Monthly Archives: January 2008

Finally, we got some cold around here! I didn’t think we were going to get any decent camping weather at all this winter. At the risk of having my official Sourdough status revoked, I am going to reveal a closely guarded Sourdough secret: The best time to experience Alaskan camping is in the winter. There, it’s out! If the Sourdough police come for me, they’ll just have to do what they have to do. I just don’t think it’s fair for all of us old-timers to get to enjoy all the great winter camping, while Cheechakos have to suffer the rigors of trying to camp in the summer.

I’ve camped in the summer, both out of necessity and for…ahem…“recreation”. Let me tell you, summer camping is no fun! No wonder the tourons bring RVs with them when they tour our great state. I’ve noticed that most tourons are elderly retired folk, which means they’ve lived a long time, which means they’ve probably accumulated a lot of wisdom over the years. Obviously, one of the pieces of wisdom they have accumulated is “Don’t camp outside in Alaska in the summer.” I urge my readers to follow their sage advice. There are hazards introduced by summer camping which don’t even enter into the equation on a crisp January Alaskan night. By way of illustration, let me list but a handful:

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

Hurry to ensure your booth space for the 2008 Festival of Lights Galleria & Trade Show that will take place on Saturday, February 16 from 10 am – 4:30 pm. The booth spaces are almost filled – there are ONLY 12 left. The Galleria & Trade Show is a well known event and is an excellent opportunity for vendors, businesses, and organizations to sell products, provide information, and promote services. Vendor Space Reservation Forms can be printed off the Delta News Web or can be picked up at the Delta Chamber of Commerce Office (Jarvis West Bldg., Suite 1B).

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

Click here to download the galleria PDF form.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service and other agricultural related agencies will be hosting a variety of workshops throughout the state that may be of interest. For detailed information on these events contact your local Delta District office at 895-4215 located in Room 114 of the Jarvis Office Center.

• 2008 Alaska Potato & Vegetable Conference – Palmer February 12 & 13 Contact: 907-745-3360
• 2008 Alaska Livestock Producers Conference – Anchorage February 21 & 22 Contact: 907-474-7269
• Retrofit of Existing Homes – Delta Junction February 22 Contact: 907-895-4215. Email: fncmr1@uaf.edu
• Cold Climate Homebuilding Techniques Workshop – Delta Junction February 23 Contact: 907-895-4215. Email: fncmr1@uaf.edu
• 2008 Delta Farm Forum – Delta Junction March 1 Contact: 907-895-4215. Email: fncmr1@uaf.edu
• Estate Planning – Delta Junction March 25 Contact 907-895-4215. Email: fncmr1@uaf.edu

BBB Urges Businesses to Report Suspicious E-mails

Anchorage, AK., — January 29, 2008 —A phishing attack is hitting members of United Services Automobile Association, an insurance and banking provider for military families. Much like the phishing e-mails that used the Better Business Bureau name last spring, the USAA recently confirmed that another phishing e-mail attack using its name has been reported by many of its members.

Members receive e-mails claiming to be from USAA that urge them to “verify the following information” which may include their social security number, date of birth, and account number(s). A hyperlink in the e-mail will redirect members to a counterfeit website that may contain malicious software designed to capture sensitive information.

Phishing e-mails are often used to entice recipients to access potentially damaging hyperlinks in order to steal personal information. The USAA instructs anyone who has received this most recent e-mail, or a similar one, to report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and contact USAA immediately at 1-877-632-3002 or email abuse@usaa.com.

In order to combat these recent phishing e-mail attacks, your local BBB offers the following tips:

• Do not be fooled by the use of a legitimate organization’s name within these messages. Scammers have been known to use the Department of Justice’s name and the BBB name as well as the names of banks and other legitimate companies.
• Do not click on active links or open any attachments within the e-mail. These links and attachments often contain viruses which can damage your computer.
• If you have already clicked on a link or opened an attachment, your computer’s security may have been compromised. Have your company’s IT person or a computer expert look at your computer.
• Be sure to have updated firewalls and spam blockers installed in your computer.
• Report any suspicious e-mails to the FBI by filing at www.ic3.gov.
• Visit www.bbb.org to find out more about recent security alerts.

Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by BBB accredited businesses. The mission of the BBB is to promote the highest ethical marketplace relationship between businesses and consumers through self-regulation, education, and information. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, cal l907-562-0704 in Alaska, or 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon, or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.

February 5th will be Super Tuesday in Alaska. Registered Republicans, and those willing to register Republican, will be allowed to pledge their vote for their favorite candidate or vote unpledged (undecided). Voter registration forms will be available at the polling place. There will be voting for both District 6 and 12. The outcome on February 5 will determine how many votes each candidate gets at the Republican National Convention in September.
Voting will be from 4:30 to 8:30 pm be at the Community Center. In addition to the presidential preference poll, we will be holding our district convention for district 12. Attend and let us know you want to be a delegate to state convention.

One reason that many good people don’t get involved in the party nomination process and conventions is that they have never done so before and feel they would be in over their heads. At every convention fully half of the delegates (or more) are participating for the first time. You would not be the only first timer. Being a convention delegate at the district or state, or even national level, is not as complicated as you might guess. This year more than ever the final outcome of the presidential nomination process is upin the air and you can help settle the outcome.

“Voters registering for the first time or new to the area should bring an electric bill or rent bill or something that shows their physical address.”

Call Debbie Joslin at 460 9573 for more information.

• Entry opens Tuesday, January 29, 2008
• Early-bird entry fee, $75 per category, valid until March 15th
• New categories include Children’s Poetry, Environmental Issues and Spanish Language Book

Click here to download complete guidelines and entry form.

Announcing the call for entries into the second annual Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards www.MoonbeamAwards.com, designed to honor the year’s best children’s books, authors and illustrators. The new book awards program is accepting entries until August 16th, 2008 for books with 2007 or 2008 copyrights or that were released in 2007 or 2008, and is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children’s books written in English and intended for the North American market.

Presented by Jenkins Group and Independent Publisher Online, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards will be given in 29 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children’s books are written and published in today.

“The inaugural Moonbeam Awards were a huge success,” says Jim Barnes, Awards Director at Jenkins Group. “We had a great turnout of support from the children’s book publishing community, and we’re going to make this year’s awards even better. Last year we recognized a wonderfully diverse group of authors and publishers, from first-timers to seasoned veterans, and the award-winners make up an amazing ‘must-read’ list of books for kids.”

Click here to view last year’s results, photos, etc.

Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since 1988, and many of its founders and employees now have children and grandchildren who strongly influence the company culture with their youthful exuberance and love of books.

“We all have kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, and we all recognize the role books play in enriching children’s lives,” says company founder Jerrold Jenkins, father of four children ranging from ages 5 to 15. “As our society has gotten more complex and growing up has become more complicated, children’s book authors and publishers have risen to the occasion, creating books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but also help families deal with its challenges. We want to recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians – and to the kids themselves.”

To learn more about the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards visit www.MoonbeamAwards.com or contact Jim Barnes, Awards Director: jimb@bookpublishing.com; 1.800.644.0133 x1011

“Celebrating youthful curiosity, discovery and learning through books and reading.”

Using cold climate building techniques with new homes and retrofittingexisting homes can trim homeowners’ energy bills. Richard Seifert,Cooperative Extension’s Service energy and housing specialist, will offer two courses in Delta Junction aimed at lowering home energy costs.

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

Seifert retrofitted his Fairbanks home in 2005, and notes that relativelymodest weatherization retrofit can make a difference with heating costs. The retrofitting workshop will cover windows, ventilation, cold climate options, walls, roofs and materials.

During the cold climate workshop, Seifert will talk about windows,ventilation, cold climate options, walls, indoor air quality, roofs and permafrost foundations. Participants in the cold climate workshop will receive a free manual with a CD.

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

CONTACT: Richard Seifert at 474-6366 or at ffrds@uaf.edu.

House Majority Sets Schedule of Open Caucuses to Hear From Pipeline Applicants

House Speaker John Harris announced today that he has scheduled a series of open caucuses to hear presentations from companies interested in building an Alaska gas pipeline. Scheduled so far are: Conoco Phillips, the Alaska Gasline Port Authority, and TransCanada. The series of caucuses will kick off with a presentation by the Palin Administration gas pipeline team. Other proposers, including Sinopec ZPEB and AEnergia, will be added to the schedule if they express interest.

Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. – Palin Gas Team
Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. – TransCanada
Monday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. – ConocoPhillips
Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. – Port Authority

You can attend these listen-only meetings via teleconference at the Delta LIO. Please call by 4pm on meeting day so we can make arrangements. Gavel to Gavel will broadcast the meetings at www.ktoo.org/gavel also.

Delta Junction Legislative Information Office
Jarvis Office Center, Suite 218
895-4236

Anchorage, AK — January 28, 2008 — The local BBB is warning consumers about an ongoing scam targeting military spouses. The scammer, who is misrepresenting him/herself as a Red Cross representative, is trying to steal personal information such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth.

In the scam, the caller claims to represent the Red Cross and informs the spouse that their husband or wife has been injured while on duty in Iraq and has been med-evacuated to a German hospital. The caller then claims that in order to start medical treatment, the spouse must provide correct identification of their enlisted family member.

In a press release, the American Red Cross has stated that their representatives do not typically contact military family members/dependents directly and almost always go through a commander or first sergeant.

The American Red Cross urges military family members to not give out any personal information over the phone if they are contacted by unknown/unverified individuals or to include confirmation that any member of the family is deployed.

Your local BBB offers these tips for possible scammers calling you over the phone:

• Never give out personal information over the phone. This includes Social Security numbers, account numbers, credit card numbers or your PIN. No bank will call you to request private information over the phone.
• Verify that the person on the phone is who they say they are. If the caller claims to be from your bank, credit card company, government agency or other organization, you can also ask that they put their request in writing and send it to you. Also, ask for a name, physical location and telephone number then call your BBB to report your experience.

Use your local Better Business Bureau. Visit www.bbb.org to run reliability reports on businesses or check out charities. You can also call the local BBB at 907-562-0704 in Alaska, or 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, or 503-212-3022 in Oregon to speak with an expert who will be able to assist you in investigating a company.

Learn more about fraud and how to prevent it. Helpful prevention information is available at the www.ftc.gov/idtheft Web site.

Raised Garden Planter Kits in varying lengths,30″ to 46″, now available at WillowWood Gift Shop, and on special for Valentine’s Day. View sample photos at www.willowwoodgiftshop.com or visit the store in the Mt.Hayes Bldg., next to the post office. Please call 895-4269 for store hours.

*NOTICE – The Mt.Hayes Bldg.has posted it is now officially a non-smoking establishment, and appreciates your consideration.

Demonstration & Research (category 2)
Private Applicator (category 3)
Turf & Ornamental (category 4)
Right of Way Pest control (category 9)

DATE: Initial Certification Part 1
Monday1/28/2008 9:00 – 4:30 (1 hour lunch break)
Categories 2, 3, 4, & 9
Initial Certification Part 2 and Re-Certification

Wednesday1/29/2008 9:00 – 4:30 or later if necessary for exam.(1 hour lunch break) Categories 2, 3, 4, & 9

PLACE: Delta CES Conference Room – Jarvis Office Center
INSTRUCTOR: Phil Kaspari, Pesticide Program CoordinatorFEE:
$40 fee per participant for all categories (initial and/or re-certification).

Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 35 votes

Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 5 votes

Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 0 votes

Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 0 votes

Chris Johnson: 5 Votes

Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 0 votes

Katrina Vecchiarelli: 1 vote

COL. Besch (Missile Defense Agency): 0 votes

Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 0 votes

Svetlana Malyk: 2 votes

LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 0 Votes

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

Contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce @ 895-5068 or deltacc@alaska.net with any inquiries.

The Delta DMV will be closed on Wednesday, February 6th, so Cindy can attend training in Fairbanks.

Participants from Greely and Delta will be participating in the runs on the following dates:
Feb. 28-Mar 2, and Mar. 6-9. Spaces for the last trip are now very limited, please call the Alaska Trailblazers for availability!

The Alaska Trailblazers are the original proud sponsors of the Tok to Dawson Poker Run, aka the Trek Over the Top. This event attracts over 700 people from all over Alaska, as well as the “Lower 48.” Riders travel to Tok to make the 200 mile trek over the Alaska and Top of the World Highways to beautiful Dawson City, Yukon.

http://www.alaskatrailblazers.com/

The Delta Chamber is looking for musical acts for the Festival of Lights Galleria & Trade Show event on Saturday, February 16. Performers will be set up outside the Delta High School large gymnasium in the lobby. The atmosphere is very informal as the audience consists of people walking to and from the gym. We are signing up performers to fill time slots between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm.

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

The district court will be closed the following dates for installation of a new computer program. During the week of Feb. 4-8th if you need assistance contact the Tok courthouse at 883-5171. The Delta courthouse will be closed again Feb. 18-20th. If you have any emergencies, call the Alaska State Troopers at 895-4800. We apologize for any inconvenience but the new program will be beneficial to the public.

There will be a Delta Community Coalition meeting at the Delta City Council Conference Room on Friday, January 25, 2008.

The first step in responding to grants is to build a community coalition.

From the State of Alaska, Department of Behavioral Health:
Requests for Proposals for our three main grant programs:

• Comprehensive Prevention;
• Alcohol Safety Action Programs; and
• Rural Human Services Systems.

Requests for proposals for the coming state fiscal year will be competitive and open to all interested and eligible applicants who want to provide community-based behavioral health prevention and early intervention services (substance use, suicide, FASD, mental health, youth development/resiliency, court assessment & monitoring and rural BH workforce development). For details about the teleconference and how to connect to the call please go to the Online Public Notice page

Regional Workshops To Assist Potential Grant Applicants
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the White House Office of National Drug Control (ONDCP), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the availability of new, Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program funds – totaling $19 million. ONDCP expects to award approximately 150 new grants to community drug prevention coalitions throughout the United State s. The deadline to submit DFC grantee applications is Friday, March 21, 2008.

“The DFC program is aimed at helping American communities – be it in the inner-cities, suburbs, or rural areas – identify local problems and solve them with local solutions,” said Director of National Drug Control Policy, John P. Walters. “By leveraging the best a community has to offer, the DFC program organizes and mobilizes community efforts against youth substance use in true partnership with the Federal government. Community-by-community we can continue the successful gains against youth drug use – 24 percent reduction over the past 6 years – and continue to push back against illicit drugs.”

The DFC support program is a collaborative Federal program sponsored by ONDCP, and administered in partnership with SAMHSA. The program aims to establish and strengthen communities, private nonprofit agencies, and Federal, State, local and Tribal governments and entities to support community-based efforts to prevent, reduce, and eliminate substance abuse. The DFC program was created in 1997 under the Drug Free Communities Act, and was reauthorized in 2001, and again in 2006. The latest reauthorization extends the DFC program for an additional five years, until 2012.

“The Drug-Free Communities Support Program is the foundation of our efforts to continue to prevent and reduce substance abuse in our nation,” said SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D. “This community-wide approach promotes safe and healthy environments where families can raise children free from the ravages of substance abuse.”

In order to assist potential Drug Free Communities applicants through the grant process, ONDCP, SAMHSA, and the National Coalition Institute have scheduled six regional DFC FY08 application workshops. The workshops are free and open to the public. They will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in five different cities. (Applicants do not have to attend a workshop in order to apply for a grant).

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 New Orleans, Louisiana
Thursday, January 29, 2008 Los Angeles, California
Thursday, January 31, 2008 Chicago, Illinois
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 Denver, Colorado
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Denver, Colorado (Native American Summit)
Friday, February 15, 2008 Washington, DC

The Drug Free Communities Support Program is the largest Federal drug prevention effort in the United State s with over $90 million in total investment. Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded approximately 1,300 Drug Free Communities grants in all 50 states. This year, each successful DFC grantee will receive up to $125,000 per year in Federal matching funds over a 5-year cycle to support community-based substance abuse prevention and reduction efforts.

To learn more about the Drug Free Communities Support Program, or the upcoming grant application deadline, please visit http://www.ondcp.gov/dfc.

Not sure what to do or where to go during The Festival of Lights? Come join in the fun at the Delta Community Center. For our annual Aglow dance, “Fire in the Ice”. – February 16, 2008

Featuring Delta’s own band “The Legends”.

Enjoy an elegant evening with candlelight dinner and “of course dancing”!!!

Seating starts at 6pm.

Tickets are on sell now:
$36 per couples
$20 per singles person

Kick up your heels, visit with friends, have a great evening.

Contact: Kathy Fields @ 590-7100, Jeanette Brasier @ 895-4961,or Evelyn Glass@895-4723

Hurry to ensure your booth space for the 2008 Festival of Lights Galleria & Trade Show to take place on Saturday, February 16 from 10 am – 4:30 pm. The booth spaces are filling up quickly – now there are ONLY 18 LEFT.

The Galleria & Trade Show is a well known event and is an excellent opportunity for vendors, businesses, and organizations to sell products, provide information, and promote services.

Vendor Space Reservation Forms can be printed off the Delta News Web or can be picked up at the Delta Chamber of Commerce Office (Jarvis West Bldg., Suite 1B).

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

Current Polar Bear Plunge Nominees and their votes as of 1/21/2008

• Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 15 votes
• Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 0 votes
• Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 0 votes
• Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 0 votes
• Chris Johnson: 0 Votes

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

Contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce @ 895-5068 or deltacc@alaska.net with any inquiries.

It’s Festival of Lights time and it that means it’s also time to vote for the unlucky 3 who will take the Polar Bear Plunge into a frigid pool of Arctic water on Saturday, February 16 at 4:00 pm in the Delta High School parking lot.

To vote for an individual, they must first be nominated. Once nominated, votes can be placed in their name. The top three with the most votes will take the Plunge. Nominations are $5 each and votes thereafter are $1. There are no restrictions on how many times you vote or how many people you nominate.

There are voting cans placed around local businesses to include:

Alaskan Steakhouse
Buffalo Bar
Buffalo Center Diner
Clearwater Lodge
Buffalo Center Service
IGA Food Cache
Jacks Liquor Store
Moose Lodge
Mt. McKinley Bank
Sawmill Creek Lodge
Wells Fargo Bank
Ft. Greely

The voting cans will be checked weekly and a sheet with names of those nominated and how many votes they have will be posted on the can.

Surely there are those of you out there who might just have a teacher, boss, public official, coach, principal, pastor, or Ft. Greely commander in mind. Don’t be shy! Nominators and voters are kept anonymous and so your secret will be safe!

The first meeting of our new book club – Junction Readers – is tonight, Monday, January 21 at 7:30 in the Delta Community Library Alaskana section. Paperback editions of “Love in the Time of Cholera”, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez will be available for $10.00.

Bring your ideas for other books to read and discuss in the coming months, thoughts about how the meetings should be organized, and don’t forget to bring a friend! If you’ve already read the book, come anyway to meet and greet local book lovers.

Junction Readers will meet on the third Monday of each month and is sponsored by the Delta Library Association. Questions? Call Joyce at the library at 895-4102.