Author Archives: Delta News Web

6th Annual Mystery Photo Contest Returns Today

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Delta News Web

Well once again it’s that time of year when the Delta News Web begins its “Can you guess the Mystery photo Contest!” 
 
If you are new to Delta, we invite you to join in on the summer fun with Buffalo Drive In and Delta News Web.
 
 Mystery Photo was started on May 9, 2007 with 2 of our local businesses contributing gift certificates to be redeemed at their fine eating establishments. Ed and Ann Richards formerly owners of the Buffalo Center Diner and now owners of Little Richards in North Pole, AK. and John and Linda Sloan of the Buffalo Center Drive In. Ed and Ann were on board with us for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 season.  John and Linda have been on board from the very beginning and are now entering into the 6th year as sponsors of the contest. We thank you for your support of the Delta News Web.
 
Take your family out driving around to find the photo each week. Keep your eyes open while you travel to work, play or just out doing errands. You never know where the mystery photo will show up next. The photos will all be within a ten mile radius of Delta Junction.
 
Check in each Monday morning for a new Mystery Photo and send your guesses for a chance to win!
 
To read the rules of the Mystery Photo contest, please click here. If entries submitted do not have a mailing address included, the Delta News Web will not consider your entry, and you will not be entered that week. So please remember to send your mailing address each time you submit your name to the DNW with your guess. Addresses are not stored

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Photo of the day May 19

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Delta News Web

This Bald Eagle is having a heck of a time trying to perch on this little stick of a tree.
Photo by Steve Thomas

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BLM-Alaska Celebrates 150 Years of the Homestead Act

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Delta News Web

George and Kathy Harberson, 1960's

Anchorage—Alaska Governor Sean Parnell has declared May 20, 2012, Federal Homestead Day in Alaska. In addition to the Governor’s proclamation, BLM-Alaska is marking the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act with several local events and a new Webpage.

 Grab the family and jump in the wagon (or station wagon!) this 4th of July and join BLM-Alaska as we honor 150 years of the Homestead Act.

BLM-Alaska will participate in the Anchorage July 4th Parade and will host a Homesteading in Alaska-themed booth at the Festival on the Parkstrip from Noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Anchorage 4th of July Celebration on the Delaney Parkstrip.

 

Tom Wilson - 1930

The last female homesteader in America, Elizabeth M. Smith, and other Alaskan homesteaders will join us at the booth to talk about their experiences homesteading on the Last Frontier. The booth will also feature interpretive displays and materials on homesteading and its history. BLM-Alaska has also developed a Web page that covers the origins, opportunities and legacy of Homesteading in Alaska. The page features an interactive timeline, videos, photos and a downloadable poster. The page can be found on the BLM-Alaska website at www.blm.gov/ak.

Homesteading in Alaska began when President William McKinley signed legislation in 1898 extending homestead laws to the District of Alaska. In the rest of the United States, homesteading began when President Lincoln signed the 1862 Homestead Act, enabling over 1.6 million people to claim federal land intended for small farms. By the time the last Alaska homestead claims were made in the 1980s, approximately 3,500 people had homesteaded in the Alaska territory. Potential homesteaders traveled by boat, car, and later by airplane, some north of the Arctic Circle where grizzlies outnumbered humans, some to a plot accessible only by train, most settling near areas close to roads or where boats could land. They included Gold Rush era miners who resumed prior careers as farmers in the early 1900s, and some WWII soldiers returning to Alaska after 1945 having become enchanted with their memories of a sportsman’s paradise. Others came just wanting the adventure of Alaska, some arriving as late as the 1970s. Most Alaska homesteaders came overland, some dragging trailers up the Alaska Highway after it opened in 1947, they were the only ones who avoided building a house from scratch with no indoor plumbing. All faced the brutal Alaskan winters, some found it to be too much and abandoned their dreams of living in the wild, leaving Alaska or settling in a town where life was easier.

Elizabeth Smith and family, 1970's

The distinction of being Alaska and America’s last female homesteader to receive a homestead requiring cultivation of the land belongs to Elizabeth M. Smith. She received a homestead patent on Oct. 18, 1984, for land near Big Delta, Alaska. The distinction of being Alaska’s last male homesteader, and the last homesteader in the entire nation to receive a homestead requiring cultivation of the land, belongs to Kenneth W. Deardorff. He received a homestead patent on May 5, 1988, to land on the Stony River near Lime Village in southwestern Alaska. He filed his homestead claim in 1974, but its remoteness caused delays in his receiving patent to the land until the spring of 1988. Descendants of homesteaders today are estimated at about 93 million Americans, with many thousands still living on farms claimed by their ancestors.

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Photo of the day May 18

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Delta News Web

The squirrels out at Clearwater Campground are really tame and unafraid of humans.
Photo Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos

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6th Annual Cruis’n with Santa

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Delta News Web

May 19, 2012

10 am – 7pm

Santaland RV Park
North Pole, Alaska

Learn more about Cruis’n with Santa on Facebook

 

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Obama Administration to Hire 20,000 Young People for Summer Work on Public Lands

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Delta News Web

Vilsack, Salazar, Sutley Announce $3.7 Million in Competitive Grants for New or Expanded Youth Corps

 WASHINGTON, D.C. and SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS, CA – In response to President Obama’s call to expand opportunities for summer employment for young people and connect them with the great outdoors, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley today highlighted summer work opportunities for more than 20,000 young people, ages 15-25, in national forests, national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands.

Salazar and Sutley are kicking off the summer work season at an event in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California, where they are being joined by members of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps and the California Conservation Corps, representing the many corps partners working with USDA and DOI to provide summer work and training opportunities for young people.

On the East Coast, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Harris Sherman and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell kicked off the season at an event celebrating volunteers and other partners who are critical to connecting Americans to the great outdoors. They were joined by representatives from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to announce, along with Salazar and Sutley, $3.7 million in competitive grants for 20 projects across the country that will put more than 500 young people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to work on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands and national forests and grasslands this summer work season.

This competitive grant initiative is being funded with $1.4 million from the BLM and the Forest Service, matched by $2.3 million raised by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation from private partners such as Wells Fargo through the America’s Great Outdoors: Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists initiative.

“President Obama’s call to expand summer job opportunities for young people is helping us engage and train the next generation of natural resource professionals and build a workforce that represents all of America,” said Salazar, who is visiting a youth conservation corps that is conducting trail and habitat restoration in the Santa Monica Mountains. “These first experiences building trails, clearing out hazardous fuels, or cleaning up rivers not only equip young people with skills for a new career, but can also awaken a love for the outdoors that lasts a lifetime.”  Since Secretary Salazar established youth employment as a high priority performance goal, Interior has employed 35% more young people each year since Fiscal Year 2009.

“This program is putting youth to work and making our nation’s public lands more accessible,” said Vilsack. “With 80 percent of our country now living in urban areas, it is through partnerships like these that we are finding opportunities for Americans to work, live and play on our forests and grasslands and experience America’s Great outdoors.”

“Through the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, the Obama Administration has made it a priority to support communities connecting American youth with the health, economic and recreational benefits of being outdoors,” Sutley said. “This summer jobs campaign will link youth with opportunities to gain valuable work experience, grow our economy, and protect and appreciate our extraordinary natural resources.”

The grants align with President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative to develop a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda. The projects were chosen because they have a connection to the 258 million acres managed by the BLM or the193 million acres of forests and grasslands managed by the Forest Service. Many of these projects target our underserved youth and populations.

“This public-private partnership will help bring young people from diverse backgrounds and urban areas to the public lands for meaningful employment opportunities, mentorships, and the joy of the great outdoors,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF.  “This is a perfect example of how we can team up to help foster the next generation of conservationists.”

The 20 projects announced today are below.  Additional details are available here.

Alaska, California, and Colorado:

  • Celebra las Playeras (Celebrate Shorebirds): Environment for the Americas will recruit eight Latino interns ages 18 to 25 to work with education and outreach and to engage in field research training and data collection at Forest Service and BLM sites in California, Colorado and Alaska where monitoring shorebirds is a priority. $40,000 Forest Service; $40,000 BLM; $169,440 non-federal funds.

Alaska

  • Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program: The University of Alaska and several partners will expand the program to encourage high school and college-age Alaska Native youth to pursue conservation careers via mentorship programs and hands-on internship opportunities on Forest Service and BLM lands in Alaska.$50,000 Forest Service; $50,000 BLM; $100,000 non-federal funds.*

California:

  • Employment and Mentorship of Urban Youth: BLM-California, in partnership with the Student Conservation Association, California Conservation Corps and Los Angeles Conservation Corps will recruit and select 10 young adults ages 18-25 from underserved communities for employment in the Student Temporary Employment Program, potentially leading to career-conditional positions with the BLM. $75,000 BLM; $25,000 Wells Fargo; $100,000 non-federal funds.
  • Sierra Native Youth Conservation Corps: At least 12 Sierra Native American youth will tackle conservation projects in the Forest Service’s Hope and Indian Valley Meadows, and the BLM’s Stocking Flat and Tribute Trail in Nevada City. Training on tribal language skills, native conservation restoration techniques and researching traditional use of resources and ceremonial significance of sites will also be provided. $37,000 Forest Service; $37,500 BLM; $75,000 non-federal funds.
  • Nick’s Interns: The Mattole Restoration Council will provide 30 paid conservation internships for high school and college-age young people on projects on the King’s Range National Conservation Area and adjacent lands. Project activities will be guided by established management plans and improve grassland, estuarine, and forest habitats as well as riparian and in-stream conditions on the Mattole River and its headwaters tributaries.  $50,050 BLM; $50,000 non-federal funds.
  • Promoting Careers in Southern California: At-risk youth from the Los Angeles Conservation Corps will learn about conservation by helping to remove invasive species and plant native species on the San Bernardino and Angeles National Forests and on BLM preserves within the Coachella Valley in Southern California. $50,000 Forest Service; $50,000 BLM; $100,000 non-federal funds.*

Colorado:

  • Yampa River Basin Youth Conservation Career Development: Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, working with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, The Nature Conservancy and Yampatika Outdoor Awareness Association, will hire young people to work on the Yampa River Basin in northwest Colorado, working on wildlife habitat and stream restoration projects. The project is primarily on the California and Slater Park Special Interest Areas on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, on BLM and other public lands in the Basin. $50,000 Forest Service; $100,000 non-federal funds.
  • Sangre de Cristo Youth for Conservation: The Forest Service will hire at least 20 youth from Costilla and Conejos counties to work on the Rio Grande National Forest and San Luis Valley Bureau of Land Management. The youth will work on high-priority conservation projects such as riparian restoration, surveying bark beetle disturbance and mapping osha, a culturally significant herbal plant. $12,769 Forest Service; $11,000 BLM; $23,769 non-federal funds.
  • Southwest Conservation Corps, Delores River Restoration: The Southwest Conservation Corps and Delores River Restoration Partnership is a three-year-old private/public collaboration that is part of the Walton Family Foundation’s Freshwater Conservation Initiative. The project will involve 70 to 80 crew members for conservation work along Disappointment Creek, a major tributary in BLM’s Uncompahgre District in Southwest Colorado. $80,000 BLM; $412,000 non-federal funds.

Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee

  • Bridging the Forestry Diversity Gap: Chattahoochee, Cherokee and Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests will work with Groundwork Hudson Valley and The Wilderness Society to recruit 16 youth ages 18 to 21 New York to introduce participants to camping, develop job readiness, leadership, and team-building skills.  The eight member youth crews will restore 24-plus miles of wilderness trails to standard over two years in areas prioritized by the Forest Service- $25,000 Forest Service; $25,000 Wells Fargo; $51,672 non-federal funds.

Kentucky and Indiana

  • Conservation Career Training in the Ohio River Watershed: The Ohio River Foundation will hire two crews of six high school students for three weeks of summer work on the Ohio River Watershed on the Boone and Hoosier National Forests near Red River Gorge, Ky., and Norman, Ind. Activities will restore riparian habitat by removing invasive species and planting native species, and will protect water quality by reducing erosion. $28,300 Forest Service; $37,000 non-federal funds.

Maryland

  • Potomac River Conservation Job Training Program: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the BLM, will expand the Maryland Conservation Corps and the Civic Justice Corps to involve students and young adults in conservation projects along the Potomac River at Douglas Point, Md. Participants will be guided and instructed by professionals in park planning and natural resource restoration science and will tackle high-priority restoration work. $100,000 BLM; $100,000 non-federal funds.*

Montana:

  • Crown of the Continent and Prairie Next Generation Stewards: The Montana Conservation Corps will engage young people from urban communities, rural Montana and Native American tribes to accomplish 43 weeks of stewardship, restoration and monitoring projects to enhance the Southwestern Crown of the Continent ecosystem, and will work on the Flathead, Lolo and Helena National Forests and the BLM’s Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and northern prairie landscapes. $38,000 Forest Service; $42,000 BLM; $169,755 non-federal funds.

Nevada:

  • Virgin River Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Habitat Restoration: The Great Basin Institute will partner with Nevada Conservation Corps and Partners in Conservation to restore 40 acres of BLM land along the Virgin River near Mesquite, Nevada. Partners in Conservation will recruit 70 young people to engage in hands-on restoration and monitoring and visit with hydrologists, biologists, and other natural resource professionals to learn about conservation career pathways. $80,000 BLM; $252,515 non-federal funds.

New Mexico:

  • Collaborative Forest Restoration and Education in New Mexico: The Forest Guild and the Cibola National Forest will hire and train 12 Tribal youth from Cibola and McKinley counties for part-time seasonal jobs for up to two years. The young people will help with gathering habitat structure data to carry out management for an area that is habitat for keystone species such as northern goshawk, Mexican spotted owl, and Abert’s squirrel. $50,482 Forest Service; $25,000 Wells Fargo; $75,492 non-federal funds.

Oregon:

  • Restoring the Future: Pathways to Careers in Conservation: Mt. Hood Community College will hire and train 30 urban youth and 2 crew leaders to complete essential restoration projects over two summers in the Sandy River Basin, just east of metropolitan Portland. Youth will work with agency professionals and Basin partners to gain job-readiness skills and hands-on experience in salmon habitat restoration, trail work, native plant restoration, project management, and invasive-plant removal.  $35,000 Forest Service; $35,243 BLM; $107,000 non-federal funds.
  • Tillamook Coho Stream Restoration Project: The Tillamook School District will partner with the BLM to monitor Coho salmon stream restoration sites and collect data to assess the effectiveness of ongoing stream restoration on the Wilson, Nestucca, and Trask Rivers. A crew of one adult leader and five youth members, will work on   will conduct aquatic invertebrate sampling, riparian fence monitoring, fish habitat evaluation, water quality sampling and analysis, and photo-point monitoring. $42,570 BLM; $77,500 non-federal funds.
  • Klamath Basin Stewardship Project: The Northwest Youth Corps will hire 50 local youth, at least 40 percent from the Klamath Tribe, to work on riparian fence building, invasive species removal, native plantings, survey completions and data management, and public lands access management. This project supports the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Upper Klamath Basin Keystone Initiative by implementing high priority stewardship projects near the city of Klamath Falls, the Wood and Sprague River systems and the Williamson Delta. $99,995 BLM; $108,073 non-federal funds.

Utah:

  • Utah Conservation Corps Bilingual Youth Corps: The Corps, based at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, will expand its Bilingual Youth Corps by hiring 36 bilingual high school students over a two-year period to help complete 50 miles of wilderness trail maintenance and habitat restoration on 135 acres of public lands on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, the Salt Lake Watershed and along the Jordan River Parkway. $70,000 Forest Service; $25,000 Wells Fargo; $96,436 non-federal funds.

Wisconsin

  • Inventory and Stewardship of Wisconsin River Islands: Operation Fresh Start will engage 60 young people ages 16–24 in the inventory, planning, and restoration activities to identify and conserve the natural resources on 64 islands owned by BLM within the lower Wisconsin River. Activities include GIS mapping of plant communities and observed wildlife, natural features, and human use and development, and removing invasive species control and adding site enhancements such as bird boxes and signage.  $55,072 BLM; $94,714 non-federal funds.

* These three pilot projects were previous announced in December 2011 when the America’s Great Outdoors: Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists grant program was announced.

Posted in Press Release | 1 Comment

Global Lightning Full Scale Exercise Starts Today

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Delta News Web

This is just a friendly reminder that our “Global Lightning” 2012 Full Scale Exercise begins today and runs through Tuesday, May 22.

The purpose of the exercise is to test the installation’s response to a multitude of incidents related to acts of terrorism in the Fort Greely and Delta Junction community and is a continuing effort to assess the validity of USAG-FGA Antiterrorism Plan as well as the installation all hazards preparedness plans and procedures.

During the five-day period the workforce and residents of the FGA housing area can expect to see an increase in the movement of first responders and emergency response vehicles across the installation. There could be an aggressor force making an “attack” against the Missile Defense Complex, with both sides using blanks and pyrotechnics. Messages related to a scenario may be broadcast over the Giant Voice.  These messages will be preceded by, and end with Exercise, Exercise, Exercise so they are not confused with real world events.
Real world events take precedence over scenarios associated with the exercise. As with everything we do, safety is our primary concern.

Deborah Ward
Garrison Public Affairs Office
Fort Greely, Alaska
deborah.a.ward32.civ@mail.mil
Office: 907-873-5023

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Photo of the day May 17

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Delta News Web

This picture of a sleeping sea otter was taken in Valdez. Normally skittish, this one must have been having good dreams to let anyone get this close! Photo Courtesy Debra Darland

Posted in Debra Darland, Photo | Leave a comment

Prescribed Burns Planned for Donnelly Training Area West

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Delta News Web

The US Army Alaska and the BLM Alaska Fire Service will conduct a prescribed fire on the Oklahoma Range within the Donnelly Training Area, approximately 25 miles southwest of Delta Junction. Burning will occur any time between May 5th and May 31st when the burning conditions are optimal and air quality should not be affected.

The Oklahoma Range is critical for enhancing U.S. Army and Air Force mission training. The purpose of the prescribed burns is to reduce the dead and dry vegetation in the ranges, thereby reducing the potential for a wildfire to ignite during live-fire training exercises.

Smoke may be visible in Delta Junction and the Donnelly Training Area during burning operations.

For further information, please contact Alaska Fire Service Dispatch at 907-356-5554.

Posted in Bureau of Land Management, Fort Greely Army Garrison | Leave a comment

Fort Greely Movies

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Delta News Web

Friday, May 18 – Wrath of the Titans (PG-13) 7pm
Saturday, May 19 – Jump Street (R) 7pm

Wrath of the Titans A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus — the demigod son of Zeus — is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence and action.  99 Minutes

Jump Street – In the action-comedy 21 Jump Street, Schmidt and Jenko are more than ready to leave their adolescent problems behind. Joining the police force and the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school. As they trade in their guns and badges for backpacks, Schmidt and Jenko risk their lives to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. But they find that high school is nothing like they left it just a few years earlier – and neither expects that they will have to confront the terror and anxiety of being a teenager again and all the issues they thought they had left behind. Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, teen drinking and some violence. 109 minutes

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Photo of the day May 16

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Delta News Web

The Great Horned Owl pictured here is a predator of the sky, where the shrews, voles, and even rabbits don’t have a chance to escape it’s silent wings and razor sharp talons.
Photo by Steve Thomas

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Delta Greely 2012 Graduating Classes

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Delta News Web

May 18 – 8pm
DHS Gym     
Congratulations Graduates

 

 

Delta High School  
Byam, Jay Rodney
Carey, Andrew Jacob
Chapman, Julia Lynn
DeBilzan, Nicholas John
Drew, Donovan Howard
Ebona, Jason Russell
Erickson, Robert Eli
French, Mitchell Lewis
Gardner, Richard Forest
Henry, Dora Helen
Hobbs, Victor Thomas Bailey
Huff, Dejae Michelle
Ionashku, Andrey Viktorovich
Jensen, Patrick Wayne
Kelderman, Sydney Ann Colleen
Kiselev, Yulian Olegovich
Koval, Igor Vladimirovich
Kulakevich, Simona Benita
Kurilchenko, Valentina Volodimirivna
Mackey, Kayla Elina
Mazhan, Liliya
McDavid, Korina Renee
McLaren, Chance Leland
McLaren, LeRoy Caleb
Moschell, Nicholas David
Roach, Alan Michael
Rush, Mallory Taylor
Schmidt, Patric Alan
Schultz, Jacob Colestin
Smith, Brett Loren
Tappen, Charles Wellington
Terry, Amanda Nichole
Vasilik, Alex Vasilievich
Webber, Alex Dawn
Yearty, Heather Ladon

New Horizons
Palmer, Brittany Chantel
Wickham, Mathea M
Glushko, Aleksandr
Glushko, Marianna A
Malyk, Dmitry F
Swan, Henry Adam

Delta/Greely Homeschool  
Barladyan, Viktoriya Amatoliyvna
Deisler, Kyla Ann-Marie
Ellis, Grace Ann
Gruber, Ashley Trista
Helkenn, Jessica
Kosmin, Agnesa Yuryevna
Kuzmin, Valentina
Petty, Emily Jane
Petty, MaryKate Elizabeth
Skovrinski, Ariel Leigh
Skovrinski, Coral Nichole
Tom, Dana Pauline
Dexter, Ashley Miranda December 22, 2011
Kolosov, Leonard Dennis December 22, 2011

Posted in Delta/Greely School District | Leave a comment

BLM-Alaska offers Active Duty Military Free Annual Pass to Public Lands

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Delta News Web

To show our appreciation for those who serve in the U.S. military, on May 19 – Armed Forces Day – the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will join with other federal agencies to issue annual passes that offer free access to public lands for active duty military members and their dependents.  Entry to BLM-managed public lands is already free in Alaska; however this military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass permits free entrance to sites managed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service.

“BLM public lands offer the widest range of recreation opportunities of any public land agency.  This spectrum of traditional and new outdoor recreation activities contributes to the health and well-being of millions of Americans including members of the military,” BLM-Alaska State Director Bud Cribley said.  “We are proud to join with other federal agencies to make the passes available and to recognize the brave men and women who serve and their families.  We hope that a visit to these lands will offer an opportunity to unwind, relax, rejuvenate, and just have fun with their families.”

Entry to BLM-managed public lands is already free in Alaska.  Opportunities abound for rafting the Gulkana Wild & Scenic River, hiking the Pinnell Mountain National Recreation Trail, watching wildlife along the Denali Highway, hunting and fishing along the Dalton Highway, viewing historic Ft. Egbert, snowmachining in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, and almost any outdoor recreation pursuit of your dreams.   Nominal fees are charged for use of facilities like campgrounds, picnic shelters and public cabins. For more information about recreation opportunities on BLM-managed public lands in Alaska, go to: www.blm.gov/ak.

In Alaska, active duty members of the Armed Forces can pick up their pass at the following BLM offices:

Alaska Fire Service
1541 Gaffney Road
Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Alaska State Office Public Room
222 W 7th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99513

Anchorage Field Office
4700 BLM Road
Anchorage, AK 99507

Glennallen Field Office
Mile Post 186.5 Glenn Highway
Glennallen, AK 99588

Fairbanks District Office
1150 University Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99709

Arctic Interagency Visitors Center
Dalton Highway Milepost 175
Coldfoot, AK

Military members and their dependents must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. More information is available at Recreation.gov.

For more information on recreation and visitor services please visit the Bureau of Land Management Website.

Posted in Bureau of Land Management | Leave a comment

Farmers Market Open May 19

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Delta News Web

Delta’s Highway’s End Farmers Market opens for it’s 10th year on Saturday, May 19th.  The Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.    Website

The season begins with vegetable and bedding plants, fresh milled organic flours, hand thrown pottery, homemade natural organic herbal healing salves and lip balms, beadwork, leather and fur products as well as Kuspuks, knitted scarves and mittens, jams, jellies, jewelry, Bolga baskets, farm fresh eggs, aprons, RADA cutlery, wall hangings, honey and much more – all on Opening Day!

Be sure to try the delicious foods such as hot pretzels, homemade soups, hot dogs, doughboys, French fries and smoothies as well as sodas.

Our vendors have the necessary certifications that enable them to offer a wide variety of breads, cookies and other delights to satisfy your taste buds.

Workshop Wednesdays –You Can Do It!  These are one-hour instructional workshops and seminars held every Wednesday at 1:00 P.M.  All ages are welcome.  Fees range from $5.00 to $15.00, depending on the cost of materials and supplies provided.

May 30:   No charge.  Children’s opportunity to plant the Market’s flower barrels.  They enjoy watching “their own” barrel grow and bloom throughout the season.  The flower barrels really make the Market’s ground look beautiful.

June 6 :  $ 10.00 Plant your own herb garden container.  Herbs plants and container provided and you take your garden home that day.

June 13:  $ 5.00.  Organic Controls of Common Garden Pests.

June 20: $ 5.00 Rhubarb plant growing, how to divide plants info as well as cooking ideas.

June 27:  $ 15.00  Papermaking.  All materials provided.  Take home what you make.

July 11:  $ 15.00 Watercolor Journaling;  An introduction to the growing trend of adding small, spontaneous watercolor sketches with your journaling text, bringing that moment in time to life.

July 18:  $ 5.00.  Fermentation – A New Look At An Old Preservation Method – Sauerkraut and similar preservation methods.

July 25:  $ 5.00 Cooking with Delta Barley Flour.  Methods and recipes.

August 1: $ 10.00 Tole Painting-Same as July 11th, but with another instructor–different painting techniques.  Spray paint your container the prior to the class.

August 8:  $ 15.00 Fur Sewing.  All materials provided.  Take your project home with you.

August 15:  $5.00 Cooking with Delta Barley Flour.  Methods and recipes.

August 22:  $ 15.00 Basket Weaving.  Materials and instruction. Take your project home.

August 29: $ 15.00 Garden Stepping Stones.  Take your stone home.

Posted in Farmers Market | Leave a comment

Photo of the day May 15

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Delta News Web

On a trip thru Canada back to Alaska, I caught this picture of a Mom Grizzly and twins. One is hidden behind her but the other is hiding behind the pine tree just to the front of her. ..look close!!  Photo Courtesy Debra Darland

Posted in Debra Darland, Photo | Leave a comment

Donations of Dessert Items Being Accepted for Community Cleanup

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Delta News Web

Please if anyone would like to donate a dessert item to share after lunch please call the Delta Chamber of Commerce Office 895-5068

Meet at the Visitor Center @ 8:30am and get bags.

Lunch will start at 11:30am   There will be refreshments available

Bring trash back to Visitors Center and use ONLY the roll off dumpsters provided and NOT the Visitors Center dumpsters please.

To sign up to help stop by the Chamber of Commerce office or call 895-5068

Posted in Chamber of Commerce | Leave a comment

Coming Saturday, Community Clean Up

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Delta News Web

Please remember that this Saturday May 19, 2012 is our annual Community Clean Up Day.

Please DO NOT dump your bags at the Visitor’s Center.  There will be dumpsters provided for your use at the Visitor’s Center parking lot on Saturday ONLY!

Also there is no one to pick up your bags so please DO NOT leave them on the side of the road.  Bring them back the Visitor’s Center and put them in the large roll off dumpster provided (not the Visitor’s Center personal dumpster).

We strive to make our town clean and need your help to achieve this.

As a thank you to all the Community Clean Up participants the Delta Chamber of Commerce will be offering a free lunch at the Visitor’s Center from 11:30 – 2:00.  There will be hot dogs and refreshments for everyone who has helped clean our community.

We look forward to seeing everyone out there cleaning our streets!

If you would like to sign up for the Community Clean up call Amanda Myers at the Delta Chamber of Commerce office 895-5068 or stop into the Visitor’s Center on Saturday and get your yellow clean up bags starting at 8:30am and hit the streets.

Posted in Chamber of Commerce | Leave a comment

Armed Forces Day May 19th Pancake Breakfast

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Delta News Web

The Community of Delta Junction, Alaska and King’s Chapel Armed Forces Day 2012

Would like to show its gratitude to all the men and women in the Armed Forces.  You and youre family are invited for a pancake breakfast to say, thank you for your sevie to The United States of Amaerica.

Free to Military Families
Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, May 19th
Alaska Steak House Banquet Hall
9am – 12pm

Contact information: King’s Chapel 1414 Alaska Hwy, Delta Jct, AK  99737

Posted in Church, Military | Leave a comment

BLM Requests Nominations and Comments for Oil & Gas Lease Sale

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Delta News Web

Anchorage—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a notice in the Federal Register calling for nominations and comments on available tracts to be considered for its scheduled November 2012 oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) – the second sale since President Obama directed the Department of the Interior on May 14, 2011, to conduct annual oil and gas lease sales in the NPR-A.

The BLM offered 3 million acres in a November 2011 NPR-A lease sale in response to the President’s announcement, which emphasized the need to protect sensitive areas while providing development opportunities.

The notice announces a 45-day period in which interested parties may nominate or comment on available tracts.  The Federal Register notice is the first step in the process leading up to the next oil and gas lease sale, which is tentatively scheduled for November 2012.

“The call for nominations and comments is a process for oil and gas lease sales within the NPR-A that gives industry, conservation groups and other stakeholders the opportunity to provide input into which tracts should be included in the sale and which tracts should be excluded from the sale,” said Bud C. Cribley, BLM-Alaska State Director.  “As industry begins to build infrastructure and explore and develop oil and gas on Alaska’s North Slope, this important step is part of our efforts to facilitate safe responsible domestic energy development within the NPR-A.”

To select which tracts will be available for the oil and gas lease sale, the BLM-Alaska State Director will consider the results from the Call for Nominations and Comments, existing natural resource and environmental data, the location of existing leases, multiple use conflicts,  resource potential, industry interest, and other available information.

There are 630 tracts on approximately 7.1 million acres that will be available for nomination and comment under this lease sale.  Currently there are 186 authorized oil and gas leases totaling 1,481,092 acres in the NPR-A.  Maps showing available areas are available on the BLM website:  http://www.blm.gov/ak.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency.  This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska.  The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation.  In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs.  The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends.  In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget.  The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.  The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

Contact:
Artealia Gilliard, 907-271-4418, agilliard@blm.gov

Ruth McCoard, 907-271-3322, rmccoard@blm.gov
Deputy Chief, Office of Communications
BLM-Alaska State Office
222 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 13
Anchorage, AK  99513-7504
907-271-3322 Office
907-952-0464 BlackBerry
907-271-5421 Fax

Posted in Bureau of Land Management | Leave a comment

Wendy’s Now Serving Breakfast

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Delta News Web

Rise and Shine with Wendy’s® New Real Breakfast Menu

New Breakfast Menu Offers Freshly Made Items with Quality Ingredients Fairbanks, AK,

May 13, 2012 – Fairbanks Consumers shouldn’t settle for drab, uninspiring breakfasts. Wendy’s is re-energizing mornings with a new fresh-made breakfast menu, which serves up both tasty traditional and tantalizing new entrées and sides, all made to order with ingredients that are hand prepared daily in Wendy’s kitchens.

The new Wendy’s breakfast menu offers fresh Grade A eggs, thick-cut Applewood Smoked Bacon, all-natural grilled sausage, seasonal fresh fruit, fresh-baked breads and coffee made with 100 percent Arabica beans. More adventurous palates can enjoy the Artisan Egg Sandwich, Fire-Roasted Burrito and Mornin’ Melt Panini. For traditional tastes, there are favorites like the Biscuit Sandwich, Seasoned Home-Style Potatoes, and Fresh Seasonal Fruit Cup. All of the new menu items are made with Wendy’s passion for quality and served at affordable prices.

“A real breakfast is a great breakfast – it’s prepared and cooked fresh with real, wholesome, natural ingredients,” says Rick Ireland, Owner and Operator of Wendy’s Alaska. “Our new breakfast menu delivers a whole new experience, with offerings like Asiago cheese and hollandaise sauce on a honey-wheat muffin with fresh cracked eggs, fresh cooked Applewood smoked bacon and natural sausage; a panini with fresh-baked sourdough bread topped with cheddar and Asiago cheese; or a warm oatmeal bar made with fruit like cranberries and blueberries.

“For consumers who really care about the food choices they make, Wendy’s new breakfast menu is a difference you can taste. Wendy’s has redefined the breakfast experience with an inspired menu that offers unique, exciting foods,” says Ireland.

Wendy’s new menu is available in Anchorage and will be served weekdays from 6 to 10:30 a.m. daily. Menu items range from entrées to sides. Prices will vary.

Contact Rick Ireland, Wendy’s Alaska rireland@wendys.alaska.com

Denny Lynch (614) 764-3553 denny.lynch@wendys.com

About The Wendy’s Company The Wendy’s Company is the world’s third largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy’s system includes more than 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the U.S. and 26 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. For more information visit www.wendys.com, or www.aboutwendys.com.

Posted in Announcements, Around the State | Leave a comment

Traffic Impacts for Fort Wainraight

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Delta News Web

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska –  Fort Wainwright will be the scene of a number of ceremonies, runs and other events centered around the 1-25 SBCT redeployment.

Many of the events will have an impact on traffic and drivers may experience delays and road closures.

Tuesday, May 15 – 6:30-8 a.m. – Brigade Run – East on the airfield to Ketcham Road adjacent to the golf course. North on Ketcham Road to Gaffney Road.  West on Gaffney Rd to Freeman Rd.  South at the JAG Bldg back to the airfield. Expect blocked road and traffic delays on Ketcham and Gaffney.

Wednesday, May 16 – 9-11 a.m. – Memorial Ceremony.  Roads closed – east from the Intersection of Alder and Rhineland Roads (individuals will still be able to access Kamish Clinic); north from the intersection of Santiago Road and the southern entrance to parking lot of Bldg 3401 and west from Bldg 3417, Warrior Transition Battalion to Alder Road.

Wednesday, May 16 – 12:30-3:30 p.m. – Redeployment/Change of Command Ceremony.  Montgomery Road will see a large increase in pedestrians, parking and traffic around the Alert Holding Area, (Bldg 2116). Police traffic control points will be operating in the vicinity of Bldg 2116

Thursday, May 17 – 9:30-11 a.m. – Wounded Warrior and Gold Star Family Walk -  Luzon Road will be closed all the way from Northern Lights Chapel north to Montgomery Road to the Alert Holding Area, Bldg 2116 where the walk ends.

Thursday, May 17 – 9 a.m.-7:30 p .m. – 1/25 Installation-wide Organization Day – Montgomery Road will see a large increase in pedestrians, parking and traffic around the Alert Holding Area (Bldg 2116) where the majority of the activities will take place. However, there are organized sports events that will take place at the Softball Complex, Physical Fitness Center (inside and out) and on River Road for the Mud Race.  Shuttle buses will be running to alleviate traffic congestion.

All motorists are asked to be aware of possible road closures, traffic delays and pedestrians and to drive with caution.

Linda Douglass
Garrison Public Affairs Officer
(907) 353-6701

Posted in Fort Wainright | Leave a comment

Photo of the day May 14

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Delta News Web

Taken at Quartz Lake on May 8. The robin is a sure sign of spring.
Photo Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos

Posted in Photo, Sebastian Saarloos | Leave a comment

The Peoples’ Department: 150 Years of USDA

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Delta News Web

Secretary Vilsack

On May 15, we will recognize the 150th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  On that date in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law an act of Congress establishing USDA.

Two and a half years after he established the Department, in what would be his final annual message to Congress, Lincoln called USDA “The People’s Department.”

President Lincoln knew the importance of agriculture to our prosperity – particularly at a time when about half of all Americans lived on the farm. And while that number today stands at about 2 percent, our values are still rooted in rural America.

As the United States has changed and evolved over the years, at USDA we have not lost sight of Lincoln’s vision. Through our work on food, agriculture, economic development, science, natural resource conservation and a host of other issues, USDA has impacted the lives of generations of Americans.

And over the past three years, we have furthered that commitment to this nation.

USDA has supported producers – making a record number of farm loans, maintaining a strong safety net, and expanding markets to drive record exports.

We’ve stood by rural communities – supporting more than 6,000 community facilities projects, providing more than 50,000 loans to help rural businesses create jobs, and investing in thousands of infrastructure projects that have delivered modern broadband, water and electric services to millions.

We’ve enrolled a record number of acres in conservation programs, and laid out a sensible new planning rule for 193 million acres of National Forests to promote job growth while conserving the environment.

USDA has continued its history of groundbreaking research. For example, we’ve invested about $320 million to accelerate research on the next generation of renewable energy – so we can create jobs and ensure America’s energy security for years to come.

And we’re helping families lead healthy lives. USDA provides nutrition assistance for one in four Americans, enabling them to put healthy meals on the table, even when times are tough, and we’re serving healthier school breakfast and lunch to 32 million kids a day.

Today, USDA truly remains a “Peoples’ Department” that touches the life of every American. Folks depend on us. That’s why I’m committed to leveraging the efforts of our Department and more than 100,000 hardworking USDA employees to continue creating jobs, supporting rural communities and helping our country prosper.

As we commemorate 150 years of accomplishments, USDA is looking forward to addressing the changing needs of agriculture and rural America.

For our small towns and communities looking to compete in a globalizing world, we’ll be there with access to broadband, critical infrastructure and support for new businesses.

USDA will continue its support for the next generation of renewable fuels and help promote advanced, bio-based products.

And we’ll keep working closely with America’s agricultural producers to maintain a dependable safety net for their work – which ultimately is connected to 1 in 12 American jobs – and ensure the food supply we need to feed a growing world population.

I hope Americans will join us in our commemoration of 150 years of USDA. This is a great time to learn about this Department’s contributions to the strength of our nation, and to see how we can continue to partner with Americans working to provide a better life for their families.

I invite everyone to visit www.usda.gov/usda150 to learn more about USDA’s history and our plans for the future – as the “Peoples’ Department” continues serving all Americans, every day and every way.

Posted in USDA | Leave a comment

Softball Sign-Ups for Adult Coed and Men

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Delta News Web

Ft. Greely Coed Adult Softball League
Begins June 4, 2012 through August 27, 2012
Open to Delta Community
Team Sign-Up no later than May 28, 2012 Games held 1800-2100 Mondays

Fort Greely Men’s Softball
Begins June 4, 2012 throught August 27, 2012
Open to Delta Community
Team Sign-Up no later than May 28, 2012 Games Times to Be Announced

Physical Fitness Center Contact 873-2696
Physical Fitness Center Hours:
Monday – Friday 5300-200
Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 1000-1800

Posted in Ft. Greely | Leave a comment

Triathlon deadline fast approaching!

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Delta News Web

Who: Ft. Greely and Delta Junction Community Members/Public
What: 2012 Delta/Greely Blast-Off Triathlon
When: Sat. June 12
Where: Ft. Greely/Delta Junction

Registrations are due at the end of this week for the 2012 Delta/Greely Blast-Off Triathlon that will be held on Sat. June 9, 2012. The 4th Annual race will welcome teams this year! So if you don’t like to swim but want to run or bike, find some teammates and sign up! Registration for individual racers and each individual team member is $30. Each racer must fill out his/her own registration form and indicate team members (if any) on their registration form.   Click here for registration form.

Triathletes who do not normally have access to post may submit a background check with their registration form which will enable them to train at the Ft. Greely Fitness Center/Pool. Beginner and intermediate swim clinics are being offered every Friday through June 3 at the pool for $45. Contact the Pool/Fitness Center to register: 873-5665, or 873-2696.

Registrations are due by May 18. You will find a registration form attached above. You can send your registration form to the address on the brochure or drop it off at the Community Activity Center. Please contact 505-9012 with any questions.

See you at the race!
Brooke Whipple
Manager Outdoor Recreation,
Building 627 Ft. Greely, Alaska
873-3292
brooke.a.whipple.naf@mail.mil

Posted in Updates | Leave a comment

Big Delta State Historical Park Concession Contract

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Delta News Web

May 14, 2012

PUBLIC NOTICE:  Big Delta State Historical Park Concession Contract

The state concession contract to operate Big Delta State Historical Park (BDSHP), otherwise known as Rika’s Roadhouse, ends November 27th, 2012.  This notice meets the requirements of AS 41.21.027(d), to provide for public review and comment prior to entering into a new concession contract for the operation of BDSHP.  Comments should be received at the above address, fax, or email to brooks.ludwig@alaska.gov  by May 24th, 2012.

A new concession contract would provide for:

  1. An exclusive right to manage Big Delta State Historical Park and conduct associated educational and  interpretive programs.
  2. A reasonable fee schedule to be set by contract, subject to division review and approval
  3. Adequate and effective safety precautions
  4. Adequate accommodations for persons with disabilities
  5. A 5-year term, with option to renew for two additional ten-year terms
  6. A prohibition from significant interference with ordinary and traditional use of
  7. Full compliance with all relevant state and local laws
    Big Delta State Historical Park

Comments will be incorporated in the preliminary decision on whether to enter into a concession contract for the operation of Big Delta State Historical Park.

Sincerely,
Brooks Ludwig
Northern Area Superintendent
Alaska State Parks

Copy of the signed public notice by Brooks Ludwig

Posted in Public Notice | Leave a comment

Weekly Gas Updates

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Delta News Web

Alaska, May 14- Average retail gasoline prices in Alaska have risen 14.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.46/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.73/g, according to gasoline price website AlaskaGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Alaska during the past week, prices yesterday were 20.8 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 8.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has decreased 16.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 20.3 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
“While gasoline prices east of the Rockies have been falling, the West Coast remains at the mercy of refinery production,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “The entire West Coast right now is looking for any reason for a continuation in the price rally we’ve seen in the last week as supply remains tight, and stakes high as Memorial Day weekend is just two weeks away. While pump prices may continue their decline outside the West Coast, any refinery blip certainly has the potential for localized hotspots, and motorists should be aware of that,” DeHaan said.

About AlaskaGasPrices.com
GasBuddy operates AlaskaGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. In addition, GasBuddy offers a free smartphone app which has been downloaded over 20 million times to help motorists find gasoline prices in their area.

For more local information, methodology, or related questions, contact:
Patrick DeHaan Senior Petroleum Analyst, GasBuddy.com Chicago, IL
E-mail: pdehaan@gasbuddy.com 773-644-1427

Gregg Laskoski Senior Petroleum Analyst, GasBuddy.com Tampa, FL
E-mail: glaskoski@gasbuddy.com 813-436-9422

Posted in Updates | Leave a comment

Photo of the day May 12

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Delta News Web

 This bull moose has found himself a delicacy, the fireweed he is feeding on is probably a nice treat. Photo by Steve Thomas

Posted in Photo, Steve Thomas | Leave a comment

Wildland fires require quick response from fire personnel

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Delta News Web

Photo Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos

Division of Forestry (DOF) fire personnel and fire departments had to react quickly to new fire starts on Friday, May 11, to catch them before they developed into larger incidents. Wind gusts up to 45 miles posed a major concern for the new starts in the Delta area. Mike Reggear, DOF, recalls, “it was also hard to identify where fires were due to blowing dust.” The fires started not only from debris burning, but from wind effects, such as a tree falling across a power line.

Photo Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos

The readiness to respond to fires was one of the points of success on Friday. The 27-acre Old Harbor Fire, roughly four miles east of Delta Junction, started in the mid-afternoon from an old burn pile left over from a land clearing project. It was reported to DOF by an employee that saw the column from the tanker base. Immediate response occurred; it was only 10 minutes from the report to actually having firefighters on scene.  A dozer and other large equipment, a retardant tanker, and air attack added to the effort to contain the fire. The White Mountain fire crew was ordered from Fairbanks, two helicopters provided additional aerial support, and engines came from Tok, Copper River, and Fairbanks.

Due to high winds and pre-green up conditions, the fire spread very effectively through the hardwoods spruce understory. Dry grasses, leaves and other ground vegetation carried the fire as well. The winds and dry fuels are a dangerous combination, not necessarily uncommon to the Delta area. Let this be a reminder to all residents of the importance of safe burning practices. Anyone wishing to burn debris must obtain a burn permits (http://forestry.alaska.gov/burn). But the responsibility does not stop there. It is critical that the burn permit stipulations are followed, including calling 907-895-LITE before you burn to check for suspensions and other important information. Read the permit for more information about safe burning, and contact the Forestry office directly for more information.

Debris pile burns must be attended until they are fully out cold. High winds can easily bring to life a smoldering fire, even after several weeks. Stir piles up so that you can reveal any material that may still be burning. Because debris burns tend to be in close proximity to homes and other structures, they can pose a lot of immediate risk to people and values. It is important for home and property owners to adhere to Firewise principles. More guidance is available at: http://forestry.alaska.gov/pdfs/firewise09.pdf.

Photo Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos

Old Harbor was not the only fire that local fire departments and Forestry were responding to on that busy afternoon. Three fires and one false alarm required response. Resource sharing from other Forestry offices helped boost local forces. Fairbanks also got five new fires from trees falling on power lines. In situations where natural factors are involved in fire starts, such as wind causing power lines to blow over, or lightning strikes, it is even more important that people prevent human-caused fires. Our firefighting resources need to be available to respond to the less-preventable and predictable fires.

Please do your part to protect yourself and your community. Adhere to burn permit stipulations. Be cautious with anything that could start a fire; remember, it only takes a spark. And finally, protect yourself from encroaching fires, whatever the cause that starts them, by implementing Firewise principles.

Submitted by Maggie Rogers – Division of Forestry
Photos Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos

Posted in Forestry, Photo, Sebastian Saarloos | Leave a comment

Photo of the day May 11

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Delta News Web

On April 27-28, 2012, Boy Scout Troop 56 went on an overnight trip to Miller Creek. We hiked 2 ½ miles on snowshoes to our campsite. The next morning, we went sledding. After that, we snowshoed about 2 miles up to the glacier and went back to our campsite to pack up and snowshoe back to the parking lot. The trip back always seems shorter.
 
Pictured from left to right are: Joseph Mock, Virgil Stockwell, Patrick Cassidy, Nico Holmes, Charles Marchuk, Jacob Stillie, Aaron Nouchi, Ryan Schmidt, and Scout leaders Alan Levinson and Dean Lambert. The names of the dogs pictured from left to right are Freckles and Hooley. Photo courtesy: Michael Cassidy.

Posted in Michael Cassidy, Photo | Leave a comment

Traffic Impacts for Fort Wainraight

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Delta News Web

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Beginning Saturday through next week (May 17) Fort Wainwright will be the scene of a number of ceremonies, runs and other events centered around the 1-25 SBCT redeployment.

Many of the events will have an impact on traffic and drivers may experience delays and road closures.

Saturday, May 12 – 5 a.m.-11 a.m. – Salute to Our Military Parade (STOMP). Gaffney Road from the Main Gate to River Road will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. all personnel have marched through. Trainor Gate will be open while the main gate is closed to enable access and egress from the installation.

Operations at Badger Gate will be unaffected by the parade.  Approximately 6,000 veterans, soldiers and airman will be marshaled on Gaffney Road and will march into Fairbanks through the main gate.

Tuesday, May 15 – 6:30-8 a.m. – Brigade Run – East on the airfield to Ketcham Road adjacent to the golf course. North on Ketcham Road to Gaffney Road.  West on Gaffney Rd to Freeman Rd.  South at the JAG Bldg back to the airfield. Expect blocked road and traffic delays on Ketcham and Gaffney.

Wednesday, May 16 – 9-11 a.m. – Memorial Ceremony.  Roads closed – east from the Intersection of Alder and Rhineland Roads (individuals will still be able to access Kamish Clinic); north from the intersection of Santiago Road and the southern entrance to parking lot of Bldg 3401 and west from Bldg 3417, Warrior Transition Battalion to Alder Road.

Wednesday, May 16 – 12:30-3:30 p.m. – Redeployment/Change of Command Ceremony.  Montgomery Road will see a large increase in pedestrians, parking and traffic around the Alert Holding Area, (Bldg 2116). Police traffic control points will be operating in the vicinity of Bldg 2116

Thursday, May 17 – 9:30-11 a.m. – Wounded Warrior and Gold Star Family Walk -  Luzon Road will be closed all the way from Northern Lights Chapel north to Montgomery Road to the Alert Holding Area, Bldg 2116 where the walk ends.

Thursday, May 17 – 9 a.m.-7:30 p .m. – 1/25 Installation-wide Organization Day – Montgomery Road will see a large increase in pedestrians, parking and traffic around the Alert Holding Area (Bldg 2116) where the majority of the activities will take place. However, there are organized sports events that will take place at the Softball Complex, Physical Fitness Center (inside and out) and on River Road for the Mud Race.  Shuttle buses will be running to alleviate traffic congestion.

All motorists are asked to be aware of possible road closures, traffic delays and pedestrians and to drive with caution.

Linda Douglass
Garrison Public Affairs Officer
(907) 353-6701

Posted in Fort Wainright | Leave a comment

Photo of the day May 10

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Delta News Web

Crescent Sunset HDR” ~ April 25, 2012 ~ Delta River. Photo Courtesy Sebastian Saarloos

Posted in Photo, Sebastian Saarloos | Leave a comment

Mitigate Mother’s Day Madness

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Delta News Web

 

Anchorage, Alaska – May 10, 2012 – Flowers, candy, gift baskets, jewelry and spa treatments may be at the top of the Mother’s Day shopping list, but be careful.

“Mother’s Day shoppers should be thinking about ‘when’ and ‘where’ to buy, especially with online orders and last-minute purchases,” says Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “Whether it is days or months in advance—or even after the holiday—BBB can help buyers screen sellers.”

Locally, BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington notes the following inquiries in the last 36 months:

  • · 6,609 on “Florists – Retail”
  • · 5,362 on “Candy & Confectionery – Retail”
  • · 7,785 on “Gift Baskets & Parcels”
  • · 71,335 on “Jewelers – Retail”
  • · 9,537 on “Day Spas”

Smart Start: Search retailers, shops and other services on bbb.org.

Online Orders: Review guarantees, shipping policies, delivery dates and charges on “rushed” orders. Provide pertinent contact information so companies can confirm shipping status.

Store Shopping: Inspect products thoroughly and maintain all purchase paperwork—including gift receipts.

Payment Protections: Collect customer service information, save receipts and pay by credit card when possible.

Adam Harkness, Alaska Public Relations Manager: 907.644.5202 | pr@thebbb.org
Niki Horace, V.P. of Marketing and Public Relations: 206.676.4187

Posted in Better Business Bureau | Leave a comment

Fort Greely Movies

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Delta News Web

Friday, May 11 – Mirror Mirror (PG) 7pm
Saturday, May 12 – Mirror Mirror (PG) 7pm

Mirror Mirror – When Snow White’s beauty wins the heart of the prince that she desperately pursues, the Queen banishes her to the forest, where a ravening man-eating beast hungrily awaits. Rescued by a band of diminutive highway robbers, Snow White grows into an indomitable young woman determined to take back her realm from the treacherous Queen. With the support of her subjects, she roars into action in an epic battle that blends spectacle, magic and contemporary humor in Singh’s signature, jaw-dropping visual style.   Rated PG for some fantasy action and mild rude humor.  100 Minutes

Posted in Fort Greely Movie Theatre | Leave a comment

Photo of the day May 9

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Delta News Web

Piglets enjoy their day on the farm. The sunshine and open area to run make them very happy. Photo by Ruby Hollembaek

Posted in Photo, Ruby Hollembaek | Leave a comment

2012 Relay for Life Events Schedule Updated

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Delta News Web

Delta Junction Relay for Life
May 11 – 12, 2012
Delta High School Track
“Pony Up for A Cure”

Friday, May 11th  
5pm – 7:30pm  – Survivor Social & Coffee
6pm  - OPENING CEREMONY
- Color Guard
- National Anthem – Brenna Marchuk
-  Speaker: Care Tuk “Loose Screws & Skinned Knees – A story of Hope – A Message of Strength”
6:30pm – 6:45 pm  - Survivor Lap
6 pm – 9pm  - Silent Auction and Bucket Drop (large tent)
7 pm – 10pm  - Live Music: The Legends
7pm  – Delta Elementary Flying Circus High School Gym
10 pm – 11pm - LUMINARIA CEREMONY
- Lighting of Luminaria
- Special Reading and Music
- Reading of Names in Memory and Honor
11 pm – 12 am  - Live Music: Big Delta Blues

Saturday, May 12
12am – 1am - Dance-a-thon -  Put on your dancin’ shoes because Relay will have a Dance-off at Midnight at the Delta high school track.  Dancing will be for an hour.  The person who dances the whole hour wins a Kodak Easy Share Camera complete with case and memory card.  We will also have a second and third place prize.  It will be in front of the stage and there will be a good mix of older and newer music for dancing.  Open to anyone willing to Dance For Relay!
1am – 4am –  Movie Time – Captain America
4am – 6am – Radio
6am – 9am –  CURT’S SUNSHINE JAM SESSION (All are welcome to join in)
7am – 10am – Pancake Breakfast – Lions Club (big tent)
9am – 3:30pm – Silent Auction and Bucket Drop (Big tent)
9am – 10am – Live Music: Bill & Janine Todd
10am – 11am – Donna Ashby
11am – 12pm – Live Music: Rick & Crew
12pm – 1pm – Live Music: Big Delta Blues
1pm – 2pm –  Chair Auction
2pm – 3pm –  Live Music: Big Delta Blues
3pm – 4pm – Live Music: Wolf Pack
3:30pm –  Silent Auction – CLOSES
4pm – 5pm – Live Music: Dave Jerry Band
3:45 pm – 4:30pm – Pick-up Silent Auction Items
5pm – 6pm – CLOSING CEREMONY AND FINAL LAP

Throughout Event: Ice Cream Soda Fountain (south end of track) Concession Stand, Cotton Candy, Food and Fun at various Team Campsites, Kids Games Stick Pony/Sack Races, Coins for a Cure, Bring a picture and make a button for Relay.

 

Posted in Relay for Life | Leave a comment

American Legion Memorial Day Ceremony

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Delta News Web

American Legion Jack Warren Post #22 will host the annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday the 28th of May at 12:00 at the Rest Haven Cemetary on Jack Warren Road.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was a day set aside to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. Now celebrated on the last Monday of May it is a day to come together to fellowship to remember our service men and women who have died.

Any who would like to sing, read a poem or tell a short patriotic anecdote please contact the American Legion Jack Warren Post #22 commander for inclusion in our program.

For additional information please contact: Rick Tirrell Jack Warren Post #22 Commander 895-1039

We hope to see you there.

Posted in American Legion, Holiday | Leave a comment

Baccalaureate Services

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Delta News Web

A Baccalaureate Service will be held to celebrate Delta Junction graduates on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 PM at the Living Waters Assembly of God Church.

Sponsored by the Delta Christian Ministerial Association, the baccalaureate service is for all graduates, regardless of school or religious affiliation.

Each graduate present will receive a gift from the DCMA.

We will have special music, and the featured speaker will be Pastor Trent Broome from the King’s Chapel.

For more information please contact Pastor Dave Becker at 895-4490.

 

Posted in Church, Events | Leave a comment

Volunteers Still Needed for Sullivan Roadhouse

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Delta News Web

Volunteers are still needed at the Sullivan Roadhouse Museum for the season.

Can you commit to coming down and volunteering for just one day this summer? We need volunteers on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

One day out of your busy life is all we are asking for! If you can commit to one or more days to volunteer to keep the roadhouse open then it would be greatly appreciated!

To sign up and volunteer call the Delta Chamber of Commerce office (907)895-5068. The season is from May 26, 2012 until September 1, 2012

Posted in Chamber of Commerce, Sullivan Roadhouse | Leave a comment

Weatherization for Fuel Efficiency Workshop

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Delta News Web

Heating bill getting higher? House still cool? Windows and doors leaking air? Time to get it fixed before next winter!

May 30, 31 and June 1, 2012
8 am – 4 pm
Delta Career Advancement Center
1696 North Clearwater Avenue


- Building Science covering energy transfer, heat loss, air tightness, and controlling condensation.
- Diagnostic tools including thermal cameras and blower doors.
- General air sealing covering all aspects including correct material selection and application techniques.
- Correct Attic and Foundation insulation.
- Modern energy efficient construction designs including remote wall systems and door and window installation.
- All tools and materials will be provided.
- This course is FREE and completers will receive Weather Tech 1 certification

Call 895-4605 to Register.  Class is limited to 12. Bring your own lunch.

The Weatherization Workshop is an equal opportunity program offered by Alaska Works Partnership in cooperation with Partners for Progress in Delta, Inc.

Funding is provided by a grant from the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

Posted in Partners for Progress, Workshops | Leave a comment