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Chefornak student pilot flies solo

3-2-10

by Mike Lucas

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

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Salsa dance craze sweeps the tundra

2-11-10

by Maria Offer

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

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Stockdale sprints
to Holiday Classic crown

2-3-10

by Tommy Wells

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

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Evan streaks to
Akiak Dash crown

1-29-10

by Tommy Wells

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

K300, Bogus Creek 150,
and Akiak Dash Awards

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

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Pavilla repeats as
Bogus Creek 150 Champion

1-21-10

by Tommy Wells

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

Baker weathers icy course
to claim first K300 crown

by Tommy Wells

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

Kuskokwim 300 Race Champions

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

Akiak Dash Race Champions

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

Bogus Creek 150 Race Champions

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

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Robotics teams star at Lego League Robotics Competition

12-9-09

by K.J. Lincoln

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

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

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

9-30-09

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

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Boots tells of his
visions in the wilderness

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New St. Sophia Orthodox Church building underway

8-21-09

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

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Quinhagak archaeological
project preserves Yup’ik artifacts and culture

8-13-09

by K.J. Lincoln

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

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Update on Polk road negotiations

8-06-09

by K.J. Lincoln

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

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Moose Moratorium lifted

7-30-09

by Phillip Perry

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