Australian Minister to Visit Delta Greely Area

The start of the month of March will bring more than additional sunshine to the Delta Greely area this year. A talented musician, teacher and minister will be visiting our city for three days.

After 14 years as a school music teacher, Judy McComb followed what she felt to be the call of God in her life and moved into full time ministry. Her extreme passion for the Lord Jesus expressed in music opened doors for opportunities throughout Australia, New Zealand, and now Alaska. Trips to Indonesia and Israel have also had a special impact on her desire to spread the gospel through worship. Judy will be with us in Delta Junction March 7-9, 2008.

Ms. McComb has served as Director of Worship in her home church and has released 4 albums. She also enjoys training youth bands and working with young adults. Delta Christian Center, located at 4.5 mile Jack Warren Road, will be hosting Judy as she directs a worship training seminar at Delta Christian Center on Friday evening March 7 at 7:00pm. A community wide worship concert will be held Saturday night March 8 at 7pm at the same location. On Sunday March 9 Judy will share her testimony at Delta Christian Center beginning at 11:00am. After services she will accompany a team to minister in Mentasta Village.

If you are interested in being a part of the worship team performing Saturday March 8, you are cordially invited to do so. Please meet at the church for the seminar and practice on Friday evening at 7pm. The public is encouraged to attend any or all of these special events. This is a great way to break off any heaviness which may remain after the extreme cold stretch we recently endured here in our area. For more information, please call Howard or Yvonne Echo Hawk at 895-4481 or Dwight or Julia Phillips at 895-4298. You can also visit Judy’s website or Delta Christian Center’s website . We hope to see you there!

Photo of the day - February 28

Another of Sam Vose's and Dana Hagel's ice sculptures. This one was displayed off of Remington Road the better part of the winter. This sculpture went the way of all good ice sculptures and melted away into oblivion. Image by Dwight Phillips.

Delta Youth Court Working Concessions Stand

Delta Youth Court friends and volunteer members awaiting customers at the concessions stand during the Festival of Lights. Thanks to all those who supported Delta Youth Court by making purchases at the concessions stand on February 16th and during the JV basketball games on February 20th. Photo Courtesy Jessica Fellman

Click on the image for a photo enlargement.

Alumni Photos - Brody Phillips and Landon Bobo

Here is a recent picture of Brody Phillips (son of Debbie (Heinbockel) Phillips) and Landon Bobo (son of Leslie & Mike Bobo). Brody is 5 months old and Landon is 10 weeks old. Photo Courtesy Debbie Phillips


We invite you to browse our other alumni pages. Please click here.

Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for Alexis Flynn, Huge Success!!!

Thank you, Kevin and Patsy Ewing for hosting this “fun” raising event at your Clearwater Lodge and providing the really good and filling meal, the Legends for their fantastic music, Randy Peterson for his Auctioneer services and entertainment (you are one funny guy) and the entire staff at DOIM. Jessica Diviney rallied ALL her co-workers at DOIM and families into catering this fun filled event for Alexis. The staff included Rich Garrett as Master of Ceremonies. Kathy Midgley, Gail Ericksen, and Michele Garrett managed the raffle, gift items and meal sales. Rachel Sauer, Lynn Groppel, Melissa Brown, Ed Wilburn, Eric Hogan, Jim Lamberson, and Butch and Beyhan Avant served meals, cleared tables, showed gift items and did whatever else that needed to be done. Tommy Sauer, Karen Sutherland, Lara Gardner, and Jessica solicited, collected, and organized all the wonderful gift items. Wow! They managed all of this in a short period.

Alexis’ parents, David and Barbara Flynn appreciatively thanked everyone for coming out in support of this fundraiser for Alexis and recognized Alexis’ behind the scene care givers: Heather Stossmeister, Melissa Fellman, Mila Shapoval, Maria Bulenko, and Becka Guritz. We have so much to be thankful for.

With the support and generosity of so many, the evening was an incredible success. A total of $14,787.64 was raised at this event. We are so fortunate to live among such beautiful and giving people. Monetary donations were received from Penny Clark, Diligent Sentry Officers Association, Dave Ferdinand, the Family Moose Lodge 911, and Paul & Eula Nistler. Included in the event’s earnings was revenue from the donation boxes that were at the Clearwater Lodge, The Family Moose Lodge and the Trophy Lodge. Thank you to the patrons of these establishments for their contributions.

Gift Items were from:
Acacia Floral, Adam’s Ribs, Alaska Metal Arts & Gifts/Travis Johnson, Alaska Farmer’s Coop, Eric Anderson, Beebe’s Automotive, Joyce Bendell, Tracy Blais, Buffalo Service Center, Calico Cow, Chena Hot Springs Resort, Clearwater Lodge, Delta Meat & Sausage, Debbie Diviney, Doggie Style Grooming/Debbie Tvenge, Butch Ellis, Executive Cater/The Pit, Judy Ferguson , Karen Fett, Valerie Finney, Lara Gardner, Granite View Sports, GVEA, Hair Doctor, Hard Wok Café, Dave Hecimovich, Eric Hogan, IGA Food Cache, JB Hair Care, Jitter Junction, Kel’s Septic and Pumping, Joe Labaska, John Loschiavo, Loving Stitches, Donna Morgan, Northern Lights Dairy, Randy Peterson, Christy Rogers, Norma Ross, Lou Roach, Tommy Sauer, Janet Sisneros, Cindy Stamm, Custom Cabinetry/Harold Stock, Marsha Taylor, Dave Trainor, Denise Wilhelm, Pat White

Thank you for making a difference for Alexis. As Rich Garrett said, our mission is to get Alexis healthy. With the prayers, support and generosity of our communities, we will.

The next event, SKATE FOR ALEXIS, will be on Saturday, March 8th from noon till 6pm at the Liewer-Olmstead Arena in Delta Junction. Anyone and everyone are invited to get a pledge sheet at City Hall and SKATE. You can collect pledges as an individual, a family or a group or pledge a skater. The pledge sheets and donations can be turned in on the day of the skate. We ask those who will need skates to sign in when you get to the arena because we will need to re-use the rentals on an hourly basis.

The Delta Elementary classes will be skating during the week of March 3rd through the 7th. For those students that can not come during the week, you are more than welcome to come out on Saturday with the other community members. You can bet there will be hot cocoa and cookies. We hope to have other activities going on as well so come skate and have a great time. For more information, please call Rose Edgren at 895-4043.

Click here for the skate register.

Photo of the day - February 27

After a long stalk I managed to photograph this elusive wooly bugger caterpillar last summer in Denali National Park. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Invitation for Renewing of Wedding Vows

Gene and Anne Reierson would like to invite anyone who is interested to join them in celebrating 10 years of marraige and the renewing of their wedding vows. We will be having a wedding style renewing or our wedding vows at the Delta Christion Center Church; located at 4.6 mile Jack Warren Road; on March 1st at 2PM. There will be cake and refreshments after the ceremony.

Chinook by George Hosier II - Frosty Reception

I’ve written previously about my good friend, Jack Frost. What a guy! Whenever we meet, I greet him with open arms and a broad smile of welcome! Well, OK—so maybe I welcome him with fists squinched into my armpits and a face contorted by an icicle-framed grimace. That’s beside the point. I assure you that my enthusiasm at meeting my old buddy Jack Frost will never abate.

One of the reasons I like him so much is his ability to effortlessly create a hyper-macho persona for his exclusive circle of friends…like me. The very sight of a man who appears nonchalant and competent in the arctic creates a certain mystique that cannot be reproduced in any other setting. I remember when I first saw the grainy sepia-toned photos of Robert Peary on his 1909 expedition to the North Pole. I was awed by the explorer’s leathery skin; the frost encasing his beard and fur parka ruff; the eyes squinting into a flurry of horizontally driven ice pellets toward some far-off destination. It seemed to me that I was viewing the blessed visage of one of the bravest and most heroic of mortals.

To read the entire article we invite you to browse our Chinook pages.

North Richardson Highway Scenic Byway Corridor

We had great attendance at our North Richardson Highway Scenic Byway Corridor Partnership Plan public meetings in January. Thank you so much for all who attended! We’re aiming to have our next round of public meetings in May and I’ll be sending out a meeting reminder in a few months.

Submitted by: Julianne M. Hanson, P.E.

Photo of the day - February 26

An old log church can be seen in this image taken in Anaktuvuk Pass a village in the Brooks Range Mountains. In the native tongue Anaktuvuk means, "place where the caribou poop". This is one of the most beautiful villages in the state of Alaska. Image by Dwight Phillips.

Relay for Life - Celebration of Survivors

It’s not too early to start getting ready for the 2008 Relay for Life of Delta Junction.

Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. Already, we have about 25 teams with over 200 walkers signed up to spend 24 hours in the fight against Cancer. Last years 2007 Relay for Life of Delta Junction raised more than $73,000. We are so proud of this accomplishment.

Relay for Life will be held again at the Delta High School Track and will begin on Friday, May 9th at 6:00 PM and end at 6:00 PM on Saturday, May 10th.

Relay for Life succeeds because volunteers from every walk of life donate their time to support the fight against cancer. During the celebration, we honor survivors, those battling cancer and those who have lost their lives to this devastating disease. Delta Junction/Fort Greely is a small community, and we all know a neighbor who is a survivor, or a family who has lost someone to cancer. Relay gives us all hope for a cure.

A special luminaria ceremony will be held during the Relay for Life. Luminarias remember those lost to cancer and honors those who have survived. Luminaria candles will be lit at 10:00 p.m. May 9th to represent those individuals.

Anyone desiring to purchase a luminaria may do so by contacting Devra Milligan at 895-4445. Order forms may also be found at businesses around town and mailed in. Information and order forms can also be found online at www.deltanewsweb.com. Luminarias are available for a donation of $5.00 for one or $10.00 for three. There will be luminaria decorating party at the Delta Elementary School on April 3rd from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and decorate a luminaria for a loved one. All funds raised through these sales support the programs and services of the American Cancer Society.

If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact Denise Coakley at 895-5029 or 590-9382, or Sharon Waldo at 895-4731 or 460-1929 no later than March 7, 2008 to assure you will be included on our sponsor list for our T-shirts (if applicable). If you are interested in participating, we would need to know by March 7th also, so we know how many t-shirts to order. If you are interested in volunteering or donating, you may contact either Denise or Sharon at any time before May 9, 2008.

Click here for the luminaria donation form. The form is in PDF and you can print it from your program.

DMV Closure

The Delta Department of Motor Vehicles will be closed Tuesday March 4th for employee leave.

Fort Wainright National Prayer Luncheon

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Tom Roy, chief executive officer of Unlimited Potential, Inc., and former professional baseball scout, will be the guest speaker at the National Prayer Luncheon here Mar. 12.

The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Northern Lights Chapel, (Building #3430) and will be attended by past and present National Football League players.

Confirmed attendees include Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (Brett Favre's backup); Ruvell Martin, Green Bay; Doug Pederson, Green Bay (retired, Favre's backup for many years); Noah Herron, Green Bay; Kevin Barry, Houston; Dave Rayner, San Diego; Brandon Johnson, strength and conditioning assistant, Green Bay and Bryan Hickerson, pitcher, San Francisco Giants (retired).

In addition to attending the luncheon, the athletes will conduct a football clinic; bowl with soldiers and their families; sign autographs at the post exchange mall and do physical training with soldiers.

The United States Senate informally initiated the National Prayer Breakfast during World War II. President Eisenhower formally established the annual event in 1953. This year marks the 56th annual National Prayer Breakfast.

The luncheon is free for meal-card holders and $3.85 for all others. Seating is limited and reservations are needed by Mar. 9. Call 353-9825 for reservations.

Civilian attendees without Department of Defense decals must stop at the visitors’ center at the front gate to get a day pass. Valid driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance are required for the pass.

Photo of the day - February 25, 2008

The moose have really been feeding heavily on the grass in my yard lately, like this cow and calf. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Photo of the day - February 24

The Dall sheep in Denali park are very tame because they haven't been hunted with, other than a camera for almost 100 years. Photo by Steve Thomas

Photo of the day - February 22

This ice sculpture was done by Delta's own artist's, Sam Vose and Dana Hagel. It is sitting in front of the Polaris Dealership on the Richardson Highway. Their business is entitled, "Random Acts of Art". The detail on the sculpture is phenomenal! Image by Dwight Phillips

Photo of the day - February 21

Lance Mackey appears here in these images on Feb. 9th as he charges off the starting line in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was almost 30 below zero on this day. Ten days later Lance won the race finishing up in Whitehorse. This is the fourth time in a row Lance has won the Yukon Quest. Last year he won the Quest and two weeks later won the Iditarod. All eyes will be upon him this year when he again tries to duplicate last years feat! Images by Dwight Phillips

Additional Polar Bear Plunge Photos

Click on images for photo enlargements.
Photos Courtesy Michael Kingston/CRTC

Thank you Polar Bear Plunge Nominees!

A huge thanks to all of you who so graciously accepted your nominations for the Polar Bear Plunge. You are some brave folks! Another thanks to all of you who voted. There were an astounding 3,500 some votes total. This year’s results were amazing! The funds raised will cover half the expenses of this year’s Festival of Lights fireworks display.

Final Polar Bear Plunge Results With Photos

1st Place: Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 700

2nd Place: Dave Hecimovich (Moose Lodge): 654

3rd Place: Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency): 460

3rd Place: Rich Rogers (Missile Defense Agency): 460

Heather Martin (Alaskan Steakhouse): 256

Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq): 225

Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 204

LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 130

Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 121

Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center): 113

Vern Heintz (Delta Junction Vol. Fire Dept.): 110

Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 20

Officer Eric Walla (D.A.R.E.): 20

Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 16

Doug Patrick: 13

Katrina Vecchiarelli: 11

Svetlana Malyk: 6

Chris Johnson: 5

Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 4

Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service): 1

Even though the temperatures were in the low 30's on the day of the plunge, the winds were really blowing. Congratulations to all of the nominees and for the brave souls that took the plunge. The water was cold, and there were even bags of ice dumped into the water to make it even colder. Get ready for next year. Who will your candidates be?

Click on photos for enlargements.
Photos Courtesy of Michael Kingston/CRTC

Photo of the day - February 20

I took this image early Friday morning while passing through Delta. We are enjoying a rather unseasonably warm spell currently. A welcome relief after the long cold one we just endured. Image by Steve Thomas.

Search and Rescue Mission For Delta Teen

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Company C, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment participated in a search and rescue mission Saturday and transported a teen boy from the Delta Clinic in Delta Junction to Fairbanks Monday evening.

The crew of the first incident was on a routine training flight near Nenana when the Fort Wainwright Directorate of Emergency Services alerted them of a possible search and rescue. They returned to the post where they talked with military police and gathered information on the missing person, who had gone out to check a trapline.

After gaining approval to conduct the search and rescue, the crew flew to the Yukon Training Area east of Eielson Air Force Base and began the search. They received a call informing them the missing man had been located and did not require medical care or transportation.

The medevac unit received another call Monday about 5 p.m. from the Delta Clinic requesting air transportation for a 13-year-old boy with an injured arm. They flew him to Bassett Army Community Hospital, where he was transferred to a ground ambulance for a trip to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

Co. C., 1-52 Aviation is charged with Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) in Interior Alaska.

Photo of the day - February 19

This raven was all fluffed up sitting on one of the street lights in town during our recent cold spell. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Photo of the day - February 18

A week or so ago (2/6/08),this is what our side of town looked like at 9:30am.
Photo Courtesy Betty McColluogh

Fundraiser for Alexis Flynn

A local fundraiser for Alexis Flynn will take place at the Clearwater Lodge on Saturday, February 23 at the Clearwater Lodge.

Click on the image for a photo enlargement.

Photo of the day - February 16

Four saltwater otters watch as the photographer snaps their picture in Prince William Sound near the village of Tatitlek. Image by Dwight Phillips

Current Polar Bear Plunge Nominees and Their Votes as of 2/16/08 12:45 PM

Dave Hecimovich – 374 votes
Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 360 votes
Heather Martin (Alaskan Steakhouse): 256 votes
Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq) – 225 votes
Rich Rogers (Missile Defense Agency) – 193 votes
Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 144 votes
Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 121 votes
Vern Heintz (Delta Junction Vol. Fire Dept.) – 121 votes
Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center) – 113 votes
Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency) – 99 votes
LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 80 votes
Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 20 votes
Officer Eric Walla (D.A.R.E.): 20 votes
Doug Patrick: 13 votesKatrina Vecchiarelli: 11 votes
Svetlana Malyk: 6 votes
Chris Johnson: 5 votes
Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 4 votes
Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service) – 1 vote

* Don’t forget that there will still be voting taking place today from 10 am – 2 pm at the Galleria & Trade Show at the Delta High School large gym.

Photo of the day - February 15

This small convoy was hauling a dozer down the highway on one of our recent -50F days when they pulled into the IGA parking lot. Notice how the dozer is running on the trailer as the sun shines through the ice fog. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Current Polar Bear Plunge Nominees and Their Votes as of 2/15/08

Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq) – 225 votes

Rich Rogers (Missile Defense Agency) – 193 votes

Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 144 votes

Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 136 votes

Heather Martin (Alaskan Steakhouse): 125 votes

Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 121 votes

Vern Heintz (Delta Junction Vol. Fire Dept.) – 110 votes

Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency) – 99 votes

Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center) – 83 votes

LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 80 votes

Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 20 votes

Officer Eric Walla (D.A.R.E.): 20 votes

Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 16 votes

Doug Patrick: 13 votes

Katrina Vecchiarelli: 11 votes

Svetlana Malyk: 6 votes

Chris Johnson: 5 votes

Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 4 votes

Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service) – 1 votes

* Don’t forget that there will still be voting taking place on this Saturday (2/16) from 10 am – 2 pm at the Galleria & Trade Show at the Delta High School large gym.

Also...we have decided to leave a Polar Bear Plunge voting can at the Alaskan Steakhouse for 1 more night (2/15). The votes will then be added to those brought in at the Galleria & Trade Show.

Concessions at Festival of Lights

Delta Youth Court will be serving food during the Galleria and Trade Show on Saturday from the concessions stand outside the large gym.

The following menu items will be offered:Chili, baked potatoes, hot dogs/chili dogs, soft pretzels, popcorn, nachos, assorted candy bars, various drinks, and cotton candy.

We also will be holding a by-donation bake sale.

Polar Bear Plunge Voting Will Continue Up Until the Day of the Jump

Don’t forget that once the Polar Bear Plunge voting buckets are removed from Ft. Greely and Delta Junction throughout today and tomorrow, you still will be able to submit votes between 10am and 2pm at the Festival of Lights Galleria and Trade Show this coming Saturday (2/16) at the Delta High School large gym.

There have been rumors that Polar Bear Plunge cans at certain locations are almost filled with votes. If these rumors are true, things are likely to become very interesting! Be sure to tune into the Delta News Web, because sometime on Friday (2/15) the most recent Polar Bear Plunge update will be posted. So far we have 18 nominees and of the 18, only 3 will jump.

Regular updates of nominees and their votes will be posted onsite at the Galleria & Trade Show so the public and potential jumpers will know the most up-to-date standings.

Musical Entertainment for the Festival of Lights

Schedule for Musical Entertainment at the Festival of Lights Galleria Trade Show

Saturday, February 16, 2008

• 10:30 am Taylor Simington
• 11 am - Noon 9th Army Arctic Band
• Noon -2 pm Halfway Home
• 2 pm - 3 pm Delta High School Choir
• 3 pm - 3:30 pm Rockin’ Fish

Entertainment will be held outside the lobby of the Delta High School large gym

For more information, contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce @ 895-5068 or deltacc@alaska.net

Photo of the day - February 14

This image depicts a dally sheep lamb. Makes one just want to give him a hug! Image taken in Denali park last fall. Photo Courtesy Dwight Phillips

Festival of Lights Schedule - 2008

Friday, February 15

• 5 pm - 8 pm Spaghetti Feed at Presbyterian/Faith Lutheran Church. Meal prices are $9/12 yrs & up and $4/ 12 and under. Contact 895-4322 for more info.
• 7 pm - 10 pm Musical performance God is Real at Kingdom of God Church. There will be food following performance. All is free of charge. Contact Lana for more info: 895-2235

Saturday, February 16

• 10 am - 4 pm Ice carving demonstration by Random Acts of Art at Delta-
  Junction Visitor’s Center parking/picnic area.
• 10 am - 4:30 pm Galleria & Trade Show in Delta High School large gym.
• 4 pm – 5 pm Polar Bear Plunge - Delta High School parking lot.
• 6pm – 10 pm Fire in the Ice annual Aglow dance and dinner featuring local live
  Band - The Legends at the Delta Community Center. Tickets are
  $36/couple or $20/single. Contact Kathy for more info: 590-7100.
• 6:30 pm Light up the Night Parade - beginning near Granite View Sports Gifts
  and ending at City Park.
• 7:30 pm Fireworks display at City Park.
• 8 pm Performance by Pantheon (steel drum band) at old library room in
  City Hall. Contact the library for more info: 895-4102.

Sunday, February 17

Noon Dart tournament at the Delta Clearwater Moose Family- Center. Contact Dart Manager for more info: 895-4300.

Additional events may be added to schedule at a later date

Please contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce with any questions: 895-5068

Why I Live in Alaska - Part III

Submitted by: Tammy Gifford (former Delta Junction/Fairbanks Resident, temporarily in California) I wrote this a few days ago in my journal. It really is not about why I live in Alaska but more of the things I miss not living there

I dont like Urban Cities, the big ones that never end. Things are too fast, too crowded, too loud, too dangerous..................
I miss the little pleasures of rural Alaska (even big Ol' Fairbanks)
I miss the Ice Dogs!
I miss the Blue Loon comedy nights
I miss the THAI food!
I miss people who speak english
I miss real food and real service from restaurants
I miss long stretches of road with no cars
I miss gravel roadsI miss WEATHER!
I miss Snow
I miss wood stoves
I miss good schools
I miss friendly peopleI miss wide open spaces
I miss hearing the neighborhood dogs barking all night (here you get sirens all night)
I miss drivers who EARNED their license
I miss drivers who use their blinkers
I miss left turns on a Green Light
I miss the Crisp crunch of snow on a cold night
I miss the Northern Lights
I miss wearing my snuggly winter coat
I miss sledding
I miss tourist seasonI miss icicles
I miss clean public restrooms that you can use without a Key
I miss good playgrounds
I miss watching my kids play in the yard and getting good and dirty
I miss my garden
I miss having pets
I miss good drinking water from the "tap" even if we had to haul it ourselves
I miss grocery stores who actually get new cashiers if there are more then 3 in line
I miss gas station hotdogs
I miss drive-thru banking (atm's and tellers)
I miss drive-thru drop boxes at the library and post office
I miss people who know where Alaska is and dont ask how the weather is "down there"
I miss the military base being so close
I miss the 11 o'clock news reporting on the Whole State

Did I say I missed Alaska?

Chinook by George M. Hosier II - Elections

As a new election cycle is upon us, Americans once again have the opportunity to demonstrate the genius of the unmatched form of government forged for us by the far-reaching wisdom of our nation’s founding fathers. It is inspiring to know that we common citizens, no matter how insignificant we may think of ourselves, can actually help hire the next President of the United States. One person, one vote, one ballot—this is our inviolable right and sacred duty. By casting a secret and secure ballot, we can each have a voice in choosing the man or woman who most closely represents our interests...or something like that.

When I think of the flawlessly fair and consummately just election system that our nation has perfected over the last 200 years, it makes me grovel in embarrassment to think how we ran things back in Moose Hole when it came time to elect new officers to the Wolverines Club. My only defense of the Wolverines’ scandalous voting process is that we were kids and didn’t know any better.

To read the rest of the story we invite you to browse our Chinook pages.

Fairbanks Drama Association Presents Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables - The heart-warming and uplifting Classic by R.N. Sandberg
Directed by Lisa Moore
February 15 - March 2 - Additional information is also posted on the Delta News Web calendar for the dates and times.

The classic tale of an orphan girl who rises from destitution to happiness entirely by virtue of her pluck and personality. Green Gables is the home of lovable Matthew Cuthbert and his stern sister, Marilla. They agree to adopt a boy to help with the farm work. Imagine their consternation when Anne Shirley, a girl in her teens, is sent by the orphanage by mistake! Anne touches Matthew's heart with her vivid imagination and charitable viewpoint, but it takes time to reach the tender heart beneath Marilla's hard exterior. The lovely classic is full of warmth and wit.

Fairbanks Drama Association
1852 2nd Ave
Fairbanks AK 99701

Photo of the day - February 13

Thank goodness we have this behind us. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Why I Live in Alaska - Part II

Submitted by: Teresa Knopp - We may not have drive-in theatres or outside pools, but we do have the northern lights, sunsets at midnight, and can view our natural wildlife in our back yards, instead of through a 10 foot tall, chain-link fence. Or better yet, pay to drive through a “wildlife” or any other park; we get that just about every time we drive to work! We are able to witness the amazing “coffee thrown in the air and never hits the ground” at -50, and actually appreciate +10 after a week at -45. Most importantly, we have FREEDOM. You can throw up the garage doors and go snowmachining or 4-wheeling at any time, fireworks aren’t illegal, and our kids can play in the front yard w/ the sprinkler w/o the parents worrying about being fined for using too much water or using water at the wrong time of day. Our hunting isn’t paying to have a few pheasants (that are so used to humans they don’t even startle) released into a specific field. They call it “sport”. We call it “bringing home dinner”. Yes, we have to deal w/ plugging in our cars so they start in the morning (some people even go as far as to drain the oil and bring it in the house at night!), hanging extra curtains up in the summer time, and driving two or six hours (depending on the direction) to the nearest city, but it’s a small price to pay for what we receive for free.

Submitted by: Candy Corty - When I was a kid visiting Alaska would have been a dream come true. I grew up and still had a desire to come here perhaps even live here. I Met my husband and he also wanted to live here. It took us 10yrs but we finally made it. It's been 5 years now and I still love it here. The summers are amazing. Being outside at 10pm with the sun still shining makes the mosquitoes almost tolerable for me. Having long dark winters is just another plus as far as I'm concearned. I love seeing the stars from the top of the world! There the brightest and biggest I have ever seen stars. It still gets me. The Northern lights make me feel like a kid on Christmas morning every time I see them. Wildlife here actually is wild! I've seen moose, hawks, eagles, owls, wolverine, fox & raven, to name a mere few. Seeing swans migrate! "who knew". Living here is a dream and a privledge. I'm proud to raise my children here. I've have met some of the nicest people anyone could ever hope to know right here in the middle of nowhere. Living on my own land where I can pretty much do whatever I want is almost impossible to find anywhere in America. My daily commute into town is filled with anything from ice fog to snow drifts.The view is of mountain ranges, buffalo and open land. My family in the lower 48 think we're all crazy for living up here. I tell them they may be right but if this is what crazy looks like I'm ok with it. I live here for all these reasons and more. I may have been born on the east coast but Alaska is my hometown.

Spaghetti Dinner

Click on image for photo enlargement.

Registering for home-building workshops

It's not too late to sign up for Cooperative Extension's cold climate homebuilding and retrofitting workshops Feb. 22-23 in Delta.

Rich Seifert will offer his newly developed course, “Retrofitting Your Home” from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Delta Career Advancement Center and his Cold Climate Homebuilding Workshop will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 23, also at the Career Center.

Both workshops are free.

To register for either workshop, call 895-4215.
For more information, call Seifert at 800-478-8324 at the Fairbanks Extension office.

Thinking of Retrofitting Your Home?

Cooperative Extension Service Presents the“Retrofit of Existing Homes” Taught by Richard Seifert, UAF Energy and Housing Specialist

Topics to be covered: Windows, Ventilation, Cold Climate Options, Walls, Roofs, and Materials

Where: Delta Career Advancement Center (DCAD)
When: February 22nd, 2008 — 1 - 4 p.m.
Cost: FREE!! Registration required. Includes manual.

To Register: Call Christy Roden at 895-4215A must for anyone anticipating retrofitting their home in the next year!

America’s Arctic UniversityUAF is an aa/eo employer and educational institution

Buying or Building a Home Soon?

Cooperative Extension Service Presents the“Cold Climate Homebuilding Techniques Workshop”taught by Richard Seifert, UAF Energy and Housing Specialist

Topics to be covered: Windows, Ventilation, Cold Climate Options, Retrofit, Indoor Air Quality, Roofs, and Foundations

BUILD FOR THE FUTURE! THIS COURSE IS MORE TIMELY THAN EVER!

Where: Delta Career Advancement Center (DCAD)
When: February 23rd, 2008 - Saturday - 9a.m.-5p.m.
Cost: FREE!!
Registration required. Includes manual and CD

To Register: Call Christy Roden at 895-4215
A must for anyone anticipating buying or building in the next year!

Photo of the day - February 12

Local Deltoid busies himself with replenishing his firewood supply that was recently delivered by a local logger. Many people in the Interior still use firewood as their primary heat source and most have probably seen woodpiles shrink after the recent cold snap.
Photo Courtesy Ruby Hollembaek

Why I Live in Alaska

The DNW asked readers last week to submit their reasons for living in Delta. We had a couple of residents submit their replies. If you would like to post your reason for living in Delta, please send your reply to webeditor@deltanewsweb.com , subject reading Why I Live in Alaska

Submitted by Kevin Ewing - The best persons to answer this question are the numerous Delta residents that have left the last frontier and moved back to the U.S. (because they hated it here) just to move back after only a couple of years living “outside”. A few years ago I was in Juneau (is that in Alaska?) deer hunting with my brother. We were sitting under a large spruce tree to get out of the freezing rain that had been falling mixed with snow all day. It was mid November and the temperature when I had left Delta was -25, the temperature there was +25 and I was wet and freezing. My brother (who had lived in Fairbanks in the early seventies) turned to me and asked “How can you stand living up there in the cold interior of Alaska?” My answer was to hunker down deeper into my rain coat, pulling the hood farther over my head and mumble “you have been away from god’s country to long!”

Submitted by Neoma Slaton/Delta Junction - I live in Alaska for several reason but the one that means the most is my daughter and her family. Other than that I love this state for the people, wildlife, and its beauty. I moved here two years ago and can't think of any other place that I would want to live out my life.... God Bless Alaska .....

Lawrence Michael "Smurf" Viehl - Information Needed

My name is David L. MacKellar, I am with the American Legion Post #28 of Grand Haven, Michigan. Lawrence Michael "Smurf" Veihl had been a member of our Post. His brother Garrett Veihl is our "Commander" at our post. I am helping our Historian put together a scrap book for our commanders year in service.

Lawrence "Smurf" Veihl passed away on 10-23-07 and Garrett Veihl was not able to make it to his brothers funeral.

I had heard that the committee was going to name a park after Mr. Veihl. I was hoping you could send me any information you can on the funeral and the park project.

Garrett is also on our Honor Guard and on my Rifle Team, we attend about 52 funerals a year and this one we all missed for our member. Any thing you could send me would be Great.

Please call the Delta News Web if you can help with this request 895-4919 or email . Thank you.

2008 Festival of Lights T-shirts and Sweatshirts for Sale

Adult T-Shirts - Sizes: S-3XL $15
T-shirt color is stonewash blue

Adult Hooded Sweatshirts - Sizes: S-2XL $26
Hooded sweatshirt color is gray

T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts will be sold inside IGA Food Cache on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday this week (2/13-2/15) from 4:30 pm – 6 pm.

They will also be sold at the Festival of Lights Galleria & Trade Show from 10 am – 4:30 pm at the Delta High School large gym.

T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts can also be purchased at the Delta Chamber of Commerce office (Jarvis West Building, Suite 1B) between the hours of 8:30 am – 4:30 pm throughout the week.

Remember that the earlier you procure your t-shirt and/or hooded sweatshirt the better, as quantities are very limited and this year’s design is awesome!

If we do not have your desired size(s), we are willing to order what you need but must first receive payment.

For more information contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce at 895-5068 or e-mail deltacc@alaska.net.

BBB Warns Against Online Dating Sites

Anchorage, AK. – February 11, 2008 – For those people looking to find the man or woman of their dreams, Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that complaints against matchmaking and online dating services are on the rise and many consumers across the U.S. have gone looking for love but only found a headache.

The stigma that using dating sites was geeky or sad has fallen away as more people have found happiness by meeting people on the Internet. As new companies and service become more popular over time, growing pains become more apparent as well.

Consumer complaints filed with BBB on dating services increased 73 percent in 2006 over the previous year, reaching 2,525 complaints altogether. While final complaint numbers for 2007 are still forthcoming, early analysis shows that the number of complaints in 2007 are expected to again reach record-breaking levels for the industry.

“Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on online dating sites alone every year and as the popularity of the industry increases so does the number of complaints BBB receives,” said Robert Andrew, President and CEO of the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “Whether you’re willing to pay thousands for a matchmaker or 50 dollars a month for a Web site membership, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into and exactly how to get out of it.”

The demographics and caliber of available singles promised make up 35 percent of the complaints. Many complainants said they were matched with singles that did not meet their specified criteria – including whether the singles they were interested in smoked, were educated, not religious, lived too far away, and, in some cases, whether they were still married.

Poor or rude customer service makes up 17 percent of the complaints while high pressure sales tactics comprises 13.7 percent. Many complainants reported being intimidated or outright duped by sales associates into signing up for matchmaking services.

Dissatisfaction with the number of arranged dates makes up 15.1 percent of the complaints. Matchmaking services often say they have a database of thousands of singles in the area and promise a minimum number of dates. Complaints show that matchmaking services often failed to deliver on the quota of promised dates.

The BBB recommends the following tips when considering a matchmaking site:

• Think with your head, not with your heart. If you’ve just signed up for a matchmaking site and you suddenly have three people contacting you before you’ve even put up a profile or picture, reconsider joining. Ask yourself if you’ve been on for a reasonable amount of time to actually have real people see your profile and decide to contact you.
• Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics. Watch out for sales techniques where a site claims that a price is “good for this day only” or associates may pressure consumers into sign a contract. Take the time to read over any contracts you agree to in order to make sure you know what you’re getting into.
• Watch out for automatic renewal programs. Many subscription-based sites on the Internet offer automatic renewal to make it easier for consumers to remain members without having to constantly renew their membership. However, many matchmaking services sign you up for automatic renewal by default. If you don’t want to be renewed automatically at the end of your subscription, make sure you figure out how to turn off that feature early in your membership.
• Don’t fall in love with the advertising. Beware of claims such as “an exclusive network of people,” “for sincere daters only,” and “beautiful singles just like you.” Online Web sites don’t discriminate against who joins their site outside of members who pay.
• Do your homework. Go to www.bbb.org to get a free reliability report on the matchmaking site you’re considering. The Better Business Bureau’s reliability reports provide valuable information on companies.

About the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington - Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by BBB accredited businesses. The mission of the BBB is to promote the highest ethical marketplace relationship between businesses and consumers through self-regulation, education, and information. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 907-562-0704 in Alaska, 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org

Photo of the day - February 11

This photo was taken on the Ferry from Juneau to Haines in May of 2007.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Fellman

Delta/Greely Child In Need of Life-Saving Transplant

Delta/ Greely, AK – With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant patients are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. In Fort Greely, volunteers are raising funds for transplant patients like local Alexis Flynn.

Born on November 15, 2005, Alexis was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, and doctors at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, recommended a life-saving kidney transplant. An estimated $60,000 is being raised by Delta Junction area volunteers.

Alexis is the daughter of David and Barbara Flynn, and the sister of David ‘Jake’ Flynn. Her grandparents are Doug and Lorraine Flynn and Susan and Thomas Kruse.

Volunteers are needed to assist with fundraising activities. Individuals and groups interested in more information can contact Campaign Coordinator Rose Edgren at 907.895.4043.

Donations may be made in person at any Wells Fargo Bank branch location using account number 8837027047 or mailed to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 West COTA Drive, Bloomington, Indiana, 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to COTA, with “In Honor of Alexis Flynn” written on the memo line of the check. Secure credit card donations are also accepted online at http://www.cotaforalexisf.com/.

Alexis’ family has asked for assistance from the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. The organization’s priority is to assure that no child is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds. One hundred percent of all funds raised are used for patients’ transplant-related expenses.

Children’s Organ Transplant Association
2501 West COTA Drive
Bloomington, Indiana 47403-4204
800.366.2682
http://www.cota.org/
cota@cota.org

Sunday the Fairbanks Daily News Miner had an interview with Alexis' mom. Delta comes together for toddler in need of a kidney transplant - Click here to read the story.

Obituary - Charlie L. Glover

Charlie L. Glover 85, passed away February 2, 2008 at his home in Delta Junction, Alaska.

Charlie was born in Clovis, NM to A.F. and Selma Glover on December 15, 1922. He enlisted in the military during WWII and worked as a power plant mechanic. After his service he came to Delta Jct, Alaska with his brothers and homesteaded. He then went to California where he met and married Leona Russell and had 3 children. After his retirement he returned to his homestead in Delta Junction where he built a home. Charlie lived in Delta for 26 years.

Charlie was a devoted member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Delta and enjoyed the friendships of his parishoners. He also enjoyed being with his friends at the Delta Senior Lounge, where he donated much of his time.

He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law Eva and Abe Cato of California, daughters and sons-in-law Becky and Robert Packard of Delta Jct. and Teri and Buddy Bloxham of California and son and daughter-in-law Gary and Glenda Glover of Georgia. Charlie has 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents A.F. and Selma Glover, his 8 siblings Irene, Gertrude, Stillman, Dolly, A.F. Jr., Hazel, Ben and Christine.

Privates services will be arranged in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made in his name to the Delta Senior Center or the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

We love him and will miss him dearly.

Photo of the day - February 9

I photographed this white-tailed ptarmigan burrowed in the snow near Donnelly Dome.
Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Richard "Rick" Reesher Obituary

Rick Reesher, 49, of Delta Junction, formerly of Ceres, NY, lost his life in a house fire on January 28, 2008.

Born March 10, 1958 in Olean, NY, he was the son of Francis and Ellen Anderson Reesher.

He graduated from Bolivar Central School in 1976. While in school, he became interested in welding, which began his passion for fixing and building just about anything. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard where he was injured causing a lifetime disability. He then traveled to Alaska where he lived life on his own terms, enjoying the free spirit lifestyle. He enjoyed nature, hunting, canoeing, but most of all his ability to serve others. He lived a very frugal life and his fearless nature enabled him to do many things that most people found to be amusing and amazing.

His philosophy came from his grandfather and he lived his life doing and thinking of others, always ready to help anyone that was in need no matter what it may be. He established a business, Rick's Handyman Service, doing just that.

He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Delta Junction where a Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 23 at 5 pm. The services will be conducted by Pastor Butch Palmero. Rick will be missed by dear friends and neighbors here in Delta.

Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Lynda Herne of Ceres and Shae (Jeffrey) Smith of Buffalo, two brothers, David Reesher of Little Grenesee and Kirk (Yvonne) Reesher of Wellsville, a daughter, Shaeleigh of Clearwater, Florida, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Rick Reesher Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank, 266 Richardson Hwy, Delta Junction, Alaska 99737.

Pantheon to Play for Festival of Lights 2008

Pantheon, a steel drum band from Fairbanks, will perform in the old library room (located in City Hall) directly after the fireworks display at approximately 8 pm on Saturday, February 16 in Delta.

The band members include Rhonda Gilbertson (six bass), who grew up in Delta Junction, David Hollowell (double seconds), Christopher Lubken (tenor), Rose Meier (triple guitar), and Jim Vogt (drum set).

This tropical-themed event is free to attend and there will be door prizes, hot cocoa, hot cider, and dancing will be encouraged.

This is event is sponsored by the Delta Community Library. For more info, please contact 895-4102.

Current Polar Bear Plunge Nominees and their votes as of 2/8/08

Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 105 votes
COL. Besch (Missile Defense Agency): 50 votes
LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 50 votes
Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency) – 43 votes
Rich Rogers (Missile Defense Agency) – 33 votes
Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center) – 27 votes
Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 23 votes
Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 20 votes
Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 10 votes
Katrina Vecchiarelli: 10 votes
Doug Patrick – 8 votes
Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 6 votes
Svetlana Malyk: 6 votes
Chris Johnson: 5 Votes
Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 3 votes
Vern Heintz (Delta Junction Volunteer Fire Dept.) – 1 vote
Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq) – 0 votes
Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service) – 0 votes

*Nominee names are only posted after they have accepted the challenge
*Nominees and their votes are updated weekly

Be sure to vote for your 2008 Polar Bear Plunge Candidate!

We’ve got some good competition for this year’s Polar Bear Plunge. So far there are 18 candidates, and among them, the 3 with the most votes will jump into a freezing pool of water on Saturday, February 16 at 4 pm in the Delta High School parking lot, with the community of Delta Junction watching it all!

You can place your vote/and or nominations in Polar Bear Plunge cans placed around Delta at Jack’s Liquor, IGA Food Cache, Mt. McKinley Bank, Buffalo Center Diner, Buffalo Center Service, Wells Fargo, Buffalo Bar, Clearwater Lodge, Alaskan Steakhouse, the Moose Lodge, and Sawmill Creek Lodge or on Ft. Greely at the post office or chow hall.

Nominations are 5 bucks a piece and once someone is nominated you can vote for them at $1 each vote. You can vote as many times as your hear desires.

Polar Bear Plunge cans are checked weekly and the tallies are updated and listed on the cans.

Voting cans will be at the aforementioned locations up until February 15 AFTER THAT, votes will still be accepted at the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS GALLERIA & TRADE SHOW up until 2pm. UNTIL THEN, it will remain a mystery as to who the 3 jumpers will be. There is always time for throwing in a handful of votes at the last minute for the ones YOU would like to see jump!

Only a Few Spots Left for This Year's Festival of Lights Galleria & Trade Show!

There are still a few vendor spaces left for the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS GALLERIA & TRADE SHOW SET FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FROM 10AM – 4:30 PM.

There are approximately 6 spaces left. Vendor spaces are 10 feet wide and are $20 each.

This year’s show looks to be a good one with high participation. It’s one you don’t want to miss out on!

For more information contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce by e-mail deltacc@alaska.net or call 895-5068

Freezer Raffle - Sponsored by the Delta Lions Club

The Delta Lions Club Raffle is going on right now! The grand prize is a freezer (approximately 9 cu. ft.) with 1/2 beef and 1/2 pork (cut and wrapped by Delta Meat & Sausage). Second Prize is a $500.00 gift certificate from Granite View Sports & Gifts. Each ticket is $5. Winner need not be present to win. Drawing will be at the Delta Lions Easter Egg Hunt at the Deltana Fairgrounds March 23, 2008. Tickets are available at Granite View Sports & Gifts and from Delta Lions Club members.

Hockey Dedication

From left to right… Cobey Cupp, John Warren, Thomas Warren and Cameron Smith. These boys made it to hockey practice Wednesday February 6th when it was almost 40 below zero. Now that is dedication. Photo Courtesy Lacey Smith

Photo of the day - February 8

A coyote makes his way across the highway near Dot Lake off the Alcan Highway.
Photo Courtesy Dwight Phillips

Why Do You Live in Alaska?

Are you tired of the cold? With the temperatures so cold this week, we are glad that we have summer photos to remind us why we live in Alaska. We definitely don't stay in Alaska for the cold weather, but the summers are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you to our local photographers the past couple of days for reminding us of warmer, greener days to come.

According to wunderground.com we are still looking at temperatures ranging from highs -10 to -20 below for daytime temps, but we are going to be feeling the winds again. Still looking at -35 to -40 for night time temperatures. The children will all be returning to school on Monday. The -50 should be gone by then.

Just think, once we get past February, we are on the upswing of things. The weather will be warming, the days are getting longer, and the sun is shining longer as well. Summer is on the way. It just takes a little longer for it to arrive in Alaska.

Enjoy a couple of photos from our local photographers. Click on the images for photo enlargements.


Rachel John (Phillips) proudly displays a fly caught fall coho from our very own Clearwater River. It's easy to forget the wonderful fall weather we were blessed with as we stroll to the woodpile and casually notice the thermometer buried at minus 50 below! Image by Dwight Phillips



Remember days like this? I took this picture at a friends wedding in Fairbanks last August. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Sometimes people from the lower 48 ask, why do you live in Alaska with those temperatures? What is your response. Please send in your reasons for living in Alaska to webeditor@deltanewsweb.com and the DNW would like to publish the comments, starting on Monday, February 11.

Title it "Why I Live in Alaska" If you would like to submit your name with your reasons, please make sure you include that in your post. Otherwise, the comments will be posted Anonymously.

Photo of the day - February 7

Looking through the spruce trees, at -50 below! Photo Courtesy Lisa Stossmeister

Dreaming of Summer

Just had to submit these lovely flowers at one of my neighbor's homes. I can't wait to see green and all those colors again! Happy February!
Photos Courtesy of Ruby Hollembaek

Click on the images for enlargements.

Photo of the day - February 6

A yak is silhouetted by the late day sun. This image was taken off Sawmill Creek Road.
Image by Dwight Phillips.

Founding Father - Ron Liewer

Visiting Delta Junction hockey "founding father" Ron Liewer at the Ice Rink, ready to watch Delta play Kenny Lake. Photo Courtesy Ruby Hollembaek

Photo of the day - February 5

I saw this guy almost every morning last spring and summer between 0530 and 0630.
Photo Courtesy Jessica Fellman

BBB Warns Consumers to be Wary of Scams During Tax Season

Anchorage, AK. – February 4, 2008 – The tax process can be an intimidating and complicated one. In recent years, the Internal Revenue Service has tried to simplify the process but the number of forms and variety of methods to file can be daunting. Many consumers prefer to hire a tax preparer or use computer tax software to help them prepare their taxes instead of trying to do it all themselves. The local Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be aware of scams from individuals claiming to be calling from the IRS and to be selective when choosing a method for filing taxes.

Recently, the IRS issued a warning regarding a combination telephone and email scam using the IRS name involving proposed advance payment checks. Individuals claiming to be IRS representatives are contacting consumers and requesting social security numbers and other private information, promising to send consumers a rebate, advance payment check, or other refund. Scammers also try to obtain checking account and routing numbers by saying these will be used for direct deposits.

“Many consumers will trust someone who claims to be from the IRS or other government agency,” said Robert Andrew, President and CEO of the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “The IRS will never contact a taxpayer to request social security numbers or account numbers, and consumers should be extremely careful when releasing this information to anyone.”

Tax preparers are required to maintain proper licensing in each state they prepare taxes in. In other words, a tax preparer with a business license in Alaska cannot file for an individual who lives and works in Washington unless the preparer is also licensed in Washington.

“Hiring a tax preparer to do the paperwork is very tempting, but consumers need to remember that hiring someone else does not relieve them from the responsibility for the accuracy of the filing,” said Andrew. “Consumers are responsible for their own tax filings, even if someone makes mistakes along the way.”

Computer tax software has developed over the years to become an easy-to-follow interview that guides consumers through the complicated filing process. However, consumers need to know exactly which version of software to buy so that it covers all of their needs. Intuit’s TurboTax software comes in Basic, Deluxe, and Home & Business editions while H&R Block makes TaxCut in Premium and Home & Business editions. Both companies also offer methods to file your taxes online using products they offer through their Web sites.

Here are some tips to consider to avoid scams and to help you choose how to file your taxes this year:

• Check your tax preparer’s licensing. Many tax preparers do not have the proper business licensing. Make sure the tax preparer you intend to use is properly licensed by calling the Alaska Business Licensing Program at 907-269-8173 or email them at license@alaska.gov. You can also refer to state of Alaska’s Business License website: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/search1.htm.
• Choose the method that makes you feel the most comfortable. If you feel unsure of filing taxes yourself, locating a reliable tax preparer may be more appropriate. If you like to take control of your own taxes, using a software package or filing online may fit you better.
• Make sure you buy the right software package. Several companies sell computer software to help consumers file their taxes. However, consumers need to select the right package, especially if they have special needs like owning a business, renting property, or being self-employed.
• Protect yourself from identity theft. Identity thieves use a victim’s personal data to gain access to financial accounts and run up charges on credit cards, apply for new loans and credit cards, and even file fraudulent tax returns. Make sure you choose a tax preparer that you trust before handing over pages of documents filled with personal data.
• Consult your local BBB. Go to www.bbb.org to get a free reliability report on a tax preparer. The Better Business Bureau’s reliability reports provide valuable information on companies.

About the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington:

Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by BBB accredited businesses. The mission of the BBB is to promote the highest ethical marketplace relationship between businesses and consumers through self-regulation, education, and information. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 907-562-0704 in Alaska, 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.

UAA On to Second Phase of Alaska Elections Security Project

(February 4, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska) – Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell announced today that the University of Alaska Anchorage moved to Phase 2 of the Alaska Elections Security Project. Lieutenant Governor Parnell and the Alaska Division of Elections commissioned the University to study the security and accuracy of the state’s current voting systems and procedures.

Phase 1 of UAA’s Alaska Election Security Project revealed many positive aspects of Alaska’s Division of Elections procedures. The study found that the Division of Elections systems and procedures were “…in many ways reassuring: Alaska’s system has many features that improve security. Those include paper back-ups for electronic counts, cross-checking of vote counts in different locations, and a centralized system for state and federal elections throughout Alaska.”

In Phase 2 of the project, the University will delve into hardware, software, and procedures, then offer recommended improvements to combat any potential vulnerabilities in Alaska’s Elections system, including the transportation of ballots and vote recording machines to the Bush.

“I look forward to the University’s suggested changes to enhance Alaska’s Elections security,” Lieutenant Governor Parnell said on Monday. “Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai and I believe that democracy is powered by accurate and secure elections, and we are committed to ensuring that the vote of every Alaskan counts.”

To read the Phase 1 full report and the Executive Summary, please click here.

To offer feedback on the report or suggestions to the University review team, please click here.

Photo of the day - February 4

The bison mull around just long enough to get a picture and take off again at Alaska Interior Game Ranch -20F. Photo Courtesy Ruby Hollembaek

Photo of the day - February 2

Brace yourself for more wintry weather. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Saturday, leading the groundhog to forecast six more weeks of winter. Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of about 6,100 people some 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate what had essentially been a German superstition.

The tradition is that if a hibernating animal sees a shadow on Feb. 2 winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.

Well here in Delta six more weeks of winter is a "given" but in celebration of what's to come (duh...spring) we'll celebrate with a marmot checking out the sunshine!
Images by Dwight K. Phillips

Current Polar Bear Plunge Nominees and their votes as of Feb 1

Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 70 votes

Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 23 votes

Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency): 15 votes

Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 10 votes

COL. Besch (Missile Defense Agency): 6 votes

Svetlana Malyk: 6 votes

Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 6 votes

Chris Johnson: 5 Votes

Katrina Vecchiarelli: 5 votes

Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 3 votes

LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 3 votes

Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq) : 0 votes

Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 0 votes

Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service): 0 votes

Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center): 0 votes

*Nominee names are only posted after they have accepted the challenge
*Nominees and their votes are updated weekly

2008 Forget Me Knot Raffle Quilt

The FMKQ Guild makes quilts for donations for fire victims in the Delta area, for families of soldiers who are killed during the wars that reside in our area, and special needs for example...families with special needs who they feel a quilt will bolster their morale. We have also begun a Forget Me Knot Quilters Bud workshop that will feature a member sponsoring a young person to teach them how to quilt. This will be a once a year event.

Their website is http://www.forgetmeknotquilters.com/

The 2008 Raffle Quilt will begin selling tickets at the Delta Farm Forum or you may purchase them anytime at the Calico Cow Quilt Shop.

Photo of the day - February 1

Snowmobile tracks are seen on the lake near Tolsona Resort on Sunday morning, January 20. The Delta Snow Seekers Snowmobile Club spent the long weekend at the Resort. As always a good time was had by all who attended. Photo courtesy Barbara Tharp

Alternative Energy Is Inevitable

A major, widespread transition to alternative energy over the next five years is a fact of life. And it is not going to be completely painless. However, just like a good medicine will save a dying patient, alternative energy will save the world. That's kind of a large concept to grasp, so to be more specific, it will save your world, the one you live in now.

The question of whether alternative energy is competitive with oil, gas and coal is no longer a valid question. That is like saying, "My child has a broken arm. Should I put a cast on it and give him some pain medication or should I hit it with a really big hammer?" One will heal the child’s arm and the other will cause extreme pain and long term or permanent damage. The continued unfettered burning of fossil fuels will kill billions of people and make this world unrecognizable. So the real question is, do we have the means today to meet the energy demands of the world using clean, reliable, renewable resources? The answer is a resounding, “Yes we do!”

Will making the transition to alternative energy be expensive? Of course it will. So is treating cancer, housing criminals in prisons and, getting a college education. Does that mean society should stop doing those things? Of course not. Will reducing CO2 emissions be devastating to the American economy? Well, let’s see; hundreds of thousands of new jobs will be created, industries such as concrete, steel, copper, aluminum and neodymium magnets will get a huge shot in the arm (more jobs, lower prices), uninhabitable desert regions will suddenly be useful… Where’s the devastation?

The painful part of this transition comes in paying the up front costs of building new power plants and transmission lines. This is the setting of the bone in that child’s broken arm. It hurts, but it must be done. The pain medicine can come from the oil industry.

Consumers and government at all levels, need to invite the oil companies to get out of the “oil business” and into the “energy business.” The need for oil is always going to be here. There are just too many wonderful products made from oil. If oil continues being burned at current rates, all known oil reserves will be depleted within forty to fifty years. Then how will all those other products that benefit mankind get made? Oil companies already have the infrastructure in place for distribution of materials and construction of power plants. They have enjoyed record profits and government tax breaks for years. Moving into the alternative energy industry would be no more difficult than changing gears on a bicycle.

A good way to encourage oil companies to get behind alternative energy and significantly cut energy costs right away is to stop buying gas and oil. At least the part used to heat domestic hot water. In Alaska, domestic hot water accounts for up to 40% of annual home heating bills. With as little as two flat plate solar collectors, a small parabolic dish (2’ diameter) and a 626 cubic foot under ground storage tank, enough heat can be stored to supply all of the domestic hot water for most Alaskan households, including a period of 90 days with no solar input during the dead of winter. If a solar water heating system is installed before the end of this year, a 30% federal tax credit up to $2,000 is still available.

Switching over to alternative energy in phases now will greatly reduce the pain of a large government mandated changeover later. It will never be less expensive to buy or build a solar hot water system than it is right now. The results will be immediately observable in reduced fuel bills and it will have a positive impact on the world we live in.

Submitted by Al Turinsky

IDSP Develops First-of-its-Kind Resource to Aid Businesses in the Fight Against Identity Theft

Anchorage, AK — January 31, 2008 — A new report issued today by the Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel (IDSP) helps to arm businesses, government agencies, and other organizations with the tools needed to protect themselves and their customers against the theft and misuse of personal and financial information. Developed through a partnership of more than 70 leading organizations from the public and private sectors, the IDSP has created a single, comprehensive resource that promotes access to and implementation of tools and processes that can help to minimize the scope and scale of identity theft and fraud.

The report is freely available as a pdf download from the Panel’s website.

Launched in September 2006, the IDSP was established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Better Business Bureau (BBB) to identify and catalog existing standards, guidelines, and best practices related to identity theft prevention.

Panel members considered the entire life cycle of identity management: from the issuance of identity documents by government and commercial entities, to the acceptance and exchange of identity data, and to the ongoing maintenance and management of identity information. Hundreds of documents – including the applicable laws, regulations, proposed legislation, white papers, and research studies and reports – are identified in the catalog.

The report also includes recommendations for business and government agencies to:
enhance the security of identity issuance processes to facilitate greater interoperability between the government and commercial sectors; improve the integrity of identity credentials; strengthen best practices for authentication; augment data security management best practices such as the use and storage of Social Security numbers; create uniform guidance for organizations on data breach notification and remediation; increase consumer understanding of ID theft preventative strategies, including the benefits and limitations of security freezes.
“We brought together a diverse group of identity protection experts to create a valuable and accessible resource – something that was needed but didn’t yet exist,” explained Joseph Gurreri, chairman of the IDSP, and president of CorporatePlanningGroup.NET. “Together, we identified a broad spectrum of materials that can be used by businesses and government agencies to strengthen the way they protect the personal data for which they are responsible.”

“The IDSP report is a much-needed approach to fight a crime that totals $49.3B and affects 8.4 million victims each year,” said James van Dyke, president and founder of Javelin Strategy & Research. “As businesses and government agencies standardize their identity-handling processes, fewer people will be victimized, more criminals will be thwarted, and the costs of identity crimes will drop.”

Key analysts, industry leaders, and members of the IDSP will lead an online discussion of the report and its findings beginning today, January 31, at 2 p.m. EST; interested parties can access the report and the webinar via the Panel’s website.

“The organizations involved in the IDSP have demonstrated their commitment to reducing a major threat to consumers and the economy,” said Gurreri. “Now it is time for other market players to join forces with us to combat identity theft and bolster fraud prevention.”

About IDSPThe Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel (IDSP) is a cross-sector initiative that works to create a single resource of standards and guidelines that businesses and other organizations can use to prevent and respond to identity theft and fraud. Jointly sponsored by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI; www.ansi.org) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB; www.bbb.org), the IDSP’s nine founding partners are AT&T; ChoicePoint; Citi; Dell Inc.; Intersections, Inc.; Microsoft; Staples, Inc.; TransUnion; and Visa Inc. Founded in September 2006, the Panel leverages ANSI’s unique expertise as coordinator of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system with BBB’s extensive experience in advancing trust in the marketplace, and includes participation from all affected marketplace stakeholders. For more information, visit www.ansi.org/idsp.

About the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington. Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by BBB accredited businesses. The mission of the BBB is to promote the highest ethical marketplace relationship between businesses and consumers through self-regulation, education, and information. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 907-562-0704 in Alaska, 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon, or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.

Photo of the day - January 31

Taken several weeks ago in December from Nistler Road, the full moon can be seen with the tips of the northern foothills lit by the late day sun. Daylight is rapidly increasing the closer we get to the summer equinox. Image by Dwight Phillips.