Board backs vaping detectors, bus, local teacher program
By Gretchen Wehmhoff
At their June 18 meeting, the school board approved funds to install a vape detector in school bathrooms, including the elementary wing. The detectors and cameras will run $16, 871.97.
The board also approved dedicating money from its teacher retention fund, which stands at $385,102, to participate in a Grow Your Own program meant to assist classified employees who have been with the school for at least one year in obtaining teacher certification.
The program is offered through the University of Alaska Southeast and the Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development. The district will reimburse the cost of up to 15 credit hours per semester.
The board also approved the purchase of a second activities bus. The current bus is a 1999 Ford E350 XLT with 110,400 miles.
The new bus is a 24’ 2023 Ford E450 Starcraft Allstar. The bus will hold fifteen people The district will purchase the bus for approximately $112,900 from Carpenter Bus sales in Tennessee. The company will deliver it to Seattle for $5600, but Superintendent Josh Coughran believes the school could save money on that portion.
“I think it would be better to send a district representative down there to kick the tires,” he said.
Coughran thinks it would save about $2500 to have someone other than the company drive the car to Seattle where it will then be put on AML for shipment to Skagway.
Skagway, Alaska
The Skagway-based voyageur canoe team ‘Dyea Dippers’ completes a training run on Nahku Bay on June 21 as they
the annual Yukon River Quest which started Wednesday, June 26 in
Jon Hillis, Jen Larsen, Alexandra Bronte Luque, Stephanie Hawney, and Sam
night. See results on the Race Tracker at www.yukonriverquest.com.
are
The
Juneau woman, restaurateur buys Red Onion Saloon Transistion scheduled to take place after close of summer season
SKAGWAY, AK – One of the most historic establishments in Alaska, the Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, is changing hands after the 2024 summer season. Jan Wrentmore, owner of the Red Onion Saloon for 46 years, is handing over the garter to Tracy LaBarge, owner of Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau.
“I couldn’t be happier to hand this business over to Tracy,” said Wrentmore. “She is a strong Alaskan woman and I have total confidence that she will take good care of the Red Onion. There is a new madam in town.”
Wrentmore is enthusiastic about the business remaining woman-owned and woman-operated.
“I bought the business from a woman in 1978, I bought the liquor license in 1980 from another woman and I bought the courtyard
land behind the Red Onion from a third woman.”
Wrentmore had reached out to LaBarge in the past.
“I was waiting for the right person to come along. There’s been a lot of interest over the years, but I always hoped Tracy would step up and she did,” she said.
“I have always admired what Jan has built,” said LaBarge. “When she approached me years ago, I was beyond flattered and so excited at the prospect of owning it, but I had too much going on. Then 2020 hit and there was no way, but, as fate would have it, we started talking again and here we are. When I saw the Popcorn Wagon in the courtyard, I thought for sure this was meant to be.”
Wrentmore, an iconic businesswoman, came to Juneau in 1970.
“I was working for the State, and friends told me
that Marjorie Brown wanted to sell her gift shop in Skagway,” Wrentmore said.
Her friends convinced her contact Brown.
“I had no idea what I was getting into. I operated it for two summers, going back down to Juneau to work for the legislature in the off-season,” Wrentmore said.
The original Red Onion bar was pushed against the
wall in the back of the gift shop. Wrentmore thought it was such a waste and determined the the bar should really be a saloon again.
“In August of 1979, the Igloo Cocktail Bar across the street burned down, so I wrote to the lady who owned the license, and she sold it to me,” Wrentmore said.
Wrentmore said the Red (see page 3-Skagway’s)
Photo by Jeff Brady`
get ready for
Whitehorse. Team members
Nicole Kovacs, Logan Weber,
Best.
team hopes to finish in Dawson City Friday
Photo provided by The Red Onion Saloon
Page 2
The Skagway News. Skagway’s First Newspaper Christened in 1897, buried alive in 1904 and resurrected in 1978, The Skagway News is currently celebrating 47 years of reporting in Skagway and Dyea, Alaska, recording our Centennial years and beyond.
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Vol. XLVII, No.11 (973)
June 28 2024
Published online the second and fourth Friday of the month
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Photo by Orion Hanson
Retired teacher, Lillian Outcalt was honored with a legislatiive citation at the May town hall meeting. Rep. Andi Story and Sen. Jesse Kiehl presented Outcalt the citation in recognition of twenty-eight years as an educator, ten as Skagway School’s third grade teacher.
Outcalt was also honored by the class of 2024, her first group of third graders, to speak at their graduation.
Jamie Ford signs books at Skaguay News Depot & Books
Opening panel: Narrative Bridges: Writing Across Cultures with Jamie, Don Rearden, Lily Tuzroyluke, Christine Byl, and Dan
Our UA scholarship students Nora and Rachel (foreground) and Skagway Arts Council sponsored local high school student Mina with her mom.
Skagway’s Red Onion Saloon sells, will remain woman-owned
from Front page
Onion Saloon opened for business on July 4,1980. A few years later, after a major restoration, the brothel museum above the bar opened for tours.
“There are so many parallels in our lives,” said LaBarge of Wrentmore. “How we came to Alaska, the people we know in common, the way we started businesses, the struggle, the learning curves. So many strong women who helped us along the way.To carry on this tradition is such an honor and a blessing.”
LaBarge moved to Skagway in 1992, living and working there for years before moving to Juneau in 1996.
“This is a full-circle moment for me,” she said.
“I worked at Grayline and the Popcorn Wagon and have many memories of the
Red Onion back then. I fell in love with Alaska that year and I have been here ever since.”
Wrentmore will only semi-retire. She has one more project that is close to her heart - Burro Creek Wilderness Lodge located on a 120-acre homestead on the west shore of Lynn Canal.
The property has significant energy potential and Wrentmore is in conversation with the Municipality of Skagway for a joint, public/ private venture to develop the hydroelectric power and bring electricity to the Port of Skagway.
The Red Onion will change hands in November, and Wrentmore will continue to be a mentor.
“The long- time staff are amazing, and I have no plans to change anything there, just carry on Jan’s legacy,” said LaBarge.
The Red Onion Saloon was built in 1897 and operated as the finest brothel, dance hall and saloon during the great Gold Rush. Many of the original features are intact.
The saloon building used to be located on the corner across from where the Elks is now.
“It was moved six blocks down State Street then around the corner - and they got the building in backwards. So they took the front of the building up and the back of the building and switched them around,” Wrentmore laughed.
“As we went through our various restorations of the building there were many little features in there that confirm that story,” she said. “George Rapuzzi told me himself about helping move that building and I think that was 97 I’m not positive.”
Tracy’s King Crab Shack
began in 2006 as the realization of a dream Tracy LaBarge quipped to her friends on a particularly rough crabbing day out on the water:
“I’m just going to buy a hotdog cart and start selling you guys legs ‘One Leg at a Time.’”
Since then, Tracy’s has become two sit-down restaurants on South Franklin and Whittier in downtown Juneau.
This article originated from a press release written by Tracy LaBarge. Gretchen Wehmhoff contributed to the story.
State News
Sitka and Juneau residents propose hard caps on cruise ships
Two ballot measures could be presented to local voters in the two Southeast Alaska towns this fall
By James Brooks AlaskaBeacon.com
June 21, 2024
On a Tuesday a group of Sitka residents submitted a proposed cruise-ship-limiting ballot measure to city officials for legal review.
Two days later, in Juneau, a different group of Alaskans submitted the last batch of signatures needed to put a different limit on the local ballot this fall.
With as many as 1.6 million cruise ship tourists expected to visit Southeast Alaska this year, a growing number of the region’s residents are seeking to put hard limits on the industry.
That comes even as Juneau prepares for a softer, voluntary limit that would be the first of its kind in Alaska.
In Sitka, it’s the third time that local residents have tried to put a limit on the ballot. Two prior attempts were rejected by the city’s attorney.
After those failures, organizers created a nonprofit, raised money, hired an attorney of their own, and are trying again with a new draft.
Klaudia Leccese is president of Small Town SOUL, the new nonprofit. She believes Sitka residents are fed up with overcrowding.
“I’m generally not much of a rabble-rouser. I’m a retired social worker,” she said.
This year, as many as 9,300 cruise ship passengers will visit Sitka on its busiest days, more than the town’s population of about 8,400.
On 75 days, the number of tourists will be greater than half the population.
Sitka has only 14 miles of paved roads, and Leccese said the traffic caused by tour boats and tour buses has gotten out of hand. Lincoln Street, at the heart of downtown, is sometimes closed because the crowds are too large.
Tour buses run from one end of the town’s road network to the other, shuttling between the cruise ship dock and Fortress of the Bear, where animals live in captivity.
She said she and her husband frequently take their small boat down the coast
for a getaway, but even there, they’re awoken by the wakes of passing tour boats.
“You go, wow, I think these wildlife and fishing charters are just a few too many,” she said.
The newly drafted Sitka proposal would limit the number of cruise ship passengers to 300,000 per year, with no more than 4,500 per day. Sitka is expected to see about 600,000 cruise tourists this year.
Small ships — those with fewer than 250 passengers — wouldn’t be included in the limit. That would protect locally run companies, including Alaskan Dream Cruises, which is based in Sitka.
Large ships wouldn’t be allowed before May 1 or after Sept. 30, and the city Assembly could shrink that window.
“Some businesses are uncomfortable with cruise ships starting in April,” Leccese said, because high school and college students — who make up much of the seasonal workforce — aren’t
yet available.
Sitka officials are reviewing the proposed measure for legality and will respond by July 2, the city clerk’s office said. If the measure passes legal muster, backers would need to gather 334 signatures to place it on the local October ballot. To call a special election, 556 signatures would be needed.
In Juneau, a proposed ballot measure would install “ship-free Saturdays,” forbidding large ships from landing on that day.
Karla Hart, one of the measure’s backers, said support-
ers had needed 290 more signatures on their petitions after a preliminary review, and on Thursday, she drove to city hall to drop off 427 more.
If the signatures are certified, the initiative will be on Juneau’s Oct. 1 municipal ballot
“We should be good to go,” Hart said.
Correction: The initial version of this article incorrectly stated the date that Sitka’s ballot measure proposal was submitted to city officials. It was Tuesday.
After email leak, some Alaska legislators say they’re skeptical of Permanent Fund’s direction
By James Brooks AlaskaBeacon.com June24, 2024
Members of the Alaska Legislature questioned the direction of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. on Monday in a hearing of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, the committee’s first since leaked internal emails indicated that board member Gabrielle Rubenstein may have engaged in conflicts of interest.
The corporation controls the investments of Alaska’s $80 billion trust fund, whose proceeds pay for more than half of the section of the state budget devoted to general use.
Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski and chair of the committee, asked pointedly whether the corporation’s investment strategy is designed to benefit someone in particular.
“Are we growing the fund for other people’s purposes? Meaning, now we’ve got more of our assets tied up in the private market, but we didn’t in the past — who’s benefiting from that?” Carpenter asked.
To meet earnings targets, a significant portion of the fund is now invested in private equity investments, which aren’t publicly listed or traded. Those investments are riskier, but historically have generated higher returns than publicly traded investments.
Leaked internal emails indicate that investment staff have felt pressured by board vice chair Rubenstein, co-founder of a private equity firm
and daughter of David Rubenstein, co-founder of one of the world’s largest private equity funds.
Last month, the corporation’s board of trustees voted unanimously to raise the target share of the fund invested in private equity. The fund had been above its previous target in private equity because of the success of prior investments, and the new target is in line with the fund’s current values.
Permanent Fund CEO Deven Mitchell said after Monday’s hearing that if someone thinks the fund is being invested for something other than the benefit of all Alaskans, “obviously, that’s not going to be our perspective.”
“I would defend the performance of the staff and the investment team to have made decisions based on what they believe best for the fund, rather than any other purpose,” he said.
During the meeting, Mitchell said questions about the leaked emails amounted to “noise,” which drew a rebuke from Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage.
“There’s been an accumulation of things — the dispute over the Anchorage office, these emails, whether a thumb has been put on the scale in terms of investment decisions that are outside the norm,” he said.
He said the APFC’s decision to spend as much as $200 million on private equity investments within the state is also an area of concern.
One of those investments was in Peter Pan Seafoods, which has since declared bankruptcy, caus-
ing a crisisin Southwest Alaska. Carpenter raised similar concerns.
“If they were just isolated events, it would paint one picture, but because there’s a series of things, it kind of paints a different picture,” Carpenter said.
The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee has oversight authority over the Permanent Fund Corp., and Carpenter suggested the committee could launch a performance audit to assess whether the corporation is meeting the Legislature’s goals.
“We have a responsibility to Alaskans to make sure that we’re doing our due diligence as legislators on providing oversight for the corporation,” he said.
Three cruise ships are docked along Juneau’s waterfront on the evening on March 10, as a Princess cruise ship on the right is departing the capital city. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Paw Prints
By Katherine Moseley
I recently attended a birthday party for a 13-year-old dog named Shanti. Shanti arrived at the Paws & Claws Animal Shelter when she was just a pup. She came from a hoarding case in Wrangell, Alaska. Sometimes we keep puppies at our facility, but it is always preferable if they can go to a foster home. We knew Shanti had won the foster home lottery when Wendy Anderson stepped up to foster her. Sadly, Wendy had lost her beloved dog Blue in a tragic accident, so she didn’t have any other pets at the time. Like many foster homes Wendy fell in love with Shanti pretty quickly and decided to adopt her. Although she jokes that she is still just fostering and that she pays “rent” for her each year by making an annual donation to the Paws & Claws Animal Shelter. A couple of years after adopting Shanti, Wendy decided to get her a companion. She adopted a pup from an animal shelter in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Magnus is a small, black, mixed breed pup with a big personality. Shanti quickly took to her new younger brother. Shanti and Magnus have helped Wendy through some challenging job changes and when she had to take care of her elderly mother with dementia. They have been steadfast companions that have brought her much comfort and joy - through good times and bad times. Sometimes the connections that we
share with our companion animals is stronger than the relationships we have with humans. Our animals listen to us without judgement and can provide emotional support. They don’t care what we look like and are forgiving when we make mistakes. They can even lower our cortisol levels just by their presence. In the fall of 2022, Shanti developed glaucoma. The best treatment plan for her comfort would be to have her eye removed. It is quite common for it to spread to the other eye. The following summer she had to have her other eye removed because she developed sudden blindness. Through Wendy’s encouraging the veterinarian decided to do some bloodwork after her second eye removal. That is when they discovered that she had a low white blood cell count that was indicative of cancer. Unfortunately, Shanti had a tumor on her spleen and had to undergo a splenectomy and three rounds of chemotherapy. Since we do not have a local veterinarian, there were times when Wendy had to drive two hours through difficult winter driving conditions to Canada for her appointments.These medical issues were not without complications, but with Wendy’s diligent care and persistence I am pleased to report that Shanti is doing pretty darn good, all things considered. Wendy has gone the extra mile by covering sharp corners in her home
with padding and by making her yard a safe haven. Every morning Wendy uses treats to help guide Shanti down the ramp to her yard. She also makes sure that Shanti still gets plenty of enrichment and has even purchased a wagon to take her on outings with her little brother Magnus. Listening to Wendy talk about her love for Shanti and Magnus is moving. They share an incredible bond that you can feel as you watch her interact with them. As I write this article I am surrounded by my two dogs and the matriarch of my cats is nestled in next to me. I am reflecting on my conversation with Wendy at Shanti’s party and how she described her as a “quiet presence.” I am reminded of the times that my animals have been a “quiet presence” when it was needed the most. And, while it may not always be quiet, I am thankful for the bonds that I share with each of my animals, present and past. If all pets had homes like Wendy’s, the world would be a better place.
Photo by Wendy Anderson
Photo by Katherine Moseley
Shanti and Wendy Anderson catch a selfie.
Shanti and her younger brother Magnus (forground) at Shanti’s 13th birthday party.
The Seeds of Survival
By Andrew Cremata
Disappearing clouds revealed a hot yellow, summer solstice sun. Swarms of levitating mayflies manifested in shafts of falling light as though conjured by enchantment. Over the lake, dozens of terns indulged in the feast, whirling and diving over a shallow shoal in a cacophony of highpitched chirps and burry caterwauls.
Brittney and I slipped into the canoe as though it were a well-worn shoe and quickly made our way to the tabletop feast. The terns were indifferent to our approach as we positioned the boat for a controlled drift over the grassy flats.
In every direction, fish snatched mayflies from the surface with determined attacks, leaving nothing more than whirlpools in their wake. I was unsure whether the frenzied feeders were whitefish or slough sharks until glimpsing the golden glittering scales that adorn whitefish flanks.
After tying bead-head flies to five feet of leader topped with torpedo bobbers, Brittney and I cast into the melee. Only a few seconds passed before a fish swirled around the bobber, fins out of the water as it inhaled the fly. Brittney hooked the fish, but it quickly wriggled its way free.
Another whitefish surged from the depths to snatch my fly as it fell, coming entirely out of the water but missing its mark. Then it came back around and swallowed its prey on the second attempt. Pulling hard enough to swing the canoe
around, the fish made a valiant attempt at escape before falling victim to the bottom of our net.
Meanwhile, the terns twisted and rolled on chaotic trajectories, sometimes diving close to our bobbers for a split-second inspection. Every so often, the entire flock suddenly surged high into the air, communicating in some ancient language only known to their kind. After turning to fly in the same direction as though lining up in an aerial formation, the terns dove in unison and scattered on random paths just above the lake’s surface.
The bites remained constant as we floated along the narrow line between water and air. As sunlight slowly faded, so did the mayflies. Bites became less frequent until they stopped altogether. The terns peeled away one by one, gathering together on a nearby island where they roosted on tree limbs. Only a few remained, feeding above the shoal as we paddled back to camp.
Most of the fish we hooked got away, typical for whitefish, but we landed four and one surprise pike that somehow failed to sever my leader with its razor-sharp teeth. The overall insanity of the experience made it one of the most thrilling fishing outings I’ve ever had.
While a first for me, the event is an annual survival ritual for mayflies, whitefish, and terns. My involvement went mostly unnoticed, except for four unlucky fish who went searching for a meal only to become one.
In the anarchy of survival, nature shows no preference.
Early last spring, while walking along the glacially carved rocks lining Skagway’s fjord I encountered a shallow saltwater pool filled with pink shrimp. The ebbing tide left them stranded with no means of escape. Only the rising tide could save the small crustaceans, but their oxygen would run out well before gravity could play the role of savior. It seemed likely the shrimp were gathered at the ocean’s surface near shore to spawn, a few dozen of which were blissfully unaware of their impending ironic predicament. Perched on a nearby boulder, I watched a passing crow spot the briny pool of shrimp before descending for a closer look.
After landing on the rocky point, the
Fish this!
Photo by Andrew Cremata
crow ambled over the pool’s edge and cocked its head from side to side, peering at the hapless shrimp. To my surprise, instead of immediately feasting, the crow cocked its head back and cried out into the air above. Then it lowered its head and vocalized a sound reminiscent of a cat’s meow.
A handful of crows in a nearby tree called back in response and quickly joined their companion before commencing to feed.
All intelligent animals understand that survival hinges on cooperation. Here is the mad beauty and symmetry hidden within creation’s chaos.
When I was a child, I eagerly consumed pictures and stories about Alaska. I vividly remember photos of wide-eyed harbor seals surrounded by ice and giant brown bears attempting to catch jumping salmon as they surged upstream to spawn. My fishing books included stories about fishermen catching halibut weighing hundreds of pounds while orcas breached and eagles flew high overhead.
As a child, I failed to realize that all are stories and images of ancient survival cycles. Most people share this ignorance, which is likely why boatloads of tourists travel to Alaska to see something authentically beautiful and mistake true inspiration for commodified simulation.
However, some are transformed, having momentarily noticed the intricate fabrics woven from random threads.
Sometimes the same thing happens to me while slowly floating along a narrow shoal in my canoe waiting for fish to bite. It feels like finding something you never knew existed, even though you’ve been searching for it your entire life.
Later that evening, Brittney and I sat next to the campfire and watched an angry seagull harass a perched bald eagle who looked like he wanted nothing more than a nap. The comedy of their encounter made us laugh, even though I knew that the seagull was likely protecting its young in some nearby nest.
Nobody said survival is easy, but the opportunity is unquestionably magnificent.
Andrew Cremata’s award-winning column runs monthly each summer in The Skagway News. His book, “Fish This!” is popular in fish circles and the subject of constant bar conversation.
Brittney with the biggest whitefish of the day
Skagway Softball Association
Chicos let freedom ring
The Chicos men’s softball team was victorious in the second annual Skagway Windball Tournament June 14 - 16.
After losing in the semifinal game on Saturday night, the Chicos battled back through the loser’s bracket to reach the championship game against Royal Flush (a rival team from Whitehorse) who had beaten them in a close bout on Saturday night 11-10.
Chicos took the first championship game in dramatic fashion - 11-10 in extra innings. Prevailing over the winning bracket team in a double elimination tournament required the Chicos to beat Royal Flush in a second game immediately following the first. In a nail-biting matinee thriller and a repeat final score of, you guessed it, 11-10, Chicos pulled off the unthinkable and kept the hardware on the Alaska side of the border. Chicos will play again in Whitehorse at the annual Dustball tournament July 11 - 14 where they will seek their fourth consecutive men’s A championship in a row.
Members of Chicos will join forces with Skagway women in this weekend’s Coed tournament.
Chico’s Alex King, hits a homerun in game one of the Championship.
4th of July COED Tourney
Website of the week
Check this out
The Today Show gathered a series of inspiring Fourth of July quotes.
Skagway’s Chicos display their first place trophy from the 2024 Windball tournament June 14- 16. (Back row L-R) Drew Cowman, Colten Jared, Chuck Impey, Parker Hunsicker, Kris King, Jesse McGraw (Front Row L-R) Andre Bykowski, Nate Jennings, Bryce Jones, Alex King, Adam Smith.
Photo by Scott Porter
Photo by Scott Porter
By Adam Smith
Severe illness potentially associated with consuming Diamond Shruumz TM brand chocolate bars, cones and gummies
The CDC Health Alert Network Advisory below pertains to reports of severe acute illnesses potentially linked to Diamond ShruumzTM chocolate bars, cones, and gummies. Symptoms have included drowsiness, seizures, stiff muscles, muscle twitching, shaking, slow or fast heart rate, low or high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, skin redness and excessive sweating. These products are marketed
June 7
as containing a proprietary blend of mushrooms and are sold online and at various retail locations. As of June 17, 2024, there have been 26 reported illnesses and 16 hospitalizations across 16 U.S. states. No cases have been identified in Alaska. Consumers are advised not to eat, sell, or serve any Diamond ShruumzTM chocolate bars, cones, or gummies and to discard any purchased products. If you experience symptoms,
Lost and found reports were taken for two separate found credit cards, a found wallet, a lost Real ID and a lost set of keys.
911 was pocket dialed once.
EMS personnel assisted in transporting a patient for a medevac.
Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
A caller complained about late night noise coming from a local drinking establishment.
June 8
A small rock slide was reported on the Dyea Road.
Officers assisted in delivering subpoenas to multiple individuals in town.
Lost and found reports were taken for a found wallet and a found Samsung cellphone with a “drizzle dab” sticker.
EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
Fire Department personnel responded to a structure fire on 9th.
Officers responded to a downtown burglary alarm. It was found to be false.
June 9
A report was received of a dog beneath the docks struggling to keep its head above water. An officer responded and discovered it was just a seal.
911 was pocket dialed once.
A caller reported they were concerned about a dog spotted in a car in the sun. An officer responded and assessed the situation was ok.
Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
A local drinking establishment requested assistance with removing an individual who refused to leave.
A group of women came into the Police Station during the night seeking help after a can of bear spray was accidently deployed in the enclosed vehicle they were sleeping in.
June 10
911 was pocket dialed twice.
A caller reported they lost a wallet.
June 11
911 was pocket dialed five times.
A complaint was received about some employee housing garbage being put out improperly. An officer spoke to the offenders.
contact your healthcare provider immediately or the Poison Help Line at 1-800- 222-1222.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), America’s Poison Centers, and state and local partners are investigating reports of severe acute illnesses potentially associated with consuming Diamond ShruumzTM brand chocolate bars, cones, and gummies
Police & Fire Blotter
Lost and found reports were taken for found prescription glasses and a lost work radio.
A caller reported they had a child in their business who could not find their parents. By the time the officer got there, the parents had been located.
A caller reported their dog had escaped from their yard.
Police assisted an intoxicated individual with a courtesy ride home.
June 12
Lost and found reports were taken for a found social security card, a found credit card, a found wallet with German ID, and a lost wallet with attached keys.
911 was pocket dialed twice.
Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider. A caller reported a bear near 20th and State.
An officer assisted with a vehicle lockout.
June 13
A caller reported they were told in Canada the border closed at midnight and they just arrived at US Customs right before midnight but no one was there. The caller was advised the border closes at midnight Yukon Time which is 11 p.m. in Alaska and that they would have to wait until it reopened in the morning.
A driver reported they noticed a car about 20 feet down an embankment near Nakhu Bay and wanted to make sure it had been reported. The accident had not been previously reported, so Police, Fire Department and EMS personnel responded, set up command and belayed down to the car. Shortly after, a call was received from an individual who reported they had driven off the Dyea Road the night before but were unharmed.
DOT temporarily closed the Dyea Road so the wrecked car could be retrieved.
Lost and found reports were taken for a found wallet and a lost set of keys.
A concerned citizen reported a motorcycle had been sitting in the same spot for days near Tormented Valley and wanted to make sure the owner was not missing. Officers were able to track down the owner who reported the motorcycle was just broken down.
A noise complaint was received for a group using the skate park after hours. An officer responded and spoke to the individuals.
June 14
A caller reported they were with a lost child. While still speaking to the caller, a frantic mother called 911 to report their child was missing. Dispatch informed her of the child’s location and they were reunited.
A Google phone in a blue case was found.
marketed as containing a proprietary blend of mushroom. The cause of the reported illnesses is not known at this time. Individuals should not eat, sell, or serve any flavors of Diamond ShruumzTM brand chocolate bars, cones, or gummies, and should discard products that have been purchased. CDC and FDA are working to determine whether other products from this company are associated with adverse health effects.
A group of cruise ship passengers called 911 and reported the tender they were on had lost power in the rough seas and other tenders had bumped into theirs. They demanded to speak to the US Coast Guard. An officer responded and decided with CLAA that Coast Guard was not necessary, but there would be a temporary gangway put up right before departure for any passenger refusing to tender back.
911 was pocket dialed once.
June 15
Lost and found reports were taken for a found Nissan key fob, a lost black wallet, and a lost debit card.
911 was pocket dialed once.
Police and Fire Department personnel responded to a vehicle fire on the Dyea Road.
Ship security requested an officer come and take custody of gun ammunition that was confiscated from a passenger.
An officer responded to a burglary alarm downtown. It was found to be false.
June 16
911 was pocket dialed three times.
Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider four times.
A report was taken for a lost wallet.
June 17
An iPhone was found and turned in.
911 was pocket dialed three times.
EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
An officer reported there was a family stuck outside the US Customs building for the night due to having mechanical problems on the pass and not arriving before it closed. They were towing a camper trailer and were fine sleeping there until it opened.
June 18
911 was pocket dialed
Lost and found reports were taken for a found wallet, a found red iPhone, and a lost Colorado ID with credit cards.
An officer responded to a burglary alarm downtown. It was found to be false.
An individual reported they were concerned about suspected domestic violence. An officer responded and attempted to speak to the alleged victim but they had nothing to report.
Submitted by Skagway Police Department
CLASSIFIEDS
News Classified Ads cost 40 cents per word, $4 minimum. SERVICES
FOOD BANK DONATIONS WELCOME. Donations may be sent to the Food Bank, PO Box 200, Skagway, AK 99840. The local Food Bank helps those in need with groceries. If you need assistance, or know anyone who needs assistance, at any time of year, call any pastor.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA AT JUNEAU
In the Matter of the Estate of CLYDENE SUE SITTON (DOB 3/22/1942) – Deceased
Case No. 1JU-24-00160PR
NOTICE TO CREDITORS [AS 13.16.450]
You are notified that the court appointed LINDA ROGERS as personal representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the person who died are
required to present their claims withing four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or the claims will be forever barred.
Claims must be presented to the Personal Representative of the Estate of CLYDENE SUE SITTON, c/o PO Box 6611, Moraga, CA 94570. Dated June 1, 2024. Publishing dates June 14, June 28 and July 12, 2024.
Linda Rogers, Personal Representative of the Estate of CLYDENE SUE SITTON
LEGAL NOTICE
To reach the Dahl on-duty provider, contact police dispatch at 907-983-2232
Skagway Visitors Department posted the 2024 Cruise Ship Arrival schedule. Here. https:// www.skagway.org/svd/page/ skagway-cruise-ship-arrivals-schedules
Scholarships, notes & opportunities
Things going on at The Skagway Public Library
Wifi is available outside the library 10am-10pm.. Windy Valley Babies (Story Time) happens every Wednesday at 10:30 am inside the Library. Story Time is specially designed for ages 0-3. Bring your 0-3 year old to sing and read stories with Ms. Anna! Music Saturdays. Come play around on our mandolin, ukulele, guitar, banjo or piano! (And you won’t even get shushed!)
Late Night Library takes place on select Friday nights at 6:00pm in the library. These evenings include crafts, game nights, special guests, and activities for young patrons in 5th grade and up! Passports: If you need to apply for a U.S. passport, Crystal Harris, our Library Assistant, is currently Skagway’s only passport acceptance agent. Applications are accepted by appointment only and Crystal takes passport appointments Tuesday through Fri day. Please call for an appointment or more information at 907-983-2665 or email library@skagway. org.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service agent will travel by boat to nine communities in Southeast Alaska to teach classes on healthy living, food safety and food preservation.
Sarah Lewis, the service’s Juneau-based health, home and family development agent, will head out on her family’s boat, the Pacific Sapphire, in July. She will visit Whale Pass on July 6; Thorne Bay on July 8; Ketchikan from July 12-14; Metlakatla from July 16-18; Meyers Chuck on July 20; Wrangell on July 28-29; Petersburg on July 31-Aug. 1; Kake on Aug. 3-4; and Tenakee Springs on Aug. 8.
Lewis will teach classes on food safety and preservation, healthy homes, and healthy eating. She will also give away free publications and test pressure canner dial gauges in each community.
Lewis will also be at the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on July 25-26.
This is the fourth time Lewis has visited remote Southeast Alaska communities by boat. She said it is more time- and cost-effective than traveling by ferry or plane, so she can visit more locations.
Many of the activities are free, and others charge a small fee. For schedules and registration links, visit https://bit.ly/SoutheastCES2024.
For more information, contact Lewis at sarah. lewis@alaska.edu, 907-455-2010. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Lewis.
College of Indigenous Studies seeks artist for logo design
The University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Indigenous Studies is seeking an artist to design a logo for the college.
Artists interested in working with the college on the design project should submit portfolios and resumes using the online submission form (https:// www.uaf.edu/rural/partners-outreach/call-for-artists.php). The deadline for applications is July 8, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. The projected date for completion of the logo is Aug. 30, 2024.
Visit the College of Indigenous Studies website (https://www.uaf.edu/rural) for more information about the college and its campuses, departments and programs. Additional parameters for the logo project are available on the submission form.
Heard on the wind.
While observing a bear eating dandelions alongside the South Klondike Highway, a visitor inquired if the bear was in fact, a wild bear. The guide told the guest that any and all bears in our region roam free and wild.
Another visitor on another excursion viewing a similar bear mowing grass, told the guide that it was clear that the bear was a wild one, since it lacked a collar. The guide pretended to spot a ptarmigan and drove slowly away, failing to find the ptarmigan.
A guest from a hillside community in Cañada, California spoke at length about his grizzly bear that visited regularly. The guide attempted to explain that, in fact, black bears can be many different hues, and that the Grizzly’s around Los Angeles only appeared on flags. The guest was skeptical. When shown a photo of a grey Glacier Bear that visited Skagway 20 years ago, the guest guffawed. “No way that thing is a black bear.” The guide dropped off the guests and went home to make gin and tonics.
A guest, being helpful, felt that some responsible person should round up the mountain goats and “do” something with them, like grass-clipping or milking, or breeding. The guide said it had been attempted in the past by Skookum Jim, but Jim felt queasy around the stench of Billy goats, and went on to find gold on Bonanza Creek instead. The guest remarked that the local resource was being unappreciated.
If you catch a funny conversation on the wind, share it with The Skagway News. Send submissions to: editor@skagwaynews.com.
Naloxone overdose kits (name brand NARCAN) have been placed around town to assist in an opioid emergency. They can be found at the following locations:
● AMHS Ferry Terminal
● Eagles F.O.E. Aerie #25
● Elks Lodge #431
● Grizzly’s General
● Skagway Recreation Center
● The Station
● U.S. Post Office
● Wells Fargo Bank
● Two kits are at the school
Emergency medical assistance is still necessary after administering naloxone.
Skagway Recreation Center • 12th & Main • 983-2679
SKAGWAY WORSHIP DIRECTORY
Assembly of God Church 8th & State • 907-983-2350
Sun. Worship....................11 a.m.
Wed. Bible Devotions & Prayer 7 p.m.
Email skagwayag@outlook.com
First Presbyterian Church 5th & Main • 983-2260
Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m.
Seafood Socials 5:30 p.m. Wed.. Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Tues. Online access available
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 11th & State • 983-2518 Sun. Sacrament Meeting...10 a.m.
St. Therese Catholic Church 9th & State • 983-2271 Sun. Mass..........4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Mass Mon. & Tues.....12:10 p.m. (when a priest is available)
THE FUNNIES
Weather Watch
JUNE 28 - JUNE 30
INTERNATIONAL CO-ED SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT – 7th Pasture. Starts Friday at 6 p.m. with Round Robin play, then tournament seeding. Concessions available. (Skagway Softball Association)
JULY 3
6 p.m. 11th ANNUAL SINGLES CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT AT THE STATION - 4th Ave. b/w State & Main Sts. - One Man Teams. $10 Entry Fee. All Ages Welcome! Winners receive $200 CASH. *All Proceeds go to the Skagway High School Class of 2027. (The Morning Wood Hotel)
6 p.m. ZACK WASSMAN LIVE @ HAPPY ENDINGS SALOON 4th Ave. b/w State & Main St. (Happy Endings Saloon)
8:30 p.m. NEW TWIN @ THE RED ONION SALOON – 2nd & Broadway. (Red Onion Saloon)
JULY 4
8 a.m. SKAGUAY NEWS DEPOT & BOOKS 5K RUN-AROUND – 3rd Ave. & Broadway. Fun run/walk on a 5K course around historic Skagway. No entry fee. Selftimed. Register at News Depot bookstore starting at 7:30 a.m. Race begins at 8 a.m. Walkers may start earlier. Follow the signs and go at your own pace. Bring your own water. Focus on your health and have fun. Prize for best 4th of July costume. (Skaguay News Depot & Books)
9:30 a.m. KIDDIE PARADE – NO NEED TO SIGN UP IN ADVANCE. Meet on 2nd & Broadway by 9:15 to get your child on the list and line up. This ‘mini’ parade starts at 2nd Ave., goes north on Broadway to 5th Ave. (Explore Skagway Staff & Volunteers)
10 a.m. MAIN PARADE - PLEASE KEEP STREET CLEAR - NO NEED TO SIGN UP IN ADVANCE. Meet at the ferry terminal parking lot by 9:45 a.m. Floats will travel north to 7th Ave., turn right towards City Hall, turn left on 9th Ave. and travel back down Broadway to give everyone a second look! (Explore Skagway Staff & Volunteers)
“Hear us Roar in 2024: Celebrating Skagway’s Independent Spirit.”
Special “Thank You” to Jean Worley for donating her time, materials, and her incredible talent in creating the parade banner, as she has done for the last 33 years!
2024 Grand Marshals:
Recipient of the 2023 Helen B. Clark Award: Scott Logan
Recipient of the 2024 Don Hather Award: JoAnn Trozzo (not present)
Special Parade Guests:
Mr. & Mrs. Yukon 2024: Ron & Merrilee Chambers M Division RCMP (Yukon)
Midnight Sun Pipe Band graciously sponsored by Steve & Sallie Reeder
Emcee’s From 3rd Ave Grandstand - DJ Mike Swasey & Assemblyman Orion Hanson broadcasting on KHNS Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/KHNS.FM
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - KLONDIKE DOUGHBOY STREET SALE – 3rd Ave. & Broadway. Frybread and Shaved Ice. (Klondike Doughboy)
10:30 a.m. to CLOSE – BLOCK PARTY @ THE STATION BAR & GRILL & HAPPY ENDINGS - 4th Ave b/w State & Main Streets - Street Fare – Fish & Chips, Onion Rings, Sidewinder Fries, Corn Dog Bites, Chicken Strips, Grilled Hot Dogs, Burgers, & Philly Cheese Steaks; 16 oz Margaritas; Beers, Seltzers and Jello Shots; Sprinklers, Outdoor music throughout the day starting at 10 a.m.; 3 p.m. Hot Dog Eating Contest with Robert Murphy, Luke Rauscher, and John O’Daniel; 4 p.m. Magic Show with Andrew Nadon; 4:30 p.m. Live Music with Jaime & Tatum; 6 p.m. Live Music with Eduardo; 6:30 p.m. Cornhole Tournament; 8 p.m. Live Music with Speed Control, (Happy Endings Saloon, The Station Bar & Grill, & The Morning Wood Hotel)
11 a.m. SKAGWAY NEWSIE REUNION PHOTO – 3rd Ave & Broadway @ The Skaguay News Depot - Were you a Newsie? Are you a Newsie? Join us for a group photo where it all started - right after the parade. The photo will be published in the July 12 paper. (The Skagway News.)
11 a.m. PICNIC BASKET & DESSERT AUCTION – 3rd Ave. & Broadway @ The Grandstand. Have your money ready and be on time. These will go very fast! (Skagway Emblem Club #111)
11 a.m. CANCER AWARENESS HATS – 3rd Ave. & Broadway @ The Grandstand –Donate to an important local cause to receive a Fran Delisle Cancer Awareness Hat. (Fran Delisle Cancer Awareness Fund)
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. PULLED PORK SLIDERS ON BROADWAY, FROZEN MARGARITAS & MORE @ THE RED ONION SALOON COURTYARD! – 2nd Ave & Broadway. Delicious Barbacoa Pulled Pork Sliders on Broadway and a High Noon Pizza Toss. Come around to the Courtyard for a cold beverage, free popcorn & frozen margaritas! Courtyard open until 5 p.m. (The Red Onion Saloon)
Schedule
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. SKAGWAY BREWING COMPANY OUTDOOR BEER GARDEN & STREET FOOD WITH LIVE MUSIC – 4th Ave. b/w Broadway & Spring Sts. Food until 3 p.m. - BBQ ribs, brats, hot dogs & veggie dogs, potato salad, chips & spruce tip shortbread cookies! Drinks until 4 p.m. - Skagway Brewing draft beers, raspberry margaritas, boozy lemonades, Jello shots, seltzers, ciders, red & white wine! Outdoor Music & Aerial Show throughout the day; 11 a.m. - Joe Stephenson; 12 p.m. – Eduardo Rodriguez; 1 p.m. – Epaul Fisher; 2 p.m. – Tiffany Metz (Aerial & Music); 3 p.m. – Lucas McCain (Skagway Brewing Company)
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. VICTORIAN GAMES @ THE MOORE HOUSE HOMESTEAD 5th Ave. & Spring St. - Activities include Victorian Games and coloring stations. (National Park Service)
11 a.m. JOE STEPHENSON @ SKAGWAY BREWING – 4th Ave. b/w Broadway & Spring St. (Skagway Brewing Company)
11:30 a.m. SLOW BIKE RACE – 3rd to 4th Avenues on Broadway. Whoever rides the slowest and crosses the finish line while not taking their feet off pedals, wins. Helmets required. (Sockeye Cycle)
11:30 a.m. BAKE SALE FUNDRAISER – 4th Ave between Broadway & State St. Support Skagway High School Runners selling $1 books, baked goods, lemonade and popsicles until supplies RUN out. (Skagway High School X-Country Team)
12 p.m. HIGH NOON PIZZA TOSS @ THE RED ONION SALOON – Corner of 2nd & Broadway. Pick a partner and come on down for the Red Onion Pizza Toss. We provide protection! (The Red Onion Saloon)
12 p.m. EDUARDO RODRIQUEZ @ SKAGWAY BREWING – 4th Ave b/w Broadway & Spring St. (Skagway Brewing Company)
1 p.m. EGG TOSS – Broadway b/w 3rd & 5th Ave. Skagway holds the Guinness Book of World Records Title for this event – 1,162 tossers in 2008! Be a part of our most ‘eggcellent’ history. Look for the grocery cart full of eggs and grab one for you and your partner. Then start tossing back and forth when prompted by the announcer, taking a step back after each toss. The longer it takes, the more ‘eggstatic’ the crowd gets with every splat, until one pair is left standing. Cash prizes for top three teams. (Alderworks Alaska & ACC)
1 p.m. EPAUL FISHER @ SKAGWAY BREWING – 4th Ave. b/w Broadway & Spring St. (Skagway Brewing Company)
1:30 p.m. TUG-OF-WAR – Broadway b/w 4th & 5th Ave. Come join in and show off those muscles you have been working on all winter! (Mountain Shop & Packer Expeditions)
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. LIGHTNING TOURNAMENT - 4th Ave. b/w Broadway & Spring St. - in front of Skagway Brewing. Lightning Tournament Fundraiser - all proceeds benefiting Skagway High School Basketball - $5/round - win prizes! (Skagway Panther Basketball Teams & Skagway Brewing Company)
2 p.m. TIFFANY METZ (Aerial & Music) @ SKAGWAY BREWING 4th Ave. b/w Broadway & Spring St. (Skagway Brewing Company)
2 p.m. SPIKE DRIVING CONTEST – Corner of 4th Ave. & State St. Bring your strongarm tactics and try this one! Participants must be 18-years-old and older. (White Pass & Yukon Route)
3 p.m. LUCAS MCCAIN @ SKAGWAY BREWING 4th Ave b/w Broadway & Spring St. (Skagway Brewing Company)
3 p.m. HOT DOG EATING CONTEST @ THE STATION BAR & GRILL & HAPPY ENDINGS BLOCK PARTY - 4th Ave. b/w State & Main St. Hosted by Skagway’s Funniest TrioRobert Murphy, John O’Daniel & Luke Rauscher. (Warning *PG 13)! $100 CASH PRIZE! $10 Entry Fee *Only accepting the first six contestants, Sign up ASAP! TEXT 907-612-0100 *All Proceeds go to the Skagway High School Class of 2027. (The Morning Wood Hotel)
4 p.m. HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT – 4th Ave. in the Alaska Mountain Guide housing yard. Sometimes they take the horses out of the shoes first. (Mike Healy & Joe Stephenson)
4 p.m. THE MIND MEDDLING MAGIC OF ANDREW NADON @ THE STATION BAR & GRILL & HAPPY ENDINGS BLOCK PARTY Performed by Local Magician Andrew Nadon, between Main St. & State St. (The Morning Wood Hotel)
4:30 p.m. SAM, JAIME, TATUM & ZACK LIVE @ THE STATION BAR & GRILL & HAPPY ENDINGS BLOCK PARTY – 4th Ave. b/w State & Main St. (The Station Bar & Grill)
5 p.m. DUCKY DERBY @ PULLEN POND. $10 per ticket. 1,000 Rubber Duckies Race down Pullen Creek and to the finish line for your chance to win big! Get your tickets now! (Skagway Chamber of Commerce)
6 p.m. EDUARDO LIVE @ THE STATION BAR & GRILL & HAPPY ENDINGS BLOCK PARTY – 4th Ave. b/w State & Main St. (The Station Bar & Grill)
6:30 p.m. CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT @ THE STATION BAR & GRILL & HAPPY ENDINGS BLOCK PARTY - 4th Ave. b/w State and Main St.-- $20 Entry fee per team. Sign up at 5 p.m. Tournament to follow immediately after. Winning Team receives $200 CASH. *All Proceeds go to the Skagway High School Class of 2027. (The Morning Wood Hotel)
8 p.m. SPEED CONTROL @ THE STATION BAR & GRILL & HAPPY ENDINGS BLOCK PARTY– 4th Ave. b/w State & Main St. (Happy Endings Saloon)
