Photo of the day - October 31

A full moon rises casting a pinkish glow in the sky. This image was taken early last winter from the back yard of the Clearwater Lodge. The Lodge sits on one of the most scenic spots on the whole river.
Photo courtesy of Dwight Phillips.

Acacia Floral's Annual Open House

Acacia Floral's annual Open House
Saturday November 7th from 10 am to 5 pm.
Free Drawings, refreshments and gifts. Stop in and pick up your free calendar.

25% off store wide. Come in for the Holiday kick-off and let us say Thank You to all Our Customers. Great time to get your tanning packages. 25% off! All tanners get a free lotion, and put in for one of our 10 free tanning lotion baskets.

Photo of the day - October 30

Even though winter is here, we hope you will enjoy the fall photos that our photographers want to share.

The first photo shows Mt. Hayes and the Tanana River. The second one is the beginning stages of fall as their colors are starting to peek thru the green. Photos Courtesy Wanda Morden

DCDA will Present "In the Presence of my Enemies"

Dear Friends and Fans:

Delta Christian Drama Association is scheduled to present “In the Presence of my Enemies” on the second and third weekends of December, 2009. As an audience member, you will experience humor, romance and peril. DCDA’s original script includes such dramatic elements as snarling leopards, princesses in hiding, and Roman officials with amnesia. But beneath the fiction lies the timeless truth of tragedy and fear becoming transformed by peace and hope and glad tidings of great joy.

First century Judean shepherds lived thankless lives of hard, relentless, dirty work. They rarely had social interaction. They were the lowest of the working poor. They were barefoot, dirty, unshaven, uncouth, unmannered, and smelled of sheep dung and stale sweat. And yet, it was to people such as these that the angels of God appeared to announce the birth of the Prince of Peace. We picture them there, spending another long, cold night watching the constellations slide by. The most they could hope for was a silent, peaceful night, uninterrupted by beasts or bandits. And then, just as they’re drifting off to sleep, an angel appears! And then a heavenly host, singing and praising God, proclaims the birth of their deliverer! God, in his unfathomable love for humankind, had snuck into the world as a vulnerable human infant!

Why an infant? Why shepherds? Why didn’t God choose to have the most breathtaking, heart-stopping, unbelievably astonishing news of all time announced to the priests at the great temple in Jerusalem? Why not to King Herod and his court? Why not to some wealthy merchants or the righteous Pharisees? Why did he send his most impressive angel choir to a scruffy little band of illiterate shepherds?

Perhaps it is because they represented regular humans just like us. God knew that each of us has been born spiritually poor in one way or another–afflicted with fears, addictions, jealousy, envy, greed, despair, depression. No matter who we are, we eventually discover that our ability to love is bankrupt and that we have exhausted our reserves of inner peace. Inside, we are all poor, unloved, outcast shepherds. Like a helpless infant or a flock of headstrong Judean sheep, we all need forgiveness and unconditional love. And thus it was that Jesus humbly entered into our poverty in order to become the good shepherd who would lead is in the path of righteousness and hope and peace on earth and eternal life.

DCDA invites you to join us in celebrating the birth of the Good Shepherd on December 12-13, 19-20 at 6:30 pm. As always, Living Waters Assembly of God will be hosting the stage play.   We are pleased to announce that several new faces will make their debut on stage for this Christmas production, and of course there will be a silent auction to raise funds to cover our costs. Questions may be directed to George or Gaylene Hosier at 907-895-5289 or e-mail

Peace and Goodwill to you this Holiday Season,
George M. Hosier II for DCDA

Alumni Photos Katie (Johnson) and Steve Breci

Katie Johnson and Steve Breci of Anchorage were married Sept. 5 at Alpenglow Ski Lodge in the Arctic Valley. They were married by family friend Mike Rawalt, also a former Delta Jct. resident.

Katie is the daughter of David and Linda Johnson of Anchorage. Katie graduated from Delta Junction High School in 1998 and the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2003. She currently works for the Alaska Railroad Corp.

Steve is the son of Mark Breci of Eagle River, and Monica and Jeff Vincent of Omaha, Neb. He graduated from Chugiak High School and currently works for the Municipality of Anchorage as an equipment operator with the International Brotherhood of Operating Engineers, Local 302.

Attending the bride as her maids of honor and representing the DHS alumni for the group were Julie Horschel (Stephens) and Michelle Edmison (Sharp). Grace Edmison, Celeste Horschel and Nevaeh Glass were the flower girls.

Katie and Steve honeymooned in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

Katie is pictured here with her three flower girls - all daughters of DHS alumni. From left: Grace Edmison, daughter of Michelle Edmison (Sharp); Celeste Horschel, daughter of Abe and Julie Horschel (Stephens); and Nevaeh Glass, daughter of Teresa Glass (Dorff).

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

Photo of the day - October 29

Anthony Lansing watches a baby moose through the window. Photo by (dad), Jeff Lansing.

Comments on Letters to the Editor

In the last couple of days, there have been a couple of letters to the editor that have appeared in the community news.


I would like to inform the community that every comment that comes through from this day on, will not be published if it is negative. I have several comments sitting on my desk at this time and I will be rejecting them due to the negative manner in which they were written.

The letters to the editor can be used as a discussion, but please do not attack the people for their grammatical errors and bashing. This will not be tolerated.

Thank you,
Webmaster

Daylight Saving Time Ends November 1

When do we change our clocks? Most of the United States begins Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. the first Sunday in November. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.  You will be gaining an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning.

A Safety Reminder -  Many fire departments encourage people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they change their clocks because Daylight Saving Time provides a convenient reminder. A working smoke detector more than doubles a person's chances of surviving a home fire.  More than 90 percent of homes in the United States have smoke detectors, but one-third are estimated to have dead or missing batteries.

The following excerpts were taken from  National Geographic News

Why do we fall back in the first place? (Hint: A lot of 19th-century train passengers, among others, suffered for your extra hour of sleep this weekend.)

Daylight Saving Time = More Evening Daylight

The drive behind the switch was "to adjust daylight hours to when most people are awake and about," Mosley said.

Daylight saving time decreases the amount of daylight in the morning hours, so that more daylight is available during the evening.

Not everyone benefits from the daylight saving time change, Mosley conceded. Farmers and others who rise before dawn may have to operate in the dark a while longer before daybreak.

And some experts suggest that the extended hours implemented in 2007 to save energy won't actually do the trick. That's because people may use more electricity during the darker mornings, canceling out any savings from not using as much power at night.

Most U.S. residents set their clocks one hour forward in spring and one hour back in fall. But people in Hawaii and most of Arizona—along with the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands—will do nothing. Those locales never deviate from standard time within their particular time zones.

Letter to the Editor

Look smart, act smart, be smart. A motto that needs to be known and enforced. Recently a small handful of people have complained about the new leader at Delta High School, Mr. Bob Grimes.

I whole heartedly agree with all codes being enforced at the high school. Many young adults are not getting the correct parenting to be able to tell the difference between right and wrong and what is acceptable in society today.

It is the job of the educator to step up to the plate and assist a child in getting prepared for the real world. I applaud educators of today who do take that challenge on and fill the gap of parent, educator, and mentor.

By the time a young man or woman gets to the high school level it is time to buckle down and act like a young adult. The older a child gets, the more that is expected of there behavior. Many children strive to be the center of attention with there antics at school which in fact DO distract from the classroom. Excessive make-up, attention getting behavior, improper dress, and even excessive talking in class. By the time a student gets to high school these behaviors need to be in check.

What needs to happen is a standard needs to be set, followed and not deviated from. Children need consistancy. Educators need to stay strong and not fold to parents will, not all parents know what is best for there child. For those out there who are having a fit about student handbook and dress code, most of these rules have been in place! They just were not enforced by past leadership at the high school. Which resulted in poor discipline.

Remember parents...If you are unhappy with the safe and disciplined enviorment that the principal is trying to provide for your child there is always homeschool or cyber school. Maybe you can do a better job?

Sherman Stebbins

National Survivors of Suicide Day

For the first time, Fairbanks will be hosting an event for Survivors of Suicide. National Survivors of Suicide Day is a day of healing for those who have lost someone to suicide. It was created by U.S. Senate resolution in 1999 through the efforts of Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who lost his father to suicide.
The event will take place on Saturday, November 21st, at the Public Health Center. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by a broadcast of the American Federation for Suicide Prevention's panel discussion (which is broadcast simultaneously throughout the country) and ending with a Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you!

Anne M. Brainerd, LPC, NCC

Clinical Supervisor
Fairbanks Counseling & Adoption
912 Barnette Street
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
P: (907) 456-4729
F: (907) 456-4623

Photo of the day - October 28

Four otters watch inquisitively as the photographers boat passes by in Prince William Sound.
Photo courtesy of Dwight Phillips.

Blood Bank of Alaska Will Be Here on Thursday

The Blood Bank of Alaska will be in Delta Thursday, October 29, 2009 at the Delta Community Center from 2:00pm to 730pm having a blood drive sponsored by the Forget-Me-Knot Quilters.

Please call Toni Lee at 895-4159 to schedule your LIFEsaving appointment today or stop by for a walk-in if time permits.

If you have any questions in regards to donating please call our Fairbanks Center at 456-5645.


Thank you for helping us save the lives of our fellow Alaskans.

Felicia Rodriguez
Community Coordinator - Fairbanks
Blood Bank of Alaska
1-907-456-5645

Breaking News - Eileen Ivers' Appearing on David Letterman Tonight

Breaking News! We have just gotten word from Eileen Ivers' management that she will be appearing on Late Night with David Letterman tonight, October 28 at 11:30pm on CBS, Channel 13.1 here in Fairbanks. She will be appearing with Sting, in support of his new album, If On a Winter's Night. Eileen is a guest musician on this album.

Eileen and Sting will also be featured on The View tomorrow, October 29 at 9am on ABC, Channel 2.1.

We hope you're able to see these performances, and that you're as excited about Eileen's return to Fairbanks as we are!   Website

Eileen will perform her holiday program, An Nollaig - An Irish Christmas, on Sunday, November 29 at 4pm at Hering Auditorium.

Tickets are currently on sale at Grassroots Guitar on College Road, online at www.alaskatix.com or by calling AlaskaTix at 490-2858.

Craft & Vendor Bazaar a Huge Success

Thanks to all the vendors and crafters who helped make our bazaar a huge success last Saturday, October 24.

Now don"t forget our next Show is on November 21 at the Community Center 11am- 5pm

There will be a Silent Auction held from 11am-4pm with all proceeds going to our local food bank here in Delta

Come out and join in the fun.

Clean Energy Investments Could Create 9000 Jobs in Alaska

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Michael Oko, (202) 513-6245

New analysis shows economic benefits of clean energy and climate legislation

Washington, DC (October 27, 2009) -- New economic analysis shows that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies would create jobs, increase consumers’ income and strengthen the U.S. economy as a whole. Based on collaborative research by the University of Illinois, Yale University and the University of California, the new study clearly demonstrates that comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation would limit pollution and create incentives to drive large-scale investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.

According to the analysis, these investments will create up to 9000 jobs in Alaska and as many as 1.9 million jobs nationally by 2020. In addition, these investments would increase annual household income in Alaska by $487 - $1175 per year and boost GDP by $39 billion - $111 billion by 2020. These economic gains are over and above the growth that Alaska would see in the absence of such a bill.

“This analysis confirms that clean energy and climate legislation can strengthen our economy and create jobs,” said Diane Doucette, climate campaign director for Environmental Entrepreneurs. “America needs to move forward with this legislation to drive investment in clean energy technology, cut carbon pollution and make America a leader for the 21st century.”

These results are consistent with modeling by U.S. government agencies – such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Congressional Budget Office, and the Department of Energy – that show strong economic growth with comprehensive energy and climate legislation, especially when combined with strong energy efficiency policies.

To see state-by-state fact sheets and the full report, go to: www.E2.org/jobs

About the study:
The Environmental Assessment in General Equilibrium (EAGLE) model was developed at the University of California in collaboration with the University of Illinois and Yale University. It details patterns of supply, demand, employment, incomes, resource allocation, energy use, and emissions across the nation and within each of the 50 United States. The EAGLE model has been peer reviewed and technical documentation is available on request.

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is the independent business voice for the environment. E2 is a national community of individual business leaders who advocate for good environmental policy while building economic prosperity. Learn more at: http://www.e2.org/

Phonies Impersonate Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing Customers

Small Businesses Beware: BBB Reports Rampant Abuse of Phone-Relay System
Anchorage, Alaska – Oct. 27, 2009 – Con artists are taking a particular phone scam to a new level, attempting to scam restaurants, auto-repair shops and more. Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington has received numerous reports in recent months about con artists misusing Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) to place fraudulent orders and scam businesses over the telephone.

Using this technology—intended to assist the deaf and those with trouble hearing or speaking—the scammer uses an operator to relay typed messages to the called party, in this case the business.

Through the relay service, the scam artist calls requesting to use the business' services, but alleges that the delivery company they use won't take credit cards; and as a favor, the caller requests that the business wire money to the shipper and add the funds to their total order cost, which will be charged to the "customer" or scammer's credit card. In this scheme, the wired money goes to the con artist and the charges end up on a stolen credit card.

If contacted by a relay operator, here are tips to identify a phone system scammer:

Be wary if the caller is not willing to provide basic information. Request their full name, address and phone number. Take notes during the conversation and write down any particulars that sound suspicious.

Before doing business, confirm with the bank that the cardholder's information matches. Ask the caller to disclose pertinent details, such as the credit card's three or four-digit card verification code. Also, inquire about the issuing bank and its toll-free customer service number. This data should be printed on the back of all credit cards.

Deny all requests to wire or forward money, period. Always be extremely wary of complicated instructions which involve paying or transferring funds to third parties.

If you suspect a call is fraudulent, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov; or if it is a suspicious order or service request via e-mail, file a complaint at www.ic3.gov. Report abuse of the TRS system to the Federal Communications Commission by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL- FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.

Photo of the day - October 27

The sunsets taken in Alaska are beautiful, especially when you can capture one behind a mountain range. Photo Courtesy Jesse Schexnayder

Letter to the Editor

This article does not necessaily reflect the opinions of the Delta News Web staff.

Letter to the Editor - Submitted by Candy Corty

Another change Grimes has brought with him from the lower 48 is the implementation of a new, less relaxed dress code. Relaying that such dress codes are common in the lower 48, Grimes has called that students will no longer be permitted to wear items such as holey jeans, distractive hair colors, piercings' other then in the ears and shirts below the crotch must be tucked in. these changes are said to help limit distractions caused by a persons appearance. Students will no longer be able to wear hats in the school building, pants should not sag or show underwear, and there are to be no long shirts which is said to be for safety reasons. (Excerpt taken from the Delta wind)

Why is it that whenever a new principal is hired from the lower 48, they bring with them all these ideas of making us, and our kids, better? As if we were desperately broken without them. I just read the article about the new High School principal, and I am furious. He speaks as if he is our children's "Savior" now that he is here.

I am not the only parent who feels this way. The article says only 2 parents have called to complain, I know there are more parents who simply feel it is useless to call because it does nothing.

You can call you can voice your views and it means nothing if it is not the same views he shares. Just because the lower 48 has something in their dress code does not mean it should be applied here. It is the most ridiculous reason in the world to do something just because that is how those people do it.

We teach our children this at home, don't we? Just because Jane Doe wears designer jeans does not mean you have to. Some of the rules in the article do make sense but these specific ones are common sense such as not wearing pants that show your underwear, which of course, is a good rule. The rest I have a tough time seeing as anything but control issues on his and the school's behalf. It is not the schools business if I allow my child to have a different hair color, which allows her to express herself. It is none of the school's business if I allow my child to get her belly button pierced.

I disagreed with the hat rule when I was on the rule policy committee, as well. I do not think kids wearing hats as part of there clothing is hurting anyone. It would make more sense to me to make it a rule that these hats have to be removed while in a classroom. Some girl's hats are part of an outfit. School seems to think these are acts of deception that could lead to who knows what. These rules have gotten progressively worse year after year. Why is it that bare shoulders are now taboo in school? Was there a fear of girls being molested by young men Were these girls naked shoulders so provocative the school was in fear for the male staff being to distracted to teach? Was there a fear of boys not concentrating because a bare shoulder is such a distraction to them? I agree with skirt length without leggings or jeans, but what are they afraid of if a girl wears a shorter skirt with jeans under it, or leggings (stretch pants)?

Long shirts are now a safety hazard? To who? For what reason? I wear long t-shirts sometimes does this make me a threat or put myself in danger? NO. Jeans with holes in them no longer allowed?

Come on, this is just an over empowered group of people finding ways to prove it to the student body and parents. We are supposed to be teaching tolerance to our kids and acceptance.

If my daughters hair colors are distractive, then what about a teacher with a bad hairpiece or a kid with crutches or a disabled kid in school? Are they not distractions? We want the kids to learn tolerance of these distractions but we telling them to change anything about themselves that may be distractive to a few people?

I have news for Mr. Grimes, I'm sure he already knows this, but not every school in the lower 48 has all these rules he finds "so helpful". Shirts below the crotch must be tucked in? I'm thinking this is one more way to enforce the no pants showing underwear rule which I can understand, but if a student proves he or she is in fact wearing pants that clearly cover their undergarments, then that shirt should be left alone.

The more you push these kids and us parents with ridiculous rules over clothing, the more they are going to rebel. I plan to fight for my children, and my right to freedom of expression.

This is a public school and if they want to keep adding more and more and more restrictions, then they should just have the guts to implement school uniforms already. However, if that were to happen, I would like to see staff uniform requirements as well. I think, and I know I am not the only one who feels this way. I also wish the school would spend more time and effort on counseling for bullies.

More time teaching the kids in school who are telling other students they are going to burn in hell for reading Harry Potter or for wearing a band t-shirt that what they're doing is very wrong.

For six years this issue has been brought to me by all of my kids and it has never been dealt with harshly enough. I say that because it is still happening every year. I am also not the only parent dealing with these issues. More time should be spent on many other issues in school that are far more serious. Clothing, hair, jewelry, and what is next? How much eyeliner my daughter can wear? Where do these pointless rules end?

How silly will they get before more of us say something. I suggest if you feel the way I do that you make it known to more people than just parents.

Please call or write the school principals. Visit the school and see for yourself. The Middle school has a P.D.A. rule right now that is riddled with faults. I call whenever another one comes up. Do you know your child can get a citation for hugging their friend goodbye?

My child was given a warning for skipping down the hall with her girlfriend arm-in-arm singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road". Until the teacher told the girls to stop with the public display of affection, they thought what they were doing was innocent. My daughter came home thinking this teacher was calling her and her friend lesbians.

Sometimes common sense should show over a rule meant to keep teenagers from making out in school.

It really appears to me that teachers can act as they wish for the most part with little or no repercussions Making a complaint about teachers behavior appears to do little more then possibly get them a tap on the wrist. However if your child gets in trouble there are consequences. Mr. Grimes if fixing broken things in our school system is your goal then I ask that you look into these issues first before taking away my child's constitutional rights.

Fish and Game Advisory Committee Meeting Oct 28

Date - Wednesday October 28, 2009 6:30 p.m.
Location - City Hall, Delta Junction

Call to Order

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes from March 25, 2009 meeting

Old Business

New Business
· Update on Delta Bison Management Planning Process- Steve Dubois
· Update on the 40-Mile Caribou Harvest Plan-Steve Dubois
· Call for proposals for the Statewide Regulations (Cycle A)
· Delta AC Committee Action on BOG proposal 241A establishing a Bonus Point System for bison and sheep drawing permits
· Update on GMU 20D Moose Hunt
· Update on Macomb Caribou Hunt
· Other

Other Dates and Deadlines:
Statewide BOG proposal deadlines November 6,2009
Interior Region proposal deadlines December 4,2009

On-Time Comment Deadline for BOG Arctic Region is October 30,2009. The proposal book is available at http://www.boards.adfg.state.ak.us/gameinfo/meetinfo/gprop.php. The proposal books will be sent out shortly.

FCA Brings Lakota Sioux Dancers to Fairbanks

The Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre was founded at the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota with the support of traditional Lakota Indian educators, healers, community leaders, championship pow-wow dancers, singers, and storytellers. Set against a backdrop of spectacular video imagery and accompanied by live traditional, sacred, and courting songs, narratives and creation stories are woven into the fabric of the performance. They will perform Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 8pm, in Hering Auditorium.

On Sunday, November 1st, FCA will welcome Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre with a community-wide pot luck and culture sharing event at the David Salmon Tribal Hall from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Alaskan main dishes will be provided, please bring a side dish to share. Performances by the Young Native Fiddlers, Inu Yupiaq Dance Group, Pavva Inupiaq Dancers of Fairbanks, Effie Kokrine's Early College Native Dance Class, Soaring Eagle Drummers and Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre.

Tickets are available at Grassroots Guitar, at Alaskatix.com and at 490-2858. More information is available at fairbanksconcert.org.

Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre is proudly sponsored by Denali Center/Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Doyon, Ltd.

Photo of the day - October 26

Our Summer is over. The fall this year was truly awesome. Now the flowers are all decked out in their winter snow. Photo courtesy Barb Tharp

Tis the season! Photo Courtesy Cindy Lou Aillaud

The above photos were sent in earlier right after the first snow, but then the snow melted. The photos were kept in the archive file for later use. What better way to depict that our summer and fall has passed and now we entering into winter officially. I don't think the snow today will melt. Welcome to winter - Delta.

See's Christmas Candy On Sale Now

Sale Dates: Now thru November 10

Customers will have their orders the week of December 6th.

Many thanks to Fran Columbo who worked for over 25 years selling See's Candy for Soroptimist. Terry Detzel does the fundraiser for the Delta High School and Linda Sloan sells it for the Fort Greely Middle School.

Come on out and order your See's Christmas Candy. Contact Lucille by phone or stop by IGA where she will be hosting a table through November 10.

For your convenience we have made an order form for you to print off. Mark your order and take your order form along with your check made out to Soroptimist to Lucille at IGA. Click here to print the order form.

All proceeds support Breast Cancer Detection, Women in Crisis, and WICA. Contact Martha Tuharsky 488-9185 or Lucy Stock 895-4262 for more information.  Soroptimist International Fairbanks

M&W Ceramics & Gifts - Your Halloween Headquarters

Do you have a party to go to this weekend?  Do you need a costume?  If so, see Mary in Diehl's Mall, the building with Wells Fargo Bank. 

Costumes are available for purchase or rent.  There is also a wide variety of Halloween knick-knacks available.

Open Monday, (closed Tuesday) Wednesday through Saturday 11 AM – 5:30 PM.

For more information contact Mary Woodbury 895-3250.

Car Rental Company Drives up Prices

No Joy Ride for Overcharged Customers of Seattle Car Rentals, LLC

Anchorage, Alaska – Oct. 26, 2009 – Alaskans are among the visitors to Washington's Emerald City that were charged more than they bargained for by vehicle rental company, Seattle Car Rentals, LLC.

Seattle Car Rentals recently caught the attention of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington due to its pattern of billing and collections complaints and for receiving 58 consumer inquiries this year alone. To view Seattle Car Rental's BBB Reliability Report and "D-" rating, Click Here.

Customers turned to BBB after they were unable to resolve billing practice issues with the company. Complaints allege that Seattle Rental Cars alters contract agreements and overcharges unsuspecting travelers. Reports also indicate customers are sometimes rushed through the contract signing process and sent on their way without a copy of the rental agreement. Upon returning the vehicle, some have found unauthorized contract alterations and charges far exceeding the agreed upon price.

With the holiday season and prime travel time upon us, BBB recommends a few precautions before buckling into a rental car:

Check out BBB's Reliability Report. Before you give the business your money or information, research them online at http://www.bbb.org/.

Get a written contract to ensure you're protected. Before you leave the lot, visually inspect the car for dings, dents and scratches. Get all verbal agreements for base rental cost, daily fees, insurance, the vehicle inspection summary or other rental particulars on paper.

Use a credit card when renting your car. If fraudulent charges occur you can dispute these with the card issuer. Cash, check and even debit purchases make it difficult to stop the transfer of funds or recoup losses.

Photo of the day - October 24

Eskimo Potatoes bloom on the Delta River as Mount Hayes looms in the distance.
Photo courtesy of Dwight Phillips.

All-State Band and Choir results from Delta High School

The students had to submit a CD recording to audition for the 2009 All-State Band, Choir, and Orchestra.
Selected to All-State Band and Choir:
Christine Kingston – Clarinet (All-State Band)
Hannah Fellman – Soprano 2 (All-State Treble Choir)
Julia Chapman – Alto 1 (All-State Treble Choir)
Anna Byam – Alto 2 (All-State Treble Choir)

Alternates:
Jung Tak – Flute Alternate (All-State Band)
Ben Cepeda – Trombone Alternate (All-State Band)

The ASAA/First National Bank All-State Music Festival will be held November 19-20-21, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska. It will be hosted by the Chugiak High School and the Anchorage School District. All rehearsal will take place at Chugiak High School. The concert will be held at West Anchorage High School on November 21st, 2009 beginning at 6:00 PM.

GUEST CONDUCTORS:
guest conductors to the 2009 All-State Music Festival:
ALL-STATE BAND: Dr. Wayne Gorder, Kent State University
ALL-STATE MIXED CHOIR: Dr. Janet Galvan, Ithaca College
ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA: Dr. Russell Guyver, University of Northern Colorado
ALL-STATE TREBLE CHOIR: Dr. Richard Nance, Pacific Lutheran University

These students are truly the cream of the crop and deserve to be recognized for their hard work. Congratulations!!!!

Public Notice ~ Fort Greely Installation Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meets

Fort Greely, Alaska--The Fort Greely Installation Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 18 November 2009, at the City Hall in Delta Junction, Alaska.

The goal of the RAB is to give individuals who represent the diverse interests of the community the opportunity to regularly review progress and interact with the decision makers concerning Fort Greely's environmental restoration program. The aim is to increase public understanding and the quality of the installation environmental restoration program.

The RAB meetings are held approximately quarterly, are announced in advance and are open to the public.

The RAB assisted with the restoration efforts required by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process from 1995 until portions of Fort Greely were withdrawn from surplus in 2001 to support the U.S. missile defense program. The RAB is now assisting with the Fort Greely installation environmental restoration program.
The RAB membership currently includes: Installation Co-Chair­­­ Lt. Col Chris Chronis, Fort Greely garrison commander; Community Co-Chair Stephen Hammond; community members Dick Anderson, Steve Fields, Pete Hallgren, Mike Murphy, Carol Stock, and Mary Leith-Dowling; and Chris Boerst, Fort Greely director of public works. A representative from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation participates in each meeting, as does a representative from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency when possible.

Members of the RAB have committed to a goal of attending all RAB meetings and devoting ample time to review any related Army documents within prescribed time frames.

Public participation on the RAB is strictly voluntary. The Army does not provide financial support to the public members for their services nor are members compensated for work hours lost or time invested.

For more information about the RAB and its activities, call Stephen Hammond at telephone 907-895-5441, see the RAB's website at www.smdcen.us/rabfga, or call Dan Miller, Fort Greely environmental coordinator, at telephone 907-873-3105.

Fort Wainright - Aviation Brigade Resumes Training

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, 23 Oct. – The aviation brigade’s aircraft have started to return from maintenance reset and flight training begins here this month.

Local citizens may have noticed an increase in air traffic around the Fort Wainwright area, a clear sign that the aviation brigade has started to train again.

“While a majority of the Aviation Task Force 49 was deployed in Iraq, there were only three helicopters, CH47 Chinooks, and a contract medical evacuation asset that remained at Fort Wainwright” said Col. Robert Werthman, Commander, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

The 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry from the aviation task force celebrated their redeployment ceremony August 19, 2009 signaling their return from a year long deployment to Iraq.

Since the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry returned last summer they have focused their efforts on reintegrating, resetting and now they are starting to train for future wartime missions.

A Company and C Company, 1st battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment are still deployed in support Operation Iraqi Freedom and expected to return to Fort Wainwright later this year.

Upon returning to Fort Wainwright, the units from the aviation brigade turned in all of their airframes to get completely overhauled and returned or swapped with other reset aircraft.

“Beginning in September the reset airframes began returning to Fort Wainwright and the aviation brigade expects to receive additional reset helicopters throughout the year. By the end of the year, the aviation brigade will have more than 60 helicopters in their inventory” said Jeffrey Cooper, the US Army Alaska G4 Aviation Maintenance Representative.

“I know it was quite here for the last year without the helicopters and it is going to get busier here now that the helicopters are back” said Werthman.

Colonel Robert Werthman took command of the aviation Task Force 49 in a change of command ceremony on August 20th at Fort Wainwright.

As of last Friday, Oct. 16, the Department of the Army has officially renamed Task Force 49 the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade as part of the Army’s ongoing transformation efforts.

There will be an official ceremony in December to formally recognize the aviation brigade at Fort Wainwright as the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

“The mission of the aviation brigade remains to be ready to deploy world-wide to support full- spectrum operations with ground force commanders” said Werthman.

Now that the aviation brigade’s helicopters have started to return to Fort Wainwright, the unit will begin flying and training for future missions again. This also means that residents of the surrounding communities of Fairbanks, the North Star Borough and North Pole can expect to see an increase in air traffic.

“This aviation brigade is critical to the fight against terrorism, we provide essential general support, reconnaissance and attack capabilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially in the difficult terrain” said Werthman.

Photo of the day - October 23

Photo taken over Labor Day weekend. Over looking Jarvis Creek at the back side of Ober Dome.
Photo Courtesy Carol Dufendach

How Do I Look?

How Do I Look?
Who is this person in the mirror?
She doesn’t reflect me at all.

Who is this person in the mirror?
Why does she look so appalled?

Questions that just about every woman has asked in her lifetime: Does it really matter what color I wear? So many new Fashion choices… how do I know which is the right one for me? I have a closet full of clothes… yet have nothing to wear. This is Delta… why bother? Makeup – is it necessary? How much is too much? Does this make me look fat? Does God care about how I look? Is there anything out there that can hide my figure flaws! What hair style is the one for me? Who in invented Mirrors anyway? Is my appearance really that important? What kind of reflection does my style represent or better yet… who does it represent? What exactly is an image and is it important?

So if you or your friends have asked any of these questions, then we would like to invite you to join us for a fun evening of discovering who we are. Or… could you use a little inspiration on how to improve or even create your image? Gather your girlfriends and/or your daughters and join us as Professional Image Consultant Patricia Huggins discusses simple, yet fun ways to enhance our natural God given assets!

Where: City Hall Building
(Old library space, across from the community center and new library)
When: Friday, October 30th
Time: 7 to 9 pm
All Women, all ages are welcome!

Photo of the day - October 22

 Standing under a canopy of low hanging trees I was taking pictures of a fledgling baby owl. Unbeknownst to me and from behind me in flew in a goshawk hoping to make a meal out of the baby owl. Suddenly, the baby's mother flew in almost t-boning the goshawk. The goshawk landed in a tree about thirty yards away for a brief few seconds enabling me to get this image of him. This is one of the neatest things I have ever observed while photographing birds of prey. Photo courtesy Dwight Phillips

Reminder for the Halloween Bash ~ October 24

Halloween Bash

Saturday, October 24
4:00 – 8:00 pm

4:15 P.M. Carnival Games Begin
5:45 P.M. ‘Scariest Screech’ Contest
6:45 P.M. Costume Contest

Food & Drink Concessions - Great Decorations - Music- door prizes - ring toss - lollipop tree - balloon
darts - bowling - bean bag toss & many more games- giant inflated haunted house - mystery box

Tickets to play games will be sold at 20 for $10, 50 for $20, or .50 each.

Contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce for more information at 895-5068

Alpha Omega Needs Your Help

Alpha Omega is having a bake sale at the craft fair this Saturday at the Community Center.

If anyone would like to send a baked donation, it would be really appreciated. The Kiwanis disbanded and they need the extra funds because the Kiwanis was their largest supporter for the their annual event.

If you feel like donating some goodies please call Bertha at 895-4273 and let her know. The craft fair begins at 10:00am.

BBB Sees Boost in Consumer Inquiries

Sneak a Peek at BBB's 2009 Statistics, Inquiries and Complaints

Anchorage, Alaska – Oct. 21, 2009 – Proving to be a year of consumer caution, 2009 statistics show that more consumers are checking with Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington before they do business.

BBB has documented a 214 percent increase in online traffic to www.bbb.org, when comparing the first 3 quarters of 2008 to the same time period in 2009. The number of BBB Reliability Reports provided has gone up 32.9 percent.

As a service to consumers, free BBB Reliability Reports are available on thousands of local businesses. To date, there are 11,000 BBB Accredited Businesses in the Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington service area; all of which meet BBB's Code of Business Practices and are dedicated to enhancing trust and confidence in our business marketplace.

Specific types of businesses receive more consumer inquiries and complaints than others. The following lists represent the industries in Alaska that received the highest number of inquiries and complaints from July through September 2009:

TOP 5 INQUIRIES
1. Contractors - General
2. Auto Repair & Service
3. Auto Dealers – Used Cars
4. Heating & Air Conditioning
5. Plumbing Contractors

TOP 5 COMPLAINTS
1. Billing Service
2. Hotels
3. Auto Repair & Service
4. Auto Renting & Leasing
5.* Auto Dealers – Used Cars
5.* Collection Agencies
Please note: * Indicates when multiple types of businesses share the same number of inquiries or complaints.

Photo of the day - October 21

This squirrel looked so cute perched at the end of a dead stick, munching the seeds from spruce cones. Don't know how this little creature managed to survive that awful cold spell we had last winter.
Photo Courtesy of Audrey A. Brown

Sarah Palin to Appear on Oprah Winfrey

Former Governor/Vice Presidential Candidate will be promoting her new book "Going Rogue: An American Life" on the Oprah Winfrey show on Monday, November 16. The book is already No. 2 on Amazon.com's best-seller list . The book will be released Tuesday, Nov. 17, the day after Palin's interview with Winfrey.

To read the complete story see the Fairbanks Daily News Miner

Photo of the day - October 20

Coho salmon resting on their way upstream in the Delta Clearwater River.
Photo Courtesy Fronty Parker

Photo of the day - October 19

While fishing in Cooper Landing I took this photo of eagle sitting on a branch above the Russian River in late July. Photo Courtesy Julie Parker

Delta Chamber of Commerce Halloween Bash

Don’t forget the Delta Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Halloween Bash this Saturday at the Delta High School small gym! Bring the kids out from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. for a spooktacular good time!

In addition to the many carnival games that are in the works, the National Honor Society will be there to help the kids decorate cookies, the Delta High school will be servin’ up cotton candy and popcorn all night, also, the D.J. Saddle Tramps 4-H club will be selling hot dogs and various other foods to help keep your little ghosts and goblins at the trick or treating bests! Chris Brady with Brady Karaoke, DJ and Live Sound Services has graciously donated his services and will be cranking out the tunes all evening! Don’t forget to practice your Scary screech and plan to wow the judges with your Halloween costume for our annual Scary screech and costume contests; all ages are welcome to participate!
Mark your calendars and plan to be there October 24th from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. There will be plenty of prizes and candy for everyone! Tickets for the carnival games will be sold at the door and the first 50 kids will get a free trick or treating bag!

For more information please contact Dani at 895-5068.

Photo of the day - October 17

A Denali Park Dall sheep ram forages on willow leaves that have already turned as he fattens up before winter. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Photo of the day - October 16

This moose seemed to want to take refuge in my yard during hunting season. He appears to have posed for me. Photo Courtesy of Audrey A. Brown

The Delta Community Choir needs YOU!

Calling all singers!

Our practices, directed by Ruth Tibbitts and accompanied by Becky Riche, will begin Thursday, October 22 from 7-9 PM in the music room at Delta High School and will be held every Thursday until just before the Christmas performance at the Ft Greely Chapel.

It is not required that you know how to read music, however, it IS required that you enjoy making music together. For more information contact Lucy Dunham at 895-5273.

Photo of the day - October 15

One of the many uses for a “blue tarp” this bird decides it would make a fine place to take a quick bath. Image by Dwight Phillips

Fairbanks Drama Association Presents Letters to the Editor

Celebrating 47 seasons! Showtimes Fridays; Saturdays at 8:15pm. Sundays at 2:00pm. Doors open one hour before the show. Fairbanks Drama Association, 1852 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701. Info and Tickets 456-PLAY. Single tickets: Adults: $20 / Teens: $14 / Seniors: $18 ((65+) / Military: $18 (with ID) / Students: $18 (with ID)

Letters To The Editor October 23 – November 8, 2009
by Melinda Mattson / Directed by Melinda Mattson

It's off the press and into the limelight! Discourse and discord abound in this unique take on the life and times of our town. Playmaker Melinda Mattson has taken letters written to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and crafted an evening of passion, pathos and humor - all written by you and you and yours. First produced by FDA in 1983, "Letters" played to delighted full houses. In 1985 it won best production honors at the Alaska State Community Theatre Festival. This updated version features letters published from 1958-2008.

Lt. Colonel Chronis will Speak for the Alcan Highway Celebration

Lt. Colonel Chronis and his Sergeant Major have accepted an invitation to come and speak during the wreath laying ceremony in Delta Junction.
Wednesday, October 28th
10:30am Juneteenth Military Honors Awards Reception
Fort Wainwright - Fairbanks, Alaska

2:30pm Wreath Laying Ceremony - Alcan Highway
Delta Junction, Alaska

Dedicated to the African American army engineers who built the historic Alcan Highway during World War II and completed the Sikanni Chief River Bridge on October 28, 1942

Photo of the day - October 14

When all the students returned to school for their first day of school in August, these dogs were excited to be at school as well. Photo Courtesy Deb Snyder

Overcome Fear of Buying Halloween Costumes Online

13 Halloween Shopping Considerations, Provided By Your BBB

Anchorage, Alaska – Oct. 13, 2009 – Shopping online for Halloween costumes can often feel like a trick, not a treat. During October and November, Better Business Bureaus across the nation receive a surge of complaints related to costume and merchandise delivery, repair, and refund or exchange issues.

BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington asks consumers in search of Halloween costumes to consider the following advice:

Plan ahead. Most consumers need a Halloween costume before Oct. 31. Order early, even if the company promises that it will arrive within days, in case the costume doesn’t fit. According to the FTC, by law a merchant should ship your order within the time stated in its ads or over the phone. If the merchant doesn't promise a time, you can expect arrival within 30 days.

Browse around and check pricing. Comparison shop, online and offline, before you buy. The costume’s advertised price may differ from the final cost; certain states have sales tax, and if ordering online, shipping fees usually apply.

Look up the seller’s name. Do research on an online search engine.

Contact your BBB. Visit www.bbb.org to view their BBB Reliability Report.

Verify licensing. Find out where the seller is located and check for business licensing in that state.

Confirm a point of contact. Look for full contact information on their Web site, including a phone number, e-mail address and a physical street address; be cautious of sellers that only provide a post office box.

Locate the BBBOnline Reliability Seal. If the company claims to be a BBB Accredited Business, look for their BBBOnline Reliability Seal on their Web site and visit www.bbb.org to confirm.

Inspect the return, refund and shipping policies. Pay close attention to time limits on returns (for example: 30 days) and other restrictions. Make note, some retailers only offer in-store credit for exchanging merchandise and some businesses refuse to refund or exchange seasonal merchandise, such as Halloween costumes.

Review the privacy policy. Before handing over your contact and payment information, make sure you know the company’s data handling practices (avoid companies that sell or redistribute information to third parties).

Ensure secure connections. Before submitting a payment over the Internet, make sure the Web page is secure. On secure pages, the Web address begins with "https:" instead of "http:" on the payment page; the browser displays the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen; or a lock icon appears on the status bar.

Pay safely. Credit cards are the preferred method of payment for online purchases. You may be able to dispute the seller’s charges if the goods don’t arrive. If unsatisfied with the costume and the retailer denies a refund (even though all return instructions were followed), you may contest charges of $50 or more through your credit card company.

Keep a record. Save a copy of the order confirmation page or request a confirmation e-mail to make sure the item, the quantity and the payment matches what you purchased. Also, print a copy of the return or refund policy, warranties or other relevant purchase conditions, and the company's full contact information. Those concerned with the safe arrival of their package can request that the shipper get a signature before delivering.

Examine your purchase. If the costume arrives but is damaged, doesn't fit or match what was ordered, contact the company as soon as possible. Tell them your concern and what you're looking for: repair, exchange, or refund. Use e-mail, if available, and save a written copy of your correspondence.

Photo of the day - October 13

Angel Rocks, near Chena Hot Springs Resort, is a popular hiking trail. This photo shows one of the rock formations with a recent dusting of new snow. Photo Courtesy Gary Cooper

Alaska State Troopers are basis of TV series

The Associated Press
Article printed from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A new five-part television series featuring the Alaska State Troopers will begin airing this week.


The series, titled "Alaska State Troopers," starts Wednesday on the National Geographic Channel.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters says the series allows viewers to see the unique work of the agency. Film crews for 10 months followed both police and wildlife officers as they battle crime from the Kenai Peninsula to Nome on the western coast.

The first episode, titled "Ice Patrol, in part documents how 13 troopers kept control of 10,000 attendees at the 2009 Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Class -- which the channel calls Alaska's version of Mardi Gras.

Other episodes are titled "Crime on the Kenai," ''Alaska Justice," Alaska State Troopers: The Wild West" and "Drug Bust."

Photo of the day - October 12

An immature Peregrine Falcon rests in a spruce tree top near Donnelly Dome. Image by Dwight Phillips.

Photo of the day - October 10

These sharptailed grouse are feeding on green grass on a Delta farm field shortly before our first snow.
Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Photo of the day - October 9

The wonderful pic of the Tanana River in one of your recent photos of the day reminded me of one I took there last Friday on the way to Fairbanks…the cloud bank was moving northwest at a rapid clip and gave me this view of Mt. Hayes from the Shaw Creek pull out. We are so Blessed for views like this.
Photo Courtesy Mike Kingston/CRTC

Photo of the day - October 8

 In September, while hanging out at moose camp, I took this picture of a full moon.
Photo Courtesy Julie Parker

Department of Motor Vehicles Closure Oct 23-24

DMV will be closed October 23rd and 24th for employee leave.

Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration

A family orientated event sponsored by the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), Juneteenth America, Inc. (JAI) the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)

“Dedicated to the African American army engineers who built the historic Alcan Highway during World War II”

Fundraiser for the NJOF Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Legacy Project featuring  National Juneteenth Jazz Artist: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Piano; Trumpet and the “Juneteenth Jazz Praise Ensemble”
Dick Griffin, Trombone Rick Zelinsky, Saxes
Dirk Westfall, Bass John Damberg, Drums

Friday, October 30, 2009
Dick Griffin Art Exhibit Opening - 1:00pm Concert - 7:00pm
Z. J. Loussac Public Library
3600 Denai Street Anchorage, AK 907-575-8506

Free Admission! Suggested Fundraiser Ticket Donation - $20.00

For more information call Bishop Dave Thomas at 907-575-8506
e-mail: BishopThomas9@yahoo.com
http://www.juneteenthalaskaalcan.com/  http://www.juneteenthjazz.com/

Photo of the day - October 7

Not an uncommon site, a grizzly bear takes the easy path (the highway) approximately 15 miles north of Valdez, Alaska. Image by Dwight Phillips

A Personal Note from the Editor

I apologize for the delay in updating the DNW today.  Many Alaskans know what it is to fly into Fairbanks on the red eye special. I needed some sleep.  I thought about updating it at 3:15am when we arrived home, but I was really tired. I have been away from Delta for the last 2 weeks.  My husband and I took a mini vacation to go outside and visit family.  It was one of those trips that was hard to pack clothes for.

When we left Delta, we had 3 inches of snow and 28 degrees.  Upon our arrival in San Antonio, TX, we were greeted with 93 degree weather for the next week.  That was quite a change.  I personally am not one for those hot, humid temperatures.  After being with family in TX for one week, we then flew up to PA to visit the rest of our family.  Temperatures were much more in our favor there. 

Now we are back home and I have a lot of catch up work to do.  I sure don't know how a person can get so much mail in 2 weeks time.  You wouldn't believe my desk. 

I want to say thank you to each and everyone of you for your support of the Delta News Web.  Our families found it to be exciting to see a small town paper online and knowing how much our community pulls together.  Yes, we brag to our families about our little close knit community.

Donnelly Training Area Prescribed Burns

Ft. Wainwright, AK — The US Army Alaska, with the assistance of the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) will burn approximately 1 acre of woody debris piles located in the Donnelly Training Area, south of Delta Junction, AK. In addition, approximately 100 acres of dried grass will be burned on the Wills Range.

The burns could occur any time between October 8 and November 30, 2009, as weather conditions, air quality and military training schedules allow.

The purpose of the burns is to dispose of woody debris cleared to enhance range maneuverability and to reduce areas of cured grass that could ignite as a result of military training activities. Removing the fuel now will increase the number of training days for the Army and will help prevent serious wildfires from occurring in the future.

Fire personnel from AFS and Fort Wainwright will be present to monitor and hold the fire at fire lines and other boundaries. Smoke may be visible in and around Delta Junction and the Donnelly Training Area as a result of the burning operations.

For more information about the prescribed burns, contact the BLM AFS Information Office at 907-356-5511, or AFS Dispatch at 907-356-5554.

"The Alaska Fire Service provides wildland fire management on an interagency basis for land managed or owned by U.S. Interior Department Agencies, Alaska Native Corporations and the Military in Alaska."

Now is the Time to Sign up for Aquacize Classes

The Fort Greely Fitness Center Pool is holding Aquacize Classes from October 14, 2009  to April 14 2010 with a maximum of 30 participants per class.

Must call to sign up, 873-5665.

Photo of the day - October 6

The fall drive from Delta to Fairbanks is one of the wonders of the world, as I see it. This view of the Tanana River from a pull-off site, is one of my favorites, any time of year. For me, there is no way to resist stopping to photograph the wonders of fall in Interior Alaska. Photo by Audrey A. Brown

Photo of the day - October 5

This cow moose with her calf are enjoying some of the good tender grass at the edge of this pond. Mt. Hayes and it's reflection is seen in the background. Photo by Steve Thomas

Con Artists Take Advantage of Samoa Tsunami

BBB Says Watch Out for Increased Scams Due to Natural Disasters
Anchorage, Alaska – Oct. 5, 2009 – When natural disasters strike, con artists prey on those looking for details and hoping to help. BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington warns consumers that scams often circulate when natural disasters occur, such as tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.

Scammers were quick to respond to the tsunami that hit Samoa and surrounding islands on Sept. 29.

Con artists used search engines and social media sites to trick those gathering information about the tsunami into downloading possible viruses. Rogue anti-virus scammers used Twitter trend topics and search engine optimization techniques to ensure that their Web sites were among Google’s top results for searches about the Samoa tsunami—Hawaii’s BBB found malicious links in the first 10 search results.

Clicking on a malicious search result related to the tsunami can produce a very authentic-looking warning that the computer is infected, which will launch a fake anti-virus scan. Attempts to stop the scareware attack by clicking to cancel or closing the window may result in more pop-up windows with even more menacing warnings. Eventually, users are prompted to install a program that likely contains a virus or other harmful files.

To help protect against these malicious online scams, BBB recommends that consumers maintain their computers with current critical operating system updates, anti-virus software, and ensure that all security patches and updates are installed for the Web browser and other Internet-based programs. Scareware attacks can happen anywhere pop-up ads occur or links are shared, including trusted news sites, search engine results, and social media programs.

BBB also encourages consumers to look out for fly-by-night disaster relief charities. While many requests to help those affected by natural disasters are on behalf of legitimate charities, the generous and good-hearted are susceptible targets for fly-by-night organizations.

Through BBB Foundation, your BBB offers its Charity Review and Charity Seal Program to warn about false charity solicitations and assist potential donors in finding reliable local charities and organizations. BBB's 20 Standards for Charity Accountability cover how an organization is governed, ways it spends money, truthfulness of its representations, and its willingness to disclose basic information to the public. Always check out the charity with BBB before making a donation; comprehensive Charity Reports are free at www.bbb.org/charity

Photo of the day - October 4

A baby fox "kit" meanders down a gravel road. Fox kits are very curious often approaching within a few feet of people. Image courtesy Dwight Phillips.

Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon - Oct 15

The next membership luncheon will be held on October15th at noon at the Clearwater Lodge. Lunch is $15.00. Please RSVP by October 13th at 4pm to be eligible for the free lunch.
Guest Speaker is Brian Lindamood, Project Manager - Special Projects. ARRC proposes to build and operate an approximately 80 mile long rail line from the Eielson Air Force Base area to the Delta Junction area. The line could ultimately provide improved transportation options for the U.S. military, for mass transit, and for freight.

Completion of the new rail line would take several years and involve a number of steps The Northern Rail Extension Project would require a wide variety of permits or approvals, in addition to the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) authorization.

Concurrent with the development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), ARRC will identify required permits, obtain agency views on the proposed alignments, and refine engineering and operational information. In addition, ARRC, as the state entity and project proponent, will keep the public and resource agencies informed regarding the project itself.

Acquisition of right-of-way and construction would begin after the EIS is complete and required permits are obtained. The ARRC right-of-way team would initiate preliminary contact with land owners to gain feedback on land acquisition issues during the development of the EIS by the STB, and an ongoing dialogue will occur with property owners to facilitate any potential land acquisitions.

The environmental work and preliminary engineering are funded from a Defense Department appropriation that is administered as a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration.

ARRC anticipates the project will be financed through revenue bonds, although additional sources are being sought. If construction funding is available, construction could start in mid-2009 or early 2010. Information courtesy Alaska Railroad Corporation

Fort Greely Army Community Service is Looking for a Few Good Armed Forces Retirees!

Fort Greely's Army Community Service is interested in facilitating an Armed Forces Retiree meeting to discuss your issues at Fort Greely/Delta Junction.
If you know of a Retiree unable to receive this invitation, then please deliver the word to them.

The meeting will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in Fort Greely's Gabriel Auditorium.

If that time doesn't work, then email your concerns to ricardo.raphael@us.army.mil. Or, call 873-4346 to sign up or voice your concerns.

Let your voices be heard.

Photo of the day - October 2

This young bull moose was part of a rutting aggregation. Notice his extremely long bell.
Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Fort Wainright Memorial Tribute

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, - Soldiers with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division here will conduct a Tribute and Dedication Ceremony Wednesday, October 7, afternoon to memorialize and honor the brigade’s Soldiers who died during the unit’s recent deployment to Iraq.

The ceremony will take place in Ft. Wainwright’s Northern Lights Chapel and subsequently in the post’s Monterey Lakes Memorial Garden at 2 p.m.

During the ceremony, the brigade will unveil and dedicate a memorial monument commemorating the selfless service and sacrifice of the “Fallen Arctic Wolves” of the brigade.

Teeth Whitening Products Sold Online, Wipe Smile Off Consumers' Faces

Anchorage, Alaska – Oct. 1, 2009 – Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be extremely wary of pervasive online ads offering the promise of a whiter, brighter smile. BBB has received a recent onslaught of complaints from consumers who thought they were signing up for a free trial of teeth whitening products but were repeatedly billed for products and services they didn’t want.
The ubiquitous ads for teeth whiteners can be found on popular sites such as FoxNews.com, CNN.com and ABCNews.com. The ads typically link consumers to phony blogs and fake news sites that are designed to look like impartial 3rd party endorsements of the products. The phony endorsements then direct the consumer to a main Web site that claims the product sold is “As seen on” ABC, Forbes.com, CBS News, CNN, and USA Today—and includes the logos of these news outlets.

“From the complaints we’ve received, it’s obvious that many consumers are unfortunately letting their trust in respected news outlets influence their level of trust in the products being advertised on their Web sites,” said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington. “While it may be true that advertisements for the teeth whiteners were placed on major news Web sites, reporters for USA Today or CNN did not write stories about the efficacy of the specific products being sold.”

The countless Web sites for various teeth whitening products claim to offer a no-risk, money back guarantee, free trial of the product. To sign up, customers must provide a credit or debit card number to cover shipping. Complainants to BBB state that they are billed before their trial ends and continue to be billed after they have told the company they want to cancel. Complainants also may find mystery charges for other companies and services that they didn’t realize they were signing up for with their “free” trial.

BBB has identified several companies that are behind the teeth whitening ads and Web sites online including:

Dazzle White, White Smile, Teeth Smile and Dazzle Smile – The BBB serving Edmonton has received 450 complaints in the last 12 months from consumers in 47 states, five Canadian provinces, and the United Kingdom, about Dazzle White, White Smile, Teeth Smile and Dazzle Smile. Complainants report being billed as much as $79 for the free trial and are charged for several other services—such as a weight loss program.

Ivory White – The BBB serving Denver has received 611 complaints from consumers in 46 states. Complainants say they were charged as much as $78 a month for their free trial. Other related companies include Ortho White and Bella Brite which are mounting complaints as well. All three companies have been asked to add more disclosure to their Web sites regarding the free trial offer. The BBB has not yet received a response to these requests.

Advanced Wellness Research – The BBB serving West Palm Beach has received thousands of complaints from consumers regarding Advanced Wellness Research’s acai berry supplements and has begun to receive complaints from consumers about their teeth whiteners sold under the names of Max White, My Whitening, Gleaming White Smile and many others.

BBB offers the following advice to consumers on purchasing teeth whitening products online:

Beware of supposed third-party endorsements. Be extremely cautious of any ad that links to a blog or Web site news articles. The blogs and supposed news articles were likely created by the company and are not the unbiased endorsement of real consumers or reporters.

Always read the fine print. Many Web sites offering a free trial of a teeth whitening product do not disclose the billing terms and conditions or do not have such details prominently displayed on their Web site. Before giving the company any credit or debit card information, review the Web site fully and be aware that free trials typically result in repeated billing.

Check the company out with your BBB first. Before signing up for any free trial, review the business’ Reliability Report™ online at www.bbb.org to see if the BBB has identified issues with the company.

File a complaint with BBB if you feel you’ve been ripped off. Consumers who feel they are being deceived by a business selling teeth whitening products online can file a complaint with their BBB at http://www.bbb.org/.

Photo of the day - October 1

The beauty of these birds is hard to put into words and watching them is a Real Joy.
Photo Courtesy CRTC/M. Kingston

Alumni Photo Carter Addison

Carter Addison, son of Jonathan and Hillary Addison, younger brother to Emma and Reese. Carter was born in the peace of our home on September 13, weighing in at 8 lbs. 5 oz.. Photo Courtesy Hillary Addison

We invite you to browse through all of our other alumni photos. Click here.

Stryker Brigade Redeployment Ceremony

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, Sept. 29 - U.S. Army Alaska will conduct a redeployment ceremony for the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at the Fairbanks Carlson Center at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 to honor the Soldiers returning from Iraq after 12 months.

Scheduled to speak at the ceremony are Gov. Sean Parnell, governor of Alaska; Maj. Gen. William J. Troy, commanding general, U. S. Army Alaska; and Col. Burt K. Thompson, commander, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Family, friends and the local communities are offered free admission for the ceremony to take this opportunity to welcome the Soldiers home from their one-year deployment to Iraq.

Seating for the ceremony is limited, as the majority of the seats in the Carlson Center will be reserved for the Soldiers, their families, other military personnel and invited VIPs.

Last Sunday, Sept. 27, the final flight of redeploying Soldiers arrived and completed the return of the more than 4,000 Soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

The brigade colors were cased in a ceremony last September at Fort Wainwright symbolizing the deployment of the unit. The unit colors will be uncased during the ceremony Thursday to represent the completed mission and return home to Alaska.

Soldiers with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, in conjunction with the Iraqi Security Forces, the Government of Iraq and the Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team, conducted full-spectrum counter-insurgency operations in the Diyala province of Iraq in order to support the provincial government and facilitate stabilization and growth in the region.

Media members are asked to arrive at the Carlson Center main entrance off of 2nd Ave at 11 a.m. There will be a sign in desk for media members and a media room to receive an informational brief and to link media members with their military escorts.

Those media agencies wishing to cover the event live should plan to arrive with enough time to establish communications cable runs and receive the informational brief at 11:50 a.m.

Media agencies interested in attending and covering the ceremony on Thursday are asked to contact the U.S. Army Alaska Public Affairs Office at (907) 347-2175 to coordinate media parking passes and military escorts.

Photo of the day - September 30

A man sails effortlessly and quietly across Quartz Lake in his sailboat with the fall colors signaling the end of this wonderful activity. Image courtesy of Dwight Phillips.