable energy and hybrid energy projects in rural Alaska. TDX Power also offers basic services on wind turbines, including operations and management training and tower climbing safety classes. She discussed the energy projects TDX was involved in which are:
•The POSS Camp at the St. Paul airport: In 1999 TDX built North America’s largest high penetration wind-diesel plant at their 100,000 square foot industrial complex. Excess electricity is used for heat. TDX estimates wind energy saved them 33,147 gallons of diesel in 2008.
•The TDX Manley Generating Geothermal Power Feasibility Study
•The TDX Sand Point Generating Wind-Diesel Project: 2 refurbished Vestas V39-500 kW wind turbines to be installed in the summer of 2010. The excess electricity will go to hot water tanks in the school and clinic. The Waste Heat Recovery System already supplements heat to the utility offices and apartments above. The projected savings are 153,318 gallons per year.
•Aeromagnetic Survey: July 2009 –
This survey shows a geophysical picture of the subsurface geologic structures that are likely conduits for geothermal waters.
•St. George Wind-Diesel Project: A refurbished Vestas V-27 225 kW wind turbine to be installed in the summer of 2010. The excess electricity will go to hot water tanks in the school and clinic.
•Nikolski Wind-Diesel Project: A refurbished Vestas V17-65 kW wind turbine was installed July 28, 2007. By the end of 2009 TDX will integrate the wind turbine with the 179 kW diesel plant.
•USAF Long Range Radar Sites: TDX was awarded a contract to install two refurbished Vestas V27-225 kW wind turbines each at Cape Lisburn, Cape Romanzof, and Cape Newenham.
•Tin City USAF Long Range Radar Site Wind Diesel Project
Quyana!

Gladys Jung Elementary celebrates grand opening

10-15-09

by Greg Lincoln

The new Gladys Jung Elementary school in Bethel celebrated its grand opening last Sunday. The program for the opening ceremony began with the inaugural raising of the flags by the Bethel JROTC Color Guard. A ribbon cutting followed conducted by Senator Lyman Hoffman and the family members of Gladys Jung. Principal Gerry Kimsey-Shaw welcomed everyone and during her comments she said that there are hardly any discipline problems with the students and that they are very proud of their new school. Honored guest speakers included LKSD Superintendent Gary Baldwin, Senator Lyman Hoffman, and Susan Murphy. Students attending Gladys Jung Elementary in grades 3-6 sang their fight song “On! On! Sandhill Cranes” before everyone was invited for refreshments and to tour the classrooms.
Susan Murphy gave the speech honoring Gladys Jung, whom the school is dedicated to. Below is her speech.
Gladys was born in St Michaels, Alaska and moved to the Kuskowkim when she was about 12 years old. She told a marvelous story of traveling up the Yukon to the portage, traveling over the portage and then down the Kuskokwim to Akiak where the family settled. In those days, Akiak was the hub of the Kuskokwim River. During the years her family lived in Akiak, Gladys boarded with the Schwalbes in Bethel to attend school
Times changed, and Gladys’ family moved to Bethel, where she continued her education at the territorial school. At that time there were two schools in Bethel, the territorial school and the Bureau of Indian Affairs school.
Gladys was an enthusiastic student who loved learning. A self described tomboy, she enjoyed being a part of the Bethel Girls basketball team. Yes, there was basketball back then and it was an important part of Bethel’s life. She also participated in the high school theater group, usually garnering a leading part, as she was a natural born comic and could play any role assigned to her.
Gladys was Bethel’s first high school graduate in a class of 1. She went on to attend the University of Alaska in Fairbanks pursuing an education major. Gladys student taught in Nunachuak, Alaska under the tutorage of an old school marm.
Peoples’ lives in the village still centered around a subsistence lifestyle and Gladys was surprised to find that in the spring, the village emptied out bringing the school year to an abrupt halt as families journeyed to spring camp. It was a different world then. Gladys spent time in Tuluksak, student teaching before marrying Henry Jung.
Gladys’ first independent teaching assignment was in the village of Napaskiak. She and husband Henry opened up the school in Napaskiak where they had to make desks and bookshelves for the one room schoolhouse. Her second assignment was in Kalskag, followed by Kipnuk, Sleetmute and finally, Napakiak, where she taught until the year 1958. Each assignment provided more challenges.
The teacher assisted with most paperwork in the villages. She also was the postmistress. In the fifties it became apparent that something had to be done to provide health care in the villages and the job fell to the teacher. Medicines were few but Gladys did medical traffic nightly with the doctors at the Bethel hospital and dispensed sulfa tablets, aspirin, anti TB drugs, gentian violet, etc. She also learned to give penicillin shots. Henry pulled teeth when he had to.
In all villages, all eight grades were taught in the same room. The pledge of allegiance was said daily. Patriotic songs were sung daily. The BIA provided the food for the hot lunch program. The food was cooked by—yes, you guessed it, the teacher. The schoolroom was warmed by a woodstove made from a 50 gallon drum.
Today, it may seem impossible to imagine teaching all eight grades in one room but kids were respectful and enjoyed learning. In addition to the 3 R’s, home economics was taught. You learned to sew, knit and crochet whether you were a boy or a girl.
Gladys loved the world of education and embraced every chance to learn, even taking a computer class as well as Yup’ik dance class when she was in her eighties.
Gladys was a great promoter of her Yup’ik language and consistently urged young Yup’ik parents to preserve the language and culture by speaking it at home.
One of her last posts was as a volunteer under the “Grandma in the Classroom Program”. She looked forward to being in the classroom at M. E. in Mr. Jennings class helping out with what she could and the children looked forward to having Gramma Gladys come to the school.
An educator to the end, even as late as July 2007, Gladys spoke to a roomful of students at the cultural center about the importance of education. She passed away on September 26, 2007 at home.
It is fitting that this school be named after Gladys Jung, Bethel matriarch, educator and role model for us all.
Quyana!

Bethel Town Hall meeting
Alcohol Beverage Control Board (ABC) answers local option questions

10-6-09

by Greg Lincoln

The City of Bethel hosted a town hall meeting on September 24th to provide information to the public about the possible change to the existing Local Option Law in Bethel. The following are the questions submitted to the ABC Board and the answers provided by Inv. Finney during his visit to Bethel.
Q. Please explain the process of applying for a liquor license?
A. The first step in the process is to find out if any licenses are available for the location. The prospective licensee will be required to follow the application process set out by statute.
Q. Confirm the fact that if the Local Government and citizens do not approve of a license application for their city or town, it is the ABC Board’s duty to DENY the application?
A. Not necessarily. The ABC Board shall deny unless the board finds the protest to be arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable.
Q. Why is the law different for a citizen of Aniak and a citizen of Bethel, both charged with bootlegging?
A. Bootlegging/sale in a local option area is a class C felony; however, it is a class A misdemeanor in an area not under local option.
Q. Is it true that package stores in Anchorage have been keeping their own data base for citizens ordering liquor from local option communities, and is it not true the Alaska State Troopers had access to that information?
A. Any package store in the state that receives written orders is required by statute to follow procedures for sale and shipping. These records are available to law enforcement. In addition, any written order sales to areas with local option that allow importation is kept in a statewide database which contains a monthly record of the alcohol purchased and shipped to a person residing in a local option area. The information in the database is confidential and is not subject to inspection or copying and is purged one year after entry, unless it is needed for a criminal investigation and prosecution.
Q. How many applications for liquor licenses has ABC handled from the City of Aniak in the last 10 years?
A. It is unknown as that information is not kept in the ABC Board database.
Q. Are there statistics reflecting what effect these changes would have on the Police, Troopers or Fire Depts.?
A. No recent statistical data exists; however, according to the North Slope Borough Police Department statistics covering a 6-month period prior to local option and a 6-month period after the 1994 local option vote revealed that drunken driving arrests decreased from 73 cases to 9 cases. Jailing of public inebriants went from 239 cases to 29 cases. Alcohol related hospital visits decreased from 118 to 19. Pregnancies where alcohol abuse was documented decreased from 43% to 9%. Felony assaults decreased by 86%; minors consuming alcohol decreased by 79%; domestic dispute calls decreased by 27%; and misdemeanor assaults decreased by 66%.
Q. What exactly would this vote accomplish?
A. If the local option is removed, sales will be allowed upon successful application. Any licenses that were not renewed in 1977 when Bethel voted to prohibit sale will have the first opportunity and priority. Licenses will be available and anyone who is qualified can apply. Restrictions on importation will be lifted and it will be unlimited. Currently, the maximum amount a person could order in a month is no more then 10 ½ liters of distilled spirits, no more than 24 liters of wine, or no more than 12 gallons of malt beverages.
Q. Would this change allow the sale of alcohol in Bethel?
A. Yes, it would.
Q. If Bethel loses its local option does that mean that the local option provision of having no alcohol sales in Bethel except to a city-run liquor store would be lost?
A. No. A Bethel registered voter can obtain a petition for another election for local option with 35% or more of the number of votes cast in the last regular municipal election. If this is accomplished, the municipality is required to place a separate ballot at the next regular election, for whichever local option was petitioned.
Q. Could the City establish their own provisions by local ordinance, such as restrictions on what kind of alcohol can be sold at restaurants/bars or at liquor stores if the community decides to opt out of local option?
A. No. Without local option, Bethel would be the same as any other community without local option governed by statute. However, under local option communities can make restrictions. For instance, the city can pass ordinances that restrict zoning and hours of operation, and any other ordinances that do not conflict with state statutes or state regulation.
Q. The ABC is the ultimate entity to all the issuance of alcohol licenses. Would they weigh out the input of the entire community when determining if a license should be issued, or would the only body of influence be the City Government?
A. Under statute citizens can object and the local governing body can protest the issuance, renewal, relocation, or transfer. Also, the local governing body may protest the continued operation of a license during the second year of the biennial license period. If a license is issued, the board can have a hearing to listen to concerns of the objecting and protesting parties; however, the reasons can not be arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.
Q. If the majority of the people vote to opt out of local option at the October 6th election, how long would it be before the City could hold another local option election to change the local option again?
A. The time it takes for a petition to be filed and placed on the next ballot.
Q. How does a restaurant get a liquor license, and what kind of documents are needed to apply?
A. The procedure for a restaurant beer and wine license is the same as any other liquor license. The only exception is that a restaurant eating place is required to serve more food than alcohol.
Q. When does the local option change go into effect if it were to pass on the October 6th ballot?
A. If local option is repealed it becomes effective the first day of the month following the certification of the election results.
Q. When in local option, who decides the limits of alcohol to be enforced?
A. The limits are set by state statute but can be set more restrictive by ordinance under local option.
Q. If the majority of the people voting at the regular election vote in favor of opting out of local option, when would the change go into effect?
A. As previously mentioned, it becomes effective the first day of the month following the certification of the election results.
Q. If the City goes unrestricted how will that affect the City’s fees collected by the liquor stores in Anchorage?
A. No change in fees charged would occur that are regulated by written order statute. There would be no limitation to the amount of alcohol coming into Bethel as there is with local option.
Q. When will be the first opportunity for persons or facilities to apply for a liquor license?
A. The first day of the month following the certification and previous liquor license owners will have priority. It could be as early as November 1, 2009.
Q. Can the City of Bethel establish a City owned liquor store? If so, would the City be able to limit any other establishments from becoming a liquor store?
A. Yes, but only under local option can they limit the kinds or types of licenses.
Q. There are many concerns about members of the surrounding communities coming in and buying alcohol and taking it back to their dry village. Is there any way to restrict who is able to buy within the City?
A. No, and that is a valid concern. The licensees can take it upon themselves to refuse service to anyone and that could include those from a dry village.
Q. Can the ABC issue an alcohol license without the consent of the community?
A. Yes, as long as the community has not voted for local option.
Q. Please explain the changes and additions to the local option law from the actual wording that was on the ballot when the citizens of Bethel last voted on the local option issue. Specifically address A. the database requirements, B. Monthly totals and not store totals, and C. Restrictions of Non Bethel Residents to possess or purchase alcohol for delivery to Bethel.
A. Under the current local option, Bethel only restricted the sale of alcoholic beverages. Importation by written order is limited to the amounts previously mentioned. The database only applies to communities with local option, and it tracks a monthly record of alcohol purchased and shipped to a person who lives in a community with restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages. The information is confidential and not subject to inspection or copying and purged after one year unless used in a criminal investigation or prosecution. Information in the database is available only to law enforcement, probation/parole officers, and the ABC Board. The restrictions for those not residing in Bethel are the same as for Bethel residents in an area of local option.
Q. Please explain the local option law in the way that it applies differently to people who are or are not citizens of Bethel, and the constitutionality of a law that applies differently to people based not on where the act or violation takes place, but rather based on a person’s place of residence. Why is a person from a dry village prohibited from ordering alcohol and having it delivered to and consumed in a place where it is legal to do so, just as the citizens of Bethel are legally able to do? Also explain how this law is applied to a resident of an area who has never had a local option vote.
A. Local option allows each community to set their own restrictions. If a community does not place local option into effect, there will not be restrictions outside of statute. The law states the alcohol must be delivered to the person who has placed the order, and can not be at an address other than the address where the person resides.
Q. Please explain how a law that applies to the City of Bethel, and took a vote of the people of Bethel to enact can be so dramatically changed from its initial form and enforcement, to its current form, not by a vote of the citizens of Bethel, but by the Rural Justice Commission (I am guessing Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau residents) and the A.B.C. Board. Should not a law that required a vote of the people also require a vote of the people to change so drastically, in the way it has been?
A. The only change was through legislation in the creation of the written order database. This was changed by statute and not a local ordinance.
Q. Do you believe that this is the only law voted on by the people that the government can change without consent of the people who enacted it?
A. Local option can not be changed by government. It can only be changed by a majority vote of the people to change or to repeal the local option.

Alaska USA announces relocation of Bethel Branch

9-30-09

by Greg Lincoln

We heard about the new move planned for the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union in Bethel. We spoke with the bank and here is what we learned:
Where is the Alaska USA Bethel branch moving to?
Alaska USA will be relocating the Bethel branch to a more convenient location inside the Alaska Commercial Company.
When will the new location be open?
The branch will open at its new location on Monday, October 5. The current branch inside the BNC Building will remain open until the normal close of business on Friday, October 2.
What can customers expect from your new branch?
Alaska USA provides a full range of financial services for consumers and businesses, including checking accounts, credit cards, savings and loan programs, and mortgages and real estate loans.
What accommodations will you have for your customers?
Convenience is one of the main factors in deciding to move the branch to the Alaska Commercial Company. This new retail location will allow Alaska USA to extend the hours of operation and increase the ability to provide service to members. Plus, the new location will allow members to get their shopping and financial services done - all in one easy location.
Will the hours be the same?
Alaska USA will now be open on Saturdays! The new location enables the expansion of branch hours to include Saturday service from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Alaska USA will be the only financial institution in Bethel offering Saturday service.
When was your current location put in place/operational?
The Bethel branch first opened in August, 1992. Elena Pleasant has been the Bethel branch manager for over two years. When asked about the move she responded, “I think the move is great! Everything in the branch will be new and it is a much more convenient location for our members.”
Learn more about Alaska USA at www.alaskausa.org.
Quyana!

Moose hunter attacked by rabid wolf

9-22-09

by Greg Lincoln

In the early morning hours of September 10, 2009, Roderick Phillip was enjoying the moonlit night after a successful moose hunt on the Kuskokwim River with his brother Eric Phillip, Glen Ivon, and Cassius Brown – all of Kongiganak. They had been gathered around their campfire at Uuravik, a place downriver from Kalskag, relishing in the details of their successful moose hunt when Roderick decided to go listen for moose a short distance away from the fire.
They were camped near the river on sand and gravel and it was low tide. He was approximately 50 feet away from the others, listening to a calf moose nearby, and was without his gun when he noticed a ghostly, white shape moving towards the others out of the corner of his right eye.
“Qatellria agiirrluni qaskinani,” he said. “It was white and it was moving very quietly.”
As soon as he recognized that it was a wolf, he began yelling, “Wolf! Wolf!” and began running back towards the camp.
The wolf, who had been heading towards the others near the fire, quickly changed course and charged Roderick. Roderick hadn’t even run approximately 20 feet when the wolf lunged. Roderick dodged the attack but not fast enough – the wolf got him on the upper thigh, but not without a fight.
“It jumped and I dodged but it bit me on the leg,” said Roderick. “I grabbed it by the neck and wrestled it to the ground,” he said. “Qemilluku. I had it in a chokehold and I crushed it to the ground with my shoulder. I didn’t want to let it go, if I let go it would attack again.”
Eric Phillip and Ivon who had been by the campfire with their backs to him rushed to Roderick’s aid. Eric had grabbed his .30-06. Roderick kept yelling “Wolf!” and Eric, who didn’t see the wolf at first yelled back, “Nauwa! (Where!)”
“Waniwa! Right here!” yelled back Roderick.
As soon as Roderick saw the gun, he released the wolf and Eric fired two shots into the wolf, killing it.
After the wolf was dead, the hunters checked on Roderick’s wounds and found a 1-inch long by 1/2 inch wide triangle-shaped piece of flesh missing on his upper right thigh. The wolf’s teeth had gone clear through Roderick’s carharts, his warm-ups, and his boxers.
Using a first aid kit, they cleaned the wound with alcohol, applied antibiotic ointment and bandaged it. They did not find any other injuries.
The next thing they did was go take a look at the wolf. Roderick said he wanted to see if it was foaming at the mouth. What they saw was unexpected.
“Looking at it with a flashlight, the mouth and nose were full of porcupine quills,” he said. “If it weren’t for those quills, it might have done more damage.”
Eric snapped a couple photos on his cell phone before the hunters put the dead carcass into two black garbage sacks. It took two of the men to carry it.
It took them two hours to settle down enough to sleep a little, said Roderick. The next morning the hunters took him straight to the YKHC Hospital’s emergency room in Bethel.
The wolf carcass was sent to Anchorage where it tested positive for rabies and Roderick began a regimen of rabies vaccine shots.
During this ordeal, how was the family?
“My wife Sheila and all my family were scared when they heard about it. The thought of it having rabies made them more scared but I told them I was okay,” he said. “I told them not to be scared and that I wasn’t in any pain.” Sheila got on a plane from Kongiganak right away and flew to Bethel to be with her husband.
While in Bethel, Roderick got online and did some research on rabies.
“I went to the CDC website to check it out,” he said. “If it is not treated rabies is 100% fatal.”
Roderick would like to thank the YKDRH Emergency Room staff, Brek Steele for taking the wolf and making sure it got tested, the doctors and nurses for their care, and his brother Eric, Glen Ivon, and Cassius Brown.
“It didn’t notice me when it was trotting towards my brother,” he said, thinking back. “It could have been a surprise attack.”
We asked if he would go back out there again.
“Of course, but only with a gun, even around the camp,” said Roderick.

Public invited to launch of Early Learning Activity Guides in Yup’ik
Fun, culturally relevant activities to help build babies’ brains

9-16-09

by Greg Lincoln

The public is invited to a free reception celebrating publication of early learning activity guides in Yup’ik (Mikelnguut Ayagmek Elluarrluki Anglivkallrat). The event will be held 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Lions Club in Bethel. Copies of the activity guides will be available free of charge.
Abbe Hensley, Executive Director of Best Beginnings, will be on hand at the reception to personally launch distribution of the new guides. The book launch event is being coordinated by Dolly Vasquez, Early Childhood Coordinator, Lower Kuskokwim School District.
The activity guides contain fun, culturally relevant activities to help babies’ brains grow in ways that will help them succeed in school and in life. There are three guides, one for each of three age ranges: infant (birth to 18 months), toddler (18 months to 3 years), and preschooler (ages 3 to 5).
The guides were funded by grants from the Alaska Children’s Trust and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, with additional support from BP and ConocoPhillips Alaska.
All activities described in the books are based on the State of Alaska’s Early Learning Guidelines, developed by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
Activities for the Yup’ik version were reviewed by Yup’ik educators for cultural relevance, with many new activities added and others modified or exchanged. All translations were done by Marie Meade, a Yup’ik translator originally from Nunapitchuk, who now lives in Anchorage.
Last year, Best Beginnings published activity books in Spanish, and an English version came out earlier this year.
The guides are designed to assist parents, and other adults who work with babies and young children, in understanding child development and offering fun activities that encourage healthy brain development. The activities are geared to specific developmental stages.
Research shows that children’s brains develop at an incredible rate from birth to age 6 and that the type of learning which takes place in the early years has a profound effect on how children fare later in life.
Suggested activities in multiple languages are posted regularly on Best Beginnings’ Web site (www.BestBeginningsAlaska.org).

Yup’ik Bible translators meet to work on publishing goal

9-10-09

by Greg Lincoln

The Yup’ik Bible Translation team is making headway towards publishing the New Testament and they hope to have a completed product by the end of 2010.
The project, spearheaded by the Alaska Moravian Church and support members from the United and American Bible Societies, has been ongoing for several years. Most recently, the group met last week to review their work and to update their computers to make it easier to transfer.
They also worked on going down the list of words and phrases that they needed help translating with Bob Bascom of the United Bible Society.
Team members include Elsie Jimmie of Kwigillingok – who has taught Yup’ik for 25 years in Kwigillingok; Alice Fredson – Yup’ik teacher and Oral Historian; Jones Anaver of Kwigillingok, the project’s co-coordinator and also pastor of the Moravian church in Kwigillingok; Peter Green – Pastor of the Bethel Moravian Church and coordinator and the President of the Alaska Moravian church; Bob Bascom of the United Bible Society; and Brian Renes of the American Bible Society.
The new testament was published previously in the old Yup’ik orthography many decades ago. The team has been working on republishing it using the new writing system, which is more consistent than the old orthography, in which one word has been known to be written 5 different times.
Bascom, who speaks and understands Greek and Hebrew, is the bridge between Greek and Hebrew to the English language for the translators. Using Bascom’s vast knowledge of biblical times, they are able to make sense of what the words mean in English so they can accurately make the translation into Yup’ik.
An example the translators were unsure of was the meaning of the phrase “strong drink”.
“Strong drink is anything other than wine,” said Bascom. The translators were able to make an accurate translation into Yup’ik.
“You want to keep it accurate in Yup’ik but still easy to read,” he said.
Each line of translated material is translated back into English – known as “back translating”. Back translating allows Bascom to see if the translation is correct.
“It is important because Yup’ik is an ergative language,” he said. What does that mean? “It means that Yup’ik treats objects like English treats subjects. The word order is different in English than in Yup’ik.”
The team has been using the Revised Standard Version – due to its closeness to Hebrew; and the Good News Bible – due to its readability in English.
Brian Renes is tasked with computer checking of codes. Although he doesn’t speak or read Yup’ik, he makes sure that the words are kept consistent using a spell checker.
“He sees things that other people don’t see,” said Bascom. “Especially with the spell checks using word lists.”
The group still has lots of work ahead of them. Introductions and section headings will be added and also illustrations are a possibility. The team will meet again at a publishing camp next spring.
“We are ever pressing for the goal to see if we can get them ready by 2010,” said the team members.

City of Bethel hosts Town Hall meeting on local option law

9-1-09

by Greg Lincoln

A Town Hall meeting sponsored by the City of Bethel was held last Wednesday to discuss the petition to opt-out of the current Local Option “damp” status of Bethel.
The City Manager was asked by the Bethel City Council to have two Town Hall Meetings. The Council wanted the State Troopers and the Alcohol Beverage Control Board to be on the panel as well as someone from either side of the issue.
However, the sponsors of the petition and no one else knew how the meeting would be put together as of 2:00PM on the day of the meeting.
“We want to make sure the people of Bethel know that the Petition Sponsors did not set up this meeting,” said Tom Hawkins, one of the sponsors of the petition. “We only attended the meeting as any other citizen could have done.”
The meeting was opened to anyone in the public and was to have representatives from the Alcohol Beverage Control Board, and the Alaska State Troopers in attendance along with the sponsors. However, no one from the opposition or from the State showed up at the meeting.
“I would like to explain some of the misinterpretations I think that some of our citizens have about basically the liquor application,” said Tom Hawkins, one of the main sponsors and resident of Bethel.
“There is a serious misunderstanding in our community about the petition.”
Most of Hawkins’ time at the meeting was spent explaining that the issue is not about the sale of alcohol in Bethel.
“The issue is about the right of the citizens to choose for ourselves here in Bethel how we control alcohol issues,” he said.
The major thrust of his statements had to do with the right of choice.
“I spent very little time on the application to the State for a liquor license,” he said of the meeting. “I did explain the process but it would be better for the ABC Board to fully explain the process.”
Hawkins said that the misinterpretation is that if the petition passes, the town will go “wet”. He said that is not the case.
According to Representative Bob Herron, who was present at the meeting, under the Local Option Law there is “dry” and then there are variations of “damp” under Title 4, but the term “wet” is not part of local option.
“The Executive Director of the Alcohol Beverage Control Board said that there is no such thing as ‘wet’,” said Herron. “The actual term is ‘unrestricted’. That is what it is.”
The reason that Aniak and other communities are not local option is that they’ve never had a local option vote, as Rep. Herron further explained. The minute you take a vote, you fall under some local option.
Rep. Herron furthermore said to ask the ABC Board where that would put them, to see if they are truly no longer local option, if the petition passes.
Hawkins also explained that opting out would mean no more restrictions on importing alcohol into Bethel - such as having to label the packages on booze shipments, the database, and even the limits on how much you can import into Bethel would be eliminated.
“If we vote out of local option, then it will be the citizens that make the choice whether they have alcohol sales or not,” Hawkins said. “The city of Aniak is a prime example. There is no local option status in Aniak and they have been operating on the same level as the city Bethel has forever for 30 years. We can call it damp, there are no sales of alcohol in Aniak, but you can ship it in as we can here in Bethel. But Aniak is not subject to the database or the markings restrictions that I know of because those restrictions come right out of the local option status.”
“Those small things would go away,” he said. “But the large issues would still be under the control of the citizens of Bethel if we were to opt out. It would be our choice as to what we did. We would vote for it, not the State.”
What about bootleggers?
“If there is a problem with bootlegging and we can’t get a handle on it we need to bring in all enforcement necessary,” said Hawkins.
The petitioners of the opt-out ballot initiative are not in support of sales of alcohol in the City of Bethel, Hawkins said.
“We would be in a limbo status, which in our opinion put us right where we want to be,” said Hawkins. “We wouldn’t be under the thumb of the State. And if we decided to make changes, we would make those changes ourselves in the city of Bethel.”
There will be another Town Hall meeting on this issue on September 23, 2009 from 6pm-8pm at the Log Cabin in Bethel and it is free for all citizens to attend. Voters are also encouraged to register and come out and vote on October 6, 2009.

Secretary of Commerce
approves Fisheries Plan for Arctic

8-27-09

by Greg Lincoln

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke today approved a plan to prohibit the expansion of commercial fishing in federal Arctic waters until researchers gather sufficient information on fish and the Arctic marine environment to prevent adverse impacts of commercial harvesting activity on the ecosystem.
“As Arctic sea ice recedes due to climate change, there is increasing interest in commercial fishing in Arctic waters,” said Locke. “We are in a position to plan for sustainable fishing that does not damage the overall health of this fragile ecosystem. This plan takes a precautionary approach to any development of commercial fishing in an area where there has been none in the past.”
The Arctic Fishery Management Plan, approved last Thursday, will be implemented through regulations to be published in the Federal Register. Fisheries managers have identified Arctic cod, saffron cod, and snow crab as likely initial target species for commercial fishing in the region.
The plan governs any future commercial fishing for finfish and shellfish in federal waters, except Pacific salmon and Pacific halibut, which are managed under other authorities. It does not affect fisheries for salmon, whitefish and shellfish in Alaskan waters near the Arctic shore. The fishery management plan also does not affect subsistence fishing or hunting in the Arctic.
Under the plan, in any new Arctic fisheries that may be approved in the future:
• Fishermen will be required to keep records that will help determine catch, production, effort, price, and other information necessary for conservation and management
• Fishermen may be required to carry certified fisheries observers on board in order to verify catch quantity and composition, track at-sea discards, and collect biological information on marine resources
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA’s Fisheries Service will establish prescribed procedures before authorizing a future fishery, and will monitor and adjust the plan periodically. These adjustments might include annual total allowable catch levels and in-season adjustments through gear modifications, closures, fishing area restrictions, and quota restrictions.
In 2006, the council began considering options for fishery management in the Arctic. The council talked extensively with communities on Alaska's North Slope and other stakeholders to consider management options. The council voted to prohibit commercial fisheries until researchers gather sufficient information on fish and the Arctic marine environment.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

U.S. Secretaries hold
Town Hall meeting in Bethel

8-21-09

by Greg Lincoln

Four members of President Obama’s cabinet held a town hall meeting in Bethel last Wednesday as part of the administration’s Rural Tour. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan along with Senator Mark Begich blew through Bethel for a quick stop before heading on to Hooper Bay.
This tour was one of many into America’s rural areas, which began July 1st. After a weather delay, the meeting was shortened and the round table discussions were omitted to allow for more time for questions from the floor.
The Ayaprun Immersion students opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Yuuyaraq plege all in Yup’ik. Paul John of Toksook Bay gave the Invocation and Bethel’s Traditional Chief Peter Jacobs gave a welcome speech to the visitors.
Also welcoming the visitors was Orutsaramiut Chairman Ray Watson who in his welcoming address said the trip reminded him of Senator Ted Kennedy’s visit in 1971, which resulted in improvements to housing in the region.
Each Secretary was given time for opening comments.
“I’ve never been to Alaska. I was so excited I couldn’t sleep, “ said Secretary Vilsack. “I was about to embark on the most incredible days of my life – to see a part of the world I had never seen and to go to Alaska, this incredible country that you have.”
Sec. Vilsack announced to the assembled crowd $132 million in new funding for Native American and Alaskan housing across the country, bringing the total invested to $500 million dollars. The total to Alaska being over 78 million dollars, with 5 million going to the Association of Village Council Presidents, Inc. and $5 million to Mtn. Village. “This help we believe is a new beginning and a new partnership between the Obama Administration and Alaskan natives to improve your housing conditions.”
The audience was given a chance to ask questions and were given a 3 minute time limit. Barb Angaiak, the President of NEA Alaska requested that the No Child Left Behind Act be changed for Alaska.
“The requirements of NCLB include letters to be sent to parents of students whose teachers who do not meet the definition of highly qualified,” she said. “This is punitive and demoralizing for the teacher and destroys the confidence on the part of the community members that those who work with their children can do the job. It is next to impossible in schools for teacher in schools with as few as 10 students to be highly qualified in every subject, we need help.”
“When we reauthorize the new law, it will be the law of the land. We will fix what is broken, and keep what is working,” said Secretary Duncan. “The idea of having more people from the culture from the community into teaching is a very important one - grow your own programs, and being committed to community is hugely important. …We are happy to work with you on that.”
Maryanne Mills, the Kenaitze Indian Tribal Chair expressed concern over the effects of global warming and what it is doing to the beluga whales of Cook Inlet, and that Alaska was being “treated like any other 3rd world country by the mining, oil, and military industrial complexes”.
“Climate change is having a direct impact on the physical and psychological health of our people. As you travel today you will see poverty and conditions comparable to that of third world countries. We are a subsistence people who rely on the earth for sustenance and we can longer hunt and fish,” said Mills. “In some Alaska villages our people pay as much as 15 dollars a gallon for fuel while oil companies make record profits and pour metric tons of gas into the air. These hydrocarbons are causing asthma and other health problems and impacting climate change. We request strong climate legislation with a solid cap on emissions.”
Secretary Chu said that he couldn’t agree with her more. “I’m absolutely with you.”
Matthew Nicolai, President of Calista, the profit corporation for the region made a comment on the importance of funding the Denali Commission for bulk tank repairs, addressing the water/sewer problem, and funding for rural airports.
“The airport issue – it is a lifeline to our people,” said Nicholai. “There is still an need for $238 million dollars, I hope the Obama Administration can address these issues with us. We need that money.”
Myron Naneng, President of AVCP, addressing the fact that the Department of Agriculture is a member of the Federal Subsistence Board, requested that the responsibility of the management of subsistence resources given to the State of Alaska needs to be reviewed.
“I think that too much credence should not be given to State of Alaska because their managements programs are not being condusive and helpful,” he said. “When our people in our villages catch only 100 salmon for food that they provide for our elders, they end up being considered criminals. That is not fair, especially in the United States. There definitely needs to be a review of their assessment.”
Secretary Vilsack replied that these issue are unique to Alaska and that the reason they came was to learn about unique circumstances.
The next comment from the floor came from Nick Tucker Sr. of Emmonak, who brought forth to the nation the plight of his village last winter when folks were faced with choosing between food or fuel to heat their homes.
“We’ve always been natives of strength, courage, stamina, and we don’t want to lose that. We almost did but now we have hope because you have come here that letting us know that you care and if people in our villages shouldn’t have to cry for food and heating fuel and wondering when their next meal is going to be, or if they are going to be warm for the evening,” he said. “We are lucky to have two cultures. And at the same time we do not want to be a burden to our country. We are strong people that can contribute and pay taxes. If we are given the opportunity.”
Other questions were also asked regarding funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund projects to help clean villages; addressing the extreme social problems in rural Alaska; reinstating aboriginal hunting and fishing rights for Alaskan Natives; doing something about bringing the price of fuel down in rural Alaska, and improving broadband in rural areas.
“Thank you and all of Alaska for what you give to this great nation,” said the Secretaries during their closing thankyous. “Sometimes those of us who live in the lower 48 fail to recognize the contribution that you make to our economy - culturally, environmentally, and to the economy. We go back to Washington with a greater knowledge and understanding of you hopefully we will be a stronger partner.”

Obama’s cabinet members to visit Bethel

8-13-09

by Greg Lincoln

Rural Tour events planned for Bethel on August 12th, 2009 include the arrival of Energy Secretary - Steven Chu, HUD Secretary - Shaun Donovan, Education Secretary - Arne Duncan, Interior Secretary - Ken Salazar (cancelled) and Agriculture Secretary - Tom Vilsack to discuss rural infrastructure, green jobs and a new energy economy, as well as climate change.
Forty staff people are also expected to arrive. The meetings will be held at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center and the Kuskokwim Community College.
Town Hall Tentative Agenda
9:00-10:30am Meet with Public
10:30-11:00 Press Conference
11:00-12:00 Break-out Sessions (might be invitation only)
The Secretaries are scheduled to fly out for short tour of Hooper Bay. US Senator Mark Begich will also attend the Town Hall Meeting.
Also on Wednesday, Governor Parnell will be the guest speaker for the Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the VIP Restaurant. He will NOT be accepting questions from the floor. Rather, prepared questions will be used. In order to submit a question, please send your question to the Chamber Board.

Flags lowered
for Lu Young

8-06-09

by Greg Lincoln

Our hearts were saddened when we heard of the passing of Lu Young, the loving wife of Alaska’s U.S. Representative Don Young. She passed away in her sleep on August 1st. She was 67. Every time we’ve had the privilege to be around her, her steadfast and devoted support to her husband was constant and commendable. Our condolences and prayers go out to all who feel this great loss.
In honor and memory of Lu Young, Governor Sean Parnell has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, August 4. “Lu and Representative Young have been a team for decades,” Governor Parnell said. “Sandy and I have admired their bond of friendship in marriage and the years of volunteer service Lu put into his congressional office. Our thoughts and prayers are with Representative Young and his family during this painful time. Lu will be truly missed.”
Lu and Don Young had been married for more than 46 years. They have two daughters and 14 grandchildren.
Flags will be raised the following day. Tua-i-ngunrituq.

Bethel Fire Station’s roof
on verge of collapse

7-30-09

by Greg Lincoln

The Bethel Fire Station’s roof is in dire need of repair – it is so bad that a structural engineering assessment done on July 17, 2009 deemed it to be “in a state of imminent danger of collapse, unsafe for occupancy, and (is) a significant threat to life and safety.”
The report was done by Bratslavsky Consulting Engineers, Inc.
The decay is caused by years of water damage to the firehouse’s bearing walls, shear walls, floor joists and plywood, and roof trusses – from moisture trapped by insulating foam applied during construction in the early 1980s.
The City of Bethel currently has an FY 2009 State of Alaska Legislative grant in the amount of $1,200,000.00 for the replacement of the fire station roof. However, a 12,000 square foot facility to replace the existing structure is expected to cost $7,800,120.00.
A resolution supporting a request for necessary funding to assist in the replacement of the current inhabitable situation is on the agenda for the City Council’s July 28, 2009 meeting – and making the replacement project the City of Bethel’s #1 priority. Council member Thor Williams is introducing the resolution.
Newly seated Governor Sean Parnell is aware of the situation having toured the fire station in January 2008 during a visit to speak to the Bethel Chamber of Commerce – even crawling underneath the floor to have a look.
City Manager Lee Foley in a letter to Parnell requesting immediate help from the State of Alaska stated, “You have seen our building, been underneath it, and noted the flooring problems. Coupled with this most recent engineering assessment, the situation is now catastrophic…”
The fire station currently houses training rooms, a berthing area for station personnel, fire engines, water tankers, aerial apparatus, and other equipment. The crew responds to approximately 800 ambulance calls and 130 reported fires per year for the 5,656 population town of Bethel.
The City is hoping that the new administration will consider the plight of the people of Bethel and work with the legislature to see if there is any way to secure funding for this project.

Bethel bans plastic shopping bags

7-21-09

by Greg Lincoln

Plastic grocery bags are soon to be banned in Bethel after the City Council voted in favor of an ordinance to prohibit the use of non-biodegradable plastic carry-out bags. Also to be banned under the new ordinance are polystyrene (Styrofoam) take-out containers widely used by Bethel restaurants.
The new ordinance will take effect on September 1st, 2010.
The vote came during the July 14, 2009 regular city council meeting for Ordinance 09-12, which was introduced by Council member Beverly Hoffman. The vote was 4-yes and 2-no. Council member Thor Williams and Vice Mayor Eric Middlebrook cast the dissenting votes – Williams felt that since the community reversed a similar ordinance after the council voted for it in the past, the public should be the ones to make that decision. Middlebrook voted no because of concerns regarding the lower quality of the biodegradable bags, and he also felt it should be a public vote. Council member Dan Leinberger asked to be excused from voting due to a conflict of interest since he owns a business in Bethel that sells supplies to local restaurants.
During the public hearing on the ordinance during the June 9, 2009 meeting, 2 people testified for it. No one from the public testified against it.
Bethel joins Aniak and other delta communities in banning plastic carry-out bags.

H1N1 Flu Virus found in Bethel

7-15-09

by Greg Lincoln

This magnified image of the H1N1 Flu Virus was taken by the CDC Influenza Laboratory. A pandemic - meaning that this virus has now spread worldwide - has been declared for swine flu.

Two people in Bethel have tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, also known as “swine flu”. One of the cases was seen on June 16 and the other on June 23rd and the results just got back.
Southwest Alaska was the last area to get “official” cases of the novel H1N1 Influenza.
The State of Alaska Health & Social Services Department’s newest information on how many new cases in Alaska was released on July 8, 2009. The highest number of cases for swine flu is in the Anchorage/Mat-Su area with 87. There have been no deaths from the H1N1 virus in Alaska.
What about the rumors of quarantined sick people with swine flu?
“There is no quarantine,” said Public Health Nurse Elsie Westman of Bethel. “Even household members of a sick person don’t have to stay home. Just the ones who are sick have to stay home and take care of themselves.”
Any flu that health officials see will be considered H1N1, said Westman, since it is happening off-season. October – March is usually when seasonal flu occurs, and that has not been seen in any of the recent tests.
Health officials have decided to suspend testing for the swine flu virus.
“They don’t think they can stop it, it is too widespread,” Westman said. “But right now it is very mild.”

Bethel Community Garden

6-24-09

by Greg Lincoln

The new Community Garden, adjacent to Osage Street in Pinky’s Park, is ready for planting. The garden is approximately 150’ x 150’ square with a 6’ tall cyclone fence surrounding it. There are a total of 50 rows in the garden and 15 are available for folks who would like their own row. We met Chef Callahan who is the new cook at YKHC at the garden. He was busy planting lettuce, herbs, potatoes, cabbage, onions and beets. Before coming to Bethel, he cooked for and served troops from 10 different countries in Afghanistan at a NATO base. Welcome to Bethel!
The community garden was made possible with a grant from the YKHC Diabetes Prevention Program and other in-kind support from the City of Bethel Parks and Rec Dept. and the Public Works Dept., the Cooperative Extension Service, and plant starts from Dave Trantham. Quyana!

Bethel residents weigh in on Statewide Energy Plan
Many disappointed by loss of Federal Stimulus Funds for Energy Projects

6-5-09

by Greg Lincoln

The fourth in a series of field hearings on a statewide energy plan was held by the House Special Committee on Energy in Bethel last Thursday. A total of ten state representatives took part in the hearing.
The meeting, originally dated for February 28, 2009 was cancelled due to icy runway conditions and bad weather. Before the meeting, the guest legislators took a Blackhawk helicopter ride to Kasigluk to tour the new wind turbines before doing a flyover over the village of Kwethluk, who had experienced flooding during breakup.
The energy hearing commenced at 1pm at Bethel City Council chambers, which was filled to capacity – folks were also sitting out in the lobby area, waiting to testify. The hearing was broadcast on KYUK Radio.
“Rural Alaskans are really enthusiastic that we’re working on a statewide energy plan,” said Energy Co-chair Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham. “Energy costs have skyrocketed across the state but in areas like Bethel, it’s a choice between heat and other necessities. Rural Alaskans want a viable energy plan – not a handout.”
“Our field hearings give rural residents the opportunity to participate directly in the legislative process,” said Co-chair Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage. “140 dollar oil brought rural and urban Alaskans together to push for a statewide energy plan.”
Several Bethel residents testified they were dismayed when Governor Sarah Palin vetoed $28.6 million in federal stimulus funds for weatherization and renewable energy projects. They encouraged the committee to work with the governor to accept the energy funds for the good of the entire state.
Those testifying included Calista Corporation’s Bob Charles, YKHC’s CEO Gene Peltola, AVCP President Myron Naneng, AVEC President Meera Kohler, and many community members. Many testified on the high cost of fuel, the recent flooding, the high price of air transportation, and the cost of health care.
The House Special Committee on Energy will travel to Fairbanks next month and more communities throughout the year while it continues to take a leadership role in the legislature on building the framework for a statewide energy plan.
The committee also sponsored legislation to create a new state department of energy last session.
Speaker of the House Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, and House Finance Co-chair Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, attended the hearing. Representative Bob Herron, D-Bethel, also participated and welcomed his colleagues to his hometown.

Old Glory retires
Bethel Boy Scouts perform Flag Ceremony

5-19-09

by Greg Lincoln

The Operation Military Kids Camp conducted a flag ceremony at 12:15pm last Saturday at the Log Cabin. Everyone was invited to come and observe putting old Glory to rest. The ceremony can only be conducted by the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and most people have not seen this done.
Two flags were chosen for retirement. One of the flags had flown over the Bethel Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The other had flown over the Bethel City Offices.
During the Burning Ceremony, Boy Scout members from Bethel Troop #556 – Luke Harrison, Zack Harrison, Bailie McCallson, and Troy McCallson assisted each other in cutting away each stripe before placing it in the fire.
“It was cool,” said Troy McCallson who said he was excited to learn that he was chosen to participate.
The rings from the flags were given in honor to Sam Shields of the American Legion and to Minnie Sallison-Fritts of the American Legion Auxiliary. The ashes from the flags will be buried at the Bethel Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Below is what each strip represents, read by Ronda Sargent, before being placed in the fire:
1st stripe: The 13 stripes stand for the original 13 colonies which are: Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey.
2nd stripe: The white stands for purity.
3rd stripe: The red stands for courage.
4th stripe: “Give me liberty or give me death”
5th stripe: “One if by land, two if by sea.”
6th stripe: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.
7th stripe: We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal. They are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
8th stripe: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
9th stripe: Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or press.
10th stripe: “Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth to this continent a new nation.”
11th stripe: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
12th stripe: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
13th stripe: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The Blue and Stars: The symbol of the 50 states and the blue union is never cut reminding us to never let the union be broken.
The ceremony was concluded with the national anthem and "Taps".
Operation Military Kids Camp is a National Guard and 4-H Program for children of deployed National Guard parents and community youth ages 9 to 15 years old. Quyana!

Spring Flooding

5-14-09

by Greg Lincoln

This report is from the State of Alaska DMVA, released on May 10, 2009.
• Flooding continues in Akiak. With assistance from the Alaska Council of Village Presidents and the Kuskokwim River Watch team the community pre-evacuated 37 at-risk individuals to Bethel. Those remaining in the community have taken shelter in the school. On Saturday, Lt. Governor Sean Parnell and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) Director John Madden visited Akiak to meet with villagers and evaluate the State’s response.
• Most residents of Stevens Village pre-evacuated. Twenty people remain in Stevens to perform emergency protective measures.
• Three River Watch teams are conducting aerial observations on the Upper Yukon, Middle Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. The River Watch teams report active flooding in Stevens on the Yukon River and in Akiak on the Kuskokwim River.
• Akiak requested and received diesel fuel, a diesel transfer pump, potable water, food, and other items. DHS&EM has dispatched a satellite phone for emergency communications in Akiak.
• The Alaska Army National Guard has dispatched four 400 gallon water tanks to Eagle. Two water tanks will depart from Fairbanks and two from Anchorage. The tanks will be filled in Tok.
• Response activities continue in Eagle. State, non-profit and tribal entities are providing assistance to flood victims. Preliminary damage assessments have begun.
• The American Red Cross of Alaska has opened a shelter in Eagle for residents who have been displaced. Red Cross disaster response volunteers have established operations at the Eagle Community School.
• The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation recommends that all residents boil their water prior to consumption in Aniak, Eagle, Circle, Ft. Yukon, Red Devil, Beaver and Stevens Village.
• New photos and information are available at ready.alaska.gov. Go to 2009 Spring Breakup Flood Event Information web page.
• The State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) activation status is level 4.
• Those who want to make donations are encouraged to make cash donations to established charities. Cash donations are the most effective way to help those in need. Contact AKVOAD at (907) 351-9455 www.akvoad.com or the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).
• The National Weather Service River Forecast Center has issued Flood Warnings and Flood Watches for several areas of the state. For current information go to www.aprfc.arh.noaa.gov.
• The Department of Natural Resources has delivered four porta-potties to the Eagle Community School.
• Flood warnings have been canceled for Beaver, McGrath and Ft. Yukon.

Subsistence hunters to aid Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta’s Avian Flu surveillance effort

4-29-09

by Greg Lincoln

The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE) will collaborate for the fourth consecutive year to screen for the Highly Pathogenic H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza in migratory birds arriving on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
The goal is to collect a total of 3,000 samples throughout the spring subsistence-hunting season. Ten villages have been selected for the study: Chefornak, Eek, Emmonak, Hooper Bay, Kipnuk, Kotlik, Kwethluk, Pilot Station, Toksook Bay and Quinhagak. The villages were chosen based on their geographical location and the species of birds typically hunted for subsistence.
The USFWS identified 29 priority species that they are most interested in obtaining samples from. The species were selected based on their migratory patterns traveling through areas known to have Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza detected in domesticated birds.
Hunters in the selected villages are asked to bring subsistence-caught birds to their designated village Testing Manager. Two swabs will be taken from each bird and then returned to the hunter. For participating in the surveillance effort, two twelve-gauge shotgun shells will be given for each bird sampled.
There have been no cases of the Highly Pathogenic H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza virus detected anywhere in Alaska or the United States. In addition, there have been no cases of a person contracting the H5N1 virus from wild birds. The USFWS and OEHE will continue their surveillance for any possibility of the virus surfacing in Alaska.
YKHC will be providing regular updates to the people of the YK Delta about the surveillance efforts, including prompt notification of any positive identification of the H5N1 virus.
When handling wild game, YKHC encourages the following safe handling procedures:
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning birds.
• Wash your hands and knife thoroughly with soap after cleaning or handling any birds or eggs.
• Cook wild birds or eggs thoroughly before eating them.

Bethel skier makes overland trek to Dillingham

4-22-09

by Greg Lincoln

Bethel resident Tomas Israelsson recently completed an overland ski trip from Bethel to Dillingham. His friend Eric Whitney provided snowmachine support. Eric Whitney provided a quick interview with The Delta Discovery to talk about their adventure.
How did this trip come about? Tomas Israelsson’s. It was his idea. He had been building a cabin for Myron on Chuakkaituli (sp) and conceived the idea one night.
How long did it take you to go from Bethel to Dillingham? The trip took 14 days with 4 days of rest.
How were the snow conditions? The snow was about 10 to 12 feet deep and the passage between Chuckuminid Lake to Chuakaktuli was a challenge. The deep snow and trees were tough to get through. The trees had less snow around them (tree wells). Getting the snowmachine stuck into one of them could mean 4 hours with a shovel.
How was the terrain/scenery? To Hart Lake it was mostly tundra and some mountains. Past that the scenery was very impressive with steep mountains and lots of snow.
Did you see any wildlife? We saw moose, caribou, short-eared owls, rabbits, fox, and many many ptarmigan. We also saw golden eye ducks. They stay all winter on the rivers between the Tikchik Lakes, but strange for us to see coming from Bethel.
How many miles per day did you cover? Tomas skied about 20 plus miles a day.
How was the cold? We used an Arctic oven tent with a small stove in it. We could have it 50 degrees inside in about 25 minutes from starting to set it up. It was very nice to get into a warm dry tent especially for Tomas after skiing 7 to 9 hours a day. We had one morning where the temp was -15 to -20 and that was a bit cold and slow for skiing, but we had no problems.
What did you eat? A typical day would start by waking up and starting the fire in the tent, wait for it to warm up, have breakfast, put up camp, and get going by 9 or 10. Of course we had to have coffee before leaving. Swedish tradition is to make coffee very strong but have a smaller cup. We would pack up camp and Tomas would start skiing. I would have usually go in front of him about 5 miles or so, and wait to see how it was going and have tea. While waiting I would go skiing or snowshoeing, or climb up a mountain and sled back down. We would keep doing that ‘til Tomas wanted to set up camp. We had many burritos cooked on the muffler for lunches.
What kind of snowmachine did you use? I drove a Ski Doo Tundra with a 4-stroke V800 engine. The long track (156 inch) and wider skis made it work very well in the deep snow.
Was it challenging to stay on course? We had a satellite phone and a satellite locator device that we could use to send people our location by email at any time. I used Garmin GPS and maps for navigation. We had plotted a course with the GPS before leaving and it turned out to be a good one with some minor changes.
Would you recommend this adventure to anyone? You should be in good shape to do this trip even by snowmachine. Using a rowing machine is a good way to get in shape for a trip like this. Bring a shovel and snowshoes if you go, and a camera.
Would you do it again? This was fantastic trip and I would do it again. However, I would recommend to anyone to make sure that the Milk River was well frozen before going that way.
How was the trail on the trip home? On the way back I went on the coast route. The trails were very good on the way home.
Is there anyone you would like to acknowledge? I’d like to thank my wife for letting me be gone for two weeks. Had some guidance from Chris from Manokotak and Thomas Dock of Togiak to find the local trails. It was a great help. And Robert Sundown met me in Quinhagak on the way back.
Quyana!

Happy Easter!!!

4-14-09

by Greg Lincoln

Happy Easter everyone! We hope you enjoyed this special holiday. Piurci!

Expected low return of

Canadian-origin Chinook salmon in 2009

4-9-09

by Greg Lincoln

The Yukon River Panel, established by the US/Canada Yukon River Salmon Agreement, met in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory from March 25 through 28, 2009. The focus of the meeting was to review the outlook for 2009 salmon returns, establish specific escapement guidelines for the management of the Chinook and fall chum salmon stocks in 2009, and discuss potential fishery management actions to ensure Chinook salmon escapement goals will be achieved during the upcoming season. The Panel also made funding decisions regarding Yukon River restoration and enhancement projects for 2009.
Based on data compiled by the Panel’s Joint Technical Committee, the 2009 Chinook salmon run is anticipated to be below average to poor. The Panel review of the Chinook salmon run outlook found that conservation of these salmon stocks will require very conservative management measures in 2009 to ensure an adequate return of Chinook salmon into Canada. Fishery managers are gathering input from local fishermen regarding salmon management strategies and options to assist in getting adequate numbers of Canadian-origin Chinook salmon to the spawning grounds. The Panel also has initiated an outreach effort to obtain recommendations from resource users prior to the 2009 fishing season on measures that may be used to conserve Chinook salmon while having the least impact on subsistence uses. This is a challenging endeavor which is extremely important for sustaining future runs.
During the March meeting, the Panel discussed the draft environmental impact statement on bycatch of Chinook salmon in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. The Panel will reiterate its concern to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council regarding marine catches of Yukon salmon stocks and urge action by the Council to take all measures necessary to reduce bycatch to low levels at the Council’s meeting in early April.
Since the signing of the Yukon Agreement in 2002, the Yukon River Panel has set an example for cooperation in the sharing and management of international salmon stocks. The Panel, which operates under the umbrella of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, consists of 12 Alaska and Yukon Territory residents throughout the Yukon River system, and is supported by regional advisers and scientists and managers from Canadian and United States agencies. Through a Restoration and Enhancement Fund program, the Panel has allocated over $2 US million since 2002 to community-based projects, including stewardship projects, directly supporting the management and recovery of Yukon River salmon stocks originating in Canada. For 2009, the Panel approved approximately $1 million (US) in projects for salmon and habitat restoration and enhancement in Alaska and Yukon Territory. The community-based projects include a subsistence fishery monitoring project in Ruby, Alaska and projects in communities within the Yukon drainage in the Yukon Territory, both along the Yukon River mainstem and in tributaries such as the Porcupine River. Community projects will take place in Dawson City, Mayo, Old Crow, Teslin, and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Other restoration and enhancement projects involve the application of technologies to support fishery management. Projects include advanced genetic stock identification technology and salmon run counting techniques using sonar stations at the US-Canada border and within the Canadian portion of the system. All of these activities have assisted fisheries management and the monitoring of attainment of salmon population escapement objectives set by the Panel.

Quyana
Cama-i 2009

4-1-09

by Greg Lincoln

Congratulations to the Cama-i 2009 Committees, volunteers, elders, dancers, and craft vendors for putting on another successful festival. We sincerely appreciate all the work that you do for us to have this event.
Visitors from all over attend this festival such as Patricia Bulitt (pronounced Beu-let). Patricia is a dance ethnologist from Berekely, CA who has attended several Cama-i’s throughout the years. She first came to Alaska in 1977 and to Bethel in 1980 to do a dance movement residency at Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat. Throughout the years her work has brought her all over Alaska to wherever she was invited to teach dance.
In 2001, she helped build a project in Hooper Bay called “Their Eyes Have Seen the Old Dances” – an exhibition of photos by James Barker. Kirt Bell, now deceased, was the elder who organized the Eskimo dance for the exhibit. The text for the project was taken from field recordings that Patricia collected from 1981 – 2001.
“It was very important to me that I not curate the photos but that the people in Hooper Bay would vote on which ones they wanted,” she said. “It would be a permanent gift to their Traditional Council.”
Also in 1981, before Cama-i came into existence, Patricia helped the Bethel Council on the Arts discuss envisioning an Eskimo dance festival. She remembers during her travels an absence of native dance activity in some places, but she always believed in the power of dance coming back.
“It is so beautiful to see it thriving,” said Patricia while attending this year’s Cama-i. “It’s a dream come true to see all the dance.”
To preserve her memories, Patricia signed up to be interviewed by StoryCorp where she spoke about her experiences as a dancer in Alaska. Quyana!

2009 Yukegtaaraat TWC Honorees

3-26-09

by Greg Lincoln

Every year since 2002, the Tundra Women’s Coalition has honored special people for their contributions to their families, friends, and to the communities of the YK Delta. This year TWC is honoring three Yukegtaaraat: George Billy of Napakiak, Mary Pete of Bethel, and Lillian Kiunya of Kwigillingok.
TWC hosted the 8th Annual Yukegtaaraat Celebration on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 to recognize the three honorees. The celebration banquet with silent auction was made possible by many generous sponsors and volunteers. The honorees are as follows:
Nacailnguq George Billy
Nacailnguq was born in the spring of 1923 in a settlement known as Nanvarnarrlak, located some miles above the village of Nunapitchuk. Years later he recalls another settlement in the vicinity of Nunapitchuk where his mother and paternal grandfather had relocated. The tiny settlement along the branch of the Johnson River is known as Qurrlurpak, which refers to the slough. While living in this settlement, Nac’ remembers a time where his mother remarried and left him to live with his grandfather along with other young male relatives. Although the loss of his mother has never been forgotten in a discouraging sense, he has many wonderful memories of his grandfather, Kepuqaciq, who cared for him and taught him all of his hunting and survival skills in his elderly age.
Nacailnguq moved to Napakiak in 1949 when he married Elsie, his late wife and mother of his children. Together Elsie and Nac’ raised 8 children and later adopted their granddaughter into their family and raised her as well. In the years passing, Nac’ has lost his wife to a terminal illness and three of children to unforeseen deaths. Despite losses and traumas that Nac’ has experienced, he has stayed sober and has been a role model and mentor for many, many people in the Delta.
He recollects holding odd jobs especially in the summer; unloading merchandise and goods from barges and working at the Jung’s Trading Post as an all around handyman. He was also a commercial fisherman in the Togiak region in the early 60’s and later in the 70’s; he fished commercially in the Kuskokwim area.
The one most important to him that he holds dearly and close to his heart for many, many years is his service to the Lord. He remembers his first calling; he had just moved to Napakiak and during an annual voting period, the congregants voted him to be one of the Young People Leaders and from them on up until today he has held church leader positions.
Nacailnguq is well known in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta for his constant and unwavering faith in the Lord, as well as his knowledge of the Yup’ik traditions and culture. Many occasions he has been invited to speak on subjects pertaining to the aforementioned areas in this region both in faith and secular organizations. He has been and still is one of the first people to respond to trauma as well as celebrations in the village of Napakiak. His genuine concern and choice of words are of utmost importance to families and individuals he counsels. Just his presence without words is very comforting. It takes a handshake for one to perceive Nacailnguq’s humbleness.
In his spare time, he carves small traditional utensis; ipuun (ladle), passin (pestle), and storyknives. Many of his creations are given as gifts to families and individuals across the Delta. His other pastime passion is reading the Good Book, knowledge and wisdom gained from this is also shared with children and families whenever opportunity arises – school visits, feasts, gatherings, workshops, stores, etc.
Nacailnguq is upheld by his faith in the Lord and hope in people to heal from negative experiences and attain healthy lifestyles both physically and spiritually.
Mary Ciuniq Pete
Mary Ciuniq Pete is a strong leader, an educator, an advocate, and a mother. Since 2003, Mary has been working as the Director of University of Alaska Kuskokwim Campus. She works hard to ensure quality collegiate education is available to students in rural Alaska communities.
Mary served on the board of TWC from 1984-1987. In 1985, she was appointed to the Alaska Women’s Commission. From ’87-’91 she served on the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and was reappointed by the governor in ’89 and ’97. Mary has served as an expert witness to several child sexual abuse cases and as the state’s expert in a civil case challenging law governing treatment of domestic violence/sexual assault victims by defense attorneys and investigators.
Mary was elected to the Board of Directors of Stebbins Native Corporation in 2002 and continues to provide her knowledge and time to the corporation. Mary is also on the Board of Yuut Elitnaurviat (The People’s Learning Center). From 1996 to 2005, Mary was the Director of the Division of Subsistence for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, advocating for the research and protection of subsistence rights. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and a Master’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology. Mary is Yup’ik Eskimo and speaks and writes Central Yup’ik.
Mary has been with her husband Hubert Angaiak for over 30 years. They have 2 children, Conor (age 9) and Chase Fynn (age 5). Mary loves the subsistence lifestyle – cutting fish and picking berries. To her, picking berries is therapy. She loves reading and cooking. Mary has been described as a hard worker and a role model and is known to be humble, generous, and humorous.
Uliggaq Lillian Kiunya
Lillian was born in Bethel but has lived her entire life in Kwigillingok. She is the 6th child in a family of 12 children. After working on her GED, Lillian received her Rural Human Services Certificate in 2004. She completed her AAS in Human Services in 2005 and is currently working on her Bachelor’s in Social Work.
Lillian worked as a health aide for over 15 years. She has also served her community as an ICWA worker and is currently working as the School-Community Advocate for LKSD. Lillian is a Tribal Council member and for many years served on the child protection team – a volunteer duty she recently relinquished in order to fulfill her new duties with the Council. Lillian understands the impact substance abuse, child sexual abuse and domestic violence have on children. The impact of these early life experiences have lasting effects and can break the spirit of a person. Lillian is a strong advocate for healthy children and healthy families. She is also on the steering committee for the YK Delta’s Child Advocacy Center.
Lillian has been married to her husband Andrew for 32 years. They have 4 children: Jennifer, Jonathan, Darlene and Heidi. Lillian is known as “Granny Love” to her 5 grandchildren. She also has a grandchild on the way in June. When Lillian spends time in Bethel, her grandchildren keep her very busy. Lillian spends her free time knitting and in the summer is involved in subsistence activities with her kids and grandkids.
Lillian promotes a positive lifestyle that includes Yup’ik values and traditions. She believes that how we raise kids today will shape the leaders and advocates of the future. She is humbled by this award and is accepting this award in honor of all the children she serves, her mother and her great aunt, and all the teachers, elders and extended family that taught her along the way.
Past TWC Yukegtaaraat:
2008: Blanche Jacobs and Rep. Mary Nelson, Bethel
2007: Bing Santamour and Fr. Chuck Peterson, Bethel
2006: Sally Teeluk, Eek/Kotlik and Earl Samuelson, Napaskiak
2005: Bev Hoffman, Bethel
2004: Joan Hamilton, Bethel
2003: Julia Brown, Kongiganak
2002: Annie Lou Williams, Upper Kalskag

Alaska’s unemployment rate at 7.9 percent in January

3-18-09

by Greg Lincoln

Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 7.9 percent, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The rates for all 12 months of 2008 were revised as part of normal annual processing and December’s revised rate was 6.8 percent.
The large December to January increase is partly due to the revision process and the fact that revised data from a previous calendar year are not strictly comparable to rates in the current year. The rates are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the same basic methodology is used for all states.
What January’s rate suggests is that Alaska’s rates are continuing their upward trend and that the U.S. recession and global economic slowdown are affecting the state.
Payroll employment remained well above year-ago levels, however, indicating that the increase in unemployed people is mostly due to something other than job cuts by Alaska companies. January’s employment of 304,200 was up 5,200 from January 2008.
Some of that growth – about 1,200 jobs – is due to the timing of the University of Alaska’s pay schedule and the break between academic semesters. Still, Alaska’s payroll job counts have held up well so far in light of national job losses that reached 3.6 million in January.
One reason that Alaska has fared better than the nation so far is the state’s industry mix. Manufacturing jobs make up over a million of the total U.S. losses and most of those cuts have come from companies that manufacture durable goods – cars and trucks, machinery, and metal products, among other things.
Alaska has never had a significant number of those jobs to lose.
Construction jobs accounted for another 800,000 of the U.S. losses. Alaska has been losing a more modest share of its construction jobs since 2006, but for reasons unrelated to the sub-prime mortgage problems and related housing downturn. January’s estimated construction job count for Alaska was just 100 lower than in January 2008.

Getting your home energy audited

3-11-09

by Greg Lincoln

We met with Eric Whitney, a home energy rater here in Bethel. His services include Energy Audits, Certified Akwarm Energy Ratings, Blower-door Testing, and Thermal Imaging.
Can you please tell us about what you do? I am an energy rater and I work as an independent private contractor. I have an agreement with the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and I work under that agreement.
How long have you been doing this? Since September when I became an official energy rater.
How can people benefit from it your services? The biggest demand is from people who want to be in the Home Energy Rebate program. It is administered by the AHFC for the State of Alaska.
How does that work? First of all, there are two big state programs for improving homes. The first is the Weatherization Program which is for people who have 50% of median income or less– there’s charts posted online to see who qualifies. They could eventually get a lot of work done for free. I am not involved with that program, except to let people know about it. The people who administer the weatherization program in the Bethel area is AVCP. They are working on getting together crews to do weatherization - that is fixing up homes, adding insulation, replacing doors, improving ventilation.
The program that I am involved with is he Home Energy Rebate program – anybody who owns a home in Alaska can qualify for it. With that, people need to put up the money to do their own work or do it themselves. You need the “as is” rating and then you get a report that lists several improvement options that you can do to your house. You can pick any of the things to do on that report, as many as you want. Typically things that are on the reports include: add insulation to your walls, floor, ceiling, replace a boiler, windows, or doors. The biggest thing is to get rid of the electric water heater. If you have one now, you want to be in this program. You could change it out to an on-demand oil hot water maker or a boiler system with a boilermate with a heat loop that runs to make hot water. Those are good choices but you want to wait until you get in the program to make those changes.
After you complete the improvements to your house, you need to have a second rating, then you can apply for a reimbursement.
How does blower door testing work? It is part of the energy rating. It determines how leaky or how tightly constructed the house is. If it is too tight, you may need to add a heat recovery ventilation system that brings in fresh air to keep it healthy. It is not good to have a house that is too tight, you need fresh air.
How about thermal imaging? All objects radiate a certain amount of infrared, and depending on how warm they are they radiate more or less. The camera I have works to detect infrared radiation and converts it to a visible picture. It is transferred to an image so you can see the infrared radiation with different colors depending on the temperatures. The camera can be used to find flaws in the construction of houses and missing insulation. It might pick up a glycol leak, depending on what the temperature is outside.
Does the outside temperature matter? Wintertime is the best time to get the greatest results.
Does leveling a house qualify under the program? Leveling a house can qualify under the program if your energy rater makes that recommendation.
How long does it take to rate a house? I am usually there at the house for 2 – 3 hours. And then another 2 – 3 hours to write up the report. The best source of information is the AHFC website: www.ahfc.state.ak.us/energy/energy.cfm If you want to sign up for the program it is: www.akrebate.com.
How much is the rebate for folks who go through the program? $10,000 is that the maximum amount of the rebate. In my opinion, very few homes will get that much. Most customers will see a move between one and three steps – most customers will get a rebate of $4000 - $7000, that would be the most typical, I’d say. To be in the program you need to get on the list thru the AHFC. After I get the names of people from them, I do the rating and then homeowners can make the improvements. At this point, I haven’t done a post-reading yet.
How many energy audits have you done? About 50, most in Bethel, some in Anchorage, and I just got back from Aniak.
Do you enjoy your work? I like it - It is good to see people getting excited about improving their house and spending less on energy. It is not really obvious to many homeowners what they can do to improve thier homes energy usage. This program can show homeowners which improvements are best choice and pay them back some money for doing it.
Are there any other raters in town? Yes, Dan Osentoski is another rater.
Quyana!

by Greg Lincoln

The 22nd Annual District Basketball Tournament will take place on March 5-7, 2009 in Bethel, Alaska. The MidCoast League will be sending 3 boys teams to the tournament: Kwigillingok, Tuntutuliak, and Eek. The Island League will also send three: Newtok, Toksook Bay, and Chefornak. The Kusko-Delta League two teams competing in the tournament: Kasigluk-Akiuk and Napaskiak.
For the girls, the MidCoast League has two teams competing: Kwigillingok and Quinhagak. Island League will have Toksook Bay, Chefornak, and Newtok. The Kusko Delta League will send Kasigluk-Akiuk, Napaskiak, and Kwethluk.
The Alaska Coastal Conference will have one berth to State where they will be playing the winners from the Greater Kuskokwim Conference during the first round match-ups at the State Tournament, which is scheduled for March 16-18, 2009 at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Good luck to all our young athletes competing this week - including those at the Greater Kuskokwim and Yukon Conferences! Piurci!

BIA Announces Emergency Funding for Emmonak
News comes during trip to Bethel with Sen. Begich

2-24-09

by Greg Lincoln

Traveling to Bethel with U.S. Sen. Mark Begich last Thursday, Bureau of Indian Affair’s (BIA) regional director for Alaska, Niles Cesar, announced the BIA will provide emergency financial assistance to help residents in Emmonak struggling with the price of fuel.
At a video conference arranged with several villages through the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Cesar told participants that the BIA has agreed to waive eligibility rules so more people in Emmonak can receive assistance of up to $1,000.
“I am extremely pleased that the BIA has answered Senator Lisa Murkowski and my request for assistance to help these residents get through the winter,” Sen. Begich said. “This is not a long-term solution, but it’s a step in the right direction. I am hopeful the State of Alaska will step in and help solve this for the future.”
Sen. Begich arranged the meeting in Bethel today and asked BIA officials to go with him. Cesar said the assistance may range from $400 to $1,000 depending on a person’s income. He didn’t know how many people would eventually receive the extra help, but said the average person will receive around $500.
Cesar also said his office is requesting the wavier be made available to 56 villages in Western Alaska and to 11 villages in the Northwest Arctic. Sen. Begich endorsed the request to expand the waiver to help more villages.

Proposed rec center has an official name

2-19-09

by Greg Lincoln

Bethel’s proposed recreation center/pool now has an official name: the
Bethel Aquatic Training and Health Center or BATHC.
The Bethel City Council voted 6-1 during last week’s Tuesday meeting on the decision. Councilman Williams had the only dissenting vote. The term used for the facility in the Ordinances that put the sales tax increase to a vote (Ord. 07-08 and 07-10) was “multi-use recreation facility”, which was a concern of Williams.
“Other council members felt ‘multi-use recreational facility’ was only a description of the facility and not a specific name," said Councilman Eric Middlebrook. "And some feel that giving it a name that clearly says ‘swimming pool’ will help get funding for the project.”
It is a fact that Governor Sarah Palin vetoed two million dollars in state funding for the project last year, illustrating the difficulty in getting the $15 million construction costs and $20 million total project costs for the facility. These estimates come from a letter from Architects Alaska, the firm currently doing the preliminary designs for the project.

Troopers
seeking local recruits for hire

2-12-09

by Greg Lincoln

We met with Trooper Perry Barr, an Alaskan Native trooper who is originally from Shishmaref. He spoke to us about the need for more native troopers in rural Alaska.
DD: Can you tell us about what the trooper are wanting to do concerning more natives becoming troopers?
Trooper Barr: The thing that we’re doing now is we’re promoting Alaska Native or Native Alaskan hire and the reason why we’re doing that is because we’ve got about 50 positions that are open right now within the Alaska State Troopers. Traditionally, our numbers are about 250-260 so we’re 1/5th down.
DD: Is that statewide?
Trooper Barr: Statewide – and those are troopers are in rural Alaska and all over the state and there are only so many of us. It is harder for us to recruit now because of a variety of reasons. Anchorage Police Dept. is very attractive and it has some other benefits than we do. One of the drawbacks especially with troopers is when they come out to rural areas they don’t stay for very long. We have within our union contract we only have to stay a mandatory minimum of 2 years. Once their 2 years are up, troopers usually transfer out. We don’t have that longevity of troopers staying in one area, especially in rural areas. We’re pushing this native hire now and we really want more people from rural Alaska to become Alaska State Troopers. We think that if people from rural Alaska are applying to the troopers, 1 - they know about living in rural Alaska already. 2 - they understand the people, 3 - they understand the cultural differences and the cultural lifestyle, and they also know the geography. They know where Tuntutuliak or Scammon Bay is, and all those particular areas. We’re concentrating a lot of our efforts toward the military, the national guard. I gave a presentation to the national guard a couple days ago here in Bethel and those were members from all over the delta. There are some interested people out of that group and I hope that comes to fruition. I hope those guys will actually apply and be interested enough to give it a chance. There have been some things that people don’t really know and understand and apply to the troopers. Maybe they heard some horror stories about the recruitment process, or why does it take so long, and what is involved in that whole process.
DD: How many native trooper are there?
Trooper Barr: There are a number of Alaskan natives that are troopers, but throughout the entire department there are only 5.7% of the entire commissioned trooper group that are Alaskan native. With the population of natives in Alaska, we are at about 24% Alaska Native throughout the entire state. So our demographic group, our group within the troopers is very low. It is uneven, it is not right. So, that is what we’re trying to do.
There are a number of native troopers now that are part of this group, we’re all Alaska Native. Myself, Trooper Jerry Evan, Trooper Joe Widham, Trooper Shanigan out of Bristol Bay, Trooper Charlie Cross out of the Nome area, retired Sgt. Baty is from southeast, and Trooper Anne Sears who is out of the Nome area. There is a total of about 7 of us. I personally think we need to bring those numbers up, we need to.
DD: What are the requirements to become a trooper?
Trooper Barr: The minimum requirements are at the website www.alaskastatetrooper.com. One of the myths that I want to dispel is that you don’t need a college degree or a college education, all you need is a high school diploma. So a lot of these guys that are from these rural communities, if they’ve never gone to college, that does not preclude them from applying. They need to apply, we need more native troopers.
DD: What about trooper housing in rural Alaska? Is it provided?
Trooper Barr: Yes. We have housing currently in Emmonak, St. Mary’s, Aniak, Bethel, Dillingham, and Kotzebue. State housing is provided to us at a reduced cost.
DD: How can interested people get a hold of you?
Trooper Barr: (907) 543-2294, perry.barr@alaska.gov.
DD: Quyana!

Carbon Monoxide, the Silent Killer

2-4-09

by Greg Lincoln

An unfortunate incident that took the life of 50-year old Kirk Kousal, of Willow, on January 29th was a grim reminder of how important it is to have a working Carbon Monoxide alarm in your home.
Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible poison gas. It is produced when carbon-containing materials, like wood, coal, oil, and natural gas, burn incompletely. This occurs when a fire has a low oxygen supply.
Early signs of Carbon Monoxide exposure are headache, sleepiness, nausea and dizziness. Unfortunately these symptoms are identical to flu symptoms. Carbon Monoxide exposure is accumulative and will get worse the longer you stay in the contaminated atmosphere. It is important to get to fresh air and have your home checked for Carbon Monoxide.
Common sources of Carbon Monoxide are:
Fuel-fired furnaces
Gas water heaters, stoves and dryers
Gas-powered generators
Fireplaces, woodstoves and charcoal grills
Lawnmowers and snowblowers
Cars, trucks, ATV’s, snowmobiles and motorcycles
These machines can produce Carbon Monoxide if they do not have enough fresh air flowing around them. If Carbon Monoxide builds up near you and your family, you can be poisoned, injured or killed.
The first line of defense against Carbon Monoxide poisoning is to have your gas, oil or wood burning appliances checked and serviced regularly by a professional. Secondly, install at least one Carbon Monoxide alarm near the bedrooms in your home. It is recommended to have at least one Carbon Monoxide alarm on every floor. By Alaska statute, all tenable structures that use a gas, oil, coal or wood-fired appliance must have an operating Carbon Monoxide alarm installed inside.
For more information regarding Carbon Monoxide contact Mahlon Greene, Public Education Coordinator for the Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety, at 907-746-5062.

1-21-09

by Greg Lincoln

The long awaited Kuskokwim 300, Bogus Creek 150, and the Akiak Dash are underway! Congratulations to the finishers of the Akiak Dash and 2009 Champion Byron Pasitnak of Akiachak. As of printing time, the K300 and Bogus Creek mushers are still out on the trail. Thanks to my driver Pat, we were able to get some good photos out on the river. Good luck and have a great race! Piurci!

Commissioner of Corrections and new council supports Bethel prison expansion

1-9-09

by Greg Lincoln

Joe Schmidt, the Commissioner of Corrections for the State of Alaska came to Bethel for yet again another visit last December to continue discussion on the proposed jail expansion for Bethel.
In previous actions, the Bethel City Council voted not to embrace the jail expansion project. But now with a new council with newly seated members, the council is more than willing to proceed.
“The council voted to resolve to support the prison expansion,” he said. “So we came back.”
The Commissioner understands the need to include an inebriate sleep-off center along with the jail expansion. About a third of all Title 47 cases in the state come from Bethel and the jail would be a better place for them to sober up, said Schmidt.
“They don’t belong in the hospital,” he said.
The jail expansion would provide room for the sleep-off center, which would be adjacent to the existing jail structure, which already has a fire suppression system and suicide prevention staff. Schmidt said that the model in Anchorage is working well.
The prison expansion project is under the auspices of Senate Bill 65, which expires in July and is currently being eaten up by inflation. The division is currently working with a contractor on a design and Schmidt is hopeful that other funding will be found to help cover costs.
Schmidt also said that the number of inmates in Alaska’s prisons is down by approximately 240 prisoners compared to last year’s numbers.
“It’s unprecedented,” said Schmidt.
He does not know what to attribute the downturn to but said that it is possible it might be from the utilization of more halfway houses and the increased numbers of field probation officers. Other standards have remained the same.
“It’s excellent, it gives us breathing room,” he said.
The Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center currently holds 115 inmates.
The Commissioner had plans to meet with the Alaska Judicial Council, the Alaska Court System, Therapeutic Court, and others involved to discuss the drop in population.
The new sex offender program that has also begun in Bethel, which is housed in the Tundra Center and currently has 6 attendees.
“Everything we do is evidence-based,” Schmidt said. “The numbers on sex offender programs are not cost effective but it will reduce recidivism.”
As for the prison expansion, the plans are still there to renovate the gym and the outside area.
“We’ll be back in January with new numbers,” he said.
Happy New Year to everyone! We are back from our week off and are ready for 2009. Piurci!

Kuskokwim Ice road project

12-11-08

by Greg Lincoln

Several benefits of having an ice road on the Kuskokwim River connecting other river communities to Bethel is that villagers can drive to Bethel to shop, go to doctors appointments, and to visit friends and family. However, there hasn’t been an ice road on the Kuskokwim for a while.
That is why Bethel Council member Thor Williams had the issue placed on the agenda for the city council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18th, 2008 to direct the administration and city attorney to set up a limited liability corporation with the surrounding villages to construct an ice road.
In previous years, the DOT provided the funding to plow the ice road. However, having an ice road is a liability the Department of Transportation does not want.
“Our villages who come to shop have to fly or find other transport. I want to build it so that there’s open transport that helps all of us,” said Williams. “But the issue is liability. If someone gets injured, here’s your lawsuit - so we never continued.”
During debate of the issue, Council member Albertson suggested that the council charge acting City Manager Lee Foley with the task of contacting the river communities about the ice road and to come back to council with a recommendation.
City attorney Michael Gatti also suggested that one way of accomplishing the goal of constructing an ice road was to get together with the other villages to create a cooperative agreement with the various entities to access and build the road, rather than creating an LLC.
As a public improvement project, contractors could put out a bid and part of the bid would be insurance, said Gatti.
“It would require a scope of insurance, consulting with an insurance broker, and putting a bid out with a form of contract with the defense and indemnification clause,” he said. “That is one way. You can have legally imposed protections and also contractually imposed protections.”
“I agree with that,” said Foley. “I would have the legal counsel of our attorney so that we move forward correctly and legally.”
The motion to proceed with the ice road project passed. The City Manager was directed to find out the level of interest from the communities. If the communities agree to work with the City of Bethel, Gatti said that he would prepare the necessary documents.

12-4-08

by Greg Lincoln

Senator Lisa Murkowski, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, held a field hearing in Anchorage on high school graduation rates on Nov. 15th. She hopes to find solutions on how the federal government can help improve our rates and postsecondary success in Alaska. Thank you for your work on this and we hope to see good results - quyana!
Congratulations to the 14 graduates of the Department of Public Safety Training Academy in Sitka. The Alaska Law Enforcement Training Session 0802 held its graduation on Nov. 13, 2008. Among the graduates was Bethel's Jerry Herrod. Thank you for your service!

Update on Dept. of Law’s gasoline pricing investigation

11-29-08

by Greg Lincoln

Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers from The Delta Discovery! We are thankful for you, quyana! We do hope you enjoy your holiday, good food, friends and family.
The following news release came in last week from the Governor's office:
At the direction of Governor Sarah Palin, the Department of Law began an investigation into the pricing of gasoline in Alaska. The investigation was initiated in August, following the decline of gasoline prices across the country as the price of crude oil began to drop from record highs near $150 a barrel in July. Gasoline prices in Alaska, however, did not follow national trends, and soon became the highest in the nation.
The Department’s investigation is focused on explaining the slow decline of gasoline prices in Alaska, and whether the price of gasoline is the result of any illegal conduct, like price fixing or other collusive behavior.
The Department’s investigation is ongoing, and must remain confidential under state law. The Department has gathered significant information from refiners, distributors, and retailers about the pricing of gasoline, and continues to gather additional data and information. The Department has retained Barry Pulliam, a Senior Economist at the Los Angles firm of Econ One, to assist the Department in its investigation. The Department has also attended two House Judiciary Committee hearings convened to discuss gasoline pricing issues.
The following is some useful information about gasoline pricing generally that may help explain some of the pricing for gasoline in Alaska.
1. The State of Alaska (or any state) does not regulate gasoline prices. Refiners, distributors, and retailers can sell gasoline at any price they want so long as those prices are not the result of collusive behavior, like “price fixing.” If the price reached an “unconscionable” level, the price could also violate Alaska’s consumer protection laws.
2. Because gasoline pricing is not regulated, economic forces including the available supply, consumer demand, and competition in the marketplace are the primary factors that determine gasoline prices.
3. Alaska does not have a price gouging law. Sellers of all goods and services (including gasoline) are not required to sell products on a “cost plus” basis. Thus, it does not matter what it costs the seller to acquire the goods or provide a service. Sellers can sell their products for whatever the market will bear. There is no “cap” on the amount of profit any business can make.
4. It does not matter what gasoline prices were when the price of oil was the same as it is today. For example, if refiners sold gasoline for $1.10/gallon when oil was $60 a barrel, this does not require them to sell it for $1.10 every time oil is $60 a barrel.
5. The price of gasoline in the lower 48 is not a good indicator of what prices “should be” in Alaska. The competitive forces that operate to control gasoline prices in the lower 48 are completely different from Alaska. The dynamics of supply, demand, and competition are unique in Alaska.
6. The demand for gasoline is not as “price sensitive” in Alaska as it is in other parts of the country. This means that regardless of the price, the demand does not change by much. This creates less incentive for suppliers to lower their price compared to areas of the country where demand drops significantly when prices rise.
7. Gasoline sold in Southeast Alaska is barged up from the Pacific Northwest and from Cook Inlet. Because fuel is only barged in once a month or every few months, it takes longer for prices to reflect current market conditions. It may take two or three months to exhaust current supply before less (or more) expensive gasoline is available and sold to retailers.
8.Some cities and boroughs charge tax on fuel sales. In the Kenai and Soldotna area, for example, the pump price adds a 6% city and borough tax that is not present in other cities, like Anchorage. Coupled with lower volumes and fewer stations, prices will tend to be higher in these communities.
The Department will complete its investigation to determine if there is any illegal activity among gasoline sellers that may be a cause of the high price of gasoline, and will prepare a summary of its findings when the investigation is done.
For further information, contact Department of Law Assistant Attorney General Clyde (Ed) Sniffen at (907) 269-5200.

Begich widens lead over Stevens in race for US Senate

11-20-08

by Greg Lincoln

As of Friday, November 14th, 2008 Mayor Mark Begich’s lead over incumbent Senator Ted Stevens lead widened to 1,022 votes in the race for U.S. Senate. The results were posted on the State of Alaska Division of Elections website after an additional 14,000 absentee and questioned ballots were counted from around the state.
Another approximately 25,000 more ballots will be counted on Tuesday, November 18th. All overseas ballots are due by November 19th, and the election results will be certified on Nov. 25th.

AFN Announces Thirteen Winners with Surprise Announcement to Extend Competition
Winners to Split $300,000 in Seed Money ~ $300,000 More Still Up For Grabs!

11-12-08

by Greg Lincoln

Eleven of the 42 Alaskan entrepreneurs competing at the third Alaska Marketplace
Competition in Anchorage will walk away with a share of $300,000 in seed money. The Alaska Marketplace, an initiative of the Alaska Federation of Natives, is sparking grassroots development in rural villages by funding Alaskans’ innovative ideas for new ways to revitalize rural economies from the ground up. Winners hail from a broad range of communities across Alaska.
The 2008 Alaska Marketplace theme, “Innovations for Thriving Communities,” reflects the Alaska Federation of Natives’ ongoing commitment to addressing the most pressing needs of our rural and Alaska Native communities.
“We wanted to capitalize on the excitement generated by this year’s competition at the Convention, so we’re calling for another round of proposals due by January 15, 2009,” said Julie Kitka, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Yesterday, the Year 3 competitors, who spent months honing their innovative ideas, pitched their business plans and innovative concepts to a respected panel of judges. The judges evaluated participants’ concepts according to their innovation, sustainability and profitability, job creation and exemplification of Alaskan cultural heritage. The top vote getters will leave Anchorage with a portion of the seed money to launch their ideas.
The mission of the Alaska Marketplace is to stimulate innovation and economic development in rural Alaskan communities. Managed by AFN, the Alaska Marketplace partners include BP, ConocoPhillips, Denali Commission, Shell, Alyeska, Bristol Bay Native Corporation and NANA Regional Corporation.
For more information about the Alaska Marketplace, please visit www.alaskamarketplace.org.

2008 Alaska Marketplace Winners

Alaska Marketplace received over 165 eligible Innovative Idea Applications from across the state. Of the 42 finalists who competed in the final Alaska Marketplace event on October 22, 2008, the following 13 individuals received awards, five of whom are from the YK Delta:
2008 ALASKA MARKETPLACE WINNERS
A Cut Above Quilting ~ Barbara Ramos ~ Bethel ~ $46,575.00
Kvichak Organic Produce ~ AlexAnna Salmon ~ Igiugig ~ $36,900.00
Porcupine River Timber ~ Dacho Alexander ~ Fort Yukon ~ $30,000.00
The Meyers’ Farm: Farming on the Tundra ~ Tim Meyers ~ Bethel ~ $30,000.00
Forest Firewood ~ Mark Leary ~ Bethel ~ $29,060.00
C Side Lumber ~ Fred Sagoonick ~ Shaktoolik ~ $27,945.00
From Shellfish Subsistence to Sustainable Farming ~ Marie Bader ~ Homer ~ $27,945.00
Cup’ik Dance Songs of the Tundra ~ Dr. John F. Pingayak ~ Chevak ~ $25,000.00
The Dugout ~ Louise Walcott ~ Nome ~ $18,630.00
Southeast Alaska Livestock Production & Processing ~ Clint Daniels ~ Sitka ~ $18,630.00
Tundra Woodworks ~ Patrick Hall ~ Chevak ~ $9,315.00
PEOPLES’ CHOICE AWARD WINNERS
Best Display ~ A Cut Above Quilting ~ Barbara Ramos ~ Bethel
Most Innovative ~ Birch Water ~ Martin Kelly ~ Pilot Station
Best Example of Culture & Traditional Values ~ Yupik Arts ~ Cecilia Frenzle, Delta Junction

11-5-08

by Greg Lincoln

November is already here and that means that it is time to go to the polls to elect our new president. Please be sure to take advantage of this very great responsibility and vote on Tuesday, November 4th. Tua-i-ngunrituq!

Berkowitz runs for 1st congressional term

10-29-08

by Greg Lincoln

Berkowitz is running for election as U.S. Representative for Alaska’s congressional seat, currently held by Don Young. He defeated Diane Benson in the August 26 Democratic primary by a substantial margin. We met with him to see where he stands on issues.
Let’s talk about high energy costs – in our area, everything is very expensive:
Energy is the most important issue we face today. It is at the intersection of everything we touch as a state and a country. If we do come up with the right energy solutions it’s going to mean lower utility bills, jobs, business opportunities, the right response on climate change, and more energy independence from foreign energy. Right now we import 700 billion dollars in foreign energy. Part of what we need to do in Alaska is to produce our own energy. People talk about oil - we have an oil pipeline going through the middle of the state and we pay the highest price for energy than any state in the country. People talk about a gasline, and I am looking forward to seeing that but that is still 10-20 years away. We need to start to do things for ourselves as much as possible. That means developing our wind – we can put wind in 80 villages for $150 million dollars and the payback time is less than 3 years. We can use geothermal to run turbines, we can do things with instream hydro, and tidal energy. Alaska’s has 90% of the country’s tidal potential. The more we can do with sustainable local energy, the more we help solve the problem of climate change, which touches everything we do in the state.
What about education and the NCLB Act?
You need to have an educational system that allows parents to teach their own children and school districts to make their best decisions. What I don’t like about NCLB is it is based on standardized testing and I’ve never met a standardized kid or been to a standardized district. We need to do more things that are unique to each child and each region. We need to turn things around so that Washington pays attention to what is happening in the lower YK. When we build an educational system we have to start with more preschool and do things like expand headstart. We have teacher turnover problems here. We need to make sure kids learn to think critically, learn to walk in someone else’s shoes, and see the world from different perspectives. We need to do more with vocational and technical training. Only 40% of kids who start high school in rural Alaska finish it. We need to make sure they have opportunities for the rest of their lives. And as a resource development state and region, it seems a little foolish to me that we’re exporting our resources and importing our workforce when we have perfectly capable people here. We need to expand our college opportunities so that we’re starting to grow our own teachers, nurses and doctors and other professionals that our communities need.
What about ensuring the health care of our people?
In Alaska the problem is there is a lot of places that there isn’t any health care. We need to expand the reach of health care, make sure the clinics have the medicines and professionals, expand telemedicine, and we need to more with wellness and prevention programs. The drug and alcohol problems are huge here – the tobacco problem is extremely significant. We need to do more to prevent bad things from happening as much as we are treating people when bad things do happen.
What are your positions on foreign policy and the war?
One of the unfortunate things that happens when you have a $700 billion dollar addiction to foreign oil, is that we now have a foreign policy that is about our dependence on that oil and not about our values. We need to go back to a time when our foreign policy reflects the best of American values. The war in Iraq is drawing to a close, I think we can make the case that we’ve done our job there and it is time for our troops to come home. The president says so, the Iraqis say so. The drawdown is already happening. The problem with a continued presence in Iraq is threefold. First, we are unable commit the troops to other trouble spots around the world. We are unable to compete economically with other countries, which is especially true with the problems the economy is having now. It is costing us $10 billion a month to stay there. Meanwhile, China and India and other countries are having their economies grow. If we are going to remain a global economic power, we have to put our assets where they make the most sense to us. Third, we’ve lost our moral authority in the world. If we want to have the ability to lead in global initiatives and have significant influence in the world, we have to restore our moral authority.
Do you support drilling in ANWR?
Opening ANWR is part of the national energy strategy, it makes sense. But we have to shift the argument if we want to prevail in the argument from it being a question of simply supply and demand because we’re going to have to get off of oil. We’re going to get past the age of oil. But in the meanwhile what is really significant for this country is the trade deficit. When we produce energy in America whether it is through ANWR, the gas pipeline, or renewable resources - we help the trade deficit go down and as the trade deficit goes down, the dollar gets stronger. As the dollar gets stronger, the American economy grows. The more we can do to produce energy, the better it is for the economy.
Will we here in the YK delta benefit from the opening of ANWR?
Yes, jobs and money would flow into the permanent fund and into the state treasury. But in terms of answering Alaska’s energy problems - it keeps coming back to the unfortunate fact that we have oil flowing through the middle of the state right now. Alaska produces a significant amount of America’s energy and yet we have the highest energy costs of any state in the country. Producing oil out of ANWR may or may not help the cost of energy in rural Alaska. It is not a for sure thing. That is why for me the best energy policy is where we are producing energy locally.
What is the key component of your campaign for rural Alaska?
To me one of the critical issues in this campaign is the sustainability of rural Alaska. We need to make sure that our communities have economic opportunities and people have hope. The fastest way to do that is reduce the cost of energy, then we can start to address things like health care, law enforcement and education.
Alaska’s fisheries are a great pride, how can you protect this resource?
I fished a couple seasons in Bristol Bay. Each one of those boats is a small business and we have to protect those small businesses. It is very important for the health of those coastal communities and we have to protect our fish stocks.
What did you do after the 2006 gubernatorial election?
I set up a company called Alaska Alternative Energy. When I was in the state legislature I did a lot with renewable energy. The company was about renewable energy particularly finding low cost energy solutions for rural Alaska. Wind is an easy and obvious thing we can do. We have the technology and there are ways of getting the investments and it give benefits to people in fairly a short period of time.
What about net metering for producing your own energy?
Seventeen states have net metering. There’s aspects of net metering that make a tremendous amount of sense for us. If you want to encourage people to start to become energy self-sufficient and encourage a little competition, then at the very least we have to push on the utilities and say if you don’t implement these steps to reduce costs, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, then we’re going to let people do it on their own and net metering is a vehicle for that to happen.
How do you deal with negativity?
I ignore it. Politics should be about ideas and values and less about personalities. If we are going to be responsible leaders, we have to campaign the way we govern – with commitment to our values. It is a rare privilege to run for public office.
Quyana!

Congressman Young seeks 19th term

10-21-08

by Greg Lincoln

We met with Congressman Don Young (R), Alaska’s sole representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is currently running for a 19th term against Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz.
How many years have you been in office? I’ve been in office for 35 years representing the state of Alaska. I’m still excited about it, still want to do it. I have great rapport with my majority party - the Chairman of the committees, served Alaska – Resources, Transportation, and Commerce, and have the full backing of my wife Lu. Some people say that it’s time for new blood, I argue why get new blood when the blood you got is good? You never know what kind of blood you’re going to get when you get new blood. You know what you’ve got when get me, and that is the ability to do the job. In the last 10 years I’ve gotten a little over $53 million for the Bethel area, which is a lot of money. That is not the criteria, but we’ve had a relationship out here for a long time. I’m very confident that we can still continue to do what is right for the people of this region, that’s why I am here.
The high cost of energy is a problem, what can you do to help? Energy is the number one in the state, probably more so out here because we got hooked on diesel fuel. This is not a new problem it is a problem the state should have recognized, we did not. We put new clinics, hospitals, schools, and new homes in all with heating oil and it went sky high. It is not going to go back down like people expected. What we should do is be developing alternate forms of energy within the state. What the federal government can do, like myself, we put windmills in Kotzebue. We don’t have windmills here because no one’s really asked for them. Can we get some money for this, maybe. We put some hydrogeothermal power on the Aleutian chain we have some small hydro sites that we developed on the federal level. It is usually because communities ask for those dollars and we were able to work with them. I can’t make a national program to do it for everyone. When I pass a national law, it affects every state. So what we have to do is look at it as a state. Don’t expect the federal government to solve it because these are Alaskan citizens. We have the money in the bank and we have to invest it in alternative energy. There’s numerous ways to do it. The Bethel region has methane gas it was found 20 years ago. We know it is there but it was too expensive at the time. You don’t have the capital to go out and develop it but the state does. The state ought to go out, drill it, tap it, condense it, and ship it into Bethel. Bethel residents can pay back the state at a reasonable rate, so you’re not using diesel fuel to generate electricity or to heat your homes. All around the state there are different forms of energy, we’ve never developed them. We have to get off of diesel. The state has a serious responsibility to do that. If I was the governor I would declare a state of emergency for the rural areas of Alaska and get the money to the legislature to develop these forms of energy. It will take 5 years. In the meantime, I would take dollars and pay the utilities to keep the rates low for people that are using it. When we get the new power sources online, the utilities that kept their rates low can recover their costs over a period of time from the new sources of energy. That means immediate relief.
Where do we get our oil from and why does it cost so much? You get it from Longbeach, CA. You don’t get Alaskan oil. It’s shipped all the way up here, that’s why you’re paying the high prices. What I would like to see done, is develop the Chukchi Sea or any other oil that is shipped to the pipeline and set up refineries in Alaska. We have local refineries primarily refining jet fuel. About 40,000 barrels a day becomes jet fuel because Anchorage is the largest cargo airport in the world and that is where we send the fuel. It isn’t sent to you, it is sent there. We have to take any new oil and refine it in the state of Alaska so we don’t have to pay the shipping costs, that’s about $2 a gallon.
If individuals were to develop their own alternative energy out here, can they be compensated? Some places have net metering intertie agreements… That is supposed to be here too. I heard that today that they’re not doing that but I thought they had to buy back anything you make. If you put solar panels in and have big surplus energy it goes back to the meter. If you make energy and it goes back to the line, they have to buy it back. That is federal law. I’m looking here and seeing this wind blowing. I just came out of Kotzebue, I put some windmills in 15 years ago. The local native corporation is putting in 25 more. It only takes 6 miles an hour, you should be eligible for wind power.
So summarize your energy ideas for this area. Wind is the not total solution. I would say don’t give up on hydro, there’s no reason not to have that. Methane gas, if we could pipe that in we could have three forms of energy. Every village has its own generator and diesel is expensive. The other thing I would like to see in this region is the pipeline, if we ever get it built, is build a bulletline with gas from the slope that goes down and crosses the Yukon River. I visualize a liquification plant there – either propane or natural gas, barges to bring it down the Yukon River, build a pipeline across to the Kuskokwim, into a second set of barges to storage.
Do you support the financial bailout? I voted no. It was the wrong thing. It was too quick. People don’t understand it. $700 billion dollars for one person to spend - that is not good to give the Secretary of Treasury that kind of power. Under our constitution, the only person to spend that kind of money is the Congress. I was reinforced because I had over 4,000 phone calls and emails from Alaskans. If I am the Congressman, you speak for the people.
What are your thoughts on the Donlin Creek Mine? It is on native land and that is the decision the people have made.
What about NCLB? It was a bill structured to fit everyone and it doesn’t fit anyone. So what I’ve done is introduced 648, it has many cosponsors. It is what teachers and administrators wanted. It is flexible to the state to apply it to different areas but I do believe in testing.
What would you do about the war in Iraq? I believe the President was right, if we hadn’t done that the Axis of Evil would have launched a nuclear warhead probably against Israel. If we had responded we would have been in a nuclear war. What we did wrong is not understand the country – what we did was try to develop a democracy. You have the Sunnis, the Shiites, and the Kurds, which are all Muslims. What I expect will happen is a draw down of our troops but always a presence.
What about the election? I am running very hard and my wife is very supportive. We’re right for the job. It is going to be a difficult race and I would ask people of this region to consider what I’ve been able to do. I’ve delivered and I will continue to do that. It is not about Don Young, it is about who can best do the job.
Quyana!

Mark Begich campaigns for US Senate seat in Bethel

10-15-08

by Greg Lincoln

Mark Begich (D) who is running for the United States Senate against Sen. Ted Stevens during the upcoming General Election came to Bethel during the AVCP Convention last week. He spoke with us concerning several issues.
If you are elected, how will you help people in this area get through this high cost of energy crisis?
A couple things – there is a program called LIHEAP which is energy assistance for low income families that I think should be expanded so more people can have access to energy assistance. The second piece is to expand that program to focus on community. What I mean by that is, right now the way that program works is if you are a low income individual you’ll get some money, but if you’re not you don’t get the benefit but you may still be struggling. So my thought is to add another layer to it and say we’re going to put money into the energy company or the power company for that region or area - Bethel for example. And then what we would do is subsidize and lower all energy costs. That is one quick thing we could do. The second thing, which is a simple issue but yet somewhat complex in how it operates, right now oil and gas speculators are exempt from regulation. What that means is about 30% of the price we pay for fuel is really caused by people in New York and Wall Street just trading oil and gas. It has nothing to do with what we receive except it adds about 30% to the cost of fuel. So take the price of a gallon here which is $6-$7, that’s about $2 in increased price. What I want to do is regulate them and compress the price, which can be done very quickly. The third thing is to put some money into new generation of energy. A lot of the generation plants in Alaska and across this country are old so they are very inefficient. They are not producing at the highest level. For example in Anchorage we are doing a new power plant, which will be 30% more efficient saving ratepayers in Anchorage $40 million a year. Turbines run faster, they have new technology – that’s some things we can do right away. Long term is obviously developing alternative and renewable energy resources.
It all comes down to the price of fuel because everything is flown or barged in…
Fuel energy is the crux of it all. If we can resolve that issue or at least get stability and long term affordability of energy, then the communities of western and interior Alaska can start seeing a positive benefit. Energy is the big issue and it is somewhat appalling to think that here we are, an energy-rich state with an unbelievable amount of oil and gas and renewable energy but yet our people are suffering because we have high cost of energy. We have the highest cost per gallon of gas in the country here in Alaska. It makes no sense. Another thing we could easily do is expand our refinery capacity in the Fairbanks and Kenai areas. More supply means lower cost because you put more product on the market.
How can we here in the YK delta benefit from the proposed gasline?
The gasline that is going to be coming through Alaska from the north slope has no instate use, which makes no sense. That gasline once it’s built should have instate use so we benefit from that gas. If we let it bypass us, then we’re going to be importing it, which makes no sense. I think the theory is - we’ll wait for the economy to determine when to build the instate gasline. My view is absolutely not. We do it at the same time or we can do a bulletline in 3-4 years. If we wait around for the big companies to make these decisions on a $40 billion pipeline, the bulletline from the north slope down would be maybe be $5 billion. We see people who want to do that now. If you increase refinery capacity, you’ll have a utilization for gas. If you upgrade energy and go from diesel to gas, you’ll have utilization of that. There is huge opportunity. I’m not sure we have the leadership to push it forward to be very frank with you. A Senator, even though it is a state issue, needs to participate in that decision because if the villages or rural or urban Alaska is suffering because of energy costs, they’re going to come to the federal government at some point for help so it is in our best interest to make sure we get good inexpensive or at least reliable energy to all the communities.
Do you support drilling ANWR?
I support the drilling of ANWR. ANWR by itself is one piece of our larger energy picture. We have to think of an energy policy that has domestic production of oil and gas, renewable energy, conservation and new technologies. Why we are in this crisis is because we didn’t think of the future, we didn’t diversify our energy base 10-15 years ago. Right now 60% of the gas we import comes from foreign countries. We’re exporting out $700 billion to these foreign countries, which is ridiculous.
What about the Donlin Creek Gold Mine?
There’s a couple concerns – the diesel they have to move up the Kuskokwim. They have to probably move 2 barges a day worth of diesel to make the project work, which is very dangerous in the long term. They are going to build a 160 megawatt power plant to power the mine. I asked a question, why don’t you enlarge that power plant to 260 megawatts and bring gas from Beluga, clean burning fuel through a small pipeline, to energize that and use that to power rural Alaska with power transmission lines? In 20 years when Donlin Creek Mine is done, they have to tear that plant down. But instead, why not use it to provide cheap energy to rural Alaska and not bring those diesel barges up and down the Kuskokwim.
Quyana!

US Postal Service looking at potential new postal hub

10-8-08

by Greg Lincoln

Steve Deaton of the US Postal Service came to Bethel to speak to the Chamber of Commerce about the idea of creating a new postal hub in either Chevak or Hooper Bay. That new hub would affect the amount of mail passing through Bethel and the air carriers that carry the mail to the surrounding villages.
What brings you to Bethel?
Today I was invited to speak at the Chamber of Commerce about the postal service’s proposal project that we started since the last year or so. The idea of the proposal is to go out to the communities where people live and operate businesses and ask their opinions and for their comments and input on the thought of developing an additional hub out of their region. For instance, this being Bethel, the potential hubs that we are considering would be Chevak or Hooper Bay. We wanted to ask the folks in Bethel, Chevak, Hooper Bay, the air industry, the businesses, the air carriers, what their thoughts are of the idea.
So Chevak or Hooper Bay would become a postal hub for the villages surrounding it?
If the consultative process, the public comment period were to show that the infrastructure is there, the communities are in favor of it, and the air carriers find that it is economic viable for them, then to potentially choose the most viable one and make it in additional to Bethel, make it a new hub also.
So what villages would the new hub serve?
Potentially, we’re talking the majority of the coastal villages - the places that are already out on the coast that are within 20-30 miles of either or Chevak or Hooper Bay which traditionally are right now served out of Bethel and is a 100-150 miles to get there. The number of villages that we would reassign would definitely be ones that are in close proximity and would be determined by how close those are.
How would that reduce losses for the Postal Service?
The proposal is to try to find a way to reduce the amount of money that we lose up here. The proposal speaks directly to the difference in rates that we pay between a mainline type equipment which would be your DC6’s, the 737 and so forth… versus the amount of money we pay to move mail on planes, the 208s, the Caravans, the 1900s, the Navajos, those type of aircraft. The smaller bush aircraft are upwards, depending on the rate, 8-10 times more expensive than a DC6 or a Herc or a jet. So anytime we can move volumes of mail direct to a location on a single type mainline aircraft, versus a combination of mainline/bush it reduces the amount of money the postal service has to spend.
So the savings come from flying a shorter distance from a hub?
The DOT rates that they set for mail that the post office pays the air carriers are on what’s called a time/mile rate. It costs more to take a pound of mail 150 miles than it does 25 miles and that is the difference. So if you fly all of those volumes either direct to Chevak and deliver them there, or take those 8-9 bush points to Chevak and then you shuttle them on a high cost aircraft 17-20 miles, it is much less money than flying them to Bethel and shuttling all of those points 100-150 miles on high cost aircraft.
What kind of changes would that make to the amount of bypass mail that might come through a place like Bethel?
So let’s say Chevak or Hooper Bay was determined through the public comment process to be viable. The communities were in favor of it, the air carriers decide we’ll do this, approximately 18-19% of the mail that currently comes into Bethel would be diverted to that hub. The remaining 81-82% would continue to flow into Bethel.
What is the next step at this point?
We’ve finished the consultative process, which is where we’ve gone out to the State of Alaska, all the effective communities and all the effective carriers and briefed them on this proposal and asked them to provide their comments and let us know what they think. I believe that we will probably continue to review that data and try to take a look after the first of the year. We’re heading into winter and that means we’re headed into our Christmas which starts early up here because of the distances – we tend to focus on that kind of stuff this time of year. So we’ll probably sit down after that and finalize reviewing the data and see if there are any potentially viable candidates.
Quyana! Reminder: Cast your votes on October 7th - do not forget. Piurci!

Forum of Young Alaskans to connect 49th
state in-person and online

10-1-08

by Greg Lincoln

Young Alaskans, ages 16 through 25, have an opportunity to make their voices heard across the vast expanse of the Last Frontier in the real and virtual world during the Forum of Young Alaskans on Oct. 4, 2008, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Using Internet and videoconferencing technologies, the Forum will connect simultaneous mass meetings occurring in Fairbanks, Juneau, Anchorage, as well as smaller communities, and online at youngalaskans.org.
Young people from communities large and small, in both urban and rural Alaska, will discuss, debate, and delve into the issues that are important to them and issues that are affecting the state today. They will share their experiences, knowledge and hopes for the future with each other and Alaska’s opinion leaders.
Bethel will host a Forum of Young Alaskans on October 4. The Bethel Forum will be held in Room 118 at the UAF Kuskokwim Campus.
Please pass on the word to let the young Alaskans ages 16 through 25 know about this conference and encourage them to participate – information and free registration is available online at youngalaskans.org. If outside Anchorage, Fairbanks or Juneau, consider joining or organizing a remote site - find instructions and flyers online at youngalaskans.org. For any questions not answered online, contact Ian-Michael Hebert, Project Coordinator, (907) 978-2925, ian@iialaska.com.
The Forum of Young Alaskans is a University of Alaska Eight Stars of Gold project proudly sponsored by AT&T and is part of Alaska’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood celebration. Quyana!

Congressman Young wins Republican primary

9-24-08

by Greg Lincoln

Alaskan Congressman Don Young has won the Republican primary election.
As of September 18, 2008, the State of Alaska’s Divisions of Election’s website had a official total count of 48,195 votes for Representative Don Young and 47,891 for Lt. Governor Sean Parnell for the spot on the republican ballot for US Representative. Parnell has conceded. The Division of Elections has certified the results.
Alaska Representative Don Young released the following statement last Wednesday regarding the primary election count results in advance of certification by the Alaska Division of Elections. “I cannot express strongly enough my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Alaska. I am humbled by their continued support.
“Needless to say, this was an extremely competitive primary election - the closest Congressional primary campaign in our state that I can remember. This competitive primary is a tribute to the quality of my two capable opponents and their campaigns.
“I congratulate Lt. Gov. Parnell for his campaign and the issues he highlighted of lower taxes and responsible spending. These are important issues and a large percentage of Alaskans supported his perspectives. I fully intend to listen to their goals and concerns.
“Sean will continue to be a key leader in our State for years to come.
“I also congratulate State Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux. I was impressed by her knowledge of State issues and her “bulldog” passion to fight for Alaska. Gabrielle emerged as a new leader in Alaska’s Republican Party and has a future in Alaskan politics.
"I'm also grateful for her strong endorsement and offer to campaign for me in Alaska while I'm in Washington, D.C. until the end of the congressional session. I fully intend to take her up on her gracious offer.
“I am ‘chomping at the bit’ to return home and work hard for re-election. I have much respect for Ethan Berkowitz and am confident that we will focus on issue-oriented campaigns.
"At the same time, I hope Outside special interest groups will stay out of Alaska and allow us campaign on the issues of importance to Alaskans. Alaskans know what our issues are and are a lot smarter about those issues than these special interest groups give us credit for.
"This seat belongs to the people of Alaska. Alaskans will decide who is the most qualified and has the experience needed to represent us in Washington, D.C.
"On November 4th, I hope Alaskans will decide that Don Young is the best person – the right person -- to fight for them in Congress."
Ethan Burkowitz (D) will be facing Rep. Young in the General Election on November 4, 2008 for Alaska’s lone seat in the US House of Representatives.
Also, Happy 9th Birthday (Sept. 1st) to our dear Delta Discovery, and many more! Quyana!

Flags lowered in remembrance of 9/11

9-17-08

by Greg Lincoln

Governor, and Vice Presidential nominee for the Republican Party, Sarah Palin, ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff on September 11, 2008, which is Patriot Day. Patriot Day was signed into law on December 18, 2001, as a day to remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks against the United States seven years ago.
President George W. Bush issued a proclamation requesting all states lower their flags on Patriot Day.
“America will always remember the tragic events of September 11,” Governor Palin said. “As we take time to remember those who lost their lives that day, let us also remember the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform who defend our families and our freedom every day.”
Our Governor has been in the national spotlight these past weeks after she was announced as the Vice Presidential running mate for Presidential hopeful John McCain. Her son Track was deployed to Iraq on Sept. 11th as part of the 4,000 soldier Army 25th Infantry. Currently Gov. Palin is on the campaign trail. Good luck! Piurci.

2008 Permanent Fund Dividend is $2069
Energy Rebate $1200

9-11-08

by Greg Lincoln

Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell announced on September 5, 2008 the amount of the 2008 Permanent Fund Dividend.
According to the Department of Revenue, 610,768 eligible Alaskans will receive a 2008 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) in the amount of $2069. Resource rebates of $1,200 will be sent out with the PFD. Eligible Alaskans will receive to total of $3269.
“The Alaska Legislature and the Governor, along with her administration, worked together and passed legislation to distribute a special Resource Rebate this year, before the arrival of winter, to assist with rising energy costs,” Lt. Governor Sean Parnell said. “Governor Palin is sensitive to the fact that high energy prices have had a negative impact on Alaskans’ wallets.”
Half a million (493,000-plus) qualified Alaskans will receive the 2008 dividend directly deposited into their bank accounts on September 12, historically early. The Department of Revenue’s PFD Division will be mailing checks to all remaining eligible Alaskans on September 30, with those checks expected to arrive within two weeks.
Seven out of 10 Alaskans (456,795 out of 641,000) used the internet to file for this year’s dividend. Many Alaskans have said that the dividend itself has allowed them to acquire a computer in their home and to become connected to the rest of the world, whether they live in a city, town or remote village.
$17.2 billion has been distributed to eligible Alaskans since the dividend program began in 1982. The first dividend was $1000, covering three years. Individual Alaskans eligible for all 27 dividends have received more than $30,000.
Dividend Information Offices are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau and are responsible for assisting applicants who need help completing their applications or need information about the dividend program.
Please remember that the Alaska PFD and the new Alaska Resource Rebate are taxable income for Federal Tax Returns. Be sure to set aside enough to cover your tax bill, or consider making an Estimated Payment when you get your PFD. For more information on how to report the Alaska PFD and Rebate income on the Federal Tax Return contact the IRS at 1(800)829-1040 or visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov and input the key words Alaska Permanent Fund or Estimated.
For more information, please visit the PFD website @ http://www.pfd.alaska.gov/.

State of Alaska 2008 Primary Election Unofficial Results

9-4-08

by Greg Lincoln

The August 26, 2008 unofficial results are in as follows, courtesy of the Alaska Division of Elections. Congratulations to all the winners, you ran a good race. Please remember to vote on October 7th and November 4th! Piurci!
AUGUST 26, 2008
US SENATOR (ADL) ADL
Begich, Mark DEM 56036 84.53%
Bird, Bob AI 3587 5.41%
Haase, Fredrick D. LIB 1130 1.70%
Metcalfe, Ray DEM 4729 7.13%
Vondersaar, Frank J. DEM 810 1.22%
US SENATOR (R) REP
Corey, Michael D. REP 1283 1.38%
Cuddy, David W. REP 25387 27.27%
Heikes, Gerald L. REP 500 0.54%
Sikma, Roderic H. REP 949 1.02%
Stevens, Ted REP 59138 63.53%
Vickers, Vic REP 5204 5.59%
Wanda, Rich M. REP 621 0.67%
US REPRESENTATIVE (ADL) ADL
Benson, Diane E. DEM 24509 37.42%
Berkowitz, Ethan A. DEM 35267 53.85%
Wright, Don R. AI 5719 8.73%
US REPRESENTATIVE (R) REP
LeDoux, Gabrielle REP 8621 9.21%
Parnell, Sean R. REP 42397 45.31%
Young, Don E. REP 42548 45.47%
HOUSE DISTRICT 38 (ADL) ADL
Herron, Bob DEM 1308 54.55%
Vaska, Tony DEM 664 27.69%
Middlebrook, Eric DEM 426 17.76%
Post Primary Election Information
8/28-9/4: Review of the absentee and questioned ballots at the regional offices
9/5: Absentee and questioned ballots counted
9/8-17: State Review Board begins the primary election review
9/8-12: Hand count verification of one randomly drawn precinct from each district that accounts for at least 5% of the total votes cast in that district
9/11: Counting of absentee overseas ballots
9/18: Target certification primary election certification date
9/23: Deadline for filing a recount request (if election is certified on 9/18). Recount must be requested within 5 days of certification of the election.

Sen. Murkowski to hold Senate Indian Affairs Hearing in Bethel

8-29-08

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, will hold a hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Bethel, AK to explore the effect that high energy costs have on the vitality of life in the Native communities of rural Alaska.
The hearing will focus on whether high energy costs in rural Alaska is jeopardizing the future of traditional rural lifestyles by forcing migration to Alaska’s urban centers, how energy costs are affecting the Native peoples of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and whether the federal government is doing enough to support the development of energy resources in and around Alaska Native villages.
Event Information
Who: Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
Panel 1: Ralph Andersen, CEO of the Bristol Bay Native Association and Chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives Energy Committee; Ms. Janie Leask, President and CEO, First Alaskans Institute Board of Trustees; Mr. Chris Mello, Program Manager, Alaska Energy Authority
Panel 2: Mr. Myron Naneng, President, Association of Village Council Presidents; Mr. Matthew Nicolai, President and Chief Executive Officer, Calista Corporation; Mr. Gene Peltola, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation; Mr. Ron Hoffman, CEO, AVCP Housing Authority and President of the Association of Alaska Housing Authorities
Panel 3: Mr. Bob Middleton, Director of Indian Energy and Economic Development, United States Department of Interior; Mr. Steve Morello, Director of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, United States Department of Energy
What: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing
When: Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 9:30am
Where: Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, Bethel, AK. The event is open to the public.

by Greg Lincoln

As the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China come to a close and the flag and torch are put to rest, I can't help but sigh - the games were as spectacular as ever and I am a little sad to see them go. However, we are left with the great stories of victory and defeat to relive and remember. And then there's the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia to look forward to.
This Tuesday is Election Day. Good luck to all the candidates for State House 38 and the race for U.S Congress. Please exercise your right to vote! I'll see you at the polls. Also, thank you to Senator Lyman Hoffman for the PCE Report (at right). Takuqerli!

Dept. of Corrections Commissioner speaks on Jail Expansion project

8-24-08

by Greg Lincoln

The Delta Discovery met with Joe Schmidt, Commissioner of Corrections for the State of Alaska last week.
Can you talk about the Memorandum of Understanding with the City regarding the proposed jail expansion?
The draft is still circulating between us and the City Manager. We’re scheduled to come back on August 19th for the city council meeting. I believe we are going to be on the agenda to discuss it. If it is still being worked on however, we might have to put it off again. The votes have been 3-4 for it, 3-4 against it, 3-4 for it. Our position, and I am really glad we took this position, is we didn’t come here to say we’re the State we’re going to do this - we said “what do you guys want?” This is a very expensive place to build and work, that is no secret. But as I’ve said, this is the community that had an idea about reformation that is very much like ours.
Bethel is the place that said we need to get these kids back home back to where they live, back to their culture and families and reintegration. We changed our mission statement along those lines. Secure confinement is only part of what we do. Programming and reentry is a very important piece of what we do because that is what we believe is going to stop recidivism. Bethel was the community who said that to us and that seemed where folks seemed to be. So with that we were very excited about coming here.
The resolution was signed right away in 2004. We came to find quite a bit of support. Since then there’s been some changes – the city councils changed, the city manager has changed, the police department went through an up and down here recently, so it’s been going back and forth. We never came and said we’re going to come here and do this, we said, what do you guys want? The community was supportive of this for all the right reasons. There’s a new outlook now. When the community votes in new members, there’s a new vote. We can continue to do exactly what we’ve been doing the whole time – come up here with the same message, answer questions, we’d like to do business here and Senate Bill 65 gives us the way to do that. If the community says there is a better way, then we’ll do it a better way.
Is using bonds a “convoluted” way of doing this?
I don’t know if I would say convoluted, I would say there is an extra layer of bureaucracy for sure. One way to do it is for the state to just give us a capital appropriation and we hire a contractor and build. The way that was chosen in 2004 was to do this bond system whereby the community borrows the money and we sign an agreement that says the state agrees to pay back the money with interest. But it calls for the community to borrow the money and then the state pays it back. And of course now you have the community government and the state government involved, so there’s another layer there. I don’t know if I’d use the word “convoluted”, but I would certainly say it is more complex.
The only way for us to really know if the community wants it is if the community agrees to support it and sells the bonds and borrow the money and we agree to pay it back and get into business together. It is more of a partnership and I think the healthiest way to do business. Convoluted, I wouldn’t say that, I would say complex for sure and it gives us a way to know what the community wants.
How much time do you have to come to an agreement?
The law says that if the agreement is not signed by July 2009, it is done. And then new legislation or an appropriation has to occur. It won’t be quick. Senate Bill 65 happened 4 years ago. The agreement is for 66 new beds, and the contract is ready to go.
Quyana!

Light bills skyrocket,
consumers shocked

8-14-08

by Greg Lincoln

My electric bill this month was unbelievable… unbelievably high, that is. Other people I’ve spoken to, neighbors and friends, also have had the same shock – but then with the high fuel prices, it is not hard to believe.
Upon closer examination and careful comparison between the prior month’s bill to this month’s, everything looked the same except for the “Cost of Power Adjustment Surcharge”. The figure from last month was nearly doubled going from .1895/KWH to .3661/KWH! That is a 93.192612137% increase, says my wife. As it is painfully obvious, the cost of diesel fuel used to generate our electricity has gone up. The total kilowatt usage multiplied by the .3661 surcharge rate hits the pocketbook hard.
Thank goodness for Power Cost Equalization, which pays around 25¢ or so of the first 500 kilowatts that we burn in our homes - and the new energy relief legislation that just passed last week. Until that kicks in and for today and tomorrow, let’s find and use different ways to reduce our bottom line, and to all the people in the YK delta, hang in there. Tua-i-ngunrituq!

Alaska Marketplace
Year 3 launch Investing in Alaska’s Best Ideas

8-6-08

by Greg Lincoln

The Alaska Marketplace is excited to announce the Year 3 Competition of Ideas beginning July 7 2008. The Alaska Federation of Natives’ initiative to stimulate rural economic development - Alaska Marketplace will began accepting Innovative Idea Applications, July 7, 2008 through September 1, 2008.
The 2008 Alaska Marketplace Theme: “Innovations for Thriving Communities” to address the most pressing issues affecting rural Alaska today. The five Sub Themes for the competition have been identified as follows:
Affordable Energy – innovative ways to implement affordable, renewable & alternative energy sources.
Practical Use of New Technology - practical use of new technology to create village enterprises, such as: use of cell phones or digital media.
Innovative Ideas to Reduce the Cost of Living – such as cooperatives or various sharing arrangements that have very practical results and can be replicated in other communities and possibly scaled up.
Investing in People - innovative ideas to encourage life-long learning and enable people to thrive in a rapidly changing world, full of hope and optimism.
Rural Housing of the Future - incorporating energy efficiencies and new cost-effective designs in innovative ways which celebrate traditional cultures and promotes community pride.
The Alaska Marketplace initiative over the past two years was a major economic breakthrough for rural Alaska, bringing fresh ideas and monetary awards to local communities throughout Alaska. This year’s finalists will showcase their Business and Innovative Idea’s at the October 2008 AFN Convention in Anchorage.
The 2008 Alaska Marketplace will have two distinct categories for submissions - the first is the “Business Idea” model-the second is an “Innovative Idea”. The Business Idea will demonstrate how the idea will contribute towards economic stimulation and job creation, the Innovative Idea (not-for-profit) must show how the community or social structure will benefit by the proposed innovation and how the idea can be replicated and/or applied to other communities.
The Alaska Marketplace competition for ideas is modeled after The World Bank Development Marketplace and managed by the Alaska Federation of Natives. Initiated by the Denali Commission, the Alaska Marketplace is also sponsored by BP, ConocoPhillips, Denali Commission, Telecommunications Development Fund and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.
For more information on the Alaska Marketplace, visit www.alaskamarketplace.org or call (907) 274-3611.

Secretary of Health and Social Services visits Bethel, Kwethluk

7-30-08

by Greg Lincoln

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt was in Bethel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. He toured the McCann Treatment Center, met with community leaders, and took a boat ride to Kwethluk. In Kwethluk he met with City and Tribal leaders, toured the new clinic, and went to see the sewer system. The Delta Discovery was able to meet with him after his trip to Kwethluk.
What were your first impressions while visiting here? Well I’ve had many impressions today and yesterday having a chance to see firsthand the lives of Alaska residents who live in remote areas. I have seen people living in remote conditions all over our country and all over the world, but I have to say there is some uniqueness to what I’ve seen in Alaska. I also met many people who are working hard to improve conditions. I think that might be the most impressive thing I’ve seen – the number of people trying to make the lives of people in remote Alaska better. And I think of quite effective organization. In some ways I am quite surprised by the quality and quantity of services that they are able to provide to remote Alaska. It does not mean they couldn’t be better and that there aren’t lots of things that need to be done.
I saw the need for water and sewer systems today. It was evident to me. I had a chance to see substance abuse, and huffing - I hadn’t seen that before. Meeting the young men that were there was a poignant thing to me. I had a chance to see some of the dollars that my department deploys in use and I have lots to think about.
What is the one thing that needs the most improvement? I am not sure I’m at the point of saying, “this is the one thing”. What I gained most from this was a chance to see it all at one time. When I say all, I mean that I saw health care and I saw the need for sanitation systems, I had a chance to understand telemedicine in a better way and it will improve my decision making, decisions on how we can best be helped in the future.
If you were asked by the next administration to stay on, would you like to do that? I love what I do, it is privilege to serve in this role, but I don’t contemplate that will happen.
Do you speak Yup’ik? No, I do not but I am impressed with those who can.
Quyana and piurci!

Vaska addresses Bethel Chamber of Commerce

7-23-08

by Greg Lincoln

Tony Vaska, a democratic candidate for State House District 38 addressed the Bethel Chamber of Commerce last week during their luncheon.
Vaska is Yupiaq, born and raised in Kalskag on the Kuskokwim and St. Mary’s on the Yukon River. His formal education includes the University of Alaska and Stanford University with degrees in English and Anthropology with specialties in Classic British Literature, Native North American specializing in Arctic and Sub-Arctic people. He is a former college professor, legislator, school board chair, and advocate for the rural preference in subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering in rural Alaska by working on the state and federal legislation on subsistence.
He has worked and traveled extensively in rural Alaska to educate, research, enunciate, negotiate and advocate for the needs by Native people of subsistence resources and other natural resources protection of air, lands and waters. His work included the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, High Seas interception of salmon which spawn in western Alaska anadromous rivers and streams, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Environmental Protection Act and the Alaska National Interest Lands and Conservation Act. Work included extensive contact with the local fish and game advisory boards, Alaska board of Fisheries and Game, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, many other public and private resource conservation and management organizations locally and nationally.
He is currently employed at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation as a Professional Trainer. His wife is Sharon.
Opening comments There are a lot of developments going on in the state that we need to keep track of that may not seem to affect us but will. The closest example is Proposition 4 – The Clean Water Act, which will require mining companies to make sure that the water they use and is put back in the same condition that it was when they took it out. You see a lot of ads in the paper about pro mining, or anti mining. How it will affect us is Donlin Creek. Barrick Gold is coming out against Proposition 4. In the Bristol Bay Times you’ll see Bella Hammond coming out in favor of Ballot Measure 4. The whole issue is protection of fisheries. Here we have a different kind of fishery we need to worry about. If something happens in Donlin Creek it flows directly 11 miles to the Kuskokwim River and we all live below the mine. There’s 37 communities that may be affected by that if there is a problem. It will be short term, meaning 4-5 years of a lot of tense activity on the Kuskokwim River, because it’s the only way to bring materials up to the mine site. The proposal I’ve seen says that if the gold mine uses diesel only, it will need 70 million gallons of diesel a year just for the mine. You will need an additional 10 million gallons for all the equipment. That means 200 barges a day going up and down the river. That is something to consider. What about the animals with all the traffic on the river?
When you lobby Lyman or Mary, have them consider this. There’s a proposal to build a spur gasline to Southcentral and Fairbanks. Why not have a gasification plan in Fairbanks or near Fairbanks to ship that gas down the Yukon to this area? We need it. That is one source that is available to this region that would make it easier for us.
Shell is out in the region poking around. In the early 1970’s, they did find gas in the Kuskokwim basin but not in commercial quantities. There is coal in this region near McGrath on the west side of Alaska Range - 3 billion tons of coal sitting there. The projection for Donlin Creek is 32 million ounces and with the price of gold now at a $1000 an ounce, that’s 32 billion dollars - they’re not going to walk away from that. The way to control that is through local government. I’ve said this before but you can’t do that until you have a regional government.
There are transportation issues, we have very little infrastructure we can depend on - it is very expensive. Oil costs. I was happy to see Bethel is finally going to get a bus because I walk everywhere and I will be happy to take the bus when it gets started. We get a lot of our materials from outside of the region by air and we depend on Sen. Stevens pushing the bypass mail process. Why can’t we have the same system to barge things to Bethel? A subsidized transportation system so it’s cheaper to deliver goods from Anchorage or Seattle, we can use the same concept.
The other proposition that I am supporting is Clean Elections. It says anyone can run for public office using public funds but you have to do your work before. You get 200 people to sign their support for you and $5 and the state will pay for the cost of your election. And that is for poor people, because not everyone is rich who wants to run for office. It’s expensive. Want to go to Mekoryuk? It is over $400. Toksook Bay is over $300.
There are wind turbine generators in Toksook Bay and Kasigluk. AVEC has gotten awards for innovation in using them and has reduced the use of diesel in those villages considerably. Look on AVEC’s website to see how much they are saving. We need to think about that here in Bethel. It is something we need to push the state legislature on. Here’s an example: Senator McGuire wants to build a wind farm on Fire Island for Anchorage. Why can’t we do something like that to reduce our electric costs here in Bethel? If we develop these new technologies we need educated people to work them.
What are your thoughts on a state energy plan?
$100 per person is a short term fix, Gov. Palin wants to do something for the short term. If you give every individual $100 a month for the whole year, that is $700 million dollars – imagine what the state could do if it puts the plan together, for more efficient energy systems such as wind energy. And the other is importing gas from Alaska.
A city council member put forth the idea of banning all toxic chemicals going through town that might end up at the mine, what is your position on that? I am as green as you can get. First do no harm. If you are going to harm the way we live and our way of life, I will be opposed to it. If you are going to bring toxic chemicals through this area, do no harm. I have enough experience to see that harm has been done not only in Alaska but also and Canada and other parts of the world. I went down to Butte, Montana to the biggest hole in the world. 10 years ago a flock of geese landed into the bottom of that pit and died of toxic waste. They now have a net over that whole mine in Montana. Barrick Gold takes people from the villages to go look at good mines, good places.
How do you deal with conflict? I get along with everyone and I don’t take politics personally. And if someone disagrees with me, I agree to disagree with them, but I still have an open mind about discussing issues.
Do you speak Yup’ik? I understand it perfectly well and I mostly speak it.
Do you support Proposition 4? I do. The Clean Water Act. First do no harm. If you are going to do harm to the way we live here, then I would be opposing it. The other part is, The Clean Water Act is intended to protect the subsistence resources and I want the subsistence resources protected. Clean water is a very important thing out here for fish and game and birds.
And you have experience already in the legislature? I was in the legislature from 1981-1985 representing the villages from Aniak to Newtok to Goodnews Bay.
Quyana!

City bus service coming soon

7-16-08

by Greg Lincoln

Two brand new 14-passenger buses are coming on the next barge to Bethel, complete with wheelchair accessibility and fare boxes, said City of Bethel Grants Development Manager John Sargent, which will be part of Bethel’s new transit system.
The big question is, when will service start?
“As soon as drivers are trained and hired,” said Mike Samuelson, Executive Director of ONC, who helps supervise the project. There is no set date. Applicants will also undergo background checks and drug testing.
The City of Bethel and ONC have been working together to get this started. The drivers will be City employees with benefits and ONC will provide the offices and administration. The transit system is on the City’s budget as a separate enterprise fund as of July 1st – the beginning of the new fiscal year. There is enough money to start and operate the transit system for 2 years.
“This is a great partnership between the City and the Tribe, real great,” Sargent said.
The plan is to provide transportation service to the population centers of Bethel with stops at key spots in town – housing, post office, hospital, Swanson’s and the BNC/AC area during the day. A separate route for the airport/hospital is also in the plan. Fare rates would be $2 a ride, $1 for seniors and youth 5-17, and children under 5 can ride for free.
What about the cab companies?
“There are mixed reviews,” said Sargent. “Some cab drivers want to apply to drive for 40 hour weeks and benefits and are looking forward to it. Other drivers show complete opposition. They say ‘I’ll quit, I’ll leave town, you’ll put me out of business, I’m ruined…’ It’s completely mixed.
“We don’t want to hurt the cab business because there’s a need for cabs. The public transit system will allow people to save a little money who can plan ahead.” Quyana!

Learning Yup’ik words a treat

7-9-08

by Tommy "AngalKuq" Wells

Having spent a number of years living in the rural parts of this great state, I have come to love to hear the Yup’ik language spoke, and I love learning the words … although I sometimes wonder if my tongue creates words that might be better off not said.
Although it doesn’t flow with the musical melody of say French, the Yup’ik language is one my She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Made-Mad and I love to listen to even though we haven’t the slight clue what is being said.
I know one of our favorite things to do when we lived in Nome was to have our friend’s uncle (Uncle Johnny) come over. He would always tell us Yup’ik words and then laugh when we butchered the word.
“Maybe you should stick to English,” he would jokingly tell my wife, who (in case you may not remember) has a very thick Texas accent. “We have a hard enough time understanding what you say in English.”
As for me, I learned the basics. The very basics … I can say “Thank you,” “Yes” and “No.”
Never mind that I don’t understand it, I like to hear it. Sometimes when I’m on the phone talking to people from the Y-K, I just let them just talk away to me. Then, when they stop, I tell them I have no idea what they just said but it sounded good.”
Because I love the language, I have been working to expand my knowledge. Every time I come to the Yukon-Kuskokwim I try and learn a new word. For instance, last year when we found out we were going to be grandparents, I made it a point to learn the word for grandpa.
At first when I was told the Yup’ik word for grandpa I was a bit taken aback. How in the heck was I supposed to remember a world that sounded like “A-pow-a-luk” to me, but came out much different.
Thankfully, Miss Sarah told me most people just say “Uppa.” I could handle Uppa … and to this day we teach our granddaughter (Mallorie) to call me Uppa. She can call her grandmother anything she wants, but she can call me “Uppa” because it reminds me of where our hearts are.
This year, I learned a new word … although it is one I have heard for a while. A few summers ago, a friend gave me a nickname he has always called me. Every time we met, he always calls me “AngalKuq.”
Now, let me tell you what I figured this to mean. To me, I figured “Angal” was derived from the English word “Anglo” which generally refers to the white-skinned race. Beings how I was born in Texas to a mother that is Irish and a father who was half English and Cherokee, I figured it fit.
Based on what I new about “Angal,” I figured “Kuq” meant “guy.”
Again, I didn’t have a problem with that as I generally like to consider myself a guy. I find considering myself a guy also makes my wife happy ... which is much better than he not being happy
The other day as I was talking to my friend, he asked me if I knew what “AngalKuq” meant. I told him what I surmised it to mean – and he began laughing.
He assured me, it had nothing to do with my deductions. It was Yup’ik for “medicine man.”
“Medicine man?” I asked “I don’t know anything about medicine.”
“I call you that because every time I read your stories it makes me smile,” he said. “It makes me feel good ... like good medicine.”
I have to admit, I was kind of touched. I also like his nickname much better than the one my wife calls me most of the time.
Thanks Dana ... Now if I could just learn to spell Uppa.

BP awards scholarships

6-24-08

by Greg Lincoln

BP awards scholarships
Twenty-five recent Alaska high school graduates were each awarded $4,000 scholarships from the 2008 BP Principals’ and Commissioner’s scholarship program.
In addition to the 25 winners one student, Isaac Kalistook of Bethel Regional High School, was selected by the Alaska Commissioner of Education to receive a $20,000 scholarship. Since the program started 23 years ago, BP has granted more than 600 graduating high school seniors scholarships totaling $2.3 million.
The selections are made by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals Board of Directors based on academic achievement, community involvement, leadership skills and financial need. The students are recognized at award ceremonies throughout the state. Quyana!

Why family blocks road in wet weather

6-18-08

by Greg Lincoln

Last week the road between Tundra Ridge and the BIA road was blocked to traffic. Motorists had to go around the other way around Bethel to be able to get to where they wanted to go.
The portion of the road that was blocked belongs to the Polk family. They blocked the road to prevent it from becoming an impassible mass of mucky mud and deep ruts during wet weather.
“It gets so bad we can’t even go home,” said Earl “Keggulluk” Polk. “We have to move out until we can drive through it.”
The road is built on his mother’s native allotment, which now belongs to him and his brothers. They have heard the complaints on the radio but want people to know that they were born and raised there and that it is their land and that they can block the road if they wish.
Traffic makes the road worse during wet weather, said Polk. They blocked the road so they could keep it passable for their sake in order to have a way out in case something happens.
“My brother has a newborn baby,” said Polk. “We need to be able to use the road in case of an emergency.”
Additionally, the speed limit on the road is 35mph but Polk can testify that sometimes people abuse the speed limit. He asks drivers to slow down and to drive cautiously – there are children who live and play there and he doesn’t want any accidents.
The Polk family of Bethel would like everyone to know that they will continue to block the road to traffic between Tundra Ridge and BIA road every time they need to, however, pedestrians may freely pass through. Piurci!

Bethel youth takes on community improvement project

6-11-08

by Greg Lincoln

The old basketball hoop near Trailer Court in Bethel has a new look, having been recently replaced with shiny new equipment.
Known as “Josh’s Court”, after Joshua Palacios who died in a shooting at Bethel Regional High School in 1997, it is a dream fulfilled for Nathan Greydanus.
Greydanus got the idea last year to replace the deteriorating hoop with a new one. The old one was over 10 years old.
“Growing up this was his (Josh’s) playground,” he said. “He was always the type to motivate people to play sports.”
He began saving his loose coins and eventually began asking others to contribute. Greydanus, who works at Swanson’s helping people cash their checks would ask if they would like to donate their change – anywhere from $0.01 to $0.99. He calls his project, “Saving Change to Change the World”.
He filled up a large container shaped like a baby bottle with coins, which reportedly weighed approximately 60 lbs.
Others also gave above and beyond.
“A couple of people were big donaters,” he said thankfully. In all, he raised over $1700 dollars to purchase a new hoop.
Greydanus, his brother Ryan, and friend Travis Mute were putting the final adjustments on the hoop last Friday. They were done that night and kids were already enjoying playing basketball with the new equipment.
He would like to thank Bethel Utilities Corporation for drilling in the pole, Sports Authority for the discounted sale price, Jeff Robson for donating his freight on Northern Air Cargo, Tony Joaquin and Craig Rogers, Conor Burke, John We, Jonathon Friendly, Janet Fox, and all those who donated their change.
“One good thing I can do in my life makes me feel good,” said Greydanus.
The team is also looking for someone to donate gravel to help level out the ground to help eliminate the mud puddles around the playing area. Quyana!

Congressman Don Young visits Bethel

6-4-08

by Greg Lincoln
Alaska’s sole congressman Don Young who has 35 years experience in the U.S. Hose of Representatives visited Bethel last week. He met with officials from YKHC, AVCP RHA, and the Bethel Chamber of Commerce, as well as with The Delta Discovery.
What is the main issue that folks are concerned about out here in this region?
Most of the people asked me about energy. We don’t have cheap energy and down the line we can’t function, we can’t keep going. The cost of fuel is huge. My involvement is putting alternate forms of energy like wind power, solar power, etc. Having said that, the state has to be really involved. It doesn’t do you any good to give you a $100 to buy fuel a month. That’s just temporary. There’s an old biblical saying, if I give you a fish, you eat but then you starve. If I teach you to fish, you feed your family. That’s what I am saying should be done here.
And it’s just not the Bethel region. All around the state every village is hurting. Fort Yukon for instance - $7 a gallon for heating oil. How do you keep warm in –60F? Gasoline is $5 1/2 dollars, which is high enough. We can adjust to that a little bit, but the heating oil is serious. That is the number one problem I think in this area. Where are you going to get the money?
Energy is the most important thing. And then of course you know the challenges of the bush. My big thing is if we don’t address the energy issues - you will lose the villages. Your villages locally will come to Bethel, temporarily, and then they’re going to go to Anchorage or Fairbanks and you lose Alaska. Because you’re never going to go back to the good old days. You’re not going to do it. Live like grandpa did – that is nonsense. You’ve been exposed to television, computers, the airplane – you’re not going to go back. If you’re 16-21 years old, you’re going to go to town because you can’t afford to live here. That’s the sad part. It can be overcome if we get enough involvement of developing other forms of energy.
What ideas do you have about other forms of energy?
You have methane gas here, it should be drilled. You have hydro up at Nyac. That was built in 1938. Six months without burning electricity that’s made from diesel fuel, think how much money you would save. You have wind power. If you had 19 big windmills out here that could generate power, you could cut your diesel down to a quarter. And if you had methane gas, your living costs would go down and your living standards would go up. Methane was discovered out here about 15-20 year ago. They got into a big argument - we don’t want to do it because it might pollute the water. Now how, I don’t know but remember diesel at that time was 19 cents a gallon, so we wanted the diesel.
Diesel is never going to go back down again. No way, because the consumption and the demand is so high in foreign countries. China is burning more barrels of oil a day than we are. Not more per capita, but more barrels. We are still one of the largest consumer, if not the largest consumer in the world, per capita. India is higher than we are. China and India have a billion people, so we’re not the only buyers anymore from the oil countries, so the price will always stay up because we’ve done nothing to produce any oil.
The price of oil is high because of transportation costs, how can we address that problem?
Here it is very high because it comes all the way from Washington State. I want them to build a refinery in Tyonek, a native corporation. They build a refinery there by taking the oil that we are shipping out. We only get 12% percent of the oil we produce. That is our royalty, the rest goes outside. But if the oil companies could refine it here and ship the finished product outside, we’d have access to the diesel fuel and jet fuel here and that would make it cheaper. We wouldn’t have to pay to ship it all the way up here. That’s what drives up the darn price of fuel.
Are there any refineries in Alaska?
They have a small refinery in Kenai. They have one in Valdez for gasoline. The biggest one is in North Pole. Their oil comes from that 12% of the total production of the pipeline. As the pipeline goes down, our 12% becomes less. Right now in North Pole they are thinking of shutting that refinery down. We have to get more in the pipeline, that is what we have to do.
What are your thoughts on climate change?
One is, I am one of the few people that may think that climate change is occurring but does not believe it is your fault. If it is going to happen anyway, it’s happening and happened before. We’re the only animal that God created that doesn’t adapt. The polar bear will adapt. We had 5,000 polar bears in 1970. We have 20,000 today, we did something right, now we put them on the endangered species list. It is an attempt by interest groups to stop any man’s activities globally. The effect of putting that bear on the threatened list affects my Inuits up there big time. They won’t be able to go whaling or fishing if it goes on the endangered species list. Nobody wants to tell anyone about that but that is what will happen because it interferes with their habitat, and anything that interferes with their habitat, you can’t participate.
What about methane?
It was found 15 years ago and I would like to have the state go in and drill. If it is there, then make it a production field for the area.
And I want you to reconsider nuclear – we’re going to do it in Galena. It is a silo concept - in the ground, small, transportable by barge. It will give them power for $0.26 per kilowatt for 7 villages. Now think what can you do with that in Bethel. France has been doing it for the last 45 years. Japan is a huge nuclear producer for power and they have the cheapest power. All we do is burn coal and natural gas - nonrenewable resources, which to me is silly.
Any comments on your upcoming race for re-election?
My Lu says, “If you were to lose, don’t worry about it, that’s God’s next chapter. Go forth and He will make that decision for you. As long as you try the best you can, you’re the best person for the job. If He decides differently, then that’s how it is.” I don’t really lose much sleep over it. But it will be bad for the State right now. As long as I am physically and mentally capable to do what I am doing - when it gets to the point when I can’t do it anymore, then get rid of me. August 26th – don’t forget, it’s very important.
Quyana!

Senator Hoffman reports on appropriations for the delta

5-28-08

by Greg Lincoln

We were pleased to speak with Senator Lyman Hoffman (D) over the Memorial Day weekend. He represents Senate District S.
The Bethel Aquatic Center funding was vetoed by Governor Palin, can you tell us about that?
The Aquatic Center has been on the list for Bethel for over 20 years and Beverly Hoffman has been sponsoring fundraisers, cookie sales and everything. This was started because we’ve been having so many drownings on the Kuskokwim and we wanted to see if we could get the Aquatic Center going so we could teach people in the region how to swim. We’ve been averaging anywhere between 15-17 drownings per year and we felt that a good way to address all these drownings is to teach people how to swim. Everyone around the whole region uses the river for traveling, for fishing, for hunting and we are the only large region in the state without a facility to teach people to swim.
I was really displeased with the Governor with vetoing the 2 million dollars because she also left in 4 million dollars in the capital budget for Anchorage. Anchorage wanted some operating dollars to help them operate their swimming pools so she left the money in the budget for Anchorage swimming pools but then she didn’t leave the 2 million in the Bethel pool. I thought that was a little bit unfair on the Governor’s part selecting one area of the state to receive swimming pool funds and not an area in rural Alaska. People in Anchorage aren’t dependent on the river for transportation - our region is more dependent on the river for transportation, for berry gathering, for hunting, for fishing, for traveling. I think that our project was more worthy and should have been funded. If our project was vetoed I think the Anchorage project should have been vetoed. I think the Governor had double standards when she decided to veto the 2 million dollars for the Aquatic Center.
When you go back for the special session, what is the legislature going to do?
Once we’re called in, we have 5 days to decide whether or not to override the Governor’s vetoes. But it is a very high standard. In order to pass something you need 51%. In order to veto override, you need 3/4s vote so we would have to have 45 out of the 60 legislators agreeing to override the veto. I think there is going to be discussion on whether or not to override all the other vetoes that the Governor had. She has vetoed a little under 300 million dollars worth of projects throughout the state of Alaska. So I feel at least we received a minimal amount of budget cuts but the one that was cut was a critical project.
What do you think about the Governor’s debit card energy plan?
Something has to be done. I’ve heard criticisms of it but we have to come up with something this year. The price of fuel surpassing $6-$8 in villages and approaching $10 is unrealistic. It is putting a very large burden upon people in rural Alaska, specifically those that are not in regional hubs such as Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue and Nome. But even in Bethel we are feeling the pinch but not as bad as the villages.
I would support the Governor’s proposal if we can’t come up with something that is more equitable. The problem that I have with her plan is that it gives everyone $100 to buy fuel, but $100 in Anchorage can buy twice as much fuel than $100 can in Bethel and it will even buy less fuel in the villages. But I still think that it’s better than nothing. If we can’t improve upon it, I am going to support that plan. The problem that I have in the legislature is getting the 21 and 11 votes to approve the plan. There’s a lot of concern that once we start the program it’s going to be hard to discontinue. I think that if we look at the clauses that we put into the budget structure where when the price of oil starts rising, we tax at a higher rate and if we take a percentage of that, I think more people will support that plan.
What about the projects approved for funding in the AVCP region?
The projects for the AVCP region - we had received approximately a little under 200 million dollars worth of capital projects. Some of the larger ones are a new school in Chefornak and Marshall, a new airport for Chefornak.
One that the people of the region have been waiting a long time for is the Assisted Living Center for an 8 million dollar appropriation. I think it’s going to be a 20-bed facility that will house individuals. I know the people of our region have been going to Dillingham when they needed assisting living and now with the construction of this much-needed appropriation it will give the people of the region some place where they can stay instead of leaving.
Other projects that are important are energy related. We have 4.8 million dollars for 3 wind generators in Kwigillingok, Kipnuk, and Tuntutuliak. This is going to hopefully reduce their costs. We have three already in our region and these are the only three villages that have asked for wind generators. I hope more villages come up and decide to at least defer some of the expenses.
There are also funds in here to replace three generators for three villages – one in Atmautluak, Napaskiak, Tuntutuliak, and Tuluksak. So there’s 1.8 million dollars and these are important because the new generators now operate at 30% more efficiency so they use 30% less fuel so that means the electricity generated will be more cheap. Hopefully we can look at more generators in the region in upcoming years to upgrade them. Every little bit helps to reduce the energy costs for the region.
Another one that is important is in Newtok. There is 3.3 million dollars to build a staging area and access road. Everyone is well aware that Newtok is eroding. They are going to set up a staging area and access road so they can start working on that project.
The gamut of projects is varied. We tried to look at the regional aspect. A lot of the ones that are under Bethel are not really for Bethel, like the YK Emergency Response Detox Wing for the new jail facility so that we can hopefully take the burden off the nurses. We have another 1.5 million for the Tundra Womens’ Coalition new facility. We also have money in here for Search and Rescue so they can purchase more equipment. So there are a lot of projects and I am very pleased. In past years the whole state’s budget used to be a 100 million dollars and this year the whole AVCP region is getting a little under 200 million dollars in much-needed projects.
Do you have any comments on the upcoming race for Rep. Mary Nelson’s seat?
I think the two that have filed right now are Bob Herron and Eric Middlebrook and both of them are democrats. I don’t think a republican is going to win. They just need to get their message out and see what they plan on saying what they are going to be doing for our region. They have to convince the people that one of them is going to address the concerns of the AVCP region.
Next year I am starting my 23rd year serving the AVCP region and I am the senior member in the legislature. I think the success is from going out listening to the people and following through with what we feel are the needs of the region. It’s going to be interesting to listen to their debates.
Quyana!

Polar Bear listed as threatened

5-20-08

by Greg Lincoln

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its decision last week to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne called Governor Sarah Palin to inform her of the USFWS decision, and assured her that oil and gas developments are not to blame.
The state will work with the USFWS on the designation of critical habitat and development of any conservation actions that may be necessary to ensure the continued viability of the species.
While the state is disappointed with this decision, Governor Palin said, the state stands ready to assist the USFWS to ensure that polar bear populations remain viable for decades to come. “We offer the substantial expertise of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to assist in the protection of polar bears, and in minimizing negative impacts on the people of Alaska and on important activities elsewhere in the country,” she said.
“Alaskans take our public trust responsibilities for our resources very seriously, and we welcome the opportunity to work with the federal agencies to address the conservation needs of these magnificent animals,” Governor Palin said. “We will continue to take the steps necessary to ensure that polar bears continue to thrive for generations to come.”
The Governor expressed her hope that federal agencies will continue to provide for customary and traditional uses of polar bears. She also remains concerned that federal actions do not threaten the viable, productive and environmentally responsible oil and gas industry along Alaska’s North Slope. Attorney General Talis Colberg will review the USFWS decision and the accompanying administrative record to determine whether there are significant defects that merit judicial scrutiny.
Governor Palin’s comments on the listing can be found at the following link: www.gov.state.ak.us/audio/GovPalinPolarBearsEdit.mp3.

ASAA to implement
‘four strike’ policy for athletes this fall

5-13-08

by Greg Lincoln

Saying it needed to take a lead in an effort to reduce drug and alcohol use by students, the Alaska School Activities Association announced recently it would be implementing a tough “four strikes” citizenship policy this coming fall for students that participate in high school-related activities.
Under the new rule, students found using alcohol or drugs will face varying degrees of punishment until they reach a fourth offense. At that point, they would lose their eligibility to participate any in school-related extracurricular activities. The new rules will go into effect with the start of the 2008-2009 school year.
“We’re not going to change the world,” admitted ASAA Executive Director Gary Matthews, noting the plan will help the state battle federal reports that showed Alaska students ranked at the top in drug and alcohol use. “Alaska leads the nation in teenage drug use. It’s a bad statistic that we don’t want to see.”
According to a 2006 report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 11.8 percent of the students over the age of 12 admitted to having used an illegal drug during 2004 to 2006. New Mexico had the second-highest rate, at 11.3 percent.
The national average for teen use of illegal drugs is 8.1 percent.
According the Matthews, students found in violation of the new ASAA policy will be liable to penalties that grow progressively stricter as each incident occurs. A first-offense brings a mandatory 10-day ban from all activities.
According to the ASAA, 70 percent of all students that attend high school in the state participate in extracurricular activities and would be subject to the new policy.
The rules are a bit different for students caught using tobacco. Matthews said a student caught using tobacco products would be subject to a 10-day suspension from all activities. The penalty will be effect each time a student violates the policy.
“We realize there is a tremendous use of tobacco by young people in rural Alaska especially,” Matthews said. “We’re not trying to get kids out of activities, we are trying to change attitudes and lifestyles and behaviors.”
Matthews said school officials will report incidents to the ASAA, which will then hand out punishments. That process, he said, would take school administrators out of a situation where they would be responsible for disciplining a star athlete or the child of an influential parent.
Matthews also said students who may be banned for a fourth offense can appeal to the ASAA board for re-instatement. With the start of the policy, Alaska joins Nevada as the only states to use a “citizenship” provision. Piurci.

by Greg Lincoln

Congratulations to all graduates of 2008 - we are proud of your accomplishments! Well done!
Also, Happy Mothers Day (May 11th) to my wife Kelly, grandmas Alice and Adeline, and all the wonderful mothers in the YK Delta. You are everything to your children and families. We hope that you will have a great day!
Bethel will be celebrating the Bike Rodeo on May 10, The Rodeo will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2008 from Noon to 2pm at Pinky’s Park. There will be a helmet trade and bike maintenance by Scout Troop #557, along with a barbeque. The Bike Rodeo is sponsored by the City of Bethel. Call 543-7711 for more information or to volunteer.
Enjoy the spring weather, piurci!

Special session

4-30-08

by Greg Lincoln

On March 28, 2008, Governor Sarah Palin announced that she is calling the Legislature into a 30-day special session beginning on June 3. The Executive Proclamation calls for legislators to review “any action taken by the commissioner of natural resources and the commissioner of revenue” under AGIA.
Palin is planning to present AGIA findings to lawmakers the week of May 19. “This schedule is extremely aggressive,” Palin said.
“Our plan is to complete the findings by the week of May 19, allow legislators time to read and absorb the materials, provide public gasline team briefings in Anchorage, and then move to special session in Juneau where they have requested to meet.”
The commissioners would give notice of their findings to the legislature during the week of May 19, and if they recommend awarding the proposed license, the legislature would then have 60 days to approve issuance of the license.
The gasline team’s schedule includes briefings in Anchorage – May 28, 29 and 30 – on the commissioners’ findings for legislators and the public.
Lawmakers passed AGIA legislation with a 59-1 vote on May 11, 2007, which began the AGIA application process. The commissioners received proposals on November 30, 2007, and reviewed them to determine whether they met the conditions required under AGIA.
On January 4, 2008, it was announced that the application from TransCanada Alaska Company, LLC/Foothills Pipelines, Ltd. (TransCanada) satisfied all of the mandatory requirements set out in AGIA, allowing TransCanada’s application to move to the evaluation phase of the AGIA process.
The 60-day public review and comment period on TransCanada’s application ended March 6, 2008. Palin’s administration is continuing to analyze and evaluate the benefits of TransCanada’s proposal, including a comparative analysis of the benefits of an all-Alaska route for liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.
Palin said calling the special session is not an indication that the commissioners have yet made a determination regarding whether to recommend TransCanada’s AGIA application.
“The gasline team faces a truly monumental effort in comprehensively analyzing TransCanada’s application, considering the public comments received and reviewing the all-Alaska LNG options for comparison purposes,” Palin said.
Quyana!

Commissioner of Corrections on jail expansion

4-22-08

by Greg Lincoln

The Commission of Corrections, Joe Schmidt, was in Bethel on April 9, 2008 with an update on the proposed jail expansion for Bethel.
JS: Some questions still existed from the community so I came up to talk to the council to answer any questions they may have.
DD: Did the city council support continuing the jail expansion project?
JS: Yes. The council voted 4-3 to continue with the process. Of course, it’s not over yet, there are some questions that need to be answered that we will be happy to work with the community and answer. But they did vote to continue the process.
The next step is going to be to continue to draft an operating agreement between the state and the city. And what the operating agreement does is ensures the community that the state is going to pay the bill - that the state is going to assume any liability if something happens. Even though it’s technically a city project, the state is going to assume it and run it.
DD: What concerns did the city council have?
JS: One had a concern with how much money the city was going to get from the project. In other words, when we borrow money to build, we’re going to borrow the money first so that way there’s money sitting there to use for design and engineering and all those kinds of things before we start construction and then therefore, the city will not have to put up any money.
One of the folks was concerned that the city should get some money for that, like an administrative fee. I know in the Anchorage project there was an administrative fee. I don’t know how much it was exactly, and it was not appropriate for me to promise any kind of an administrative fee, that has to be negotiated.
Another concern from another member was that we were going to lease a piece of land from YKHC and expand onto that piece of land and that is not actually the case. There was some talk early in the project about a unit that jutted over into the next piece of land and YKHC was going to deed it to us. Then it turned into a situation where they were going to do a 20 year lease. But then when a separate project came along and began to gain steam - an inebriate sleep off center - it would be on that very piece of land. We pulled our plans back on our own land so we’re not going to use any land except the land we’re sitting on.
DD: So the inebriate sleep off center is not part of your jail expansion project?
JS: I ensured the community at the meeting that the inebriate sleep off center is not part of our prison expansion project. It’s a

Palin signs revenue sharing and
PERS/TRS bills

4-15-08

by Greg Lincoln

On April 8, 2008,Governor Sarah Palin signed into law bills that will provide revenue to local communities and address the $8 billion unfunded liability in the state’s retirements.
Under the municipal revenue sharing bill, Senate Bill 72, the state is to sets up a structure for distributing $60 million each year to local governments or municipalities for the next three years.
Local entities, which receive the revenue, have discretionary use of the funds, which can be used for a variety of purposes. For instance, larger communities can offer tax relief to its residents and smaller communities can help support basic municipal services.
“Local government is the most responsive and responsible,” Palin said. “I support the state’s wealth being shared with that most effective level of government.”
Another bill signed by Palin, Senate Bill 125, locks in the contribution rate for the Public Employees Retirement System at 22 percent to address the system’s unfunded liability. The bill streamlines plan administration and eliminates liability and asset accounting for each PERS employer.
“This bill signifies a substantial commitment on behalf of the state to ensure our solution will help local communities and not redirect critical dollars from our classrooms,” Palin said.
The bill will benefit public employees and teachers regarding their retirement programs.

AVCP Region Revenue Sharing
Alakanuk 130,634
Chefornak 120,030
Kalskag, Lower 110,052
Kalskag, Upper 110,157
Kongiganak 55,027
Kotlik 127,918
Napakiak 115,328
Nunam Iqua 106,500
Nunapitchuk 124,575
Oscarville 35,586
Pilot Station 125,985
Red Devil 33,625
Scammon Bay 123,164
Stony River 34,969
Tuntutuliak 54,802
Akiak 115,172
Chevak 143,433
Eek 110,993
Goodnews Bay 108,642
Hooper Bay 156,440
Kipnuk 69,425
Kwigillingiok 53,178
Napaskiak 120,239
Newtok 50,096
Pitka's Point 38,107
Sleetmute 37,098
Akiachak 67,464
Aniak 122,746
Atmauthluak 49,032
Bethel 399,613 2,707,534
Chuathbaluk 101,172
Crooked Creek 38,835
Emmonak 137,582
Kasigluk 62,366
Kwethluk 133,664
Lime Village 33,401
Marshall 116,216
Mekoryuk 107,336
Mountain Village 137,582
Nightmute 108,381
Platinum 97,985
Quinhagak 139,851
Russian Mission 113,187
Toksook Bay 127,239
Tuluksak 59,621
Tununak 50,657
Total: 4,615,105

“I thought I would never live in Bethel”

4-8-08

by Greg Lincoln

Millie Bentley, the owner and operator of Bentley’s Bed & Breakfast in Bethel first came to Bethel in 1980. She worked as an auditor for the state and came out to do an audit of the City.
“We had one person who worked for the City who called me the “Gestapo”, said Millie. “And if anybody had told me in 1980 that ten years later I’d be living in Bethel, I would tell them their crystal ball was broken because I thought I would never live in Bethel.”
Back in 1980 the only place to stay was the Kuskokwim Inn.
“There were drunks running up and down the hall all night long,” she said. “And there was nothing to do if you didn’t go to work. If you needed two tomatoes you went to the store twice just to have something to do.”
In 1987 Millie was called out to do a special audit. She had only been in Bethel during the really bad weather months, but this time she came out in July. Vicki Malone asked her if she was going to stay with Rosie Porter who had opened a B&B.
Millie came and stayed there in July of 1987, which changed her entire outlook about Bethel. There weren’t drunks running around and she had a nice pleasant place to stay. She loved it so much that, a year later, she bought Rosie’s B&B.
For the next three years Millie’s sister ran the business. In 1990 Millie took an early retirement from the state and moved to Bethel where she worked for Bethel Community Services and also took over running the business. That was in 1992.
Millie had help from Suz Monfort who was her manager since 1994 until she opened Curves in 2006. Currently George Estrala is the property manager.
Every morning you will find Millie cooking up a big breakfast for her guests including the “best coffee in town” and who taught her how to cook?
“Well, my mother didn’t. She was beans and cornbread and her idea of pork chops was having it crisp and she was busy raising 5 kids,” she said. “I can read and that is how I learned how to cook - by reading books and just experimenting.”
Every morning she serves a full breakfast with a casserole, toast, oatmeal, dried cereal, fruit, juice, and homemade rolls.
Millie is also a Certified Public Accountant, and was she good in math?
“I didn’t even know what a CPA was and no, I wasn’t,” she said. In high school Millie studied foreign languages and science. After she got married she decided to do bookkeeping at home. She got a course from the LaSalle Institute, “Accounting up to CPA” but she stopped after five lessons.
“It helped me a little bit. I knew what a debit and credit was.”
She went back to school and majored in accounting and found she was the only woman in that major, taking 15-19 units each semester and enrolling in summer school. Millie graduated on Friday and went to work for a CPA firm on Monday. She passed the CPA test and worked 2 years to get her license. Afterwards she went into public accounting and then went to work for the government.
Millie also writes a weekly recipe column for The Delta Discovery.
She is currently looking for a buyer for her B&B.
“Right now we need to sell the place. We can’t find anybody to work and it is just getting to be pretty exhausting so we decided to sell it,” she said. “I want to go watch my grandson play baseball. How often do you get a kid that’s on a baseball card?”
She is looking for a Mom & Pop operation to take over her B&B. “That is what I would like, a family.”
As soon as everything is sold, Millie plans to head out. “I’ll miss everyone in Bethel.”

4-1-08

by Greg Lincoln

Cama-i, the Delta’s best dance festival
How was this year’s Cama-i Festival? Spectacular.
There was something for everyone at last weekend’s Cama-i Festival – local, regional, Statewide, National, and international dancers performed at this world class dance exhibition.
Clearly the crowd favorite were the Te Wananga Maori. This group from New Zealand/Hawaii rocked the festival with their exciting performances, the crowd bursting forth with thunderous applause and appreciation for the mesmerizing beauty and grace of the women and the fierce, sometimes terrifying performance of the Maori Warriors.
And the regalia – the feathered dresses, painted faces, and pukana – the intimidation or attitude shown by the expressions by the dancers was indescribable.
“We love Bethel, the people are so friendly, thank you very much for inviting us,” said Shannon Galeai, one the group’s coordinator/dancers.
Many thanks to Cama-i Coordinator Linda Curda and her crew of many volunteers. Quyana cakneq for all your hard work for making this event possible. Quyana!

Avian virus out of control in Indonesia

3-26-08

Welcome to Cama-i 2008! I hope everyone has a great time during this wonderful yearly event! Quyana Tailuci!

On March 18, 2008, the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warned the prevalence of avian influenza in Indonesia remains serious despite containment efforts undertaken by national authorities and the international community.
Indonesia is the country worst hit by avian influenza, which has become deeply entrenched in 31 out of its 33 provinces.
“The human mortality rate from bird flu in Indonesia is the highest in the world and there will be more human cases if we do not focus more on containing the disease at source in animals,” said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech.
Domenech said he was deeply concerned that the high level of virus circulation in birds in the country could create conditions for the virus to mutate and to finally cause a human influenza pandemic.
“The avian influenza situation in Indonesia is grave – all international partners and national authorities need to step up their efforts for halting the spread of the disease in animals and making the fight against the virus a top priority,” he said.
About 20 percent of the chicken population of 1.4 billion is Indonesia scattered in around 30 million backyards, where people raise them for food or income. Despite major control efforts, Indonesia has not succeeded in containing the spread of avian influenza in poultry, Domenech said.
“Indonesia is facing an uphill battle against a virus that is difficult to contain. Major human and financial resources, stronger political commitment and strengthened coordination between the central, province and district authorities are required to improve surveillance and control measures.”
Domenech said they have also observed that new H5N1 avian influenza virus strains have recently emerged, creating the possibility that vaccines currently in use may not be fully protecting poultry against the disease, and that more investigations and the development of better poultry vaccines are required.
“The major challenge is to immediately apply the main components of a successful national avian influenza control strategy, based on effective surveillance, emergency culling and compensation, vaccination, improved biosecurity, effective laboratory and quarantine procedures, and movement controls of poultry and poultry products,” Domenech added.

Businesses victims of Break-ins

Recent break-in and burglaries have been reported in Bethel this past week. Keep an eye out for thieves - make sure your businesses are locked and safe! Above is photo of a thief who broke into Subway Saturday morning. Note the Camera time and date. Anyone with any information is encouraged to report suspicious activities to the Bethel Police.

Senate Finance Committee passes
historic education funding bill

3-13-08

by Greg Lincoln

On Feb. 28, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee in Juneau passed House Bill 273, an historic bill to increase school funding and implement the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Education Funding Task Force.
The bill is considered on one of the most significant education plans to come before the legislature. If passed, the bill would fully fund education for the first time ever.
“I can’t think of a better use of the surplus funds than to implement a sustainable education funding plan,” said Stedman. “This proposal offers major changes and collaboration of educational professionals across Alaska.”
As chair and member of the task force, Stedman worked to address long-standing issues facing school districts such as the disproportionate costs in rural districts.
“Education funding is at the heart of our state budget. I have been working hard with my colleagues in both the House and Senate to ensure an equitable funding for remote school districts,” Stedman said. “Provisions such as fixing the district cost factor help level the playing field for small community school districts.”
The bill implements the recommendations advocated by the Institute of Social & Economic Research, also known as ISER. The provisions of the bill include:
•Fully forward fund education for the first time ever •Increase the Base Student Allocation by $300 over three years •Implementing a hold-harmless clause for districts with sharp drops in enrollment •Adjusting the District Cost Factor and Transportation Cost funding
The Joint Legislative Education Funding Task Force consists of Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anch., as Chair, and members Sen. Johnny Ellis, D-Anch.; Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel; Rep. Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue; Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Fairbanks; Rep. Bob Roses, R- Fairbanks; Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer; Sen. Bert Steadman; Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak; and Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks.
Carl Rose, Executive Director of the Assn. of Alaska School Boards, is also a member of the task force, by appointment of Gov. Sarah Palin. The next step for the bill is to go before the Senate for consideration.
*Congratulations to the winners of this year's 1A Tournament - the games were tough but you did it! Good luck at State! Also, Newtok Girls win the Perseverance Award for shoveling their runway so their plane could land - keep up the determination. Piurci!

LKSD 1A League Results

3-6-08

by Greg Lincoln

Midcoast League Girls Basketball Results
1st: Kwigillingok
2nd: Eek
3rd: Goodnews Bay
Sportsmanship–Kwig Eagles
Kwigillingok and Eek will represent the Mid-Coast league at the district tourney in Bethel.
Island League (both Boys/Girls)
1st: Toksook Bay
2nd: Chefornak
3rd: Newtok
Sportsmanship: Newtok
All Tourney Boys: Joey Lincoln OOK, Thomas Albert TNK, Bosco Waska WWT, Tim Kinegak CYF, Bosco Julius OOK
All Tourney Girls: Shannon Tulik OOK, Vanessa George WWT, Alicia Chagluak OOK, Abby Moses OOK, Marilyn Billy CYF.
Kusko League Boys Results
1st Place - Akula
2nd Place - Napaskiak
3rd Place- Kwethluk
Sportsmanship: Napaskiak
All Tourney: Michael Andrew, Travis Andrew, Harry Berlin, Jerome Paul, Ryan White, Martin Jackson, Daniel Alexie, Josh Sergie, Herman Evan, Jeremiah Jackson
Kusko League Girls:
1st: Kwethluk Lady Kings
2nd: Napaskiak Lady Hawks
3rd: Akiuk Lady Grizzlies
Sportsmanship: Atmautluak Lady Falcons
All Stars: Katya McDalton-Kwt., Kelly Ayapan-Kwt., Crystal Michael-Kwt., Jaclyn Nelson-PKA, Ashley Evan-PKA, Francine Larson-PKA, Anastasia Brink - Akiuk, Renae Keene - Akiuk, Jamie Nicholas - Akula, Nicole Alexie - Atmautluak.
Congratulations to all the teams in their home districts for their outstanding academic and athletic effort to make it this far! Good luck!

Board of Game
to Meet

2-28-08

by Greg Lincoln

The Alaska Board of Game will meet February 29 - March 10, 2008, in Fairbanks at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge to consider over 100 proposals concerning changes to hunting and trapping regulations in the Interior Region.
Some of those will include proposals concerning caribou and Proposals have been submitted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, state advisory committees, and the general public seeking adjustments to hunting and trapping regulations in the Interior region, including subsistence hunting, methods and means for hunting and trapping, intensive management programs, restricted areas, and miscellaneous statewide regulations.
The board will also address a number of deferred proposals from previous board meetings that are from other regions of the state. For more detailed information on the subject matter, members of the public are encouraged to read the meeting notice that can be viewed on-line at: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/gameinfo/meetinfo/gnote.php.
The board will take oral public testimony beginning Friday, February 29. Anyone wishing to testify before the board must sign up at the meeting site before 1:30 pm on Saturday, March 1st. Public testimony will continue until everyone who has signed up has been given the opportunity to be heard.
The deadline to ensure written comments on proposals are included in the Board of Game members’ meeting binders is 5:00 pm this Friday, February 15. Written comments on specific proposals that are received after 5:00 pm this Friday will be accepted and distributed to members during the meeting up until they begin deliberation on the proposal.
Written comments can be mailed to: Alaska Board of Game, Boards Support Section, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526, or faxed to (907) 465-6094.
Deliberations on the proposals will begin following public testimony and continue through the remainder of the meeting. Copies of the proposals and the agenda can be viewed online at: http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/gameinfo/meetinfo/gcal.php. Quyanaqvaall'!

More education pays off,
as do certain fields of training

2-20-08

by Greg Lincoln

Here is an interesting piece on training and education written by Robert Bernstein from the US Census Bureau: The field of training can sometimes have as dramatic an effect on earnings as the level of education, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Workers who held vocational certificates in engineering averaged about $3,880 a month, which is nearly the same as those with bachelor’s degrees in natural science. Likewise, those with associate’s degrees in computers averaged about $3,760 a month, which is close to those with bachelor’s degrees in education or social science.
A survey, called “What’s It Worth: Field of Training and Economic Status in 2004,” examines the relationship between field of training for post-secondary degree holders and monthly earnings. It also presents data on the average years taken to start and complete various degrees and on occupation of workers by educational attainment and field of degree.
Other highlights:
•Business was a popular field of training in 2004, as 8.6 million people held bachelor’s degrees, 3.9 million earned associate’s degrees and 2.7 million received advanced degrees in this field. Those with bachelor’s degrees in engineering earned an average of $5,992 a month.
•People who pursued higher degrees often spent more than the minimum number of years to complete the degree or certificate. On average, students took more than a year to complete vocational programs, more than four years to complete associate’s degrees and more than five years to complete bachelor’s degrees.
•Women earned less than men at every degree level. The female-to-male average monthly earnings ratio for full-time workers 18 and older in 2004 was 0.71 for women who held bachelor’s degrees and 0.67 for women with a master’s, doctorate or professional degrees. The ratios were not statistically different from one another at these levels of education.

Returning Veterans

2-14-08

by Greg Lincoln

Welcome home to the soldiers who were deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The celebration banquet prepared by the American Legion George H. Hohman Post 10, the VFW Post 10041, and the Bethel Family Readiness Group was very well done this past Sunday.
For the opening, the BRHS JROTC Honor Guard posted the colors. The Pledge of Allegiance, the American Anthem, and the Alaska State Song were performed by the students from the Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Immersion School in Yup'ik. Aina Niellson sang the National Anthem beautifully.
Those in attendance were touched by the solemn remembrance of their missing comrades during the POW MIA Ceremony.
Featured guest speakers included American Legion Post Commander Sam Shields, General Thomas Katkas, General Julio Benez, LTC David Osbourne, and LTC Michael Thompson.
"These soldiers postponed their lives to honor their country," said Shields. "To preserve our world from acts of terror for peace through their volunteering and sacrifice."
The soldiers also went through tarvaq, a purification of the spirit led by Chief Paul Kangrilnguq John of Toksook Bay and Chief Peter Paniguaq Jacob of Bethel with burning sage, with the purification song performed by Myron Naneng.
For the Freedom Salute, led by LTC Bill Luce, soldiers were presented with an American Flag, a limited edition coin, a Defender of Freedom Certificate, a lapel pin, and a future soldier kit.
Mike Martz of KYUK productions was presented with an award for superb effort to record and capture the events of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from 2005 to 2008 for the soldiers and their families.
Soldiers from the communities of Bethel, Chefornak, Chevak, Hooper Bay, Kasigluk, Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, Mekoryuk, Newtok, Nightmute, Pilot Station, Quinhagak, Scammon Bay, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak, and Anchorage were asked to stand and be honored for a job well done and for coming home safely to their communities and families. The event closed with a banquet and Eskimo Dancing. Quyana!

CITGO once again offering free 100 gallons
of heating fuel to Bethel residents

2-5-08

by Greg Lincoln

Orutsararmiut Native Council is pleased to announce that CITGO, through the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, is again offering up to 100 gallons of free residential heating fuel to the residents of Bethel.
This year, the first go-round will be in two (2) phases. Those considered as seniors, defined as head of households 60 years or over, will be able to claim their free oil vouchers starting February 6 through February 15, 2008. The rest of the general public will then be able to claim their free oil vouchers starting on February 18, 2008.
Free oil must be delivered to the residence no later than March 31, 2008. Like last year, the vendors will make only one delivery to the residence, and will not return to deliver the remaining balance if you received less than the 100 gallons on the first delivery.
Therefore, it is important that the residence heating fuel tank can accommodate at least 100 gallons. Also, the free oil vouchers will be issued only once. Lost vouchers will not be replaced.
Unless notified of a change, the vouchers can be picked up at the same location as last year. Any questions about this program, contact ONC at 543-2608. Quyana cakneq!

1-29-08

by Greg Lincoln

This just in from a trusted source:
All Democrats are invited to nominate their favorite candidates for President of the United States on February 5, 2008 at the Catholic Social Hall from 6:00 p.m. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m.
You can also register to vote at the door that night; or change your party affiliation.
All you have to do is show up, stand or sit in the corner where your candidate's signs are while we count how many each candidate gets. The process usually takes less than an hour. We will join 21 other states in the Super Tuesday caucusing.
Any questions, call the Alaska Headquarters: 907-258-3020. Quyana!

1-22-08

by Greg Lincoln

Congratulations to the mushers who ran the Kuskokwim 300, the Bogus Creek 150, and the Akiak Dash! Thank you to K300 Race Committee Manager Staci Gillilan and her hardworking staff, the K300 Board, KYUK news coverage staff, and all the volunteers and visitors who made it possible for our wonderful community to host such a world-class event - the highlight of our winter season. You did a great job and I am honored to be able to share in a part of the history of this great race. Enduring such hardship during these races is more than what most people can bear or even imagine - you and your dogs are amazing athletes, especially with this year's race conditions - wet and soggy. We stand in awe of you! Quyana and we hope that everyone finishes in grand style - you are all winners in my book. Piurci!

Apply online for your 2008 PFD

1-15-08

by Greg Lincoln

The 2008 PFD application period opens January 1, 2008, at 12:01 a.m. To encourage more Alaskans to apply online, the PFD Division is continuing its Early Direct Deposit option. Applicants who apply online in January and select and qualify for direct deposit will be paid on October 2, 2008. All other eligible applicants who select and qualify for direct deposit will be paid on October 16, 2008. The PFD Division will begin mailing checks to all other eligible applicants November 14, 2008.
Every Alaskan can apply online for their 2008 PFD. Alaskans who register for a myAlaska account can electronically sign their PFD application through the state’s myAlaska program. Visit www.pfd.alaska.gov to learn more about the electronic signature option or to set up a myAlaska account now.
Any adult who received a 2007 PFD can set up a myAlaska account to eSign their application with an Alaska driver’s license or an Alaska ID. Adults with a myAlaska account can also apply online and electronically sign their children’s’ PFD applications. Alaskans who already have a myAlaska account do not need to set up another account. Applicants who do not wish to use an electronic signature can still apply online and mail a printed signature page to the PFD Division.
PFD Division Director Debbie Richter said, “The online application process is a “win” in every way for applicants. It is more secure than mail, provides immediate confirmation of filing, and allows January filers with direct deposit to receive their dividends earlier. We are hoping for at least 470,000 online filers this year.”
According to PFD Division Manager Amy Skow, in 2007 the Division received 420,596 online applications, two thirds of the total 629,000 valid applications received for the 2007 PFD. Skow estimates that the Division will receive more online applications during 2008, and she encourages Alaskans to discover for themselves the convenience of signing electronically.
Division staff in the Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau Offices can assist those wanting to set up a myAlaska electronic signature account. Alaskans without computer access may apply online using public computers available in the PFD Offices, at public libraries and at Legislative Information Offices.
The 2008 PFD application period runs from January 1 through March 31, 2008. The online application will be available at 12:01 am on January 1, 2008. The 2008 dividend amount will be announced mid-September, 2008.

Tundra Teacher
columnist in accident

The popular Tundra Teacher columnist Kipling Layton of Atmautluak was in an accident where he fell while hunting during Christmas Break and will be unable to write for a while.
On December 27, 2007 he suffered a broken right foot and heel in 10 different places and has to wear a brace on his right knee. His left femur also broke in several areas and doctors had to perform surgery to insert a metal rod in it. Some of his cartilage was also mangled. One of Kip’s vertebrae was compressed during the accident and he is now wearing a back brace.
Kip was able to call his wife Irene on his cell phone for help. He was medevaced via helicopter to University Hospital in San Antonio. He is now recovering with a cast on his foot and a knee and back brace in a wheelchair. He is going to heal for a couple of months before going into physical therapy to walk and requests everyone’s prayers. Quyana!

Wind workshop coming to Bethel

1-9-08

by Greg Lincoln

The Bethel Regional Wind Development Workshop will be held next week on Thursday and Friday at the Bethel Cultural Center (January 10th and 11th). This two day event will be spent exploring Regional Wind Development in the Y-K Delta. Thursday’s events will be focused on providing an introduction to wind power and Friday’s will address more specific topics for regional wind systems.
The workshop, sponsored by Renewable Energy Alaska Project and the Alaska Energy Authority, has scholarships available to help cover travel costs for those in villages who wish to attend.
This meeting will bring together leaders from across the YK delta to discuss approaches that can be initiated to expand the use of wind energy throughout our region. Rising diesel fuel prices, strong community interest, and the successful wind-diesel projects in Toksook Bay and Kasigluk will be discussed as well as the steps to be undertaken to develop a wind energy deployment plan for the YK delta area. Other topics include:
Introduction to Wind Energy
•Wind Resource Basics
•Wind Characteristics
•Operation of Wind Turbines
•Small Wind Turbines
•Wind-Diesel System Basics
•YK Delta Wind Resources Summary
•Successful Project Development
Regional Wind Development
•How regional wind development could affect the local business environment and educational community
•Examples of other successful regional approaches
•Potential public-private partnerships to implement projects
If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact REAP or the Alaska Energy Authority. If you have not yet registered, please do so at http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/registration_bethel.asp if you have any questions or problems, please contact REAP at (907) 929-7770. Quyana!

Unemployment rate at 6.4 percent in November

1-2-08

by Greg Lincoln

According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose three-tenths of a percentage point to 6.4 percent in November. The comparable national rate was unchanged at 4.7 percent.
After consistent declines in the early part of 2007, the state’s unemployment rate has bounced around in the second half of the year and not revealed any clear trend. The 6.4 percent rate is below last November’s 6.6 percent, but the gap isn’t wide enough to be statistically significant.
At the regional level, Anchorage/Mat-Su had the lowest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent and Southwest had the highest at 11 percent (not seasonally adjusted).
Payroll employment estimates for November show a typical seasonal decline of 7,400 jobs, the majority in construction and seafood processing. Over-the-year growth has slowed slightly to just below 1 percent.
The largest gains were in natural resources and mining, led by continued strong growth in the oil and gas industry. Construction was the only category to show signifi cant losses, with an over-the-year decline of 800 jobs.
According to Dan Robinson, a Department of Labor economist, the latest numbers indicate that the economy is relatively stable and not making any sudden shifts either up or down.
“A 6.4 percent unemployment rate is low by historical standards and 2007 will be the 20th consecutive year of job growth, so the overall picture is mostly positive,” Robinson said. “Construction jobs have been falling, but strong growth in the oil and gas industry has compensated for those losses.”
To our readership far and wide - Happy New Year! Welcome to 2008! Thank you for a great 2007! Piurci!

Merry Christmas!!!

12-25-07

by Greg Lincoln

Merry Christmas to everyone in the YK Delta, our subscribers, and internet readers from The Delta Discovery. Angniq Alussistuaq to all of our contributers and advertisers! Thank you for all your help and your many words of encouragement and wisdom. We appreciate every one of you. Please know that we will not publish a paper on December 26, 2007. That is our week off and we are looking forward to spending a few days of rest and relaxation with loved ones. We will pick up again on January 2, 2008 - we are looking forward to what the New Year will bring! Quyana for another great and memorable year, piurci!

Alaska Army National Guard seeking new recruits to help keep armories open

12-12-07

by Greg Lincoln

To help make the decision to keep village armories open, the Alaska Army National Guard is actively seeking new recruits to enlist.
“If there is no participation, it becomes a financially unsound decision to keep an armory open,” said Sgt. Msg. Hildreth, a Recruiter for the Guard.
Hildreth wishes to keep as many armories functional – to serve as viable options for people to take shelter in if there are disasters such as floods, power outages, or cold spells in the winter.
“The armory could be the sole remaining place in any of these villages that is operational,” he said. “The Guard is there to provide help during such emergencies.”
The National Guard is also keen on making sure to honor their departed fellow comrades.
“We want local guards to best honor a fellow servicemember, rather than someone from the outside who doesn’t know anything about the person,” said Hildreth. “To have a local group, that would be the better option for us to have those honor them.”
What can a new recruit expect after enlisting?
A new recruit once enlisted is under contract with the National Guard. They are checked – medically and morally. Medically to make sure they are healthy and morally to make sure they do not have any violations or trouble with the law.
“We look into their background to make sure there is nothing we have to worry about,” Hildreth said.
After that, they are sent to Anchorage to take the ASVAB – an aptitude test, and a physical. At this time, it is also decided what job they are going to take, how long they want to serve, which bonuses to pursue, and when and where they are going to attend basic training.
Each base is specialized. New recruits attend boot camp in one of several places. Infantrymen are sent to Fort Benning, Georgia. For clerks and supply positions, new recruits are shipped to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Fort Knox is for armor. MPs, combat engineers and chemical go to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. There is also Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.
“What job they are going to do dictates what location they are going to for basic and advanced trainig,” said Hildreth.
The Army National Guard Recruiters are planning to go to Akiak on their next mission. They can be reached at: 1-800-483-5296 for more information. Quyana!

12-4-07

by Greg Lincoln

Attention all Bethel Bakers/Cookie Makers, this just in from Bev Hoffman:
Bakers needed for
Christmas Cookie Extravaganza
The 15th annual Christmas Cookie Extra-vaganza will be held Sunday December 16 from 1 to 3pm at the Cultural Center. The event is sponsored by the Y/K Delta Lifesavers. All proceeds go to the swimming pool fund at Wells Fargo Bank. Please join the Y/K Delta Lifesavers! Add to the pool fund by baking 4-6 dozen of your favorite Christmas Cookie (include recipe). Please contact any of the following individuals as soon as possible: Nancy Elliott, Bev Hoffman, and Kathy Baldwin. We would like the cookies brought to the Cultural Center between 11a.m. and 12:30 that day. Happy Holidays and Quyana!

Bethel explores detox alternatives

11-23-07

by Greg Lincoln

Bethel is getting help with its problems caused by alcohol according to a report published by Rider Consulting in conjunction with the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation.
In 2007, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and the state Division of Behavioral Health began a project to help communities that have significant public safety and emergency room problems with alcoholism to identify solutions that they can pursue.
YKHC received a grant from the Trust through the State in August to help address this problem.
In late September 2007, YKHC entered a contract with Rider Consulting to help the community assess its current status and options. Rider plans to interview key informants, conduct a literature review, identify and review data from YKHC, the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center, and the Bethel Police Department about inebriated people, facilitate some meetings within the community and between the community and the state, and prepare a report detailing a plan of action including factors that affect the community’s preferences.
On October 29 and 30, 2007, the consulting team interviewed approximately 25 key people who deal with the issue of inebriated people, their safety, their health care, and their families to help understanding the problem and how it affects the community. When the team couldn’t meet with an individual in person, interviews were pursued by telephone. Additional people were interviewed at the state level, and more is expected.
The report states that police are the first line of response in alcohol related incidents. Police are mandated to address the problem under Title 47.37 but don?t have the staffing necessary and they get burned out. It takes ½ hour to 4.5 hours for an officer to get someone admitted to the Emergency Department and the need for protective custody holds is huge.
The Emergency Department at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation hospital in Bethel has 9 beds. It takes all youth, many women and fewer men. The ED generally admits 3-4 people for protective custody each day—and as many as 13 per day, totaling over 1000 last year.
Additionally, most protective custody cases have another problem aside from alcohol such as being suicidal or injured and require special attention.
As for inebriate youth, it became illegal in 2004 to take youth to Bethel Youth Facility for sleep-off, so all youth go to the ED instead: 300 or so times each year.
The Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center in Bethel also does 12-hour protective custody holds in two rooms, 5 per room for inebriates. Those who are severely intoxicated must go to the ER for medical clearance. Often the women’s room at the jail is filled with men, which forces women to be referred to the ER.
A call to action: On November 13, 2007, a group of 30 residents gathered to talk about the situation of inebriated people in Bethel. They declared a crisis in emergency response, substance abuse treatment, and community health.
The plan is to research certain issues and responses, and convene a second community meeting with key policymakers in state government, local governments, and regional agencies and with the Alaska Mental Health Trust. That meeting will be held December 14, 2007 in Bethel. Quyana, there is much more to this report – this is just the tip!

Home Fire Safety during the Holidays

11-13-07

by Greg Lincoln

Nationwide, home fire losses increase during the Thanksgiving Holiday. The number one cause for this increase is unattended cooking. The Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety recommends the following safety tips to make sure your holiday is safe.
*Never leave cooking unattended.
*When leaving the kitchen, take a timer to remind you that there is food cooking on the stove.
*When leaving the home, turn the stove off.
*Keep young children away from the stove while cooking.
*Turkey deep fat fryers should be used outside on a concrete surface. Never indoors!
*Follow the instructions on what type of oil, & how much oil to put in the fryer.
*Completely thaw the turkey before putting it in the fryer.
*Make sure that candles are kept at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn
*Keep candles in sturdy, nonflammable holders
*Do not leave children or pets unsupervised around burning candles.
*Blow out all candles when leaving the home.
Thank you to Mahlon Greene, Public Education Coordinator for Fire and Life Safety who provided these tips. For more, you can reach him at (907) 269-5052, mahlon.greene@alaska.gov or visit the www.akburny.com. Quyanaqvaall'!

YK-Delta Entrepreneurs
win big in business ideas competition

11-6-07

by Greg Lincoln

The results are in for the 61 rural Alaskan entrepreneurs who competed for $700,000 in seed money at the Alaska Marketplace Competition in Fairbanks! The Alaska Marketplace, an initiative of the Alaska Federation of Natives, is sparking grassroots development in rural villages by inviting Alaskans to submit their ideas for new ways of revitalizing their communities.
“The Marketplace is a rich resource for economic development in Alaska, and is creating a bright future for the next generation in our state,” said Al Bolea, Co-Chair of the Alaska Marketplace judges committee.
The competitors, who spent months developing their business ideas, were given the opportunity to pitch their business plans to top executives from around the world. The judges evaluated the business plans according to their innovation, sustainability and profitability, job creation and exemplification of Alaskan cultural heritage.
While the judges are experts and business leaders in their respective fields, they were impressed by the competitors’ enthusiasm, originality and commitment to their communities.
“When you talk to people with so much passion, all you see is endless potential,” said Carla Beam, the Director of Community Affairs for BP Alaska’s Community Support Program.
The mission of the Alaska Marketplace is to stimulate economic development in rural Alaskan communities. Managed by AFN, the Alaska Marketplace partners are BP; ConocoPhillips; Denali Commission; Rasmuson Foundation; Telecommunications Development Fund; GCI; Alyeska Pipeline Service Company; Chugach Alaska Corporation; Doyon, Limited; National Cooperative Bank; Bristol Bay Native Corporation; Shell Exploration and Production and Wells Fargo Bank. For more information about the Alaska Marketplace, please visit www.alaskamarketplace.org.
Winners from the YK Delta include Joseph A. Afcan of St. Mary’s and Michelle Maacuar Sparck of Bethel. Congratulations to you both! Here is a summary of their projects:
One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure: Award Amount: $50,000; Project Representative: Joseph A. Afcan, St. Mary’s, Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. Almost every yard in rural communities have broken-down ATVs, outboards, snowmachines and cars. One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure will purchase these machines at low prices to rebuild or salvage, and resell at a higher price. Alaska Native values stress to take care of the lands that we hunt and occupy. There is no better place to start than the villages in which we live.
ArXotica, Inc., Award Amount: $60,000, Project Representative: Michelle (Maacuar) Sparck, Bethel, Yukon/Kuskokwim Region. In Year 1, ArXotica financed the harvesting, shipping, drying and extraction of their first generation of tundra materials and awaiting analysis of the actives in tundra botanicals. The project objective for Year 2 is to finalize product formulation of the line of skin care to launch in the luxury consumer market. As well as deciding the product formula and private label contract manufacturing and forecast the volume of plants and berries needed each year to produce for market. ArXotica has a 5-year strategy to hire gatherers and agents in order to build the infrastructure within the region to avoid outsourcing manufacturers.
Quyana for your hard work! Tua-i-ngunrituq!

Army National Guard looking to set up next “buddy platoon”

10-31-07

by Greg Lincoln

The Delta Discovery met Roger Morrison and Sgt. Msg. Hildreth of the Army National Guard to discuss their plans for the next “buddy platoon”. The National Guard of Alaska is eager to get the word out to help boost declining enlistment numbers.
DD: So what’s up?
National Guardsmen: The Alaska National Guard is offering a “buddy platoon”. In a buddy platoon, everyone from the State of Alaska would be going to basic training together. We’re looking for young men up to the age of 42. They would be doing basic training and their advance individual training together. So everyone from the region would be together.
DD: What about the enlistment requirements?
NG: They have to meet the requirements to get into the military, pass the ASVAB test, go up to Anchorage and do their full physical, and pass all their requirements to get in. But instead of them going by themselves, they’d be going with a friend or with the other people from the state so they wouldn’t be the only ones from Alaska.
DD: How many can you take?
NG: I would love to have like 15 or 20. I’ll take all 45 of them if I can get that. We’ll take as many as we can get. If we get more than 45, we’ll make room for them.
DD: What is it that makes a buddy platoon successful?
NG: Your readers who have been former members of previous buddy platoons, they know what the concept means. They’ve all been down there together. Previously we’ve sent onesies and twosies and when they get down there they’re away from home, they don’t have the support network with someone they know. When we send them down in big groups they come back a lot more successful, they get a lot more qualified and they seem to enjoy it quite a bit. Ft. Benning is a real blast.
Over the years we’ve done quite a few buddy platoons but it’s been a number of years since one has taken place. We’re trying to get the word out that we’re doing another buddy platoon. Probably a lot of guys in the villages know the term because they were members of one in years past. We’ll actually physically take them all the way down to Benning, get them through the first couple of weeks, hand them off to the drill sergeant, and when they graduate we’ll escort them back up. It’s a good trip, a lot of people have a good time with it.
DD: What about the training schedule and their duty status?
NG: While they’re down there, they’re on full time active duty status so they’ll be making a lot more. But when the training is done, they will come back to their homes and do one week out of the month, 2 weeks out of the year. The average is about 39 days total. The Guard is trying a new concept where they’re going 4-5 days at a time to do drills where we fly everybody into Fairbanks or Anchorage or wherever. We’re trying that concept as well. But traditionally, the guard is one week in a month and two weeks out of the year.
DD: Anything else that’s new?
NG: I wanted to talk about Active First, which the guard is just now starting. What it is is young men or women that join up into the National Guard, but they do active duty first. So they would be coming and talking to me and I would be doing all the paperwork to get them in. They could do up to 30, 36 or 48 months of active duty. Instead of coming back home when the training is over, they’d go off to Ft. Benning or someplace like that and do 30, 36, or 48 months. And for the 36 or 48 they get a $20,000 bonus for the active duty part, and then when they finish up their, for example, 48 months of active duty status, they come back and join the National Guard again, they’ll sign a different deal, releasing them from active duty giving them back to us, and they’ll get another $20,000 bonus for doing that. They’ll actually get a full $40,000 bonus.
DD: What other benefits does that give young recruits?
NG: A lot of training and a lot of experience. They can put on their résumé that they've have four years working as a mechanic, clerk, medic, or whatever. It is a good résumé builder. They get a lot of benefits to come back and continue their education and get their degrees and become involved in the community at some point.
DD: That sounds excellent.
NG: It’s pretty good. I (Hildreth) grew up here as a kid. I was looking for a way to get out of town. A lot of kids need that change at that critical age when they’re growing. There are a lot of distractions at that age and they can get into trouble a lot real quick around here. It’s a good option to get away from town for a while to clear your distance from a lot of things you know and understand and get to a new place and learn. It helps you get the skills and maturity and to grow emotionally and come back with the intent to go into school. It’s a good way to get going in life.
DD: Is there a decline in enlistment from this area?
NG: Yes, western Alaska used to be one of the biggest in the state for the National Guard, it was huge. 500 people used to participate from here. That outshadowed any other unit in the state by a couple hundred people. Nobody else could muster the number of people that participated like this region could. Through the 90s it slowly declined and in 2000 it plummeted. We’re trying to get it going again, trying to get that participation level up again.
If you walk around in the houses in the village, you see the photos of every one that was in the service. You see all these pictures of every able bodied male and female that had participated at some point through the 70s, 80s, and end of the mid 90s. We want to continue to get more people in the process. There are a lot of good people out here. We need to get that back.
Sgt. Msg. Hildreth and Roger Morrison are scheduled to be in Holy Cross on November 13, 2007. To reach them or to learn more, you can call the Army National Guard in Bethel at 543-5296. People in the villages can call 1-800-483-5296. Email is roger.Morrison@us.army.gov. Quyana!

2007 Pipeline training gets underway

10-23-07

by Greg Lincoln

It won’t be long before the rumble of heavy equipment signals the beginning of a training program unlike any other in the country. Students will soon have the opportunity for hands-on experience in building the kind of pipeline that will someday transport natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope. The sixth annual Pipeline Training event will be held in Fairbanks, October 22-November 1.
Along with the skills students gain in their respective trades, trainees will practice all phases of pipeline construction as a combined workforce. From fabricating support members, installing road crossings, welding, and heavy equipment operation, workers learn the teamwork it takes to build a pipeline across the Last Frontier. Thanks to past pipeline training events, hundreds of workers now have what it takes to work on pipeline projects around Alaska. Many past participants are already at work on jobs in the oil patch.
The pipeline training is hosted by Alaska Works Partnership, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Denali Commission, local contractors and Alaska’s four pipeline unions – Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 375, Laborers Local 942, Operating Engineers Local 302, and Teamsters Local 959. The training will take place on 20 acres of Great Northwest, Inc.’s yard.
AWP will be providing training site visits Oct 25th – Oct 31st; November 1st, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 pm: Training site demonstration; 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 pm: Graduation at Pioneer Park Civic Center. For more information about the Pipeline Training, contact Randy Cheap, Alaska Works Partnership at 907-457-2597.
Here are some highlights from the 2006 Pipeline Academy:
•Ninety-seven apprentices and beginning pipeline workers were trained to go to work on Alaska’s North Slope. Pioneer Natural Resources Oooguruk Project and the replacement of 17 miles of Trans-Alaska Pipeline were two projects that required trained workers.
•Nearly 20 percent of participants were Alaska Native.
•Rural students came from as far away as Kiana, Napakiak, Amber and Dillingham.
•Twenty percent of participants were female.
•More than 60 percent of participants were between the ages of 18-29.
•As part of the training, students constructed a 2,000 foot, 12-inch diameter pipeline.
Trainees will practice all phases of pipeline construction as a combined workforce, including driving heavy equipment such as a "rollinger". Good luck! Piurci.

Commission of Corrections
moves along with Bethel jail expansion

10-17-07

by Greg Lincoln

Joe Schmidt, the Commissioner for the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections made another visit to Bethel to continue with the plan to expand the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center as part of Alaska’s jail expansion program. The visit is the second of two recent trips to Bethel.
During the first trip, Schmidt was met with overwhelming support for expanding the Bethel Jail, which is part of a four part expansion plan. The other parts include expansions to the jails in the Matanuska Valley, Seward, and Fairbanks.
According to Schmidt, after new jails were built in the 80’s and when any new beds weren’t built throughout the 90s, the State jails ran out of room and became crowded. Alaska started using an out of state vendor for overflow and the problem got worse.
It is well known that prisoners in the Arizona jail want to come home to Alaska and be closer to home.
“That’s what this expansion in Bethel is all about, it’s what all the expansions are all about to a degree but particularly Bethel because of the cultural issue. It is particularly the young people that are getting removed from their culture. The culture from a rural village is wildly different from a desert in Arizona.
“Classification tells me that there’s a 100 throughout the system – Arizona, Anchorage, and all around the system - that belong here (in Bethel) and will reintegrate through here. This expansion will give us 68 new beds and that is better than what we’ve got now,” said Schmidt.
A report released by the judicial council last January says that 66% of the people that are arrested have been back in custody within three years.
“In the state, the police arrest and we process 33,000 per year,” Schmidt said. “That means 20,000 have been in custody within three years. We need the resource, we need the jail beds.”
One of the major issues that came up during the visit was Title 47 that pertains to the protective custody inebriates. Drunks are overwhelming the jail, hospital, and City of Bethel Police with their numbers and need a safe place to sleep off their intoxication.
“We do more than a 1000 (protective custody cases) a year that we book in,” said Schmidt. “There is even more than that are dealt with by the hospital or by the police that we don’t book in so it was identified to us as a substantial problem here needing to be dealt with.”
Title 47 is a non-criminal commitment and are really not a corrections prisoner per se, said Schmidt. However, they need a place to go. Part of the expansion plan is to a little more than double the inebriate cells that are available. Currently at the Bethel jail there is enough room to put 10 inebriates if they are all of one gender. Otherwise 5 can go in one cell, and 5 in the other.
Discussion which occurred between the Commissioner and Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation administration during the visit also turned towards the need for a nurse to monitor the incapacitated drunks at night to help with staffing.
“We’re talking with YKHC asking for some help in staffing. We don’t have a nurse at night to monitor these people when they come in so we’re asking for some help there and we’re talking back and forth about that,” said Schmidt.
It is very expensive to build in Bethel, especially hardened prison buildings with steel, metal, concrete, and electric doors, said Schmidt. So it was decided that a prefabricated building like an office type structure to house the superintendent, the administrative manager, the clerk, and storage for the kitchen could be built instead.
“The part of this building that is already inside the hardened structure, the expensive piece is already built, let’s just use it. Instead of having the superintendent inside this, we can put the superintendent outside along with the administrative manager and support staff and keep the prisoners in here,” he said.
Additionally, on the other side of the jail, the Commissioner wants to build a little side building that would serve as a small dormitory area. The gymnasium, which is already in the hardened structure of the building, would be converted into a dorm area with 48 beds.
“That is kind of a picture of how we’re going to do it now when we couldn’t do it before,” said the Commissioner. “We couldn’t afford to build a big hardened structure, we don’t have enough land anywhere and it wasn’t going to work out. But if we use what we already have and just add some softer buildings next to it…that’s what the visit brings.”
The next step is to get the operating agreements all signed in the next 60 days, get the bonds out for sale by next spring, design and engineer, and the following spring start breaking ground, said Schmidt. The jail expansion project will be completed by 2011.

Arctic Institute for Indigenous Leadership

10-9-07

by Greg Lincoln

Twenty-eight young Alaska Native leaders (18-35 years old) from around the state of Alaska were selected and completed the first week-long gathering of the Arctic Institute for Indigenous Leadership (AIIL), held in Fairbanks.
The goal of the AIIL is to support the personal and professional growth of young leaders while providing an opportunity to build a statewide network. The Institute was effective in building trust, common understanding, and mutual support among the community.
According to Karlin Itchoak, AIIL participant and owner of Itchoak Tribal Services, “(The) AIIL is amazing! What an important group of young and inspiring leaders. The group is well balanced, intuitive, intelligent, and rooted in the retaining and maintaining of Native cultures, and traditions all with a passion and commitment toward leadership. These young leaders are free-thinking visionaries with creative and unique ideas for problem-solving and consensus building.”
Indigenous communities in Alaska, while diverse in their geographic and cultural heritage, face similar challenges in the process of decolonization. This unique Institute has been a timely opportunity for the next generation of leaders to build a foundation of history and knowledge that is often not obtained in mainstream curriculums.
Pearl Brower, who works for the President of Ilisagvik College, states: “This institute was an experience of a lifetime. It was amazing to interact with so many passionate, brilliant Native young adults. I think bonds have been made that will last a lifetime. I think these relations will cover time, distance, and culture.”
The Leadership Institute has created a community among young Alaskan Native leaders who are committed to personal and community healing. These young Alaska Native people seek creative and innovative approaches to revitalizing our cultures, languages, and ways of living utilizing traditional knowledge and modern technology.
“This has been the best growing and learning experiences I have ever had. It was absolutely amazing to sit with other young Alaska Native leaders and share food, songs, dances and similar challenges that we all face today,” states Shawna Larson of Alaska Community Action on Toxics and Indigenous Environmental Network.
Norman Ayagalria, John Chase, Teresa Flores, Julien Jacobs, and Carl Wassillie who are from the YK Delta area were participants in the institute. A complete list of participants and more information can be found at: www.nativemovement.org/alaska/aiil.html. Piurci!

Senators welcome funding for Heating Assistance in Alaska

10-2-07

by Greg Lincoln

Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today praised the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for releasing $1.7 million to Alaska for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This nationwide program is designed to help low-income families and senior citizens pay home energy costs. Today’s allocation represents a $320,000 increase over the total funding distributed to Alaska last year.
“Last winter, some Alaskans were paying over $10 a gallon for heating oil,” said Senator Stevens. “To address this growing concern, I have worked with my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure LIHEAP is adequately funded. This allocation will have an immediate impact in Alaska, but it is imperative that we look beyond the short term. Congress and the State must continue to explore new and innovative ways to get rural Alaskans access to affordable energy.”
“The cost of energy is having a detrimental impact across the State, particularly in rural areas,” said Senator Murkowski. “This increase to LIHEAP will help the state provide assistance to more Alaskans during the critical winter months; however, I recognize we must find a more secure, long-term solution to this problem. Senator Stevens and I will continue to promote increasing energy supplies throughout the state through traditional and renewable sources.”
As the prices of natural gas, heating oil, propane, and electricity continue to rise, home energy costs are increasingly unaffordable for millions of Americans, especially those living in rural areas. LIHEAP provides a vital safety net for low-income households, disabled individuals, and senior citizens in Alaska and throughout the nation. The program also helps low-income homeowners weatherize their homes to save energy and lower their energy expenses. Senators Stevens and Murkowski have been staunch supporters of increasing funds available for the LIHEAP program.
In Alaska, LIHEAP is administered through the State Department of Health and Social Services. Additional information can be found by calling 1-888-804-6330 or visiting www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/programs/hap/. Quyana!

9-25-07

by Greg Lincoln

To all eligible voters - please remember to go to the polls on October 2, 2007 and show your support for your favorite candidates.
This year's vote includes school board hopefuls. For the Bethel ASB, the following candidates have submitted their names for two open Bethel Advisory School Board seats: Greg McIntyre (incumbent), Bob Herron, and Ed Pironti. The two seats were previously held by Greg McIntyre, who is running as an incumbent, and Mary Thompson, who has recently moved out of town. Good luck to all those running for office, piurci!

Game board increases sporthunting take of dark geese

9-18-07

by Greg Lincoln

On August 30, 2007, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, under a delegation of authority from the Board of Game, adopted as emergency regulations changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with bag limits for dark geese, including the following:
The changes were made in several areas in Alaska. In Units 9, 10, 17 and 18, the daily limit of dark increased from 4 per day, 8 in possession to 6 per day, 12 in possession.
However, in Units 9 (A-C) and 17 the dark goose limit includes no more than 4 Canada geese, and in Units 9 (E) and 18, the limit for dark geese includes no more than 2 Canada geese.
The reason for the proposed action is for compliance with federal law and to establish a public hunting opportunity that cannot be adopted within a normal regulatory meeting schedule of the Alaska Board of Game.
In addition, most Alaskans have a very short window of goose hunting opportunities as all goose species begin leaving their summer breeding grounds and head for warmer climates in the Lower ‘48 by late August.
The emergency regulations take effect August 31, 2007 and will expire December 28, 2007. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game intends to make the emergency regulations permanent.
People are invited to comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to: Tom Rothe, Waterfowl Coordinator, at Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 525 W. 67th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99518.
The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 19, 2007. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Olivia Orsborn at (907) 465-4110 no later than October 5, 2007, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

Spirit of Youth

9-11-07

Spirit of Youth (SOY) is a state wide non-profit organization that recognizes youth for good things they are doing in their community. SOY began in 1997 as a media-based project to address the growing negative image of teens. Since then, hundreds of stories have spread through television, radio and local newspapers.
The Spirit of Youth campaign salutes Alaska teens who make positive contributions to their communities. This campaign recognizes youth on several levels: from certificates of appreciation and award mementos, to media coverage on local radio, TV or newspapers, to the prestigious awards at the annual Spirit of Youth banquet.
Recognition Campaign
Nominations are made by anyone who wishes to recognize a hard-working, inspiring young person or youth group. Recommendations come from school staff and board members, youth clubs and organizations, the business and faith community, or other teenagers.
A nomination can be submitted via mail; through our website (www.spiritofyouth.org) or faxed by anyone who wishes to recognize a special and unique teen. SOY's teen action council reviews and makes recommendations on stories across Alaska in the following eleven award categories:
Environmental Activism, Fine Arts (dance, theater, music, art), Cultural Activities, Overcoming Challenges, Participation in Government or Business, Science & Environment, Technology & Media, Life saver (crisis response) & Prevention, Service (to children, peers or community), and Faith-based Service.
Eligibility: SOY wants to recognize Alaska youth (ages 12-19) statewide. Nominations may be submitted for an individual or group. Spirit of Youth encourages nominations about:
•Youth-initiated or youth-led projects.
•Youth who help others and improve the quality of life in their community.
•Youth who do interesting, creative activities that typically don’t get noticed.
•Youth that are an inspiration to others.
Every teenager nominated receives a letter of congratulations, a CD case, key chain and a special recognition pin to give to someone special in their life. A school board member or local official also recognizes them in a public forum and presents them with an official certificate of achievement signed by the Lt. Governor of Alaska. Once a year, the Teen Action Council selects the two finalists in each category to be honored at SOY's Annual Awards Banquet.
Through its programs, Spirit of Youth reinforces the following Developmental Assets: positive values and skills, adult and peer support, constructive use of time, and positive identity. Spirit of Youth is governed by a Board of Directors; one fourth of its members are youth! The driving force behind the organization is the Teen Action Council. SOYTAC as it’s known, is involved in phases of all programs and most all of its decisions. For more information contact: (907) 566-7676 www.spiritofyouth.org. Nominate a teen, Anytime, Anywhere in Alaska! Quyana!

Alaska has a winner

9-5-07

by Greg Lincoln

After thousands and thousands of comments, Alaskans have chosen a winner for the Alaska quarter design. “The Great Land” Alaska quarter depicts a bear emerging from a stream with a salmon.
The coin selection process began in January 2006 where Alaskans submitted their narrative designs for the quarter. Of the 851 submissions, 19 were from the YK Delta region. The choices were narrowed down to four – a polar bear, a miner, a grizzly bear, and a musher. Alaskans were asked to comment on each design at Governor Palin’s website. The United States Mint will produce the coin with the new design.
“The design chosen for the Alaska Quarter is important because it shows the world how we view our State and will be collected by many for at least 30 years,” said the Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission.
Alaska’s new state quarter will be released in August 2008.

Happy 8th Birthday to The Delta Discovery
On September 1, 1999, the very first issue of The Delta Discovery rolled off the presses and into our hearts and homes, courtesy of founding fathers Ted Horner and Carle Grille. We thank all of our supporters and our contributors for your generosity and understanding that you have shown us throughout the years and hope that we will always be a part of your lives here in the YK Delta! Angniq Anutiiq!

Westwind II Jet sold to Valdez businessman

8-28-07

by Greg Lincoln

Governor Sarah Palin announced on August 24, 2007, the sale of the state’s Westwind II jet. The aircraft was sold to Valdez businessman Larry Reynolds for $2,100,000. Several attempts to sell the jet on eBay were unsuccessful.
“From the beginning of my administration, no state agencies have ever used or requested use of the jet,” said Governor Palin. “If the Department of Public Safety decides at a future date that it needs another aircraft, we will invest in something more sensible that can land on Alaska’s rural airstrips. Any purchase, if deemed necessary, will go through the normal legislative budget process.”
The jet is currently parked in a hangar in Anchorage. Reynolds is expected to take custody of the aircraft this week.
The jet was purchased for $2,692,600 in November 2005 by the Murkowski administration. Since then, the state has been paying it off at a rate of $62,492.79 per quarter. Governor Palin has never used the jet.

Getting involved in your child’s education

8-21-07

by Greg Lincoln

Thank you to Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat Volunteer Coordinator Bev Hoffman for sharing this with our readers on this first week of school:
When parents are involved in their children’s education, kids do better in school. Want to learn how to help your child achieve and succeed? Read on!
•Why Is Parental Involvement Important?
*When parents are involved in their children’s education at home, they do better in school. And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school — and the schools they go to are better.
*The family makes critical contributions to student achievement from preschool through high school. A home environment that encourages learning is more important to student achievement than income, education level or cultural background.
*Reading achievement is more dependent on learning activities in the home than is math or science. Reading aloud to children is the most important activity that parents can do to increase their child’s chance of reading success. Talking to children about books and stories read to them also supports reading achievement.
*When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.
*Three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement: actively organizing and monitoring a child’s time, helping with homework and discussing school matters.
*The earlier that parent involvement begins in a child’s educational process, the more powerful the effects.
*Positive results of parental involvement include improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism, improved behavior, and restored confidence among parents in their children’s schooling.
How Can Parents Get Involved?
Involvement in your child’s education can mean:
*Reading to your Child *Checking homework every night *Discussing your children’s progress with teachers *Limiting TV viewing on school nights *Make sure they get a good nights rest. (At least 10 hours of sleep a night) *Start off the day with something nutritious to eat *Ask your children every day, “How was school today?” That will send a clear message that their schoolwork is important to you and that you expect them to learn. *Volunteer in the classroom.
Check out nea.org & other parent resources on the internet for more tips! Quyana!

Sweet reward for safe biking

8-14-07

by Greg Lincoln

In an effort to prevent injuries related to bike accidents, YKHC Injury Control & EMS is partnering with the Bethel Police Department and the Bethel Fire Department to promote and reward bicycle helmet usage and safe riding behaviors in the community.
Beginning Monday, August 13th, children who are observed wearing a helmet that fits properly and practicing safe biking behaviors will receive a $2.00 ice-cream coupon. Coupons are redeemable at QFC I, II, or Swanson’s Store and can be used towards a popsicle or ice-cream cone. A total of 150 coupons will be given out to children and teens.
What is safe biking?
•Wear a helmet that fits properly
-Must fit comfortably
-Touch all sides of the head
-Level and stable
-Held with the strap comfortably snug
What are safe biking behaviors?
•Stop before crossing the street. Practice looking Left, Right, Left
•Obey the Stop signs
•Check behind before turning, swerving, or changing lanes.
•Ride with traffic
•Utilize hand signals
If you are following someone, remember to look both ways before crossing and use hand signals.
“We can avoid any possible injury, especially head injury, related to bike accidents,” said Brian Lefferts, Injury Prevention Manager for YKHC. “This is why we are working together to promote bike safety in our community.”
For more information about this initiative, contact Teresa Markham with Injury Prevention at 543-6085.

Art Guild YK Scholarship open to eligible applicants

8-9-07

by Greg Lincoln

The Art Guild is committed to keeping the Arts alive and vibrant by encouraging young artists to explore educational and career possibilities. The Art Guild is open to accepting applications for the 2007-2008 academic school year. This year two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be:
•Yukon-Kuskokwim delta resident
•High School senior to graduate spring 2007 or freshman student currently enrolled in a post-secondary school
•Applied to or accepted for admission as a full-time student at a college, university or art school fall 2007
•Art Guild family members are not eligible
To apply, please provide:
•Name, address, and telephone number
•Current transcript with GPA
•Name of college you plan to attend and proof of registration
•Estimated cost of education for one year (tuition, room & board, books, etc.)
•Letter from art teacher or person knowledgeable of your talents
•Three examples of your art (slides or photos or original pieces)
•An essay describing your future plans and goals
Students awarded scholarships will receive payment upon official proof of admission/registration to university, college, or art school by Sept. 2007. Apply by mail or drop off at the Art Gallery, 291 Third Ave. P.O. Box 1250, Bethel AK 99559. Applications must be received by August 20, 2007.

by Greg Lincoln

7-31-07

This very old photograph is on display at the Kuskokwim Community College in Bethel and the staff and administration would like to invite the public to help identify the children in the picture. The donated photo is a very large copy and shows eight children with their puppies. It is an excellent old photo which belonged to the Library of Congress and was probably taken in the early 1900's by an unknown photographer. One of the staff members at KuC found it on a website and it was able to get a copy. For more information about the photograph or to help identify, you can call Martha Glore or Mary Pete at 543-4501. Good luck! Takuqerli!