The Story of the Spenard Windmill
In the early 1980s, when money was no problem and anything was possible, I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse by none other than Mafia Mike, thus becoming the custodian of an important historical icon.
Had I known at the time what a maintenance nightmare it would become, I’m not sure I would have been willing to accept the responsibility, regardless of the possibilities—or consequences.
Read more. 
Rain Falls On Funny River Fire, Provides Some Relief
The Funny River fire has grown to more than 182,200 acres. After a streak of warm, dry weather, firefighters are seeing a break in the weather, with rain falling Tuesday during the early morning hours and temperatures in the 50s.
Alaska News Nightly: May 27, 2014
Rains Help Combat Kenai Fire; Evacuation Lifted; Begich, Admiral Visit Aleutian Islands; Acid Levels To Be Monitored; Utility Has Plans for Fairbanks Area; Golden Valley Loses Biggest Customer; Help Available to Alaska Farmers; Uncertainly Hangs Over Fishing Season
Evacuation Order Lifted for Kenai Residents
The fire management team lifted the evacuation order this morning for Funny River Road from Mile 7 to the end of the road. Homeowners near the road remain under an evacuation alert, which means they should be ready to leave again if the fire gets worse in that area. Residents of Funny River Road were evacuated over the weekend. Many left with just a few necessities and haven’t been back home since.
Begich, Coast Guard Admiral Visit Aleutian Islands
This weekend, Senator Mark Begich and Coast Guard Rear Admiral Thomas Ostebo made a brief appearance in the Aleutian Islands. The officials shared their vision of how Unalaska -- and other coastal communities -- will have to support economic activity in the Arctic.
Research Center to Monitor Acid Levels
Remotely operated vehicles will be plying Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska this summer, measuring acid levels. The float and glider vehicles are the latest technology deployed through a long running monitoring project overseen by University of Alaska Fairbanks Ocean Acidification Research Center Director Jeremy Mathis.
Golden Valley Electric Loses Biggest Customer
Golden Valley Electric Association is scheduled to lose one of its biggest customers this week – the Flint Hills Resources refinery in North Pole. But GVEA is working on plans to hook up another industrial customer next year that will buy nearly as much electricity as the refinery.
Alaska Farmers Eligible for USDA Transportation Help
Starting July 21, Alaska farmers can sign up for the US Department of Agriculture's Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program. Under the 2014 Farm Bill, farmers outside the contiguous US can now receive a portion of the costs of shipping their agricultural products over long distances.
Uncertainty Hovers Over Fishing Season
A few fishermen from the communities in the Kuskokwim caught king salmon before the scheduled closures last week. In a typical year the first catch is a time of joy but this year it's bringing uncertainty.
Yaakoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School Graduate Profile
High school graduation is an accomplishment worth celebrating for all students. But for some the achievement is that much sweeter, because of the obstacles they had to overcome. KTOO profiles profiles a graduate of Juneau’s Yaakoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School, who has been living on her own for about a year.
Bill Encourages Tribes to Work With State on Jurisdiction
The sponsor of the Safe Families and Villages Bill, U.S. Senator Mark Begich, said the bill encourages tribes to work with the state of Alaska to develop agreements on tribal court jurisdiction. But he said it also gives tribes a way to take on added responsibilities through an agreement with the federal government.
Evacuation Order Lifted for Funny River Road Residents
Residents of the Funny River Road community were allowed to start returning to their homes as state fire officials lifted the evacuation order at 9 am this morning. Although all evacuation orders have been suspended at this time, residents were cautioned that there is still an evacuation advisory in place which could result in another evacuation order should conditions change.
Quick Craft: Coffee Filter Flower
I stayed home sick today and I hate wasting my time in bed, so I decided to mildly craft out.
I really love tissue paper flowers but I don’t like spending a ton of time cutting out paper.
Read more. Tyonek Fire Almost Contained
The Tyonek fire, which started a week ago Monday, is currently burning at just over 1,900 acres. The blaze is between the villages of Tyonek and Beluga. Tyonek fire incident commander Bob Allbee reports the fire is now 85% contained with full containment expected by tomorrow, May 28th.
China Lifts Ban on AK Shellfish
China has lifted a five month-long ban on live shellfish from U.S. West Coast waters. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) released a statement Friday saying the ban had been lifted. The ban had particularly affected the Washington and Alaska shellfish industry.
Feds Updating Development Scenarios for Chukchi
The federal government on Friday released a status update on the court ordered revision of an Environmental Impact Statement for Lease Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in an April ruling that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) had underestimated how much oil may be recoverable in Arctic Ocean development.
New Fisheries Might Be Headed to Unalaska
Next year will likely bring new fisheries to the western Aleutian
Islands, now that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued its final report on the way commercial fishing affects an endangered populationof Steller sea lions.
Label Certifies Much of AK Salmon
The leading global seafood sustainability label currently certifies much of Alaska’s salmon harvest as sustainable. But only a few companies can use the label.
Crews Continue to Battle Funny River Fire; Rain Forecasted
Video by Sonya Wellman - Alaska Public Media
The Funny River Fire continued to burn the central Kenai Peninsula this week. As of Monday afternoon, it’s estimated to have burned more than 158,000 acres with 30% containment. Funny River Road from Mile 7 to the end was evacuated on Sunday afternoon. The Kenai Keys were put on evacuation alert.
Alaska News Nightly: May 26, 2014
Crews Battle Funny Fire, Anchorage Air Affected by Fires, Tyonek Fire Almost Contained, China Lifts Ban on AK Shellfish, Feds Updating Chukchi Scenarios; New Fisheries Possible for Unalaska, StoryCorps: Paratrooper