2010 Ice Carving Contest February 6

The Friends of Delta Agriculture are hosting this years Ice Carving Contest! February 6th from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Everyone is invited to participate. This is a great event for families to take part in. Each participant (s) must provide their own tools.

Due to insurance reasons no one under the age of 18 is allowed to run a chainsaw. For more information or to sign up ahead of time please contact Carol McNabb at 895-1936

Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon

The next membership luncheon will be held at noon on February 18, 2010 at the ALASKAN STEAKHOUSE. Lunch will be $15.00. Please RSVP by 4pm on February 16th to be eligible for the free lunch drawing.

The featured program is Delta High School Internships and Guest speaker will be Delta High School Counselor, Lindsey Pinkelman.

Delta High School offers a course called Senior Internship in which only Seniors are eligible to enroll. This year six students were placed in the community in the following businesses:

Crossroads Family Dentistry
Delta Greely District Office
Posh Salon
Delta Elementary
Schultz Farms/ Family log business
A Higher Knead Massage Therapy

We are interested in strengthening the relationship between the high school and the community businesses to place students interested in pursuing a particular career field. The unpaid internship provides them an opportunity to see the daily ins and outs of the career.

Congratulations to Family Medical Center’s Mary Kaspari for winning the door prize and to Karen Cedzo, Sawmill Creek Enterprises, for winning the free lunch at the chamber’s January Membership Luncheon at the
Snowhook Club.

National Freedom Day February 1

National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. President Lincoln signed the Amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865, although it was not ratified by the states until later.


On June 30, 1948, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming February 1st as National Freedom Day. It is not a federal holiday; government offices and banks are open for business.

For more information see Wikipedia

Photo of the day - January 30

This is a sight not see very often. This lynx yawned not once, but three times as it posed for me to take its photo. I don't think the snowshoe hare, its main food source, has a chance with the teeth this lynx has. Photo Courtesy Steve Thomas

FDA Presents The Sunshine Boys

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)
The Sunshine Boys February 5 – 21, 2010
by Neil Simon Directed / by Shirley Hughes

“Lewis and Clark” (Al and Willie) were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years. Now they aren’t even speaking. When CBS requests them for a ‘History of Comedy’ retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries and laughs. Playwright Neil Simon has fashioned this exquisite comedy dubbed: ‘ham on wry’ with his sure footed craftsmanship with one-liners shining through. Simon is lauded for this splendid and touching slice of the show biz life.

Photo of the day - January 29

The buffalo were photographed while driving on Meadows Road last fall. Photo Courtesy Carol Watkins. Click on the image for a photo enlargement.

Polar Bear Plunge Results for this Week

The Plunge Results for the week ending Jan. 29, 2010


Marshall Brown - CRTC 81 Votes

Teresa Knopp - Alaskan Steakhouse 76 Votes

Adam Schneider - Buffalo Center Service 41 Votes

Robert Grimes - DHS Principal 7 Votes

Billy Miller - Alaskan Steakhouse 6 Votes

Shannon Nichols - Hockey Coach 5 Votes

Jennifer Anderson - Buffalo Center Service 5 Votes

Matthew Andreasen - Mat's Auto 5 Votes

Gregg Wojcik - Football Coach 5 Votes

Mark Adams - Basketball Coach 2 Votes

Patsy Ewing - Clearwater Lodge 0 Votes

Jason Howell 0 Votes

Mike Crouch Jr. - Delta Industrial 0 Votes

Housing and Lodging Availability Survey Being Conducted

NOTICE

In conjunction with a survey being conducted by KAYA ASSOCIATES, INC., all businesses and private enterprises relevant to providing permanent and/or temporary housing in the city of Delta Junction or the surrounding Deltana area, are requested to participate by providing information regarding their housing/lodging capabilities.

Crucial to this Survey is information needed to accurately determine the Delta Junction area’s capacity to accommodate an influx of personnel for housing.

Information from the following is requested for the collection of data. While information will be requested on present availability, overall capacity is pertinent.

• Hotels and motels
• Bed and Breakfast operations
• Apartments and Extended Stay facilities
• Man Camps
• Single Family homes and multiplex units for sale by owner or for rent

Please contact our representative at (907)803-4284. This survey will end February 13, 2010. Your participation is both appreciated and critical for obtaining accurate data from which determinations will be made.

KAYA Associates, Inc. is an Independent Contractor employed at Ft Greely that specializes in Engineering and Installation Management Support.

UAF Tanana Valley Campus Late Start Classes

Academic Writing About Literature, Beginning AutoCAD, and Welding I and II are off and running. Two additional late start classes have been added:

40615 SPAN F100A Elementary Spanish 1A, three credits, is scheduled to start February 9th, and run Tues/Thur, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, with instructor D. Dunklebarger.

CIOS F150 Computer Business Applications, three credits, is scheduled to start on March 1st, and run Mon/Wed, 6 to 9 pm, with instructor W. Wright.

Interested in genealogy? A class possibility, with sufficient response --- please call if that is something you would like to learn more about.

Remember the voucher worth $50 off per credit from the Partners for Progress in Delta, Inc. applies to classes taken here in Delta at the Career Advancement Center.
To register or for further information please contact Cheryl Helkenn, 895-4605, or chelkenn@alaska.edu .

Photo Courtesy January 28

These guys were stopping by my snow covered garden trying to uncover some leftover greens. Seems they settled for what was left on the brush. Photo Courtesy Candy Corty

Photo of the day - January 27

It's not only another pretty sunset in Alaska, but the cloud formations are very interesting as well.
Photo courtesy Barbara Tharp

Livestock Workshop Scheduled for February 3rd

Dr. Milan Shipka, Livestock Specialist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will be in Delta on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 to conduct an informal livestock workshop from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the CES Conference Room in the Jarvis Office Center.

Main focus will be on beef cattle with application to other species as well. Milan will discuss animal nutrition, body condition scoring, and reproduction, with a Question and Answer session towards the last half hour of the workshop. This class is designed for current producers as well as those individuals interested in livestock production. Ideal for 4-H and FFA students.

Milan will plan another livestock workshop for Delta in April, please consider topics of interest that he might address at this later date.

This is a free workshop, however registration is required to confirm a space. Please contact the CES office in Delta at 895-4215 or email cmroden@alaska.edu . We will need a phone number and mailing address.

Registration deadline is Monday, Feb 1, 2010.

Signing of Vietnam Peace Accord (1973)

The Paris Peace Accords of 1973, intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam Conflict, ended direct U.S. military involvement and temporarily stopped the fighting between north and south. The governments of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), and the United States, as well as the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) that represented indigenous South Vietnamese revolutionaries signed the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam on January 27, 1973. The negotiations that led to the accord had begun in 1968 and had been subject to various lengthy delays. As a result of the accord, International Control Commission (ICC) was replaced by International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS) to carry out the agreement.
The main negotiators of the agreement were United States National Security Advisor Dr. Henry Kissinger and Vietnamese politburo member Le Duc Tho; the two men were awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts, although Tho refused to accept it.

For more information see Wikipedia

Photo of the day - January 26

A recent early morning view of Moose on Texas Range. Photo Courtesy Michael Kingston

Pre-Order Your 2010 Festival of Lights Shirt

The 2010 Festival of Lights shirts are ordered and will soon be in.

It's time to get your shirt pre-ordered for the big event!

We have t-shirts as well as hooded sweatshirts.

Sizes range from Small to 3XL and are available in both the t-shirt as well as the hooded sweatshirt.

To pre-order your shirt please contact Dani at 895-5068 or by e-mail at deltacc@alaska.net

Alaska Gas Price Update

Alaska, AK, January 25- Average retail gasoline prices in Alaska have fallen 3.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.41/g today. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.70/g, according to gasoline price website AlaskaGasPrices.com.

Including the rise in gas prices in Alaska during the past week, prices today are 81.2 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 12.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has increased 10.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 87.7 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.

About AlaskaGasPrices.com

GasBuddy.com operates over 200 live gasoline price-tracking websites, including AlaskaGasPrices.com. GasBuddy.com was named one of Time magazine's 50 best websites and to PC World's 100 most useful websites of 2008.

For more information or methodology, contact:

Patrick DeHaan
Senior Petroleum Analyst, GasBuddy.com
E-mail: pdehaan@gasbuddy.com
616-717-5618

Jason Toews
Co-Founder, GasBuddy.com
E-mail: jtoews@gasbuddy.com
612-875-2766

Text Message Donation Advice

What Donors Need to Know Before Pressing 'Send'
Anchorage, Alaska – Jan. 25, 2010 – In response to appeals for charitable causes, a new movement in generous giving is sweeping the nation: Text message donations.

It was recently reported that U.S.-based cell phone users had already contributed millions of dollars towards Haiti disaster relief efforts using a Short Message Service (SMS). Additionally, an increasing number of mobile marketing companies (MMCs) and celebrities are encouraging donations from text messengers.

How it works: Donors are asked to send a text message to a phone number provided in an advertisement—usually, the message must include a word or numerical code to signify the cause or contribution amount. The donation is then charged to the donor's cell phone bill.

"Giving donations through a wireless device can be a fast, easy and relatively hassle-free option" said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. "However, convenience shouldn't stop consumers from doing research before they press 'send.'"

BBB's Charity Review Program explores the potential pitfalls associated with text message contributions and offers advice on how to avoid hassles:

Timeliness – Text message donations may not reach the charity or organization immediately. Though major cell phone carriers are working to process donations quickly, there may be a lag time based on the high volume of donations received. To ensure funds are received instantly by the intended recipient, consider contacting the organization or charity directly; most accept donation payments online, over the phone or with a check by mail.

Recurring charges – Be careful not to inadvertently sign up for monthly charges if you're hoping to make a one-time donation. When vetting charitable appeals, thoroughly review and understand all terms and conditions. Monitor your billing statements for unauthorized expenses.

Affiliate marketers – When giving to a charity through text message, you could be signing yourself up to receive future phone calls, text message updates or other solicitations from the charity or its affiliated marketing companies. Carefully read the MMC's Web site for a privacy policy to find out if they will sell or redistribute your contact information. MMCs and charities should provide full information about their text message campaigns and opt-out methods to stop future communications.

Privacy – Like the internet, data breaches can occur and network security is not guaranteed when transferring data through a Short Message Service. Never send sensitive information via text message, such as Social Security or credit card numbers.

Trustworthiness – Donors should check to make sure that the charity and the MMC are legitimate and trustworthy before making a donation. Be wary of claims that 100% of the donation will go to "the cause," as charities may be spending a significant portion on promotions and fundraising expenses—possibly through campaigns and partnerships with MMCs.

Research businesses on the Internet; be wary if negative results appear. Search for BBB Reliability Reports on MMCs at http://www.bbb.org/ .

Verify the charity is properly registered with the state; charitable organizations soliciting in Alaska should be registered with the Alaska Department of Law. Get free Charity Reviews at www.bbb.org/charity  to see if the organization meets BBB's 20 Standards for Charity Accountability, which includes information on how money is allocated. Click here for more BBB smart giving tips.

Photo of the day - January 25

This fall Butch Goodno was doing some electrical work for us. Anyone that knows Butch, knows that he likes to clown around. Photo Courtesy Candy Corty

Department of Motor Vehicle Closures

Delta DMV will be closed January 29th - February 12th for employee leave. We are also closed on February 13th for the President's Day holiday.

If customers need service during that time they can contact the Fairbanks DMV at 1979 Peger Rd 451-5180 or the Tok DMV at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center 883-4481.

Photo of the day - January 23

The silhouettes of the tree branches make an interesting frame for the full moon in the background in this late afternoon photo. Photo courtesy Barbara Tharp.

To Save a Life In Theaters Now

Some people are just dying to be heard.

Teens today are bombarded with challenges and choices their parents never had to consider. Pressures and temptations blindside them daily - there's an urgent need to bring teens help and hope. Join other groups and make this the biggest outreach for teens ever - an effort that could change high school forever.

To Save a Life is an indie movie about the real-life challenges of teens and their choices, written and seasoned youth pastor Jim Britts and inspired by a passion to reach teenagers with life-affirming entertainment.

Opens at Regal Goldstream 16 in Fairbanks - Friday, January 22!
Showtimes for the weekend are noon, 3pm, 7pm, 9:50pm.

Although it will play the following Monday - Thursday, it's the numbers from the weekend that determine if they will keep showing it for two or more weeks. Praise God we've already sold 1,500 advance purchase tickets.

Call Shane for free outreach tickets (907)699-1044

It was written by a youth pastor in California, rated PG-13 for themes dealing with suicide, abortion and drinking. There's a few mild swear words, as it's written to be a real-life teen situation portrayal.

http://www.tosavealifemovie.com/ for more info and trailers.

Trailers also on iTunes and YouTube

Home Choice - Free 8 Hour Seminar

HomeChoice is a free Homebuyer and Finanacial Education Seminar.

To register: Call (800)459-2921 or visit www.ahafc.us
Pre-registration is required as classes may be cancelled due to lack of participation.

Join us at our upcoming class in Delta Junction. Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11 at 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Location: Jarvis West Conference Room, Mile 1420.5 Alaska Highway, Delta Junction, AK.

Our mission: "To provide Alaskans access to safe, quality, affordabe housing."

Class Topics Include:
- Preparing for home ownership
- Buying a home
- Obtaining a mortgage
- Closing the loan
- Being a successful homeowner
- Energy efficiency programs

Sponsored by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation

Photo of the day - January 22

The frozen Delta River from the military ice bridge on Donnelly Training Area. The Alaska Range is shrouded in clouds. Photo Courtesy Ellen Clark

Community Ski Day - Jan 31

Click here for their website

BBB's 2009 Statistics, Inquiries and Complaints

Anchorage, Alaska – Jan. 21, 2010 – 2009 proved to be a year of consumer caution, statistics show that more consumers are checking with Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington before they do business.

Between 2008 and 2009, BBB has documented a 215 percent increase in online traffic to http://www.bbb.org/ . The number of BBB Reliability Reports provided has gone up 31.9 percent.

As a service to consumers, free BBB Reliability Reports are available on thousands of local businesses. To date, there are 10,849 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 in 2009:

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

TOP 5 COMPLAINTS
1. Billing Service
2. Auto Repair & Service
3. Auto Dealers – Used Cars
4. Auto Dealers – New Cars
5. Hotels

Click here to view the top 20 inquiries and complaints received in 2009.

Photo of the day - January 21

You know it's cold out when your storm door window frosts over. What was interesting was that one can see the reflections of the trees behind me still in the window. Photo courtesy Barb Tharp

Photo of the day - January 20

This image shows a mother great horned owl feeding her day old babies. The meal consisted of the contents of one of the bountiful wild rabbits. An incredible sight, one could also hear the mother owl breaking bone and tearing flesh with her strong hooked bill as she fed her young. Image by Dwight Phillips

2010 Festival of Lights Polar Bear Plunge Results - Jan 20

Robert Grimes - Delta High School Principal 5 Votes

Billy Miller - Alaskan Steakhouse 5 Votes

Shannon Nichols - Hockey Coach 3 Votes

Mark Adams - Basketball Coach 0 Votes

Teresa Knopp - Alaskan Steakhouse 0 Votes

Marshall Brown - Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC) 0 Votes

2010 Polar Bear Plunge

It's hard to believe it's been almost a whole year since we watched the magical Carhartt Fairy flutter his little wings and "gracefully" dive into the frigid waters of the Polar Bear Plunge tank.

The Polar Bear Plunge is a yearly event that is hosted by the Delta Chamber of Commerce. Many of you who are new to the area may be slightly confused as to what the Polar Bear Plunge is. Every year the Delta Chamber puts cans around town and collects nominations and votes for "lucky divers". It works like this, an individual must be nominated and accept the nomination before they can start collecting votes. Each nomination is $5.00. Once they are nominated, the Chamber then contacts them to verify that they accept the nomination. Once the Nomination is accepted they can then start collecting votes. Each vote is a $1.00.

Votes are collected weekly and updates are posted on the cans, in the Delta Wind and online at the Delta News Web. The voting cans will be picked up Friday February 12th. However, voting will continue until February 13th at 4:00 P.M. at the Festival of Lights Galleria and Trade Show in the high schools small school gym.

The top three contestants with the most votes will jump into the icy arctic waters! This community event has been held for many years and is meant to be lighthearted and fun! Many of the "divers" dress up in costumes to add their own flair! As I mentioned before the "Carhartt Fairy" (our beloved Delta Wind Editor) graced us with his astounding performance last year! Who will it be this year? You help decide! Get out there and vote for the one that you want to see jump!

Voting cans are located at the following businesses: Alaskan Steakhouse, Mt. McKinley Bank, Buffalo Bar, Wells Fargo Bank, Buffalo Center Service, IGA Food Cache, Jack's Liquor, Delta-Clearwater Moose Lodge 911, Clearwater Lodge, and Cold Regions Test Center. For more information please contact Dani at 895-5068.

Obituary and Memorial Service for Susan M. Conant

We regret to announce the passing of our beloved mother Susan M. Conant. She passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack on January 14, 2010 at the age of 51.

She was born the daughter of Warren B. and Grace R. Conant on March 26, 1958 on Lockbourne Air Force Base Columbus Ohio.

Susan moved to Alaska in 1972 and lived there most of her life in areas such as Anchorage, Juneau, Moose Creek, North Pole, Delta Junction and her final residence was in Fairbanks.

She worked many different jobs in her life a lot of them were in management she also was a cake decorator and owned her own bakery / deli. She worked hard throughout her entire life. Susan was active in many area churches and was an arts and crafts teacher and social coordinator at the Golden Towers.

She will always be remembered as someone who put her family and others before herself. Someone who was willing to do anything she could for someone in need. She showed love and compassion for everyone through her words and actions. She was always quick with a smile. She was a wonderful loving grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her grandkids. She loved being in the outdoors, going camping, and crafting or just spending time with friends and family. She will be deeply missed by her friends and Family.

She was preceded in death by her father, Warren. She is survived by her mother Grace; son, Jeffery Hibnes; daughters, Jessica Brasier and Jennifer Hibnes, granddaughter, Selena Hibnes; grandsons, William Gardner and Kiernan Brasier; brothers, Ernie and James Conant and sister Teresa Leitzke.

A memorial service will be held at 4p.m., Sunday January 24, at Friends Church, 1485 30th Ave. Fairbanks, Alaska. Flowers and Condolences can be sent to her family at 796 Badger Rd., North Pole, AK 99705 or to the church the day of the memorial.

Fiber Friends

We have been awarded an art grant by the Association of Alaska School Boards to host a community arts event. Focusing on the fiber arts of knitting, weaving, sewing and crocheting we hope to unite all ages as they exchange and impart knowledge to one another. The event will be hosted at Delta Elementary Lunchroom and will run from 1-4pm on Saturdays-Jan. 30th, Feb. 27th (DES Gym or Library), Apr. 3rd and 24th. This event is free, and yarn and materials will be provided, but feel free to bring a snack to share, or labeled hooks, needles or project ideas to share with others. So far we have received very generous donations by the Dorhorst family (tons of yarn), Ellie Schneider (backstrap looms), and Eileen Pospisil (fabric). I am looking for a few volunteers to help with sign in and head a fiber art station, so please call 803-9419 or 895-4696 to leave me a message.
Also, please check out Delta Elementary art at http://www.artsonia.com/ by putting in our zip code 99737. We are #1 in the state and #237 in the nation for posting over 1,500 artworks so far this year. So, find your favorite elementary artist and leave them a comment with your support.

Thanks,
Lara Fahnlander
Delta Elementary Art Specialist

Photo of the day - January 19

This picture was taken early afternoon at Quartz Lake, December 27. The air was brisk and the blue sky was bright with only a few clouds. Photo Courtesy Dawn Shinn

Photo of the day - January 18

My Amaryllis bloomed over the Christmas holidays. It had a total of 4 blossoms. It was a welcome show of color in the middle of winter. Photo courtesy Barb Tharp

Ruth Edwards Medical Benefit January 23

There will be a medical benefit for Ruth Edwards at the Delta Clearwater Moose Lodge Jan 23, 2010 at 6:00 P.M.
A lasagna dinner will be offered for $10.00 and will include salad, french bread and dessert.

There will also be an auction followed by a live band (The Legends).

For information or to donate please contact Sharon Waldo at 895-4731.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States holiday marking the birthdate of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. It is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person.


King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. He was assassinated in 1968.

The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed in 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was founded as a holiday promoted by labor unions in contract negotiations. After King's death, United States Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) introduced a bill in Congress to make King's birthday a national holiday.

For more information see Wikipedia

Photo of the day - January 16

Tis the season for ice carving. Check out the ice bears located in front of Crossroads Dentistry that were carved by Sam Vose. Photo Courtesy Carol Watkins

Click on the image for a photo enlargement.

Open House and Adjunct Orientation

Join us for an open house and adjunct orientation event.

January 19 from 4:00 - 7:00pm at the Career Center.

Testing information, registration, advising and refreshments available!

Remembering: Persian Gulf War Began (1991 )

The initial conflict to expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait began with an aerial bombardment on 17 January 1991, this was followed by a ground assault on 23 February. This was a decisive victory for the coalition forces, who liberated Kuwait and advanced into Iraqi territory. The coalition ceased their advance, and declared a cease-fire 100 hours after the ground campaign started. Aerial and ground combat was confined to Iraq, Kuwait, and areas on the border of Saudi Arabia. However, Iraq launched missiles against coalition military targets in Saudi Arabia.

For more information see Wikipedia

Stryker Vehicles Return

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, Jan. 15 – The more than 300 Stryker Assault vehicles are returning to Fort Wainwright over the next four months after their maintenance reset following the Stryker Brigade’s 12-month deployment.
On Jan. 19th at Fort Wainwright, units from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division will sign for and receive the first set of newly reset Stryker vehicles in order to begin training with the vehicles again.

Every week Stryker vehicles will be line-hauled from Anchorage to Fort Wainwright via military transport to be signed over to a Project Management Stryker team. Project Management Stryker will finish the reset process at Fort Wainwright by installing critical communications systems and conducting the final maintenance tests.

Stryker vehicles returning from overseas tours are sent to Fort Lewis, Wa. for maintenance reset which includes a complete overhaul and rebuild of critical systems.

Once PM Stryker has completed a successful maintenance test on the vehicle it will be signed over to the unit in order to conduct training and operations.

Through March, local residents can expect to see trucks moving between Anchorage and Fairbanks transporting the Stryker vehicles to Fort Wainwright.

Likewise, as units begin to sign for their reset vehicles you can expect to see more Stryker vehicles headed to and from the local military training areas as units begin to train with the vehicles again.

The last group of vehicles to be reset and sent to Fort Wainwright are the special function vehicles such as the Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle and the Mobile Gun System that are due to return in July and August of this year.

Photo of the day - January 15

One doesn't have to be up early to see 'the crack of dawn' in interior Alaska in the winter. Sleep in, have your coffee and be out the door and set up by 10:45 am, and one can get some great photos. This one was shot Saturday, December 12, '09. Oh yeah, dress warm. It was -5 that morning.
Photo courtesy Barb Tharp

Festival of Lights Table Spaces Available

The Delta Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Festival of Lights Galleria & Trade Show Saturday February 13, 2010 from 10 AM - 4:30 PM.

Table spaces are 6.5 ft x 10 ft and are $20.00 each.

For more information or to reserve your space please contact Dani at 895-5068 or by email .

David Kamrath Memorial Service

A Memorial service for former resident David Kamrath, will be held in Oregon City, OR at 1pm at Holman Hankins Bowker & Waud, 715 Seventh Street Oregon City, OR 97045.
David died unexpectedly in Bend, Oregon on January 11, 2010.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years Barbara; daughter Kendall (Pat); son Kiley (Kate); grandchildren Max, Emylia, Taylor and Kate; Sisters Bette, Anna, Berneice, Carole and Jeannette; brothers Herbert, Frederick and Dale. He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Margaret.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the Delta Schools Weatherization fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family at 69566 Halter, Sisters, OR 97759 or by email .

Dave will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Aviation Company Redeployment Ceremony

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, Jan. 14 - The nearly 120 Soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment are scheduled to celebrate their return from deployment with a ceremony Wednesday at Fort Wainwright’s Hangar 6 at 10:30 a.m.
The company spent 12 months in Southern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The aviation company provided critical air medical evacuation support to Coalition Forces within Southern Iraq.

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

While the ceremony marks the official completion of C Company’s mission in Iraq, it also signifies their return to duty at Fort Wainwright.

All Media interested in attending the event at Hangar 6 are asked to contact the US Army Alaska (USARAK) Public Affairs Office at Wainwright (907)347-2175 no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan 19th.

2010 Census - BBB Says Be Cooperative but Cautious

Prevent Losing Finances and Personal Information to Impostors

Anchorage, Alaska – Jan. 14, 2010 – Better Business Bureau warns that law enforcement in several states have issued warnings that scammers are posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers.

"Scam artists know the public needs to share information for the 2010 Census and will try to take advantage of the situation," said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. "Education about the Census process can help protect your identity and finances."
Participating in the 2010 Census is required by law, but the public can learn how to identify legitimate Census workers and avoid con artists. BBB offers the following tips:

• Avoid e-mail scams. Census workers may contact individuals by telephone, mail or in person at a home. However, they will not solicit personal information by e-mail. Never click links or open attachments in an e-mail supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau. Forward fraudulent messages to the Census Bureau at itso.fraud.reporting@census.gov.
• Know what questions to expect. The U.S. Census Bureau will ask questions concerning household residents including name, date of birth, gender, race, phone number, household relationship, and owner or renter status. The Census Bureau Web site says, mailed forms will be delivered to residences in March; to avoid a visit from a census worker, individuals are asked to answer the 10 questions and mail the form back in the provided postage-paid envelope. Note: in remote areas of Alaska, Census workers will visit door-to-door starting Jan. 25. Click here to preview the 2010 Census form and questions.
• Verify the Census worker's legitimacy. If a U.S. Census worker knocks at the door, ask to see their official government badge before answering any questions. According to the Census Web site, Census workers will never ask to enter a home. If unsure about their identity, contact the Regional Census Center in Seattle to confirm they are employed by the Census Bureau.
• Protect personal information. Census workers will not ask for Social Security numbers, health insurance information, passwords, credit card or bank account numbers, or other financial information. Click here to read about the U.S. Census Bureau's data protection measures.
• Don't give any money. Census workers will never solicit donations or charge fees.

For more U.S. Census information visit http://www.2010.census.gov/ . For additional advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit http://www.bbb.org/.

Photo of the day January 14

Who says -40 isn't awesome!? This is the Salmon viewing area from a different point of view. Photo Courtesy Lisa Labaska . Click on the image for a photo enlargement

Senator Coghill will be in Delta Today

Senator John Coghill will be coming through Delta Junction tomorrow, Thursday, January 14. He will be at the Clearwater Baptist Church from 4-6pm tomorrow.

If you would like a chance to chat informally with our Senator, come on by and meet John Coghill.

Feel free to bring a finger food to share. Senator Coghill will be sharing his dinner hour with us.

Debbie Joslin
National Committeewoman for Alaska,
Republican National Committee

USDA to host Forums on Jobs, Economic Growth

Business Owners, Residents, Community Leaders to Share Ideas of Creating Jobs.
These forums will provide an opportunity for residents, business owners and community leaders across the state to share ideas on creating jobs and economic opportunities.

The schedule for Alaska meetings is:

Fairbanks-1/14/2010 at the Alpine Lodge at 1:30pm

Kotzebue-1/19/2010 at the Alaska Technical Center at 9am

Juneau-1/26/2010 at Centennial Hall at 1:30pm

Anchorage-2/1/2010 at Millennium Hotel at 1:30pm

The primary focus will be on ideas to accelerate job growth in rural America.

For more information contact:
State Director: (907)761-7705

Not All Charities are Equipped to Help and Some Might be Fraudulent

Anchorage, Alaska – Jan. 13, 2010 - As immediate relief needs are assessed in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, many Americans are looking for ways to help by donating to a charity. Your Better Business Bureau Foundation warns that—as occurred following the tsunami in 2004 and Katrina in 2005—fraudulent charities will likely emerge trying to scam donations from well-meaning Americans.
“Whenever there is a major natural disaster, be it home or abroad, there are two things you can count on. The first is the generosity of Americans to donate time and money to help victims, and the second is the appearance of poorly run and in some cases fraudulent charities,” said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington. “Not only do Americans need to be concerned about avoiding fraud, they also need to make sure their money goes to competent relief organizations that are equipped and experienced to handle the unique challenges of providing assistance.”

BBB Foundation offers the following six tips to help Americans decide where to direct donations:

- Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other Web sites, as they might not have fully researched the listed relief organizations. The public can go to www.bbb.org/charity  to research charities and relief organizations to verify that they are accredited by BBB and meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

- Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims. Despite what an organization might claim, charities have fundraising and administrative costs. Even a credit card donation will involve, at a minimum, a processing fee. If a charity claims 100 percent of collected funds will be assisting earthquake victims, the truth is that the organization is still probably incurring fundraising and administrative expenses. They may use some of their other funds to pay this, but the expenses will still be incurred.

- Be cautious when giving online. Be cautious about online giving, especially in response to spam messages and e-mails that claim to link to a relief organization. In response to the tsunami disaster in 2004, there were concerns raised about many Web sites and new organizations that were created overnight allegedly to help victims.

- Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas. Unless the charity already has staff in the effected areas, it may be difficult to get new aid workers to quickly provide assistance. See if the charity’s Web site clearly describes what they can do to address immediate needs.

- Find out if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other groups. Some charities may be raising money to pass along to relief organizations. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and giving directly to charities that have a presence in the region. Or, at a minimum, check out the ultimate recipients of these donations to ensure the organizations are equipped to effectively provide aid.

- Ask before giving gifts of clothing, food or other in-kind donations. In-kind drives for food and clothing—while well intentioned—may not necessarily be the quickest way to help those in need, unless the organization has the staff and infrastructure to be able to properly distribute such aid. Ask the charity about their transportation and distribution plans. Be wary of those who are not experienced in disaster relief assistance.

Photo of the day - January 13

The buffalo were waiting around for a drink of water. It looks like they are as fascinated with us and we are with them. Taken on Nistler Road, Christmas day. Photo Courtesy Dawn Shinn

Super Bowl Pizza Pre-Orders

Place an order for pizzas for your Super Bowl party.

DHS Fundraiser for students attending Close-up this March.

Contact Pam Krepel at 895-5182 and leave a message or stop by Busy Bee to pick up or drop off your order form.

Photo of the day - January 12

This fellow, photographed at 2009 Arctic Man looked like he could have played a role in "The Empire Strikes Back". Riding a motocross bike with a conversion kit to make it snow friendly he entertained a valley full of snow machiners while waiting for the race event to begin. Photo Courtesy Marlin Dunklebarger

Women's Health Clinic Coming to Delta

The Delta Junction Public Health Center will be holding a Woman’s Health Clinic on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 26th and 27th. A Nurse Practitioner will be offering complete pelvic exams including Pap smears and breast exams. This clinic is designed to serve teens and women who have difficulty accessing health care due to lack of health insurance or other barriers. Family planning information and supplies, urine testing for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, and HIV counseling and blood testing will be available for men and women. Fees for service will be on a sliding scale and no one will be refused service if unable to pay. There is no charge for sexually transmitted disease screenings.

Teens and young adults remain at high risk for all sexually transmitted diseases. About 65 percent of all Chlamydia cases reported are among teens. Many people don’t know they have Chlamydia so they don’t get treated and the disease continues to spread. If left untreated it can cause permanent damage for both men and women.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment for the Women’s Health Clinic, call the Delta Junction Public Health Center at 895-4292.

Alpha Omega Annual Membership Meeting

Alpha Omega Life Care,Inc annual membership meeting will be held on January 30, 2010 at 7pm at the Delta Community Center.

The annual dues are $10.00, however, we will give new members a 50% discount in dues if you are present at the meeting and sign on. We have started a membership program so that we can have a state gaming permit for raffles as a fund raising mechanism to support our programs. We also have an ongoing project to build another pantry for our hunger abatement programs. For that project we have established a pantry fund at McKinley Bank.

Alpha Omega has begun a college scholarship in the name of Bruce Marden,Sr. for his kindhearted volunteerism on behalf of Alpha Omega's Hunger Abatement programs in the years before his death. There is also an established Marden Scholarship fund at McKinley bank.

For more info you may call 895-4104.

UAF Tanana Valley Campus Courses

Spring 2010
The UAF Tanana Valley Campus is offering courses to the Delta Junction/Fort Greely community.

Don't forget to ask about the Partners for Progress in Delta, Inc. $50 voucher and the Fort Greely military dependent tuition waiver!

For more information on classes or registration information, contact Cheryl Helkenn at (907)895-4605.

• Computer Business Applications
  Dates: Jan 21 - May 7
  Location: DCAC
  Instructor: TBA
  Time: TBA
  
• Beginning Autocad
  Dates: Jan 21 - Mar 11
  Location: DCAC
  Instructor: M. Adams
  Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
  
• Academic Writing About Literature
  Dates: Jan 25 - Mar 15
  Location: DCAC
  Instructor: A. Glynn
  Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
  
• Individual, Society & Culture
  Dates: Jan 21 - May 7
  Location: DCAC
  Instructor: TBA
  Time: TBA
  
• Welding I
  Dates: Jan 21 - Feb 27
  Location: DCAC
  Instructor: J. Morris
  Time: 6:00-9:00pm
  
• Welding II Jan 21 - Feb 27
  Dates: Jan 21 - Feb 27
  Location: DCAC
  Instructor: J. Morris
  Time: 6:00-9:00pm

Photo of the day - January 11

Normally we don't think of the Tanana River as being warm, but on this day it was a lot warmer than the -5 air above it. Even though there was slush on the river, there was a fog rising from the waters. Hoarfrost was forming on the trees and bushes next to the river. It was a pretty day to be out in nature.
Photo courtesy Barb Tharp

National Poetry Contest for students featured at Delta Library

The community is invited to the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest Finals at the Delta Community Library on Tuesday, January 19 at 7:30. Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. It encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
Contest finalists from Pepper McFarland’s English class at Delta High School and the Whitestone community under the guidance of Diana Harper will be reciting memorized pieces in front of six judges and you, our always appreciative and supportive audience.

Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends at the National Finals will be awarded to the winners. Who knew poetry could be so exciting?

During the judge’s deliberation, two solo drama pieces will be performed by some very talented young people for your enjoyment. One is a selection from “The Diary of Anne Frank”, and the other is titled “Jason Bowman”. Come enjoy an energizing dose of arts and culture and brighten your winter evening with this short and entertaining program. Light refreshments will be provided by the Delta Library Association Board following this free event.

Photo of the day - January 9

The fireweed here in Interior Alaska was quite the bumper crop last summer. At least one bee keeper in Fairbanks was said to have gotten 100 lbs of honey from just one hive. Photo by Steve Thomas

Fort Greely Basketball League

January 19, 2010 - April 22, 2010
Games are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:00-9:00PM
Open to Delta Community

Non-Authorized Users: $20.00 per player
Registration and Fees due no later than 12 Jan 2010

Information required for Post Access:
Last four of your Social Security Number & AK Drivers License Number

Contact Ft Greely Fitness Center 873-2696 or Robin Fellman at 803-3687. Website

Photo of the day - January 8

Photo Courtesy Michael Kingston

Mount Moffit is a peak in the Alaska Range in central Alaska, United States, about 10 miles (16 km) east-southeast of Mount Hayes. It is notable for its steep faces and large relief above local terrain. For example, the north face drops 7,400 feet in approximately 1.2 miles (2 km) horizontal distance.

For more information see Wikipedia

Photo of the day - January 7

These are pictures of the pipeline bridge in Big Delta under construction in 1975. If you look carefully on the left hand side of one of the pictures you can see the Big Delta pipeline camp and Donnelly Dome just above it. Thought it might bring back a memory for many of you. Photos Courtesy Willy Blais

Please click on the images for photo enlargements.

Alaska National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program

Alaska National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program

“Reconnecting Veterans”

The Alaska National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program will be conducting Veteran Outreach services in Delta.

Place: Delta Junction City Hall
Date: January 13, 2010
Time: 5 pm – 8 pm

All veterans and former service members of all branches, families, and Soldiers currently serving are invited to attend this information fair for our veterans and their families, which includes:

• VA Benefits

• Tri-Care Benefits

• Retirement Benefits

• Funeral Honors

If there are questions, please call: Alice Barr, Reconnecting Veterans Coordinator at 907-545-1171 or 907-545-1171

You may also email questions.

Photo of the day - January 6

The caribou herd was grazing along the Richardson Highway late one morning in December. The mountains are sharp and clear as a backdrop. Photo Courtesy Dawn Shinn

2010 PFD Filing Period is Now Open

The Delta Junction Legislative information office is here to assist in filing for your PFD on-line. We have Permanent Fund Dividend Information and Instruction Booklets, as well as paper applications for adults and children.

Come by during regular business hours 7:00AM-4:30PM; we are located in the Jarvis office Center, Suite 218-221.

Call 895-4236 if you have any questions.

Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon

The next membership luncheon will be held at noon on January 21, 2010 at the SNOWHOOK CLUB. The Buffet style lunch will be $14.95. Please RSVP by 4pm on January 19th to be eligible for the free lunch drawing.
Guest speaker will be Deborah Hayes, Director of the Deltana Community Services Partnership project.

The Deltana Community Services Partnership formed when a group of concerned Delta area residents began meeting in February, 2008. The focus of the meeting was to discuss ways to address community needs. The
concerned citizens, school, law enforcement, the military, and city government all agreed that a plan for attracting and implementing integrated behavioral health and other services was needed. The Deltana Community Services partnership formalized as a 401 C(3) Non profit corporation in 2009. The current project director is Deborah Hayes. The board of directors is as follows: president Barbara Flynn, Vice President Cathie Green, Secretary Rachelle Hill, and Treasurer Joseph Brokus, remaining board members are John Lewis, David Flynn and Vera Gorban. Our project assistant is Deborah Snyder.

The Deltana Community Services Partnership’s mission is:
To develop and implement a 10-year plan that will address a broad scope of behavioral health needs in order to insure individual, family and community health for all ages in the Deltana region.

If you are interested in joining the coalition and becoming involved, contact us at deltana@nwresource.org or phone 907-895-3234

BBB Reports the Top 10 Scams and Rip-Offs of 2009

Anchorage, Alaska – Jan. 5, 2010 – 2009 will be remembered as a year when consumer finance, employment and pop-culture trends were at the forefront of everyone's minds—especially scammers, who preyed heavily on emotions. Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington reports on the top 10 scams of 2009:
1. Lottery checks – Consumers receive letters in the mail from supposed lotteries like "Publisher’s Clearing House" telling them they’ve won millions, and must wire hundreds of dollars back to the scammers to cover taxes or some other bogus fee.

2. Mortgage foreclosure rescue/debt assistance – Unethical companies target families struggling in the current economy by offering to help save their home or reduce debt; victims pay hundreds of dollars up-front for assistance they never receive.

3. Robocalls – Phone numbers—some of which are on the do-not-call list—receive harassing automated telemarketing calls, which often falsely claim that the consumer's auto warranty is about to expire or offer to help reduce debt and credit card interest rates. The issue prompted the FTC's ban on robocalls. 

4. Job hunter scams – As unemployment in the U.S. hit double digits for the first time in over 25 years, scammers had a large pool of out-of-work individuals to target, taking advantage of job hunters: False work-at-home opportunities and rebate processing schemes abound.

5. Mystery shopping – The job asks consumers to secret shop a few stores, evaluate customer service and then transfer money back to their employer via Western Union or MoneyGram. The scam company sends an authentic-looking check to cover the costs. After wiring funds, victims discover it's a fake check and are out hundreds or thousands of dollars.
6. Google work-from-home scams – Countless Web sites claim "you can learn how to make money from home using Google or Twitter." Schemers lure in consumers—who think they're getting a job with Google or Twitter—with misleading trial offers, starter kits and software.

7. Phishing emails/H1N1 spam – Fake Web sites and phishing or spam e-mails promising to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus were rampant in 2009.
8. Weight loss pill free trial offers – Online ads for acai berry or resveratrol weight loss pills use false endorsements from trusted national news organizations, Oprah, Rachel Ray or Doctor Oz in order to sell a "free product trial" with a small shipping charge; allegedly, credit cards are automatically charged month after month, without permission.
9. Memorabilia – With the election of the first African American President and the death of Michael Jackson, 2009 provided great opportunities for scammers to sell memorabilia, collectibles and commemorative items at inflated prices, which may have only sentimental value.
10. Friend/family in distress – Also known as the "Grandparent Scam," the victim receives a call or online message from a "friend" or "family member" claiming to be stuck in an emergency, car accident or false arrest. The victim wires the money, discovering later it was a scam artist impersonating a friend or relative.

Photo of the day - January 5

Could this be a great blue whale breaching on the Delta River?

Or maybe just a beautiful piece of wind smoothed river ice? Click photo for larger version.
Photos Courtesy James Wiggins

Delta Library Theft - AGAIN

Despite our best efforts, two more DVD movies have been taken from the Delta Library since January 1.

They are "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".

We ask again, why steal what you can borrow for free?

Do the right thing - return these movies to the library today.

Thank you,
Joyce McCombs, Library Director

Emergency Trauma Technician Class

Emergency Trauma Technician Class

Delta Rescue Squad

Class Dates:
Sat, Jan 9: 10am-6pm
Sun, Jan 10: 8am-6pm
Mon, Jan 11: 6pm-9pm
Sat, Jan 16: 10am-6pm
Sun, Jan 17: 8am-6pm
Mon, Jan 18: 6pm-9pm

Cost of the class per person with books and supplies - $215.00. Must attend all classes for certification. For more information please contact City Hall at 895-4656.

BBB Solutions for New Year's Resolutions

2010 Health and Wellness Tips
Anchorage, Alaska – Jan. 4, 2010 – Losing weight, becoming more physically fit or living a healthier lifestyle are common New Year’s resolutions. Consumers planning lifestyle changes should be careful of corrupt companies trying to capitalize on self-improvement goals.

Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington warns of misleading fitness and weight loss advertisements that entice consumers with urgent limited-time offers and promise fast results: "Drop 3 sizes in one week" or "Lose 37 pounds in only two weeks guaranteed!" Watch out for "miracle pills" touting no diet or exercise required. Avoid being lured in by exaggerated before and after pictures or unrealistic weight loss claims. Beware that most "free" trials require an initial credit card payment for shipping or processing—which could lead to continuous monthly charges, if consumers don't cancel before a deadline.

BBB provides the following tips for finding reliable health and fitness businesses and professionals:
Fitness centers, health clubs and trainers: Carefully inspect membership contracts and cancellation policies for health clubs and fitness centers. In Alaska, anyone doing business in the state is required to have a business license, verify licensing through the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.  Visit http://www.fitness.gov/  for more fitness resources.

Nutrition experts: Before enlisting help from dietitians and nutritionists, verify professional licensing through Alaska's Regulation of Dietitians and Nutritionists. Visit http://www.nutrition.gov/ for more tips.

Vitamin and supplement sellers: Although a product or supplement may be featured online or in television, newspaper or magazine advertisements, remember that effectiveness, safety and approval by the Food and Drug Administration is not guaranteed. Before buying products, consult with a physician and research the retailer's reputation online. Review the FDA's guidelines at http://www.fda.gov/ and the National Institute of Health's tips through the Office of Dietary Supplements.

Check with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for additional tips.

Make it a New Year's habit to check with BBB first: Visit http://www.bbb.org/ for BBB Reliability Reports on businesses.

Photo of the day - January 4

This photo was taken on December 19, 2009 at the Delta Community Library after one of the snowfalls this winter. Creating the look of a beautiful Winter Wonderland in the community.
Photo Courtesy Flower C. Cole

Training Area Closed for Testing

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – All of the Donnelly Training Area West will be closed to recreational use from Jan. 4 through Feb. 28, 2010, while the Army conducts testing. Road blocks and signs will be in place at primary access routes into the DTA West to ensure safety.


The U. S. Army Cold Regions Test Center will conduct firing activities in remote areas of the Donnelly Training Area West. The tests will include firing of weapons systems from and into remote areas of the training area.

Delta Junction residents may see lights and flashes in the training area during the firing missions.

What is Epiphany ~ Three Kings Day

Epiphany is a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God made Man in the person of Jesus Christ. It falls on January 6 or on a Sunday close to that date. On this day, Western Christians commemorate principally the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the child Jesus, i.e., his manifestation to the Gentiles; Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.


In Puerto Rico, it is traditional for children to fill a box with grass or hay and put it underneath their bed, for the same reasons. These traditions are analogous to the customs of children leaving mince pies and sherry out for Father Christmas in Western Europe or leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus in the United States.
For more information see Wikipedia

Census Workers Needed

Please pass the word! The U.S. Census Bureau offers good pay ($25.00/hr), flexible hours and paid training. Approved travel expenses reimbursed.

Testing/info sessions will be held Thursday, Jan 7 at 2:30pm and 5pm in the conference room at Delta City Hall.

To find more info, and get scheduled call: 1-866-861-2010

Practive tests may be found on the web

A person may take the test as many times as they wish and in any area.

Photo of the day - January 2

Here is a windy image of our "looks-great-at-any-time-of-the-day" Sullivan Roadhouse under a real "blue" moon. Photo Courtesy Michael Kingston

Photo of the day - January 1

This bull moose, that has just lost the velvet off his antlers, was swimming circles in this pond as if he was trying to impress the cow feeding on shore. Photo by Steve Thomas