Monthly Archives: February 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here for the skate register.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heather Martin (Alaskan Steakhouse): 256

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq) – 225 votes

Rich Rogers (Missile Defense Agency) – 193 votes

Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 144 votes

Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 136 votes

Heather Martin (Alaskan Steakhouse): 125 votes

Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 121 votes

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

Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency) – 99 votes

Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center) – 83 votes

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

Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 20 votes

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

Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 16 votes

Doug Patrick: 13 votes

Katrina Vecchiarelli: 11 votes

Svetlana Malyk: 6 votes

Chris Johnson: 5 votes

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

Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service) – 1 votes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday, February 16, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

Did I say I missed Alaska?

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

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

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

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

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

Fairbanks Drama Association
1852 2nd Ave
Fairbanks AK 99701

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

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