The University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2010. The University will be hosting representatives from the Department of Energy’s national labs this week. (Creative Commons photo by Frank Monaldo.)
On May 30 and 31, scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy will visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks for Alaska National Lab Day.
National Lab scientists along with Alaska researchers, officials and industry leaders will present their work and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, who helped organize the event, is scheduled to speak.
Larry Hinzman, UAF’s Vice Chancellor for Research, says that the event will highlight research opportunities in Alaska for the Department Of Energy on a variety of issues including energy, climate change and security.
“We think we’ve got some great challenges right now for them and we hope they’ll pick some up,” Hinzman said.
Among those challenges are things like reducing rural energy costs and designing infrastructure that can deal with climate change.
“And to do that, that requires a lot more understanding than we have now, a lot more engineering capabilities, and just a wiser designs and structural developments,” Hinzman said.
It’s one area of collaboration that Hinzman hopes the national labs will be interested in.
An UH-1B[D] helicopter prepares for a resupply mission for Co B, 1st Bn, 8th Inf, 4th Inf Div, during the operation conducted 20 miles southwest of Dak To, Vietnam. December 10-16, 1967. (U.S. Army Photo)
Alaska has the highest concentration of veterans nationwide.
From World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars and both Gulf Wars, more than 70,000 veterans have served in the armed forces. Now, more of their stories can be heard online.
The Communities of Memory Project was a statewide effort from 1994-1996 to record stories from Alaskans about what made their communities special.
The stories recorded in Kotzebue highlight the experiences of veterans — what it was like to be drafted, how it felt to be in the middle of a conflict zone and the struggles that come after returning home from war.
Chester Ballot is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Ballot was born near Selawik. After graduating from Mt. Edgecumbe in 1962, he moved down to Los Angeles to study electronics at the Radio Corporation of America Institute.
On his 21st birthday, Ballot was notified that he had been drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. Ballot reflected on his time in Vietnam in front of an audience at the NANA museum in Kotzebue in 1996.
“I was stationed in the Mekong Delta, the southwestern portion of Vietnam, and into the 52nd Signal Battalion,” Ballot said.
Ballot’s work was focused on communication antennas, which were used to send signals to five outlying villages. After an explosion would hit his area, Ballot was tasked with going to check on signals communication area to see that the antennas were still functioning.
“I was scared when I was over in Vietnam, mainly because they were shelling us,” Ballot confessed. “They were attacking us with mortar shells and I was scared to the point that I drank a lot.”
One night a mortar landed about 15 feet away from him. It blew up a jeep, but Ballot was unaware that anything had happened. He had passed out.
That’s when Ballot said, ‘enough is enough.’
“I started working night shift because I could hear when the in-comings [were] happening,” Ballot said. “They never attacked during the daytimes and I could sleep during the daytimes.”
And, Ballot said, he quit drinking.
Ballot met an Iñupiat from Nome at the camp he was at. He said every time they saw each other at the mess hall, they talked of the food back home like dried fish or dried paniqtaq and seal oil.
“You ask any veteran how long they [were] over there, they’ll probably give you down to the hour of what time they left and they were glad to come home,” Ballot said.
“I’m really glad to be home again. That’s my war story,” Ballot concluded.
The Bristol Bay Fish Expo aims support commercial fishing in the region, while at the same time fostering community development. The proceeds from the expo will benefit Little Angels Childcare Academy in Naknek. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Grace Durrance)
The Bristol Bay Fish Expo is gearing up for its second annual extravaganza. It will feature a variety of events aimed at developing Bristol Bay communities and the commercial fishing industry. One of this year’s highlight will be a debate between gubernatorial candidates.
Four candidates running for state governor in November’s election will participate in the June 9 debate at the Bristol Bay Fish Expo in Naknek. Incumbent Bill Walker, Mike Dunleavy, Mike Chenault and Scott Hawkins will answer panelist and audience questions related to the theme, “Sustainability in Rural Alaska.” Rhonda McBride of KTVA will moderate the discussion. KDLG will air the debate live.
By holding a debate off the road system, event organizers aim to focus attention issues particular to Bush Alaska. Katie Copps-Wilson is running the Fish Expo with Sharon Wlaysewski-Thompson.
“This debate is more of educating our future governor in what we deal with in rural Alaska and how they want to sustain the heartbeat of Alaska, which is rural Alaska,” Copps-Wilson said. “If we don’t sustain it, then the culture is potentially lost. And also the out-migration of rural Alaska really affects urban Alaska and the infrastructure.
In addition to the debate, the Fish Expo is bringing back some of the most successful events from last year, including a trade show and live auction. Speed hiring is another favorite that is making a reappearance.
“We framed it after speed dating. Captains and potential crew will come, and they’ll meet. We’ll have them organize where potential crew will have three minutes with each potential captain. It works very well actually, and people are very happy with it. We made some good matches last year,” Copps-Wilson explained.
While many Bristol Bay fisheries stakeholders attend the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle in the fall, Copps-Wilson said that the Bristol Bay Fish Expo meets a targeted local need.
“Here it’s a concentrated market, where you’re just looking at Bristol Bay fishermen. It’s the boat builders who are specific to Bristol Bay who are coming up here and launching their new boats and lines. And the businesses that are specific to Bristol Bay now have a venue that they’re not drowned out by all these other places. And it’s also a very affordable event that more local people can participate in and celebrate their businesses,” Copps-Wilson said.
Close to 50 vendors are registered, and nearly all the tables for the event are sold. That marks a slight growth from last year’s 44 vendors.
All proceeds from the Fish Expo event benefit Little Angels Childcare Academy. Last year, it raised roughly $15,000 for the program.
Events kick off June 8 with a keynote speech by Katie Ringsmuth on the history and legacy of Bristol Bay canneries. The Fish Expo concludes June 9.
Participants must register online. Bristol Bay residents can enter their zip code as a discount code. Organizers are also still seeking donations for the live auction, which can be in the form of goods or services. Anyone interested in suggesting questions for the gubernatorial debate can email info@bristolbayfishexpo.com before June 8.
Bill would increase health care price transparency for Alaskans
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
The measure, modeled on similar rules enacted in Anchorage last year, could make it easier for Alaskans to know how much they’re going to pay out of pocket for healthcare.
Trident Seafoods looks to expand its China profile
Rashah McChesney, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Juneau
The average Chinese consumer probably doesn’t recognize Trident’s three-pronged logo. That’s because they’ve been selling seafood primarily as a commodity in China, not as their brand.
Fairbanks Borough stops use of groundwater-contaminated wells to irrigate sports fields
Tim Ellis, KUAC – fairbanks
City and borough officials announced Thursday that another groundwater contamination hotspot has been found in the Fairbanks area, this time around South Davis Park.
UAF Native language expo receives warm reception
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Ten of Alaska’s 20 indigenous languages were represented at the Alaska Native Language Revitalization Institute last week at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Department of Energy scientists to attend first Alaska National Lab Day
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Fairbanks
“We think we’ve got some great challenges right now for them and we hope they’ll pick some up,” said Larry Hinzman, Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
‘One Health’ holistic medical approach discussed at UAF
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Scientists from around the circumpolar north were in Alaska earlier this month to share information about a holistic approach to public health.
Four gubernatorial candidates to debate at Bristol Bay Fish Expo
Avery Lill, KDLG- Dillingham
Four candidates running for state governor in November’s election will participate in the June 9 debate at the Bristol Bay Fish Expo in Naknek.
Annual smelt run hits Bethel
Krysti Shallenberger, KYUK – Bethel
Bethel smells like fried smelt. The small fish started swimming past the town last week during their annual run up the Kuskokwim River.
Veterans from Kotzebue have war stories archived online
Emily Russell, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
From World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars and both Gulf Wars, more than 70,000 veterans have served in the armed forces. Now, more of their stories can be heard online.
Jeff Welbourn, Senior Director of the China Business Office for the Trident Seafoods Corporation checks out the fresh seafood at a grocery store on Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Beijing, China. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)
There’s a lot of Alaska-born seafood in China. Walk into any McDonald’s and pick up a fish sandwich and it’s all wild Alaska pollock.
Trident Seafoods has been selling fish in China for 20 years.
Still, the average Chinese consumer probably doesn’t recognize Trident’s three-pronged logo. That’s because they’ve been selling seafood primarily as a commodity in China, not in stores and markets.
But that might change soon. The company sent a team with Alaska Gov. Bill Walker’s trade mission to China and that team is working on a new strategy.
Trident isn’t new to China. They’ve got operations in the port cities of Dalian, Qingdao and Weihai.
What’s new is the way they want to promote and sell their fish here.
Jeff Welbourn is Senior Director of the Chinese Business Office for Trident Seafoods. On a bus trip across Beijing, Welbourn talks strategy for getting their products into some new markets.
A seafood market in Beijing, China. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)
“Per capita consumption of seafood in China is mind-boggling. I mean you’re talking, by some estimates, 40 kilograms [88 lbs.] per person, per year,” Welbourn said.
Trident wants to reach those people directly to let them know that they’re eating wild seafood from Alaska and to tell themwhere they can go to buy it again.
But it’s not easy — there is a huge demand for fish in China. But, a lot of it is farmed.
“Creating comfort and demand for a species that doesn’t currently resonate with consumers is a huge challenge,” Welbourn said. “So wild Alaska pollock is something that we have worked really hard to make sure is differentiated as a very transparent, sustainable and, you know, prestige fishery.”
Welbourn says a lot of Alaska pollock is already being consumed in China. But, Chinese citizens likely don’t realize it’s wild and from Alaska.
“It is kind of a lot of beating your head at the wall until it breaks,” Welbourn said.
So Welbourn and his team are exploring ways to bring their fish to a new market. A digital one.
The bus ends up at the Beijing headquarters of JD.com, Incorporated. It’s an e-commerce company with an enormous platform of about 300 million active users — think Amazon or Alibaba. Trident already has some of its seafood listed on this site. Customers can go online and one-click order something wild from an Alaska seafood company and get it shipped right to them. Grocery stores can order the seafood, too, and Trident wants to expand that reach.
After a tour, the group heads up to a boardroom to talk business.
And, it’s not just seafood here, although that is the bulk of the trade delegates in the room. It’s also people from the Mat-Su borough and Bambino’s baby food. The group talks for a few hours about everything from what the e-commerce giant buys and sells to when and how they should market it and who should pay for that marketing.
And, while they don’t come to any firm deal, it’s clear by the end of the meeting that they’ve made progress and Welbourn’s China-based team can follow up with the company.
South Peninsula Hospital. (Photo courtesy of South Peninsula Hospital)
Several women have brought forth allegations against a South Peninsula Hospital department manager in Homer, describing an environment of bullying and sexual harassment.
The allegations against Douglas Westphal, the former director of the hospital’s rehab department, also include one instance of alleged sexual assault. Complaints have also been filed with the state Division of Professional Licensing, the local union and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Westphal returned to work in a non-managerial role in January following an internal investigation, but several of the women say they want Westphal fired.
One woman who made a complaint against Westphal came forward to KBBI in February, alerting the station about six other complaints. KBBI later became aware of an additional complaint made by department staff.
The complaints date back to the fall of 2016, most of which were made to the hospital’s HR department between August of 2017 and the end of the year. Six of the eight women and department staff spoke with KBBI on the record.
Allegations range from unsolicited shoulder rubs to threatening to turn on decommissioned security cameras in areas where female staff change clothes. Others say Westphal repeatedly disclosed patients’ personal information to staff and made negative comments about female staff’s medical conditions, pregnancies and financial situations.
South Peninsula Hospital spokesperson Derotha Ferraro confirmed that there were a number of complaints.
“There was an investigation based on employee concerns,” Ferraro said. “That investigation happened, and that investigation ended.”
Westphal acknowledged the investigation in an email to KBBI in April.
“I appreciate the severity of the allegations that are currently being investigated thoroughly by South Peninsula Hospital,” Westphal wrote. “I have been fully cooperative with the investigation and will continue to do so.”
Hospital CEO Joseph Woodin and Ferraro confirmed that Westphal was put on administrative leave before he was demoted to his current position as a physical therapist in January.
But the women say the hospital’s response was inadequate. The most serious allegation comes from Lora Wilke, a former registered nurse at the hospital who left in 2011. Wilke said she was seeing Westphal as a patient in 2009 following knee surgery. She said Westphal encouraged her to take two “Vicodin” pills prior to her session. Wilke said Westphal then gave her a large pair of shorts before escorting her to a private treatment area.
“I lay down on a gurney, and he covered me with a blanket,” Wilke said. “The curtains were closed, and he proceeded to come up the leg of my shorts reaching toward my underwear. I would say that by the time I pushed his hand away, he had pretty much his whole hand in my shorts, and his fingers were about a centimeter away from my underwear.”
Wilke said she continued her treatment with Westphal and that all subsequent treatments were performed in an open area.
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Lora Wilke police report
South Peninsula Hospital's response to Lora Wilke's complaint
Lora Wilke's response to South Peninsula Hospital's November letter
“It was like a punch in the gut because I realized that by me not saying anything to anybody and letting him get away with this, that I had left the door open for other women to be abused and harassed by Douglas Westphal,” Wilke said. “I went to the police, and all along I have known that I have no legal recourse.”
Police declined to charge Westphal. Investigating officer Larry Baxter said the alleged incident did not rise to the level of sexual assault and that the statute of limitations had expired for any potential lower level crimes.
Wilke followed up with the hospital’s HR department in November, the third complaint made to HR staff since 2016. Later that month, the hospital responded to Wilke with a certified letter explaining that the hospital spoke with “appropriate staff” and that SPH reviewed its training material on sexual harassment and physical therapy treatment.
“Is he still practicing. Is he still doing this?” she asked. “You can do whatever you want. You can train a man. You can put him through seminars. That doesn’t fix what he’s done and what he will continue to do.”
The hospital responded that it had “nothing further to add.”
“I felt ignored, not taken seriously, re-traumatized,” Wilke said. “I felt lost, scared. I didn’t know where else I’d be able to turn.”
Wilke said both during therapy and at work that Westphal also repeatedly asked if he could hypnotize her, allegedly saying, “look into the violet flame.” According to Westphal’s bio on the hospital’s website, he became a master clinical hypnotist in 2011.
According to documents provided by Wilke, she filed a complaint with the state Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing against Westphal’s physical and occupational therapist license. Wilke filed the complaint after Westphal returned to work in January.
The division’s Chief Investigator, Greg Francois, confirmed that Wilke filed the complaint and said the division has an “inquiry” into the matter, which precedes an official investigation that could come with consequences such as Westphal losing his license.
Homer News published an article about the allegations on May 16, saying that Francois confirmed there was an “active investigation involving Westphal’s license.” KBBI later determined from Francois’ statement and the division policies he provided that the complaint had not moved onto the investigative phase.
During the “inquiry” process, the division typically obtains records, documentation and evidence related to the complaint and performs preliminary interviews before determining whether to move forward with an “official investigation.”
KBBI also confirmed that two additional complaints against Westphal were filed with the division. According to the division’s website, no prior actions have been taken against Westphal’s license.
There are also three active grievances with the local union, General Teamsters 959. Union President Barbara Huff Tuckness said none have been resolved.
“We have one at the arbitration level with attempts to try to reach some sort of resolution and we have two other cases that will be going towards that arbitration level, assuming we don’t get those resolved,” Tuckness said.
Sarah Bollwitt, who currently works as an occupational therapist for the hospital, is one of the women who filed a union grievance. Bollwitt said she kept tabs on her interactions with Westphal dating back to her second day of work in April of 2015. She said Westphal made a comment about her being more attractive “than her Facebook photo would suggest,” and she said his comments became increasingly inappropriate during the three years she worked under him.
“I told him I had a miscarriage and I couldn’t work at the health fair, and he told me, ‘What were you thinking having sex without a condom?’” Bollwitt recalled. “That’s when I started keeping track because I know that you’re not supposed to talk to your employees like that. No one should be made to feel disrespected on top of already being devastated.”
Bollwitt says that alleged incident happened in late 2015. She says she kept a running list of similar instances over the next two years before she handed the list over to Chief Nursing Officer Von Kilpatrick and Risk Management Nurse Dawn Johnson in December.
Bollwitt’s complaint was forwarded onto the HR department. She filed her grievance with the union in January and transferred to another department.
Several other women have come forward to the HR department, including former traveling physical therapist Lora Harroff. Harroff started working at the hospital in March of 2017. She said her first interaction with Westphal was in the HR office on her first day of work.
“I got my badge, and I put it on my collar and this man, who was Douglas, came into the HR department,” Harroff explained. “He walked up to me and brushed my hair off of my shoulder.”
Harroff says Westphal then grabbed her badge off of her collar.
“I was kind of very confused. I look up at him and he said, ‘Oh, you’re Lora. You must be Lora. I’m Douglas,” Harroff said.
Harroff said Westphal regularly made inappropriate remarks about her body, including an instance when Westphal allegedly made her to do a squat in front of other staff after making a comment about her “glutes.”
Harroff formally complained to HR in August after she said she confronted him earlier that summer. She said HR facilitated a meeting with Westphal, but she said he was unapologetic.
“I mean at that point I felt like kind of powerless because there’s nothing else I could do except for encouraging other people come forward,” Harroff said.
Harroff finished her short stint as a traveling therapist at the hospital in September.
Other women said they suffered a constant barrage of negative comments from Westphal. Amber Rogers started as a traveling physical therapist in 2013 and later became a permanent employee. She said Westphal made negative comments about her getting sick and other health conditions she had. Rodgers said he also belittled her about her work performance and religion.
“The more he belittled me and said these comments to me, the more I was becoming depressed, and then my health started getting worse because I honestly was fearful to come to work,” Rogers said. “I hated going to work because I did not want to see him.”
Susan Cates-Blackmon said she found another job in the Pacific Northwest as a speech therapist largely because of her negative experience working with Westphal.
Cates-Blackmon filed a formal grievance with the union when she secured her next job three months after she gave her notice. Her husband, David Blackmon, who worked as a rehabilitation aid in the department, said he also filed a grievance with the union.
Multiple women who spoke with KBBI also said they quit because of Westphal.
Although, the hospital’s internal investigation is over, hospital spokesperson Ferraro said SPH is still working with the Division of Professional Licensing. Ferraro said the hospital is handling another complaint against Westphal with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces civil rights laws involving workplace discrimination.
Both Ferraro and hospital CEO Woodin say they take the women’s complaints seriously, but Woodin, who started his position in March, said the hospital was surprised by the allegations.
“He did have a 25-year track record of working at the hospital with no prior complaints,” Woodin said. “I can tell you that with great confidence that there wasn’t concerns expressed 10 years ago.”
Like Wilke, most of the women say the hospital’s communication with them about the investigation into Westphal was poor, and they say beyond Westphal’s demotion, they were left guessing about how their complaints were handled.
Woodin said the hospital can’t disclose every aspect of its investigation to employees and the public.
“I think there’s definitely some lessons learned with regards to the feedback and the timeliness and responding to some of these things,” Woodin said.
Ferraro added that the hospital has no concerns about Westphal’s professional practice and that he will continue treating patients.
“If the hospital had concerns, he would not be practicing there,” Ferraro said.
Others have spoken in support of Westphal, including five women who submitted letters to the hospital’s board of directors in December, according to meeting minutes. KBBI requested those letters, but the request was denied.
Sarah Bollwitt acknowledges others have stated they had no problems with Westphal.
“The fact that although plenty of people have had only positive interactions with this person, it doesn’t negate his inappropriate behavior with me and with others,” Bollwitt said.
Bollwitt and others say they came forward to make sure that their experiences aren’t repeated.
Despite the hospital demoting Westphal, several of the women still say he should be removed completely.
It’s unclear when other inquiries into allegations against Westphal will conclude and what possible actions could be taken against him.
This story contained contributions from Renee Gross with KBBI in Homer.
Members of 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, conduct hoist training near Knik and Colony Glaciers. (Photo by Capt. Amy B. Slinker, Alaska Army National Guard / Flickr)
The Alaska National Guard is trying to recruit more Alaska Native soldiers.
Colonel Wayne Don was in Kodiak last week along with other members of the National Guard in order to reach out to locals.
The National Guard says it already has an armory and 17 soldiers in Kodiak, but they’re working towards a number of Alaska Native participants that are more representative of the state population.
Don says about 8 and a half percent of the entire Army Guard and 3 to 4 percent in the Air Guard is Alaska Native.
“Over a period of time, since the end of the Cold War, the participation of Alaska Natives has diminished and, with that, a lot of the able-bodied young men who would otherwise provide assistance during local emergencies and state emergencies,” Don said. “So, we lack a presence out in some of our communities there.”
Don says the Rural Guard Initiative, which they established a few years ago, is focused on bringing in Alaska Native soldiers, especially to the Army Guard.
“As is going on in the rest of the country, there are entrance barriers for a lot of young men and women in terms of medical and academic or entrance scores, and so with our initiative, we’re able to waive some of those initial entry requirements to increase the number of participants,” Don said.
Don says, ideally, they’d like soldiers stationed in every community, but they just don’t have enough qualified people to serve yet. He says they hope to build to at least 50 members in these first few years.
Meeting of Governor Walker’s Climate Action Leadership team, chaired by Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, on the University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus, in Fairbanks, Alaska, April 12, 2018. (Photo by David Lienemann, Office of Governor Bill Walker / Flickr)
Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott sees a future for renewable energy in Alaska.
Mallott dropped by Kodiak last week for a fundraising event, and in an interview with KMXT, said Alaska needs to focus on transitioning from a fossil-fuel based economy to more renewable resources, like hydro and wind power.
Mallott said it could take a while to make that switch.
“I expect that it will be a combination of the market place for such fuels and public policy that will drive that timing, and that has really not come into focus yet, certainly at the national level,” Mallott said.
Mallott says it’s vital to the state’s economy to diversify its industries and, within those industries, to branch out. It’s the same for energy.
“The imperative for Alaska is certainly one of doing its part to reduce emissions globally, but it is also an opportunity that we view economically that investing in new forms of energy, reducing the cost of energy across our state, makes us more competitive as a state,” Mallott said.
Mallott said Alaska needs to take steps to plan ahead.
In an effort to do that, Mallott is chairing the Climate Action for Alaska Leadership Team, which was established last year and is made up of citizen representatives from across the state.
Mallott said the group has drafted a climate change policy that’s up for public review and the governor’s office is in the process of prioritizing those items and figuring out how to act on them.
Mickey Knight, center, and Dick Eide, right, inspect Eide’s 37.2 pound second place king at a derby weigh in station in North Harbor in 2016. (KFSK file photo)
Memorial Day weekend was quieter than past years for several small towns in Southeast. Slumping king salmon numbers and a ban on sport fishing in inside waters drove Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan to cancel their annual king salmon derbies.
Friday morning was subdued at Petersburg’s North Harbor. By nine, the rain in the forecast had not yet arrived, and the low, grey clouds cast a sleepy glow over the docks. The harbor master’s office was seeing a little traffic – a couple of new boat owners and the usual crowd that comes in to drink coffee and talk fish politics.
Harbor Officer Ed Tagaban said some in Petersburg were getting ready to spend time on the water, despite the cancelled derby.
“The middle harbor’s totally full, the north harbor’s getting close to full capacity so a lot of people are still going to be going out and doing some kind of fishing in the areas,” Tagaban said.
But if this were a derby year, the office would be crammed with people trying to park their boats or weigh their fish. Participants in last year’s four day event caught 200 fish total.
“It would be people walking around getting their tickets validated, people getting donuts up there and going down and getting bait, and I’m sure the fuel dock would be totally bustling right now,” Tagaban said.
Petersburg resident Richard Carr has been fishing for 60 years. He said he supports the restrictions on king salmon fishing – he is actually worried they don’t reach far enough.
“These fish don’t always travel the same areas, so I think when they shut these things down everybody needs to be shut down – not just the portion around the river,” Carr said.
Carr also supports a rumored consolation prize for Petersburg. If not a king salmon derby, a contest for Coho salmon.
“That might be something that they could substitute until the kings come back,” Carr said.
A silver, or Coho, salmon derby would be held toward the end of the summer. It would mean a late season boost for local businesses like Hammer & Wikan, which supplies derby contestants with groceries, fishing licenses, bait, and gear. General Manager John Mason said he would know in a few days how much of a difference these events usually make in terms of sales.
“It won’t be a huge impact to our business overall as far as annually, but we are looking at somewhere between a 70 and 90 percent reduction in sporting goods purchases directly related to the derby,” Mason said.
But, as Tagaban said, people are still fishing this spring, and local businesses are still busy from that and tourism. Chamber of Commerce Administrator Mara Lutomski said the town’s seasonality has complicated plans to hold a Coho salmon derby later this summer. There are just not enough people available to make it happen.
“We did some advertising looking for chairmen; we called around and asked some people who we thought might be interested in doing such an event,” Lutomski said. “Unfortunately, we were turned down in all of those avenues, so we haven’t been able to get it up and running.”
The earlier king salmon run fits better with the schedules of volunteers.
“Coho derby being in August or even possibly being over Labor Day Weekend sounds overwhelming to someone who might want to volunteer, because they are so busy during the summer season,” Lutomski said.
Ketchikan and Wrangell will both host Coho derbies beginning mid-August and running through Labor Day. Lutomski said the “book isn’t closed” on the king salmon derby – the committee will resurrect it in future years if the fish come back in better numbers.
After courting potential business partners, Walker’s Opportunity Alaska group prepares to depart from China
Rashah McChesney, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Juneau
Tomorrow, Alaska’s trade delegation to China is headed home. The trip, called Opportunity Alaska” put several small, medium and large companies selling Alaska’s goods and services — in front of Chinese investors and consumers.
Alaska Healy Lake tribal leader killed; suspect in custody
Associated Press
Authorities say an Alaska tribal leader has been killed and a suspect has been charged.
Lt. Gov. Mallott views growth in energy sector as Alaska’s future
Kayla Desroches, KMXT – Kodiak
Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott sees a future for renewable energy in Alaska.
Number of complaints against South Peninsula Hospital dept. manager grows
Aaron Bolton and Renee Gross, KBBI – Homer
Several women have brought forth allegations against a South Peninsula Hospital department manager in Homer, describing an environment of bullying and sexual harassment.
Alaska National Guard hopes to increase number of Alaska Native soldiers
Kayla Desroches, KMXT – Kodiak
The Alaska National Guard is trying to recruit more Alaska Native soldiers.
Petersburg celebrates Memorial Day weekend derby-free
Alanna Elder, KFSK – Petersburg
Memorial Day weekend was quieter than past years for several small towns in Southeast. Slumping king salmon numbers and a ban on sport fishing in inside waters drove Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan to cancel their annual king salmon derbies.
Drawing on historical strengths to prevent problems in the future
Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
When rural Alaska makes the headlines, the focus is often on things like suicide rates, alcohol use, and trauma. But one project in southwest Alaska shifts attention to strengths instead. Qungasvik was developed by Yup’ik people, for Yup’ik people and is proving to be an effective way to help youth in parts of southwest Alaska thrive.
Gov. Bill Walker talks strategy with one of his economic advisors, John Tichotsky, on Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Beijing, China. Walker’s administration is leading a 10-day trade mission to China with the hopes of increasing Alaska’s exports to the state. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/Alaska’s Energy Desk)
Alaska’s trade delegation to China is headed home. The trip, called Opportunity Alaska, put several companies selling Alaska’s goods and services in front of Chinese investors and consumers.
Gov. Walker and state gasline corporation head Keith Meyer also pushed for support for the $45 billion Alaska LNG project.
Rashah McChesney from Alaska’s Energy Desk travelled with the delegation and has this update on the last leg of the trip.
Shanghai is a beautiful city, but it is full of smog. Several members of the delegation have said that this is proof that China needs cleaner fuel, like Alaska’s LNG export project.
There hasn’t been any real news on that front, but the group did meet with Sinopec and Bank of China — both are very large potential funders and partners of the project.
And what happened in those meetings?
There’s this sort of ceremonial meeting that I’ve seen several times on this trip. The governor and his aides sit one side of the room, and whomever he’s meeting — and his aides — sit on the other. They face off and the two greet each other through interpreters and have these long discussions. They introduce their entourages, talk about the purpose of the visit, etc.
The Bank of China hosted a reception for the delegation — that’s the state-owned bank that could help finance the $45 billion pipeline project.
Walker and the delegation also met with Sinopec, the giant state-owned oil and gas company that could be a partner. And the president said that he looked forward to continuing to study the feasibility of the project with Alaska.
Then he said this: “After some of the work we did, in terms of assessment and evaluation in technology, economics and in terms of the resources of Sinopec — I think there’s a lot more work for us to be done than originally imagined.”
The Governor has always been so optimistic about the gasline. Is he saying this trip has changed that?
I have not yet had the chance to talk to the governor about what he thinks of those comments, but I don’t think so. He and and several other members of the trade delegation say they are optimistic that this is the best time for the project to get built.
And apart from the gasline, what else is going on?
Well, there has been a lot of progress with the tourism companies that came here. China has a rapidly growing middle class and they’re spending a lot more on outdoor tourism than they used to which makes Alaska an attractive destination. There has been a surge in the number of Chinese visitors to Alaska in recent years.
There was also an agreement signed with Alaska Pacific University — working toward a partnership that would allow the Chinese Nordic Team to train at APU and vice versa — allowing Alaska’s team to prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympics, which China is hosting.
I’m told a delegation from China will be in Alaska next month to look at the facilities; they’ll head up to Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood as well. This a big deal for both APU and Alyeska and could lead to an influx in students and tourists.
The Taku Kwan Dancers from Atlin, British Columbia, perform June 10, 2016, at Celebration. They’re returning this year. (Photo by Ed Schoenfeld/CoastAlaska News)
Dance groups, artists, canoe paddlers and traditional food experts are gearing up for Celebration 2018, Southeast Alaska’s largest Native cultural gathering, held June 6-9 at Centennial Hall and nearby sites in Alaska’s capital city.
Celebration has happened every other year since 1982. Each Celebration has a theme. For 2018, it’s “Respect: Weigh Your Words.”
It can be hard to fully describe Celebration.
You can talk about its expected 2,000 or so dancers and 5,000 participants. Or the language, the oral traditions and the regalia. But that just doesn’t fully capture the experience.
Sealaska Heritage Institute president Rosita Worl describes one year’s grand exit, when all the groups danced out of the performance hall.
“It was like we were one people, one being, and we were all dancing,” Worl said. “It reminded me of a swarm of fish coming in. But everybody was kind of in unison, it was like we were part of a whole spiritual essence.”
Celebration 2018 lists 45 dance groups from Southeast and other parts of Alaska, the Yukon, British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest and California.
This year it has two: The Shangukeidí, or the Thunderbirds, and the Lukaax.ádi, or the Sockeye.
They’re from Haines and Klukwan, or the Chilkat and Chilkoot areas.
Worl said they will dance together, with clan songs from each.
The entrance song, owned by the Shangukeidí Clan, is “The Thunderbird Trade Song.” The grand exit will feature “TheG̱unanaa Trade Song, one the Lukaax̱.ádi Clan bartered for with inland Athabaskan tribes.
Not all dance groups are made up of members of the same clan. Others are community, school or multi-tribal-based.
Celebration coordinator Carmaleeda Estrada said she’s enjoyed the growth of the youth groups.
Two younger cousins from Angoon formed their own dance troupe and will be part of their second Celebration this year.
“We would never have thought to start our own dance group,” Estrada said. “So to be able to see people even younger than me taking that initiative, we have young girls in our group who are still in elementary school and they’re writing songs, they’re writing Tlingit songs. And so, just to see that from my own community is really inspirational. It really raises the bar.”
Canoes from around Southeast Alaska are formally greeted at the Douglas Boat Harbor on June 8, 2016, just before that year’s Celebration. This year’s canoes are scheduled to arrive between 2 and 3:30 p.m June 5. They’re organized by the One People Canoe Society. (Photo by Ed Schoenfeld/CoastAlaska News)
Regalia, such as clan hats, vests, and button blankets, is worn by most dancers.
That’s changing, Worl said.
“Before we would only allow traditional regalia,” Worl said. “But we kept saying, if our culture’s going to evolve, then we have to let it and support that. So now you’re seeing a lot more Native fashion wear.”
For the first time, the models will have a formal model training session.
Another new event is a seal oil contest, to be judged by taste and other factors.
Estrada said such contests will be more visible than in previous years.
“We would do that off to the side in the elders’ room and it wasn’t as prominent as it’s going to be this year,” Estrada said. “Not only are we adding the seal oil competition to that, so now there’s three food categories, but we’re also moving that to the main stage.”
Celebration also includes a juried art show, a youth art show, a regalia care workshop, a Native artists market and the ever-popular toddler
regalia revue.
But the action isn’t all on stage. Estrada thinks back to Celebrations she attended as a child.
“You remember running around with your cousins and you don’t really realize how important and how lucky you are and what a profound event you’re at. But those things are just as fun, being able to reconnect with family and friends from all over,” Estrada said.
Editor’s note:360 North is under contract with Sealaska Heritage Institute to produce television and online video coverage of Celebration.
A Fairbanks man is charged with second degree murder in the death of his infant child.
Fairbanks police spokeswoman Yumi McCulloch says 22-year-old James Jimieson brought the six-month-old girl to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital May 11th.
”The infant was unresponsive and was not eating,” McCullough said. “At that point, medical staff did a CAT scan and found extensive bleeding and swelling and transported the infant to Providence.”
The child died May 15th. McCulloch says police interviewed Jimieson and determined he was responsible for the baby’s injuries.
”The father stated that the child had fallen, the child had hit its head, and changed his story a few times,” McCullough said. “Then the father admitted that he shook the child.”
Jimieson told investigators that the shaking included hitting the child’s head against his own. An autopsy revealed six blunt force injuries to the infant’s forehead.
Pat Dodson (pictured with his daughter, Kaycie Carter) knows he has a tenuous lead with this 31-pound 6-ounce fish. But the kings have been running smaller the last few years. “One year I caught a 49-pounder, but a 60-pounder won. I came in 13th!” (Sitka Salmon Derby photo)
After three days of fishing, a 31-pound 6-ounce chinook leads the Sitka Salmon Derby.
While the leader is excited to be in the money, he’s also aware that should he hang on to his lead after two more days of fishing next weekend, this will be the smallest fish in 63 years to win Sitka’s derby.
Like many a leader after the first weekend in the two-weekend long event, Pat Dodson is not giving anything away.
“For a hint, I was very close to town,” Dodson said.
Just about everyone in the 63rd Annual Sitka Salmon Derby was close to town, as gusty winds and driving rains churned Sitka Sound into frothy tempest. Dodson who manages inventory for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, and who is a veteran of many derbies, said he settled into a protected spot and waited for the fish to bite.
When Dodson brought his king into the weigh station with just 20 minutes to spare on Memorial Day, he was surprised to learn that his 31-pound 6-ounce chinook was at the top of the leaderboard.
“I don’t think a fish that small has ever won the derby, and I know they’ve been getting smaller over the past couple of years. I’d really be surprised if that stayed,” Dodson said.
But it might stay, and if it does Dodson will win another $7,500 — on top of the $500 for having the biggest fish on Monday.
While everyone knows there are big fish out there — the biggest king ever to win the Sitka derby weighed over 73 pounds — everyone also knows the 40- and 50-pounders are becoming scarcer.
Although it seems counter-intuitive, king salmon aren’t getting smaller. Ed Jones, the chinook salmon research coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, says kings are getting younger.
“What’s really driving that issue with chinook salmon getting smaller is there aren’t any older-age fish anymore. They’re coming back younger,” Jones said.
Jones made this presentation on May 21 in Sitka, as part of the state’s Chinook Salmon Symposium. It was an effort to bring everyone up to speed on the latest science — and politics — driving reductions in the Southeast king salmon harvest.
Last year’s derby winner weighed 35 pounds, 6 ounces — likely a five-year old salmon that’s been in saltwater for three years. The 2016 winner weighed 40 pounds, 8 ounces — again, maybe five years old — which until then was the smallest fish to win. From 1956 to 2014 derby winners always tipped the scales in the neighborhood of 50 to 60 pounds and up — likely all fish that were at least six years old.
Pat Dodson came in third a couple of dozen years ago for total poundage. He’s seen the big fish come over the rail.
“I also remember one year I caught a 49-pounder, but that year a 60-pounder won it,” Dodson said. “And I think the following year a 47-pound fish won. I wasn’t too lucky. I think I came in 13th place with that 49-pounder.”
Dodson fished all three days of the Memorial Day Weekend, despite the miserable weather, and he plans on fishing both days next weekend as well.
Like all other derby participants, he’s not put off by this year’s one-fish bag limit on the outer coast.
“The weather is probably a bigger factor,” Dodson said.
Athabascan drummers Travis Cole, Sunny Luke and Norman Carlo lead protesters to the Carlson Center Tuesday for the Bureau of Land Management’s meeting on the federal plan to lease portions of the ANWR coastal plain for oil and gas development. (Photo by Tim Ellis/KUAC)
About 250 people turned out Tuesday at a meeting in Fairbanks to offer comments on a federal plan to launch an oil and gas leasing program in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Most of those who showed up for the meeting at the Carlson Center oppose the plan; they say it would disrupt caribou calving season and harm Native subsistence and culture – and the environment. Backers of the plan say coastal-plain development would boost Alaska’s economy.
Eighty-four people signed up to talk about the plan to open the coastal plain to oil and gas development. By the time a half-dozen of them had spoken, nearly a hundred protesters showed up outside the Carlson Center to offer their public comments.
“I do have hope and faith that the Alaska Natives are going to stand up and they’re going to put a stop to this,” Fort Yukon Gwich’in Bernadette Demientieff told the crowd with a bullhorn. “Because when it comes down to it, we’re all going to be affected. Climate change don’t care if you’re upriver or downriver. We’re going to all live with the effects.”
Demientieff is executive director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, which opposes development on the ecologically fragile coastal plain. Princess Daazhraii Johnson, the committee’s former executive director, said members of the organization and the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition came to tell federal officials presiding over the meeting that oil and gas exploration will harm the Porcupine Caribou Herd and other wildlife that provides subsistence to Native peoples.
“I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for that Porcupine Caribou Herd, if it wasn’t for the tsook-cho, the king salmon,” Johnson said.
Fairbanks Native Association Executive Director Steve Ginnis, who’s also traditional chief of the Fort Yukon-based Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government, addresses seven federal officials presiding over Tuesday’s EIS scoping meeting. (Photo by Tim Ellis/KUAC)
Meanwhile, inside the Carlson, representatives from industry and labor and officials with the state Department of Natural Resources accentuated the positive. Kara Moriarty is executive director of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, and she says extracting the coastal plain’s hydrocarbons could bring economic benefits like those that came from development of the North Slope and construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
“It goes without saying that Alaska’s economy relies heavily on the oil and gas industry,” Moriarty said. “One-third of all jobs in the state of Alaska can be attributed back to the oil and gas industry.”
John Hopson Junior is mayor of Wainwright and president of the North Slope Borough. And he says his community and others in the region depend on the industry.
“Oil and gas property tax is what pays for our services, when it comes to police and fire and schools and public works,” Hopson said.
But Steve Ginnis, the traditional chief of the Fort Yukon-based Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government, says federal officials should not proceed with developing an environmental impact statement or EIS for the lease sales because they haven’t adequately invited public comment from residents of communities that would be most affected by coastal plain development.
“I don’t understand how the United States government, and the Congress of the United States, could shortcut the process, to do what’s going on here today,” Ginnis said.
Village of Beaver Chief Rhonda Pitka, left, and Joe Balash, assistant Interior secretary for Lands and Minerals Management. (KUAC file photos)
Rhonda Pitka is chief of the Village of Beaver, and she says federal officials should double the 60-day public comment period for the EIS. She says the feds should stage more meetings in Gwich’in communities and talk directly with tribal government officials – with an interpreter.
“Our chiefs are requesting that you come and consult with us,” Pitka said. “I’m requesting government-to-government consultation in the Village of Beaver. I also sent in a letter requesting that the materials be translated in Gwich’in, for our Gwich’in speakers. And that you also bring along translators.”
Pitka also says the meetings should be scheduled for later, because many Gwich’in are away from their villages at fish camps, preparing to harvest salmon.
“Our tribal members right now are getting ready for our subsistence season,” Pitka said. “I’m actually missing out on getting my grandma’s fish camp ready for the fishing season.”
But scheduling the meeting around hunting and fishing seasons can be tricky, Joe Balash says. He’s a former state natural resources commissioner who now serves as an assistant secretary of the Interior, and he was one of the seven federal officials presiding over the meeting.
“The folks that live on the North Slope and participate in the whaling the season – y’know, the spring season has more or less just concluded, and there’ll be a fall season,” Balash said. “And we’ve got to watch that window as well.”
Balash said during a break in testimony that translating documents would be a new requirement that federal officials may want to consider, along with adjustments to the public meeting schedule. He says the first meeting in Kaktovik that was postponed has been rescheduled for next month. The next scoping meeting will be held tonight in Anchorage, followed by another on Thursday in Utqiagvik.
Public comments on the leasing-program plan EIS are due by June 19th.
First of David Grunwald murder trails goes to jury
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
The first trial as a result of the 2016 murder of Palmer teenager David Grunwald has gone to the jury. For the past two weeks, prosecutors have questioned witnesses and presented evidence in their case against Erick Almandinger, one of several alleged accomplices who are all being tried separately.
ANWR coastal plain oil, gas lease plan draws heated opposition in Fairbanks
Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks
About 250 people turned out Tuesday at a meeting in Fairbanks to offer comments on a federal plan to launch an oil and gas leasing program in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
As Medicaid funds dry up, Wrangell and other rural hospitals are still receiving payments for now
June Leffler, KSTK – Wrangell
The state is running short on money for Medicaid. Until the next fiscal year starts in July, hospitals and other health-care providers won’t get paid for treating much of Alaska’s low-income population.
Fairbanks man charged with murdering infant daughter
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
A Fairbanks man is charged with second degree murder in the death of his infant child.
One month into the season, Bristol Bay halibut fishermen harvest a quarter of the quota
Isabelle Ross, KDLG – Dillingham
Halibut have hit the docks in Dillingham. The halibut fishery opened on May first, and the first landing was on May 14th. As of Friday, there were 8,700 pounds of halibut landed.
‘Small’ king has big lead in 63rd Sitka Salmon Derby
Robert Woolsey, KCAW – Sitka
After three days of fishing, a 31-pound 6-ounce chinook leads the Sitka Salmon Derby.
Celebration 2018 brings 45 dance groups to Juneau
Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska – Juneau
Dance groups, artists, canoe paddlers and traditional food experts are gearing up for Celebration 2018, June 6-9 at Juneau’s Centennial Hall.
Cathy Sandeen will begin her tenure as UAA Chancellor in September (UAA photo)
The University of Alaska Anchorage will have a new chancellor.
In a press release yesterday, UA president Jim Johnsen announced that Cathy Sandeen will take over the position in the fall. Sandeen is currently the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges. She’s had previous tenures in the University of California system as well as vice president of education attainment and innovation at the American Council on Education.
The chancellor position has been vacant since June of last year, when Tom Case resigned from his position. Sam Gingerich has served as the UAA interim chancellor during the gap.
“My discussions with Cathy convinced me that she understands the range of issues facing UAA, and she is committed to supporting our faculty and engaging our alumni,” Johnsen said in the release.
Among the issues facing the university are budget cuts. Since 2014, the UA system’s annual budget has declined by more than $60 million. Sandeen will begin her tenure two years into President Johnsen’s various initiatives to cut costs and consolidate administration, dubbed Strategic Pathways.
In a video introduction, Sandeen said she is optimistic in her ability to keep with UAA’s various goals moving forward.
“I so appreciate the mission of student success and access, as well as providing relevant education and a connection with the community and workforce and the economy of the surrounding region as well as the whole state of Alaska,” Sandeen said.
Sandeen is set to begin her new job on September 15th.
Caribou graze on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, with the Brooks Range as a backdrop. (USFWS)
Two Alaska Native corporations are asking the federal government if they can start looking for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) and Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation have submitted a 3-D seismic exploration plan for the Coastal Plain, or the 1002 area. They partnered with oil exploration company SAExploration. The companies want to begin a substantial exploration program this winter, encompassing the entirety of the biologically rich coastal plain, potentially involving hundreds of workers.
The corporations’ permit application was first reported by the Washington Post. The Post also reports that Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service responded by saying the plan, as currently submitted, is “not adequate” because it didn’t include proper studies on environmental impacts.
But after speaking at an oil conference in Anchorage on Thursday, top Interior official Joe Balash confirmed the agency is still considering the plan.
“They submitted an application, we’re reviewing it, along with the Fish and Wildlife Service,” Balash said. “And we’ll process that permit application just like any other.”
Balash says a key thing Interior will consider is compliance with Endangered Species Act protections for polar bears. According to the Bureau of Land Management, the agency will make a decision on the application by July.
Regarding Interior’s initial response to the application, BLM spokeswoman Lesli Ellis-Wouters said in an email, “such responses are part of a normal, iterative process whereby we work collaboratively with both the permit applicant and our sister federal agencies to identify shortcomings or gaps in information in the application so that we can fully and appropriately evaluate it.”
Environmental groups condemned the news. In a statement, the Alaska Wilderness League said exploration “would cause severe and long-lasting damage to the Arctic Refuge.”
ASRC has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Tussock tundra on Arctic Refuge coastal plain. (Photo courtesy of USFWS)
Public meetings on oil lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are drawing intense interest from Alaskans across the state. Last night, over 100 protesters gathered outside the Anchorage meeting, including Samuel Johns, whose mother is from Arctic Village, on the edge of the refuge.
“I was in there just a little bit ago and I got to hear the first guy speak,” Johns said. “And the first guy, no offense to you all, but the first person in there to speak was a white man. In support of ANWR. In support of development. To me that’s a slap in the face to my people.”
At the meeting, officials said the Trump administration must move forward with oil lease sales in ANWR. The Department of Interior’s Joe Balash said that’s because of specific language in the law Congress passed last year allowing drilling in ANWR.
“The statutory provisions say, ‘DOI shall,’” Balash said.
Testimony at the meeting was mixed. Many protesters came inside to speak against development, citing impacts to subsistence, the climate, and the value of untouched wilderness. Others with labor and industry groups spoke in favor of development. Jason Alward was there representing Operating Engineers Local 302.
“The leases, the development, the production of ANWR’s natural resources are vital to our future,” Alwards said. “And this project can be done responsibly.”
The meeting ran over five hours, but it still wasn’t long enough to accommodate everyone who wanted to testify. The comment period officially ends June 19. However, a Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman says the agency has received many requests to extend it.
BLM is holding another public meeting on development in ANWR today in Utqiagvik. Additional meetings are planned in June in Kaktovik, Venetie and Washington, D.C.
