Ben Matheson, KNOM - Nome
Ben Matheson is a contributor with the Alaska Public Radio Network.
Bethel Council Refuses to Take Up Rate Hikes
The Bethel City Council once again declined a hard look at raising water and sewer rates. Mayor Joe Klejka was behind a memorandum to have staff write up ordinances that would make the water and sewer operation cover its costs.
Newtok’s Relocation Effort Slowed By An Ongoing Tribal Dispute
The latest round of Bering Sea storms beat up the Southwest Alaska coastline, including Newtok. The community’s move to the Mertarvik site on Nelson Island may be more pressing than ever, but the long relocation process is in a holding pattern due to a tribal council dispute.
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State Completes New Magnetic Surveys of Historic Mining Area
Southwest Alaska has a special place in the state’s mining history with the gold rushes in the Iditarod and Aniak areas. It’s also where the future of gold is happening, at the nearby Donlin Creek project. The area now is getting a fresh look with the most recent survey technology.
6-Year-Old Kwethluk Boy In Serious Condition After Shooting Self In Abdomen
A 6-year-old boy in Kwethluk was shot in the stomach while playing with a loaded pistol. Troopers received a report Monday from the boy’s father, 36-year-old Evon Savage. He says his son Marcus was playing with the .22 pistol when it fired and hit him in the abdomen.
Prototype Home Could Serve as Model for Future Housing
Two new prototype homes in Atmautluak don’t look like experiments. They’re rectangular with a slanted red roof. But how they were built: very quickly and with limited equipment, could serve as a model for other homes in remote communities.
Kotlik Residents Move Back To Damaged Homes As Water Supplies Run Low
Residents of Kotlik are using emergency water supplies as crews attempt to reconnect the city’s water system before the storage tanks are completely empty.
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Bethel Pushes to Keep Rural Status
Bethel’s rural status is not immediately at risk. But once the population hits 7,000, it will be presumed to be non-rural unless it proves to have rural characteristics. The federal subsistence board is in a multi-year process of reviewing how it decides which communities have the critical rural priority for accessing resources on federal lands as described under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
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2nd Grader Started Fire In Bethel School Bathroom
Lower Kuskokwim school officials say it was a 2nd grade student with a lighter that caused the fire in a detached building’s bathroom. The school will be disciplining the 2nd grade student according to the district’s policies.
Alaska’s Congressional Delegation Pushes For Fishery Disaster Funds
Alaska’s congressional delegation is pushing for disaster funds related to 2012’s low Chinook runs on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. Twenty-two new lawmakers are now included on a letter of support for $150 million in relief to be spread across other national fishery disasters.
Bethel Residents Make Case For Keeping Rural Status
Bethel’s rural status is not immediately at risk. But once the population hits 7,000, it will be presumed to be non-rural unless it proves to have rural characteristics. The federal subsistence board is in a multi-year process of reviewing how it decides which communities have the critical rural priority for accessing resources on federal lands as described under ANILCA.
Fire Damages Classroom At Bethel School
Fire crews responded to a fire today at the Bethel ME school, which houses pre-school through second grade.
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Bethel Search And Rescue Ends Role In Search For Missing Men
Bethel Search and Rescue has ended its participation in the search for Nick Cooke and Jim Lee Napoka due to deteriorating weather conditions and the coming freeze up.
Sea Lion Corporation Receives Final ANCSA Conveyences
The Bureau of Land Management has conveyed the final 4,516 acres to the Hooper Bay Sea Lion Native Corporation as required under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The entitlement lands are located are north east of Hooper Bay near the Askinuk Mountains.
Legislative Ethics Committee Says Senator Hoffman Failed To Disclose Income
Senator Lyman Hoffman failed to file complete financial disclosures, according to a decision by the Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics. The committee found that Senator Hoffman “knowingly” prepared and filed incomplete disclosures, leaving out a “substantial” amount of income.
Gourds Fly In Bethel With Pumpkin Trebuchet
Less than 48 hours after trick or treating, the sugar buzz should be mostly worn off. But there’s still thrills to be had in the form of launching pumpkins through the air.
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BLM To Write Land Use Plan For 10 Million Acres In Southwest Alaska
The Bureau of Land Management is beginning a four year planning process to set a strategy for over 10 million acres of BLM land across a vast section of southwest Alaska. The Bering Sea Western Interior planning area runs from the coast up the Kuskokwim to Nikolai and follows the Yukon River up to Grayling.
6 Boats Drag Kialik River As Bering Sea Storm Moves In
Six boats are dragging the Kialik River today in efforts to find Nick Cooke and James Napoka. Teams from another two boats continue the search on land. Two teams of specially trained search dogs are set to arrive tonight. They will head to the scene and spend Wednesday searching for the men.
3 Kwethluk Men Charged With Sexual Abuse Of Minors
Three men from Kwethluk have been arrested and charged with felony sexual abuse. A grand jury indictment on Thursday led the arrest of 23-year-old John Olick, 56-year-old Nick Epchook Junior, and 31-year-old John Fischer.
Calista Board Sanctions 6 Board Members For Ethics Violations
The Calista board is publicly censuring three current directors and three past directors for ethics violations. The infractions are related to improper use of stipends and per diem or falsifying meeting minutes. At its October meeting, the board set sanctions for the six individuals. There were a total of 11 directors investigated over a year-long period.
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Troopers Suspend Search For Men Missing Near Bethel
Alaska State Troopers have ended their involvement in the search for Nick Cooke and Jim Lee Napoka. Trooper Sergeant Greg Lavin says there’s been a huge ground, water, and air effort over the past several days.