Monthly Archives: July 2007

The Logging and Milling softball team split a pair of games on Monday night. They sailed past Clearwater Lodge who were missing some of their key players.

The Loggers two-game winning streak was snapped in the second game in a heart breaking 17-16 loss to Boeing.

Tom Nerbonne slammed a 3-run homerun far over the left field fence to put the Loggers on the board, then tripled when the team scored ten runs in the fourth.

But the “cool-under-fire” Boeing team battled back from a 15-8 deficit to tie the game at 16-16. A run in the bottom of the seventh clinched the game for Boeing. Chad Pinkleman had two homers for Boeing, both of which barely cleared the fence in short left.

“I think our new hats really gave us a boost tonight”, claimed one member of the team. “Tonight was definitely our best night for hitting so far this year.”

It sounds like the softball tournament for the fair weekend is a go, and Logging & Milling plans to participate.

The Loggers are looking forward to the tournament and to playing some different teams from out-of-town.

The Logging & Milling team certainly appreciates Ed Larson and IGA for offering to sponsor the upcoming tournament. We would also like to thank Chris Morley and his crew for their fine job of taking care of the ball-fields. Thanks!

–Tom Geyer

Click on any of the photos for a photo enlargement.

I’ll never understand women. How do they determine what is romantic and what isn’t? They’ll go swoony-headed and get starry-eyed over some guy from Hollywood that they have never met, who is on his sixty-third marriage and who has a guest suite at the drug rehab center, but if I try to emulate him, my wife knocks me swoony-headed and makes me see stars! How does that work?

I’ve spent hours trying to analyze these movie heroes, and what it is that pushes the buttons of the gentler sex, but the secret eludes me. Several times I thought I had happened upon the answer, but based on my wife’s reaction, I obviously am overlooking a critical component.

My first hypothesis was that the degree of a man’s charm is directly proportional to his ability to flourish a sword. Whether “Pirates of the Caribbean”, or “Kingdom of Heaven”, or “Lord of the Rings”, it seems that the guys who succeed in making my wife go misty eyed are constantly drawing a nicked blade from a scabbard with a musical “Sschiiiing” and using it to disassemble somebody sporting a face full of hideous prosthetics. This is all executed with flawlessly timed choreography of course.

My first hypothesis was that the degree of a man’s charm is directly proportional to his ability to flourish a sword. Whether “Pirates of the Caribbean”, or “Kingdom of Heaven”, or “Lord of the Rings”, it seems that the guys who succeed in making my wife go misty eyed are constantly drawing a nicked blade from a scabbard with a musical “Sschiiiing” and using it to disassemble somebody sporting a face full of hideous prosthetics. This is all executed with flawlessly timed choreography of course.

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

Ancient mythology tells us that chimeras once stalked the earth. Well, maybe not stalked, but kind of wriggled and flew and galumphed all at the same time. Evidently these chimeras were hybrid monsters made of the parts of multiple creatures—sort of like my brother’s car. Homer described, “a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire”.

The reports of weird hodge-podge animals aren’t restricted to the ravings of one old blind Greek poet. These critters pop up all over the ancient art and literature of Greece, Rome, Japan, Persia, India, China, Egypt the Etruscans, etc. Fascinatingly, chimeras still seem to have a loyal fan base as evidenced by the creatures inhabiting such media as The Island, Blade Runner, Spy Kids 2, Lord of the Rings, and Rudy Giuliani’s campaign ads.

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

Congratulations to Michael Paschall the winner of this weeks’ mystery photo. Michael wins a gift certificate from Buffalo Center Diner, compliments of Ed and Ann Richards.

This week’s photo proved to be the hardest so far. We had 6 correct entries this week. As you can see, that sneaky photographer cropped out a portion of the drive up mailbox in front of the Post Office with a vehicle in the background to throw everybody off.

The 28th annual Deltana Fair will be held July 27-28-29, 2007 at the fairgrounds on Nistler Road in Delta Junction, Alaska.

Time for lots of fun family activities at the Deltana Fair. There will be lots of opportunities to have fun at the fair. Lots of carnival rides and games. Lots of exhibits to see. Lots of animals to see. Lots of friends and family to meet and talk with and enjoy some wonder fair food with…

Participation is a key word for making the Deltana Fair a fun time for everyone. So if you have been debating about volunteering your time and talents, take the bit in your teeth and run with it to your phone and call the Deltana Fair. Leave your name and phone number on the machine if no one is in the office and we’ll get back with you as soon as we can. We really appreciate you.

More sponsors are still needed to help with various events and general fair expenses. The Deltana Fair Association needs your help to make the fair happen. Both individuals and businesses are welcome to donate to their favorite fair activity. The Deltana Fair Association is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization – and we welcome your donations. Our address is PO Box 408, Delta Junction, AK 99737. Thanks!

You also have an opportunity to join the Deltana Fair Association. Call or stop by the office for an application – or – see the website.

The website for the Deltana Fair is http://www.deltanafair.com/; the premium book (aka exhibitor’s guide) is on the website now. The Delta Community Library will help you find the website (they also have copies) or if you can’t get to the library – a few premium books from years gone by are available. There are some at the Calico Cow, Busy Bee Office Supply, Alaska Farmers Co-op, and the Deltana Fair Office in the AMC Building at 1420.5 Alaska Highway. The email address for the Deltana Fair is info@deltanafair.com. Individual emails for board members and managers are in the works. A big thank you to Jeff Durham for his website expertise.

The Deltana Fair Manager is Judy Sowell; Assistant Manager is Deb Heral; Parade Manager is Kasey Peterson; Exhibit Hall Manager is Wendy Jennings. The Deltana Fair Office Phone is 895-FAIR (895-3247).

Deltana Fair Association board members include Carol McNabb, Ellie Schneider, Ann Geise, Nancy King, Andy Payne, Dawn Grossmann and Louis Stockwell.

The fair theme this year is “Meetin’ & Greetin’ – Growin’ & Showin’ “ – and the logo is on the website. We’re looking forward to seeing exhibits and parade entries using the theme. Have a wonderful time getting ready for the Deltana Fair – be sure to mark your calendars for July 27-28-29 – we’ll see you there!

Dane Ferguson will be coming up to Delta the weekend of the Deltana Fair for a Free Style Demo. Mini bike, BMX, 4 – wheeler and Dirt Bike Competition as seen in Slednecks, Turnigan Hardcore & 2 Stroke Cold Smoke Videos.

See www.daneferguson.com for the rider’s information.

Event sponsored by Arctic Cat 9 Lives & Tanana Adventure Sports

Join the Bureau of Land Management and Denali Highway businesses in a National Public Lands Day clean-up of the Denali Highway on Saturday, July 28, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to kick-off the 50th anniversary of the highway.
Volunteers can sign-up at the BLM Brushkana or Tangle Lakes campgrounds along the highway, or at the following Denali Highway businesses: Backwoods Lodge, Gracious House, Maclaren River Lodge, Crazy Dog Kennels, Tangle River Inn, Paxson Alpine Tours and Denali Highway Cabins, and Paxson Lodge. Volunteers will receive trash bags to collect trash (donated by Alaskans for Litter Prevention And Recycling), an orientation sheet and a volunteer t-shirt (first come – first served) beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to bring leather gloves, boots, reflective clothing (to be seen by drivers), rain gear, sunscreen, bug spray, water, snacks, and a big smile! Volunteers should separate into small groups over the length of the highway for safety and to cover as much of the highway as possible. To conclude the day, a volunteer barbecue will be held at the Maclaren Lodge (the halfway point) at 2 p.m. to celebrate the volunteer efforts for our public lands.

For more information go to www.publiclandsday.org or sign up early by calling Marnie Graham or Denton Hamby at 907-822-3217.

Statewide, Critical CARE, Inc (CCI) is currently soliciting proposals from individuals, businesses, and other non-profits that seek to improve the level of or access to pre-hospital care. Initial one-page letters of inquiry will be accepted through close of business on Friday, July 27th.
Initial letters should include the project name, total cost, total amount requested, and how the project will make a meaningful and significant difference to their Alaskan community. Typical grant ranges are $300-$3,000. Funding emphasis this quarter is on training and education in rural Alaska.
More information is available by calling 888-912-4CCI (4224) or visiting the website, www.criticalcareinc.org. CCI awarded $14,775 to seven worthy individuals and groups, since November 2006.

CCI is an Alaskan social profit established in 2002 to support education, training, and research for excellence in the continuum of pre-hospital care.

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Units from U.S. Army Alaska will conduct demolition firing at the Donnelly Training Area near Fort Greely from July 16-20 from 10 p.m.-6 a.m.

Residents living in the area may hear noise from the explosions and feel vibrations.

For more information, contact Derek Mills, 873-4714.

When purchasing bison hunt raffle tickets, check those numbers before purchasing.

Someone stole a backpack containing numbers 0101 through 0125. These tickets are not valid.

Call Doris Fales if you have any questions at 895-4502.

The Delta Lions Club’s bison raffle tickets are $25 each — or — 5 tickets for $100

On July 29, the last day of the Deltana Fair, the winning ticket will be drawn for the person who holds the qualifying ticket.

Nothing to do on a Saturday night, we invite you to come out and join the Delta Sing-a-Long.

We make our own music. The community is invited to come and share in this monthly get together. Bring your voice and/or your instrument and some horse doovers, and join us for homemade music

Delta Sing-a-Long and Homemade Music Preservation and Performance Society, Polar Pickers, Alaska Grown, and Lyrica Music, pickin, grinnin’, and eating meeting this weekend, Saturday 7-14-07, in the Senior Lounge, 7PM—

The new songbooks have been published! (except for the Christmas Supplement). Call us at 895-4104 for more information.

Sponsored by: Loving Stitches, Instructor: Erika Lunn.

Purchase your kit (prepared monk’s cloth and needle), yarn and pattern.

Take your pick of classes scheduled at the City Hall conference room, noon on Saturdays, July 21 and July 28 or 6:00PM on Mondays, July 23 and July 30. One class is all you need.

For more information contact Sue Miller (895-1020/460-9510) or Pat White (895-4532/978-1757). July 31, 2007

The 28th annual Deltana Fair will be held July 27-28-29, 2007 at the fairgrounds on Nistler Road in Delta Junction.

It is time to organize your family or class reunions for this time so you can enjoy the fair together – meet your friends and family members, enjoy some fair food, check out the kids’ exhibits, have some more fair food, — you get the picture…

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Soldiers will conduct a large-vehicle-bomb school in the Donnelly Training Area July 9-13.

As part of the training, the instructors and students will detonate four car bombs with approximately 431 pounds of TNT per vehicle. The vehicles will be detonated simultaneously.

After the detonation, the participants will study the debris to try to figure out what happened.

The detonation is scheduled for July 11 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., but may shift to another day due to weather. The group will also detonate smaller bombs to study as well.

Employees of the Army, Air Force and state and federal agencies will participate in the training.

The training will take place on Washington Range, approximately 21 miles from the city of Delta Junction and 15 miles from Fort Greely.

Delta Junction and Fort Greely residents may expect to hear the explosion and feel the vibrations of the detonation.

Well, our own Delta Junction Celebration of history is now history; good history! If you were unable to or chose not to attend, you really missed out!

Ms Amanda Delperdang, who inherited the title of events coordinator from Ms Dawn Male, had BIG shoes to fill, however did so admirably. Amanda hustled all day, and for many days prior, and arranged and implemented a simply grrreat family and community-oriented holiday event. With the collaboration of Mr. Jack Carson, an able and well-equipped DJ, who doubled as event and game coordinator and announcer, the entire day was flawless and seamless, and delightful fun for all.

The Giant Inflatable Obstacle course received a vigorous workout by the many Lilliputians, and the games were well-attended and generated laughter and delight. The water balloon toss, sack race, egg roll, hairy legs contest, dessert walk, and the greatest of all (for the spectators) the piñata bashing, among other delightful activities enchanted everyone. The Lumberjack competition was popular too, as was Rozzo the Clown.

Hot dawgs abounded from Louis Stockwell 4-H’ers, and Ms Carol McNabb and Misty Stockinger purveyed the most heavenly site manufactured ice cream this side of Heaven itself.

All was aided and abetted by Ms Brenda Peterson and her visiting family. The tent went up without a hitch, and at day end it was dismantled and packed, beating the late afternoon torrential downpour! Everyone went home tired, mayhap a little sunburned, however justified in dislocating an arm patting themselves on the back for a superb production. Every community should have such an enthusiastic, inspired, industrious, team.

Article submitted by Ken Farrow and photos are courtesy are Judith Farrow

Click on photos for enlargements.

Wayne and Leah Harmon from C.V. Farms have arrived in Delta for their second time this year.

They are located across from Buffalo Fuel in the big orange truck. This trip they are offering nectarines, sweet onions, potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, canteloupe and strawberries.

If you are looking for fresh produce, this is the place to be. You will always be greeted with a warm hello. As many times as Wayne and Leah have been thru Delta, most of us are not strangers to them anymore. So come on by and check out the produce and welcome the Harmon’s to Delta.

They will be in Delta from July 5 through July 7.

Funeral services will be held for Esther Heral at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 7 at the Community Center. Everyone is welcome to attend. Finger foods are needed for after the service.

I found this article(Poem) in an old e-mail about 1999. I lived in Delta Jct for 5 years and some of my family still do I did not know the author. Thank you, Darrell Phillips

The dump trucks roar along the way.
The tourists clog the malls.
I’m late for work again today;
The traffic barely crawls.

A moose just ate my cabbages;
My lawn is dry and brown.
The bugs are little savages.
The woods are burning down.

Campgrounds are overflowing
with Winnebago or Itasca.
The trash along the roads is growing.
It’s summer in Alaska.

Gas prices just went up some more;
the people are complaining.
From gardening my back is sore,
and it’s windy or it’s raining.

An earthquake shook the house last night.
A volcanic flow is near.
A grizzly tried to take a bite
of parts that I hold dear.

The air is full of dust
until our carburetors choke.
Of dandelions I’ve had my fill.
My clothing smells of smoke.

Why do I remain up here
since I have my druthers?
It’s the worst place in the world I fear
…except for all the others!

….David L. Mathews

The Little Delta Fire is burning roughly 40 miles northwest of Delta Junction. It is roughly 33,350 acres and started by lightning on April 29, 2007, in an area of Limited Suppression. This means it did not receive initial attack, but has stayed in monitor status under the Fairbanks Division of Forestry.

Cabin assessments have been completed. Recent growth has been to the west and south of the fire. Should the fire move to the north where the cabins are, there will be site-specific protection.

The fire, burning in open tundra combined with black spruce and hardwoods, received precipitation which has made it more smoky. Smoke from this fire may be visible or present in the area depending on weather conditions. For smoke concerns, please visit the Department of Environmental Conservation web site.

For additional fire information, contact Maggie Rogers at 907-356-5511.

To report a wildland fire, call 911 or 1-800-237-3633. For current wildland fire information visit the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center web site.

Information and article was taken from the DNR website.

The third annual PowWow was held in Delta Junction on July 1, on the front lawn of Kelly’s Country Inn. This event was sponsored by the Delta Ministerial Association. If you missed the event this year, you can mark your calendar for next year.

Click on the photo for an enlargement.

Photo Courtesy Carol Watkins

Three weeks later, Momma Duck and 11 adorable ducklings, photo taken on June 23.
Photos Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos