Inside Bethel News

by Audrey Leary When I think of the Kuskokwim River I think of our villages—all making home along her banks—and I think of our people. Our youth who are the future for what is still […]

by Kathleen McCoy UAA’s College of Engineering has hired its first ever K-12 Coordinator, Vicki Nechodomu. She’ll serve as the chief liaison between the engineering college and K-12 educators in surrounding school districts, including those […]

by Danielle Craven The school year is off to a fast start. Let’s continue to work together to achieve excellent schools. Four open seats will be filled in this upcoming Advisory School Board election. September […]

The Bethel regular election will be held October 3rd, 2017. There are eight city council candidates on the ballot – Bradon Brink, Mitchell Forbes, Stanley (Tundy) Rodgers, R. Thor Williams, and incumbents Leif Albertson, Richard […]

The Bethel Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a structure fire at 210 Osage Drive on 08/11/2017 at 11:02 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters observed heavy fire and smoke conditions. Multiple hose lines were […]

by K.J. Lincoln The delicious aromas of curries, Greek gyros, fried taquitos, chicken adobo, and enchiladas wafted out of the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center and out into the parking lot last Saturday. It was the […]

GCI, Alaska’s largest technology company, has completed the heavy construction phase of its Terrestrial for Every Rural Region in Alaska network, a massive Alaska infrastructure project that, when complete, will connect 84 rural communities to […]

by Kate McWilliams Bethel, mark your calendars! Next Thursday, August 24th, will be the Annual South Sudan Gala. This event supports the efforts of Bethel physician, Dr. Jill Seaman, who splits her time between YKHC […]

Firefighters spray water onto the blaze while keeping the perimeter safe during the early morning of Saturday, August 12th, 2017. The fire had started a couple hours earlier at 220 Osage Avenue. Reports from neighbors […]

GCI rolls out new No Worries plans for rural Alaska hub communities. The majority of GCI customers in Bethel, Nome and Kotzebue will see the amount of data included in their internet plans more than […]

  Hitzer Amish built woodstoves. JHMW Plastic sled runners. 543-2379. (11)(3/1-cnx) FOR SALE 300 Gallon Plastic Water Tanks in stock. Call Shorty at Shorty’s Shop for pricing. 543-3158 or 545-3157 (19)(9/18-cnx) 18’ SSV Lund with […]

by Ronda Sargent The local 4-H summer program has been a great success in this year. Thank you to a great staff, volunteers and programs sponsors. Our program sponsors this year are the City of […]

by John E. Welsh As government services shrink, along with budgets, we Alaskans find ways to take up the slack. We even discover ways to do things better than the government, taking control into our […]

O Happy Day! Joe Pete and his beautiful bride Kathleen David, both of Bethel, were wedded in holy matrimony at the United Pentecostal Church last Sunday, June 18, 2017. The wedding party included Best Man […]

by Rep. Zach Fansler June 23, 2017: Dear Neighbors, Last night the Alaska State Legislature passed an operating budget, HB 57, which successfully averts the State Government from entering a shutdown at the end of […]

An ordinance that would amend the Bethel Municipal Code’s section pertaining to public nuisance abatement, penalties and remedies has been postponed per the request of council during their June 13th regular meeting. Ordinance 17-23 was […]

A proposed ordinance is on the City of Bethel council’s next agenda that would submit to the qualified voters of Bethel a ballot proposition amending the Bethel Municipal Code to increase the alcoholic beverage sales tax […]

by the Orutsararmiut Native Council Orutsararmiut Native Council is saddened to learn of the death of a colleague, friend and employee. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers are with his wife; Josie and his children. […]

by Rep. Zach Fansler May 24, 2017 Dear Friends, The Legislature has begun a special session by an order from Governor Walker. During a special session the Legislature focuses specifically on items in the order […]

The Alaska Judicial Council previously announced that it would meet in August to make nominations to the Governor for the Bethel District Court Judge vacancy created by the appointment of Bethel District Court Judge Nathaniel […]

by Ana Hoffman Bethel Native Corporation is a for-profit village corporation formed under ANCSA. On May 6, 2017 the forty-third annual shareholders meeting was held in Bethel. At this meeting, shareholders re-elected directors A. Louise […]

by Rep. Bryce Edgmon Many of you are probably already aware that the House took a historic step on Thursday in censuring Representative David Eastman (R-Wasilla). I owe it to my constituents to say something […]

by David J. Kennedy Bethel Winter House to receive $2,000 in Cochrane’s honor Wells Fargo has named Bethel Branch Manager Jon Cochrane as its Alaska Volunteer of the Year for 2016. Wells Fargo will donate […]

by K.J. Lincoln The Bethel City Council voted to approve the ordinance that would authorize the designation of property for a community dog park. The proposed ordinance states that Bethel Municipal Code allows the city […]

The K300 Committee is proud to announce the 39th Kuskokwim 300 will begin Friday January 19, 2018 and will run through Monday January 22, 2018. The Bogus Creek 150 will begin Friday, January 19th and […]

by Rep. Zach Fansler April 27th, 2017 Dear Friends, Although the house has passed its comprehensive fiscal plan, the work in other areas continues. I want to bring attention to a few items in order […]

The Salvation Army is in process of transitioning support in the Bethel community from its current fulltime Outpost ministry to a more sustainable, community-based Service Unit model. The Army’s Outpost will continue in its current […]

From lanky sandhill cranes to petite red-necked phalaropes, migratory birds are appearing statewide in ever-increasing numbers, adding life to Alaska’s skies and cacophonies of sound to marshes, coasts, and streams. The birds’ arrival is a […]

by Dr. Lorin Bradbury Question: I have been hearing a lot about the benefits of smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes and for just the sheer enjoyment of it. I’ve gotten the impression that it really […]

The Bethel City Council appointed Mark Springer to fill the vacant seat left by former council member Nikki Hoffman. Hoffman resigned after having her baby last month. Councilman Springer took his oath of office during […]

Frank Chingliak of Goodnews Bay (center) was consecrated as a Bishop of the Alaska Moravian Church on April 23rd, 2017. To his left is Sam Gray and on his right is Lincoln Enoch.

The YKHC Office of Environmental Health & Engineering (OEHE) water lab routinely tests water for total coliform and E. coli bacteria. From April 24 to 27, the YKHC water lab will be testing water samples, […]

The City Council will be accepting letters of interest from qualified candidates interested in filling Council Member Nikki Hoffman’s term, ending October 2017. Submissions can be made to the City Clerk’s office by email, mail […]

Miska Alexia, Luke Stepp, Gabe Boyles, Aletta Demrovski along with coach/teacher, Deborah Fancher, of Raven Homeschool, which is part of the Yukon Koyukuk School District have been named national finalists in the 2nd annual Bright […]

At its March 10, 2017 meeting, the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council (AVAC), voted unanimously to recognize six Alaskan’s for their work enhancing the lives of veterans and their families. Included in the honors was Bethel’s […]

by BCSF Staff The tripod is about to move! Wish you had a closer guess? New this year, the Kuskokwim Ice Classic is offering a second guessing opportunity in addition to the regular Ice Classic […]

by Rep. Zach Fansler April 14, 2017 Dear Friends, Spring weather has arrived in Juneau and the 90th day of the regular session will be here tomorrow. I am proud to say the State House […]

  Hitzer Amish built woodstoves. JHMW Plastic sled runners. 543-2379. (11)(3/1-cnx) FOR SALE 300 Gallon Plastic Water Tanks in stock. Call Shorty at Shorty’s Shop for pricing. 543-3158 or 545-3157 (19)(9/18-cnx) 18’ SSV Lund with […]

GCI presented the Bethel Search and Rescue with a $5,000 donation yesterday, which will help support the organization’s life-saving search and rescue missions in Bethel and surrounding villages. “Bethel Search and Rescue works tirelessly to […]

by Haley Hanson The Kuskokwim Ice Classic deadline of April 17th at 7pm is quickly approaching, so make sure to get your tickets! Bethel groups are selling during the lunch hour, after work, and on […]

Jaimie Kassman of Bethel was named as the Fabian Carey Trapper of the Year during the Alaska Trappers Association’s annual banquet in Fairbanks on March 18. Kassman runs a treatment center for troubled teens in […]

The Cree Indian Running Thunder Dancers from Canada was one of the troupes that performed at the 2017 Cama-i Dance Festival. A variety of groups shared their traditional dances and culture at the 3-day event […]

by K.J. Lincoln Regina Pingayak-Simon of Chevak is the new Miss Cama-i for 2017. She was crowned on Saturday night during the Cama-i Festival after a day of cultural pageantry. Passing on the title was […]

by K.J. Lincoln Fans enjoyed the Fur Fashion Show at Cama-i this year, which has made it’s way back to the stage after many years courtesy of the Kuskokwim Campus and interested community members. The […]

by Tommy Wells When the Grace Christian Lady Grizzlies began chipping away at the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors’ lead late in the fourth quarter on Saturday morning in the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, […]

Two young Eskimo dancers with the Yurartet group of Bethel perform during last year’s Cama-i Festival. The Bethel Council on the Arts will be hosting the event again this weekend, March 31-April 2 featuring traditional […]

by Senator Lyman Hoffman Greetings – We are on day 67 of a 90-day session. The House has almost finished their work on their version of the FY18 Operating budget and we expect them to […]

by LKSD Staff The Lower Kuskokwim School District is seeking feedback from the community to increase student achievement. In 2016, the LKSD Board of Education identified four district-wide goals that are being used to steer […]

by Rep. Zach Fansler Dear Friends, While basketball March Madness goes on around the state (and Nation!) the legislature is also in the midst of our own “march madness” working on the budget, advancing legislation, […]

by Senator Lyman Hoffman Family, friends and neighbors – This last Wednesday, March 15, 2017, the Senate approved passage of SB 26: Perm. Fund: Deposits; Dividends; Earnings, aka the Permanent Fund Protection Act. I voted […]

A public hearing notice has been issued for a conditional use permit for a liquor license. The proposed permit is for 105 Hoffman in Bethel for the Tundra Liquor Cache. The purpose for the permit is […]

by K.J. Lincoln The Bethel City Council considered a proposal that would allow for the creation of a community dog park. Ordinance 17-08 was introduced during the February 14th, 2017 meeting by Mayor Rick Robb, […]

Joan Daniels, Bethel resident, recently earned a M.S. in Nursing from Simmons College. Simmons College is a nationally recognized private university located in the heart of Boston, and is the preeminent authority on women’s leadership. […]

by Rep. Zach Fansler March 9, 2017 Dear Friends, The Legislature is a slightly over halfway through our first regular 90-day session and our work carries on. The House Finance committee is considering hundreds of […]

The teams of Pete Kaiser of Bethel and Richie Diehl of Aniak have left the checkpoint at Kaltag and are currently on their way to Unalakleet as of Sunday night. From Kaltag to Unalakleet is […]

A local business owner has submitted an application for a new package liquor store in Bethel. Steve Chung’s application for the Tundra Liquor Cache is up for council review during the Tuesday, March 14th city council […]

by Haley Hanson The Kuskokwim Ice Classic is gearing up for another exciting year! The Ice Classic features an increased jackpot this year, as well as a new and important rule change. This year the […]

To ONC tribal members, The Native Village of Bethel needs you, please seriously consider running for your tribal council. This is election year and 3 of 7 seats are up for consideration. To be eligible, […]

Ravn Alaska announced today (March 4) it will honor all existing purchased reservations on Yute Air, including goldenrod tickets for travel between Bethel and any Bethel hub location served, through March 31, 2017. The announcement […]

Scholarships will be awarded in over 60 communities for the 2017-2018 school year. GCI today (March 1st) announced it will award $300,000 in scholarships to students who live in one of the communities served by […]

A woman in Bethel died while being inside a sauna, said a report from the Bethel PD. On 2/23/2017, at approximately 0128 hours, Officers and Medics responded to the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Hall […]

Arcadis, the leading global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, is working with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC), a tribal health organization serving residents of Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, to provide project […]

by K.J. Lincoln A big white Great Pyrenees named Marcie and a sweet bulldog named Jorden are the Best in Show winners at the Bethel Dog Show held last Sunday. Overall approximately 23 doggies participated in […]

by K.J. Lincoln If you were given the opportunity to come and live and work in Alaska, would you take it? Garrett Hussion did. Dr. Garrett Hussion works as a chiropractor at the Arctic Chiropractic […]

The Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program is currently hosting 47 middle school students from more than 20 schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough and Lower Kuskokwim school districts for its February Middle School Academy […]

As part of his plan to build a safer Alaska, Governor Bill Walker today (February 16th) signed Administrative Order 283, outlining next steps to address the growing heroin and opioid epidemic in Alaska. Governor Walker […]

by Executive Director LaTesia Guinn The Bethel Family Clinic (BFC) together with their board of directors, volunteers, and staff would like to thank everyone who supports BFC and the new facility fundraising. Special thanks to […]

by Rep. Zach Fansler Good Afternoon, the Legislature is speeding through the short, 90-day session, with budget and energy issues continuing to dominate. As the session moves on, please continue to keep in touch on […]

by Dr. Lorin Bradbury Question: Dr. Bradbury can you give me, and other who read your articles, some tips on how to build and maintain a happy marriage. Maybe you could give some tips on […]

by Tommy Wells Kuskokwim 300 race fans cheered for their champion Pete Kaiser as he crossed the finish line on Sunday morning with 9 dogs in harness. It is his third victory in three straight […]