Ore Dock ribbon cutting, a milestone in an eventful journey
By Gretchen Wehmhoff
Before the Ore Dock, well, there was another Ore Dock.
In March 2023, the port lease agreement between White Pass & Yukon Route and the Municipality of Skagway ended. At that point, more than half of the harbor and cruise ship docks returned to MOS management.
Years before, Skagwegians had voted not to extend the 55year contract, but to have the MOS manage the leased area on expiration.
Fast forward through a pandemic, last minute negotiation attempts and a vote approving a bond to fund Ore Dock improvements and Skagway finally started to move forward to approving the actual design moving through the bidding process on the new harbor improvements.
The original bid to take on the design was higher than expected, so MOS went back to the drawing board to reduce the scope of the project
For ORE Dock, the deep water dolphins would have to wait for a future time.
Eventually, the dismantling of the auto (ore) loader began, then the timber and old concrete was removed, and the construction of the new dock moved forward on plans to create 500-foot floating berths that could accommodate the longer cruise ships.
A key, if not the key, component was the large floating dock.
The floating dock was built and headed up to Skagway from Washington State on Feb. 2, 2024. During the trip, the barge and dock stopped in Ketchikan to await better weather for the rest of the trip on Feb. 12.
It was later that morning that the Pacific Pile & Marine (PPM) notified Skagway officials that “the dock had unexpectedly suffered damage during the towing process and separated into three sections.”
With assistance from multiple businesses and personnel, the floating dock was repaired in Ketchikan and continued its journey, arriving in Skagway on May 2 to celebratory calls of “Happy Dock Day.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 27 welcoming the dock was attended by over 100 people with dignitaries such as Port Director Cody Jennings, Borough Manager Brad Ryan, Mayor Sam Bass and Engineer Ed DeBroeck of KPFF Consulting Engineers.
Cody Jennings related her moments while watching the dock come in.
“As she got closer you could see a flag flying around on the deck. It was hard to see at first, but I was finally able to read, ‘Skagway or Bust.’”
Jennings took that phrase to heart.
“‘Skagway or Bust’ is a phrase that captures a determined and adventurous spirit. Incidentally, it’s often associated with the Klondike Gold Rush,” she said.
The ceremony took place at Ore Dock on a typical windy Skagway day. Flying dramatically on the edge of the stage was a homemade blue flag with simple red lettering reminding those present of the journey.
“Skagway or Bust.”
Heard on the wind.
Evidently U.S. border stations are confiscating certain foods that don’t meet crossing requirements such as eggs, produce and unpackaged meats.
Some visitors took it with stride.
“I guess you just shouldn’t go food shopping in Canada before crossing into the U.S,” one laughs.
Another isn’t so happy.
“I worked days prepackaging meals for our trip. Now they’re all gone.”
A third was convinced that the officers were taking the food home and feasting on it.
But the most common comment was simple.
“Do you know where I can get some eggs?”
If you catch a funny conversation on the wind, share it with The Skagway News. Send submissions to: editor@skagwaynews.com.
Have camera, will shoot. Jeff Brady takes a break from recording July 4 history in front of his bookstore, The Skaguay News Depot & Books.
Dottie DeMark of Skagway gets swept off her feet on Third Ave. by a guy who needs a shave during the July 4 festivities in Skagway.
Photo provided by Dottie DeMark
Photo by Gretchen Wehmhoff
Kids scramble for candy at the parade.
Photo by Gretchen Wehmhoff
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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Next issue will be published JULY 26, 2024
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Vol. XLVII, No.11 (974) July 12, 2024
Published online the second and fourth Friday of the month
Phone: (907) 983-2354 www.skagwaynews.com
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The Skagway News welcomes opinions pieces and letters to the editor.
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Photos by Gretchen Wehmhoff
Locomotive 114 on its way to a new home in the Southwest
By Gretchen Wehmhoff
Locomotive 114 is moving to its new home via a several thousand mile voyage over sea and land.
White Pass & Yukon Route (WPR) sold the locomotive to Cumbres & Toltec (C&T) railroad in the Southwest U.S.
C&T is a 145-year-old narrow gauge railroad that spans 64 miles between Chama,
New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It is a steam-powered remnant of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad of the 19th and 20th centuries.
A group of over 2000 volunteer members of The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is an all-volunteer organization working to preserver, restore and interpret the historic line.
Skagway AP testers achieve 100% passing rate
By Gretchen Wehmhoff
All six Skagway School students who tackled the Advanced Placement (AP) World History cumulative exam passed, meaning this year’s group achieved a 100% pass rate, which by international standards, is significant.
Submissions Corrections
POSTMASTER send address changes to: The Skagway News PO Box 125, Skagway, AK 99840
Dr. Josh Coughran painted the statistical picture.
The global pass rate is 64% and the Alaska pass rate is 59%.
He gives credit to high school teacher Kent Fielding for helping students to learn the curriculum over the year.
“Mr. Fielding has done an amazing job over the years preparing students to pass AP exams in English and Social Studies” Coughran said.
Students who took the test (and passed) are Charles Deach, Lina Hischer, Calvin Miller, Athena Smith, Liam Ticarro and Kaitlyn Tronrud.
C&T purchased Locomotive 114 for use on the railroad, similar to the WPR locomotives that were purchased for a “sister railroad,” the Durango & Silverton, several years ago.
On July 5, Jeff Hamilton and his crew worked to secure the locomotive to a trailer that would be driven onto a barge at midnight and towed south. After reach-
ing port, the engine will be trucked to the final distance.
Securing the load meant lifting the nearly 100 tons with two giant forklifts. The wheels were removed, and beams were set to block the engine securely.
WPR replaced most of its fleet of locomotives in 2020 – 2021 with lighter and more fuel-efficient models.
send corrections to editor@skagwaynews.com
Hamilton Marined Construction, Skagway prepares White Pass & Yukon Route Locomotive 114 for travel to New Mexico.
Jeff Hamilton supervises his crew as they secure beams and chains to stabilize the 100 ton machine.
Locomotive 114’s wheels where removed for transit.
Brian Currie of Whitehorse celebrates with his family and friends after winning Jean Worley’s banana cream and coconut cream pies with a bid of $170 at the July auction. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Emblem club. Photos by Gretchen Wehmhoff
Alaska’s top-heavy glaciers are approaching an irreversible tipping point
By Bethan Davies Commentary
The melting of one of North America’s largest icefields has accelerated and could soon reach an irreversible tipping point. That’s the conclusion of new research colleagues and I have published on the Juneau Icefield, which straddles the Alaska-Canada border near the Alaskan capital of Juneau.
In the summer of 2022, I skied across the flat, smooth and white plateau of the icefield, accompanied by other researchers, sliding in the tracks of the person in front of me under a hot sun. From that plateau, around 40 huge, interconnected glaciers descend towards the sea, with hundreds of smaller glaciers on the mountain peaks all around.
Our work, now published in Nature Communications, has shown that Juneau is an example of a climate “feedback” in action: as temperatures are rising, less and less snow is remaining through the summer (technically: the “end-of-summer snowline” is rising). This in turn leads to ice being exposed to sunshine and higher temperatures, which means more melt, less snow, and so on.
Like many Alaskan glaciers, Juneau’s are top-heavy, with lots of ice and snow at high altitudes above the end-of-summer snowline. This previously sustained the glacier tongues lower down. But when the end-ofsummer snowline does creep up to the top plateau, then suddenly a large amount of a top-heavy glacier will be newly exposed to melting.
That’s what’s happening now, each summer, and the glaciers are melting much faster than before, causing the icefield to get thinner and thinner and the plateau to get lower and lower. Once a threshold is passed, these feedbacks can accelerate melt and drive a self-perpetuating loss of snow and ice which would continue even if the world were to stop warming.
Ice is melting faster than ever Using satellites, photos and old piles of rocks, we were able to measure the ice loss across Juneau Icefield from the end of the last
“Little Ice Age” (about 250 years ago) to the present day. We saw that the glaciers began shrinking after that cold period ended in about 1770. This ice loss remained constant until about 1979, when it accelerated. It accelerated again in 2010, doubling the previous rate. Glaciers there shrank five times faster between 2015 and 2019 than from 1979 to 1990.
Our data shows that as the snow decreases and the summer melt season lengthens, the icefield is darkening. Fresh, white snow is very reflective, and much of that strong solar energy that we experienced in the summer of 2022 is reflected back into space. But the end of summer snowline is rising and is now often occurring right on the plateau of the Juneau Icefield, which means that older snow and glacier ice is being exposed to the sun. These slightly darker surfaces absorb more energy, increasing snow and ice melt.
As the plateau of the icefield thins, ice and snow reserves at higher altitudes are lost, and the surface of the plateau lowers. This will make it increasingly hard for the icefield to ever stabilise or even recover. That’s because warmer air at low elevations drives further melt, leading to an irreversible tipping point.
Longer-term data like these are critical to understand how glaciers behave, and the processes and tipping points that exist within individual glaciers. These complex processes make it difficult to predict how a glacier will behave in future.
The world’s hardest jigsaw
We used satellite records to reconstruct how big the glacier was and how it behaved, but this really limits us to the past 50 years. To go back further, we need different methods. To go back 250 years, we mapped the ridges of moraines, which are large piles of debris deposited at the glacier snout, and places where glaciers have scoured and polished the bedrock.
(Davies et al / Nature Communications)
To check and build on our mapping, we spent two weeks on the icefield itself and two weeks in the rainforest below. We camped among the moraine ridges, suspending our food high in the air to keep it safe from bears, shouting to warn off the moose and bears as we bushwhacked through the rainforest, and battling mosquitoes thirsty for our blood.
We used aerial photographs to reconstruct the icefield in the 1940s and 1970s, in the era before readily available satellite imagery. These are high quality photos, but were taken before global positioning systems made it easy to locate exactly where they were taken.
A number also had some minor damage in the intervening years – some Sellotape, a tear, a thumb print. As a result, the individual images had to be stitched together to make a 3D picture of the whole icefield. It was all rather like doing the world’s hardest jigsaw puzzle.
Work like this is crucial as the world’s glaciers are melting fast – all together they
are currently losing more mass than the Greenland or Antarctic ice sheets, and thinning rates of these glaciers worldwide has doubled over the past two decades Our longer time series shows just how stark this acceleration is. Understanding how and where “feedbacks” are making glaciers melt even faster is essential to make better predictions of future change in this important region
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article
Gilkey Glacier, Juneau Icefield: as the glaciers thin, more bare rock is shown, and less heat is reflected back into space. (Bethan Davies photo)
Gov. Dunleavy signs budget, vetoes more than $230 million in spending
By Andrew Kitchenman AlaskaBeacon.com
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed the state budget into law on Friday, while vetoing more than $230 million in operating and capital spending.
The total operating budget funding state agencies is $12.2 billion, including $914 million for Permanent Fund dividends, while the capital budget, money designated to build and repair roads, buildings and other infrastructure projects, is $3.5 billion. The share of spending from the Permanent Fund, oil royalties and taxes was $5.9 billion for the operating budget and $250 million for the capital budget, with most of the rest covered by federal money.
In a news release, Dunleavy noted the power given the governor in the state constitution to veto individual line items.
“The framers of Alaska’s Constitution codified a strong chief executive to ensure responsible budgeting,” he said. “This budget reflects their intentions.”
The Permanent Fund dividends this fall will be approximately $1,718 per resident, according to the governor’s office, slightly higher than the Legislature’s estimate of $1,655.
Dunleavy did not veto any of a $175 million one-time increase in school funding after vetoing half of a similar increase last year.
The decision drew praise from leaders of the Anchorage School District, who said in a statement that they are “grateful for the Alaska State Legislature making education funding a priority this past legislative session. Today’s approval by the Governor of this one-time investment is much-needed, however, school districts are
also in dire need of a longterm solution.”
The largest veto was $20 million to replenish the Community Assistance Fund, which aids municipalities with their budgets. Other vetoes included $11.9 million to fulfill a payment required by the federal government to school districts that the state is disputing; $11.2 million to assist schools with broadband, roughly a third of what the Legislature budgeted; $10 million for ferry operations, which the governor’s office said would be reevaluated after the ferry system receives federal grant money; and $10 million for seafood marketing. Smaller vetoes included $1.2 million for rural public radio stations.
The announcement of the budget signing highlighted several areas increased in the spending plan, including $87.5 million for universi-
ty operations and maintenance deferred from previous years; $62.8 million for major school maintenance; $53.2 million for Alaska Housing Finance Corp. programs for home buyers, owners and renters; and $3.5 million for 10 additional village public safety officers and VPSO salary increases.
The constitution requires that the governor provide an explicit reason for his budget vetoes. For most, Dunleavy said they were to “preserve general funds for fiscal stability.” If the state spends less than it raises, that money will be deposited into the Constitutional Budget Reserve, a fund that was depleted over the past decade to balance the budget.
Education cuts
While Dunleavy’s veto pen did not touch the onetime increase to education, which equals $680 per student in the state’s funding
formula, he did reduce funding for high speed internet for rural schools and cut a boost to the state’s Head Start programs in half.
Dunleavy also vetoed $5.4 million of $20 million slated to increase the graduate program at University of Alaska Fairbanks so that it can achieve a status as a top-tier research university. The sum was the state’s general fund contribution — he did not veto the remainder of the money, which would be paid for by the university’s federal funding and money it raises from other sources.
The University of Alaska praised his approval of a $331.3 million state appropriation. Combined with other sources, the state university’s operating budget for the next year is just under $934.5 million.
Senior reporter Claire Stremple contributed to this article.
Fed departments announce about $280 million in funding for Alaska projects
By Yereth Rosen AlaskaBeacon.com
Three departments of the U.S. government have announced they have awarded about $280 million in new funding for transportation and energy projects in Alaska, money made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. In its announcement, the
U.S. Department of Transportation said on Wednesday that it is sending about $54 million, with the funds made possible by the bipartisan 2021 infrastructure bill, to three Alaska projects. One project, to get $25 million, is for restoring about 45 miles of the Alaska Highway that has been degraded by permafrost thaw and other climate change impacts, the department said.
Another $25 million will go to the City and Borough of Wrangell for a project revitalizing the harbor, the department said. The project involves the design and construction of floating and anchoring systems, water, electrical and fire-suppression systems and relocation of parking, the department said.
The third project, which is getting just under $4 million, is for port planning, permitting and design work in the Yukon River village of Nulato, the department said.
The Alaska transportation grants are among the $1.8 billion in awards across the nation announced on Wednesday. The grants are from the department’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program.
Separately, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that Alaska will receive $25 million to plug and clean oil and gas wells drilled in the past and then abandoned.
Alaska is among five states receiving a total of $127 million for that purpose, Interior said in its announcement. That money is also available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
These inactive and gas wells are known as “orphaned wells,” since they have been abandoned by the companies that drilled them. There are millions of orphaned wells across the country. Many remain unplugged and are releasing pollutants into the air and the groundwater.
The money for Alaska is to address wells located on state or private land. As of April, there were 46 identified orphaned wells on state or private land, according to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the agency managing the issue.
The oldest orphaned wells on the AOGCC list date back to the early 1900s, when Alaska’s first oil wells were drilled at Katalla, a Gulf of Alaska coastal site about 50 miles southeast of Cordova.
Work on several wells is already underway. An Arctic Slope Regional Corp. subsidiary, ASRC Consulting
and Environmental Services, has been contracted to do plugging and remediation work and submitted a progress report in January.
Another $200 million in money from the Inflation Reduction Act, a bill that passed Congress without any Republicans voting in support, will go to battery energy storage systems in Interior Alaska and on the Kenai Peninsula, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced separately on Wednesday.
The Alaska projects getting the $100 million in funding apiece are a 46-megawatt battery energy storage system to be built by Fairbanks-based Golden Valley Electric Association and a 45-megawatt four-hour battery energy storage system to be installed in Soldotna by the Alaska Electric and Energy Cooperative Inc., a subsidiary of Homer Electric Association.
The Alaska Highway is seen near the border with Canada on April 27, 2022. The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing $25 million to restore about 45 miles of the highway that has been degraded by permafrost thaw and other climate-change impacts. (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Tasting wine for 25 years, fundraiser benefits Little Dippers
By Kerri Raia
Saturday, July 20 marks the 25th annual Little Dippers Wine Tasting.
Organized by Skagway Child Care Council (SCCC), the event has raised thousands of dollars over the years to keep the non-profit daycare center open. The council says there are countless community members to thank for that.
Denise Caposey is a founding member of Little Dippers Learning Center which opened its doors in 1987. She still holds the center very near and dear to her heart.
“My favorite part of working at Dippers was the relationships that were fostered with the children that grew with the years. Some of my original Dippers are now grown with children of their own and we still have that connection,” she reflects fondly.
“It’s special because it’s genuine love that we have for each other. By caring for other people’s children, you also develop relations with the families, and the fact that they trust you with the care of their most precious little people is a huge responsibility that comes with so many rewards. It’s not about the money. It’s not just a job. Providing this service for Skagway was my crowning achievement, and the rewards continue to this day. But I did not accomplish this on my own. It takes a village,” Caposey said.
A village it does take. Without childcare opportunities, the seasonal workforce in Skagway would miss out on some quality people. Little Dippers provides an important service to the community.
Beth Smith, a former SCCC board member and board president agrees.
a very fun evening, too! People in this town were generous and still are,” Ellingson said.
The people of Skagway show up for their neighbors. Smith has been inspired to see everyone’s hard work pay off. She saw that while serving as a volunteer board member.
“My favorite part of being on the board were the friendships I made with the ladies I sat on the board with. I treasure them, and if it wasn’t for that board, some of our paths might never have crossed otherwise, as we all had such busy schedules during the summer season,” Smith shared.
“Of course, when I sat on the board, my favorite day of the year was the day after the wine tasting! I love the event, but when you are a board member, it is quite a bit of work putting that event on, and it is during our busy season, to boot! So, I always applaud every Dipper board member for donating their time, their energy and their efforts to pulling off such a spectacular and treasured, Skagway annual event,” Smith said.
“I swear, each year and each [new] board has put their own little touch on the event, and year after year, the event just keeps getting better and better,” she adds.
“From a business owner’s perspective, Little Dippers plays a vital role in the business community by increasing our labor pool - by allowing both parents to work,” Smith said. Board members meet monthly to oversee operations and advise the center’s administrator, but the Wine Tasting takes up the bulk of their attention during summer months.
Former Little Dippers caregiver and board member Courtney Pfannenstein Ellingson was recruited to Skagway for her first season to work at Little Dippers with former director Mary Thole in 1999. She eventually started teaching kindergarten at Skagway School and became a board member in 2003.
“I was hoping to connect myself more and more to the community and found it a great way to serve the families and children of Skagway. I got to know local families more and seasonal ones as well. Our big fundraiser at that time was the Silent Auction that Jan Wrentmore of the Red Onion graciously hosted each summer. If I recall, it was a lot of work gathering donations and putting the event on, but we always did well, and it was
The current Skagway Child Care Council Board of Directors are President Katie Auer, Vice President Hillery Lesh, Treasurer Juliene Miles and Secretary Taylor Ashton.
This team is responsible for this year’s Wine Tasting, and the Council made sure to recognize them for their after-hours efforts as volunteers on top of their busy schedules.
“Hats off to these wonderful women!”
Smith also paid tribute to Charlotte Jewell who once played a vital role in hosting the Wine Tasting at Jewell Gardens.
“Charlotte Jewell was a huge part of the success of the wine tasting - especially in its earlier years! Charlotte truly brought the elegance and the atmosphere into the equation which made the event so classy and so enjoyable! When you were in Jewell Gardens, you just felt like you were a million miles away on vacation. Charlotte was such a beautiful soul and my friendship with her grew through organizing this event year after year!”
SCCC mentioned Jewell Gardens for their dedicated contributions toward Little Dippers’ fundraising endeavors over the years.
“Special thanks to the Dredge for hosting again; it is such a lovely venue! We hope to see you all there! The council thanks to the community members who care about Little Dippers and all of their generous donors, past and present.”
“We couldn’t do it without you, and we appreciate you more than you know.”
This year’s event is Saturday, July 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Alaska 360.
Guests peruse the silent auction at the 2023 Little Dippers Learning Center Fundraiser.
Denise Caposey (in white shirt) poses with staff and children in a photo from the earlier years of Little Dipper Learning Center.
Densie Caposey and Kerri Raia smile at the 2023 wine tasting fundraiser for the Little Dippers Learning Center.
Photos provided by Little Dipper Learning Center.
Everyone loves a parade!
Newsies, past and present gather for a quick reunion photo in front of The Skaguay News Depot & Books along with Jeff Brady, top left, who started it all. Back row: Jeff Brady, Landon Rodig, Peyton Rodig, Gretchen Wehmhoff, Anika Thole, Cody Burnham, Wendy Anderson, Andrew Tronrud.
Front row: Mila Nelson, Iris Strathey, Ava Vogel, Kaitlyn Jared. Corner front: Emerlee Jared and siblings.
Photo by Scott Porter
Cruise visitor Tara Gelles hops on to the end of the parade, literally chasing the ambulance. Kind of fitting, really.
Photo by Gretchen Wehmhoff
Steam Locomotive 73, now in service after being reburbished to use oil, starts the parade by opening up Broadway to the floats.
Photo by Gretchen Wehmhoff
Deb Potter belts out some “Parade-E-Oke”
Photos by Gretchen Wehmhoff
Making Karaoke Great Again
Teaching the art of tamale-making helps create friendships and fun
By Kerri Raia
On Sunday, July 7, Christina (Tina) Holm held a small class teaching community members how to make tamales. This is Holm’s first season in Skagway, but she has been making her own tamales for about 30 years. Her aunt is from Mexico and would make her tamales, which inspired Holm to learn how to make them herself.
Holm moved to a new neighborhood in California about eight years ago, and in an effort to meet her neighbors, she offered a tamale making class there on NextDoor. She has a love for teaching and thought this might be a good way to meet people and enjoy good food together. She is still close with many of her former students today.
An avid quilter and crocheter, Holm frequently ordered yarn and other materials from Alaska which eventually led to a job opportunity here. She now works at Boreal Artworks and speaks highly of her employers and co-workers.
“The artists I have met here in Skagway overwhelm and inspire me with their talent,” she said.
Holm has found her tamale classes to be a gateway to learn more about Skagway and its residents. She says it has given her an opportunity to meet wonderful people and develop new friendships. She is happy to be here, and she is enjoying what Skagway has to offer.
This reporter is thrilled have met her as well, and now has a fridge full of freshly made tamales!
If there is enough interest, Holm will host one last tamale class before leaving for the season in September. If you are interested in joining her, you may inquire at HeCoversMe@ymail.com.
Website of the week
Check this out 60 ideas for summer outdoor activities on the SignupGenius site.
Skagway Hardware Co-ed Softball team celebrates after their division A win.
Photo by Scott Porter
Left: Ninon Billebeau, a culinary student visiting Skagway from France prepares tamales. Above, Ninon works with Tina Holm and Kira Lathrop to produce batches of tamales. Photos by Kerri Raia.
Skagway’s softball players bring home division A in Skagway’s co-ed tournament
By Gretchen Wehmhoff
Skagway Hardware co-ed softball team took a dramatic loss before climbing back up the loser’s bracket to win the annual International Co-ed Softball Tournament’s A division on June 30.
The tournament, held June 28 – 30, hosted 13 teams: one from Haines, two from Skagway and ten from Canada. Eight teams played in A division and 5 in B division.
Seven Pastures parking lot and Garden City RV camp were filled with ball players, their families and spectators from the region. Kids on bicycles, in strollers and on hips came with the teams, along with friends who came for the weekend to watch and provide child care.
Whitehorse’s Sharknados won the B division on Sunday.
Photos by Scott Porter
June 19
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
• A caller reported seeing multiple people, including kids under 21, walking down Broadway with red plastic cups full of beer. The caller reported they asked where the beverages came from and were given the name of a store. An officer responded and spoke with the workers who did not admit to passing out the adult beverages.
• A report was taken for a lost wallet.
• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
• A caller reported they found a 2-year-old toddler walking alone down 3rd Avenue. An officer responded and was able to figure out who the child was and get them back to their parents.
• 911 was pocket dialed twice.
• A fuel truck driver reported they came across a white tour van stopped in the middle of the Klondike Highway while looking at a bear and it made a dangerous situation.
• Two cruise ship passengers reported that their passports went missing from their state room and they believed they had been stolen.
• A caller reported their roommate was threatening to fight them and they felt unsafe. An officer responded and spoke with the roommate.
• A complaint of loud music late at night was received. An officer responded but did not hear anything at the location reported.
June 20
• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost iPhone, a lost Android in a green case, a lost Android in a red case, a lost brown leather wallet, a found Arizona driver’s license.
• A report was received that a vehicle in the impound yard was taken and then returned with parts missing. An officer investigated.
• 911 was pocket dialed three times.
• EMS personnel assisted with a courtesy ride from the clinic.
• A caller reported an intoxicated individual had fallen into Pullen Creek and was trying to fight the people who attempted to help him up. Officers responded and discovered he was a crew member off the ship. He continued being combative so officers escorted him back to his ship and turned him over to ship security.
• A caller reported her cat had been missing for a few days. EMS personnel assisted in transporting a patient for a medevac.
June 21
• 911 was pocket dialed twice.
• Fire Department personnel responded to a downtown fire alarm. It was found to be false.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a found iPhone in a white case and a lost Android in a red case.
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider twice.
June 22
• 911 was pocket dialed three times.
• A wallet was found and later reunited with its owner.
• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
June 23
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider four times.
• A report was taken concerning the theft of a handgun from a residence.
• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
• EMS personnel assisted in transporting a patient for a medevac.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a passport and backpack lost at Seven Pastures, a lost photo ID, and a lost Android phone in a red case.
• 911 was pocket dialed twice.
June 24
• An officer assisted with a vehicle lockout.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost pink iPhone wallet attachment, a lost green iPhone, a found Illinois driver’s license, a found credit card and a found tattered iPhone in a black rubber case.
• A person reported they were concerned about an individual they saw who appeared to be sleeping on the ground on the Dyea Flats but did not move when the concerned party got close to them. An officer responded but was not able to locate any sleeping individuals.
•911 was pocket dialed once.
June 25
• 911 was pocket dialed three times.
• A caller reported their small black and white cat had been missing for a couple days.
• EMS personnel assisted in transporting a patient for a medevac.
• An officer assisted with a vehicle lockout.
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
June 26
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
• The caller who previously reported their cat was missing reported it was back.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a found pink iPhone wallet attachment, a lost magnetic wallet, and a lost iPhone.
• A caller reported an off-leash dog had attacked their leashed dog while walking downtown.
• 911 was pocket dialed three times.
June 27
• A caller reported a sexual assault. Officers responded and began an investigation.
• Fire Department personnel responded to a downtown fire alarm. It was found to be false.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost brown leather wallet and a found credit card.
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
• 911 was pocket dialed five times.
June 28
• Lost and found reports were taken for a found yellow wallet, a lost Motorola phone in a red case, and a lost black wallet with Washington ID.
• 911 was pocket dialed once.
• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
• EMS personnel responded to a bicycle accident.
• EMS personnel responded with Temsco to a medical emergency on a mountain in Haines.
• Ship security requested an officer come and take custody of gun ammunition confiscated from a passenger’s carry on.
June 29
• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost blue cell phone and a found credit card.
• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
• A report was taken for the theft of benches and a water cooler at the raft pickup spot in Dyea.
• A caller reported they found a lost child. An officer responded and with the assistance of bystanders were able to figure out where the child lived and get them home.
June 30
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider twice.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost set of keys with a green key fob and two found passports.
• Police personnel responded to a downtown burglary alarm reported by SimpliSafe. It was found to be false.
• 911 was pocket dialed once.
• A caller reported they just encountered bicyclists on the Dyea Road riding into traffic on the wrong side of the road while going around curves and they were concerned.
July 1
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider three times.
• 911 was pocket dialed five times.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost red maple leaf wallet and a found credit card.
• Ship security requested an officer come and take custody of gun ammunition confiscated from a passenger’s backpack.
• An officer assisted with a vehicle lockout.
• A caller reported their child’s Black Schwinn mountain bike was missing.
• EMS personnel assisted with a Coast Guard medevac.
July 2
• A local caller reported they were being blackmailed in a financial sextortion scheme by an online scammer.
• U.S. Customs requested officer assistance with a possible stolen plate and confiscated drug paraphernalia.
• A caller reported their neighbor’s cats were being a nuisance and using their garden beds as a litter box.
• Lost and found reports were taken for a found Samsung phone, a found wallet with North Carolina ID, and a lost wallet with Florida ID.
• Officers assisted a citizen in looking for their dog that jumped out of their car and was at large.
• 911 was pocket dialed four times
• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.
July 3
• A caller reported they just came across a very young child wandering alone on the sidewalk in front of the red church. While on the phone, the caller reported the child’s guardian appeared.
•911 was pocket dialed once.
Submitted by Skagway Police Department
Police & Fire Blotter
Hardware player Royce Borst gets called out on a close call at third base in the championship game of the International Co-ed Tournament June 30.
Nate Jennings catapults the ball.
Adam Smith cradles the ball as Kaylie Smith watches from the field.
CLASSIFIEDS
News Classified Ads cost 40 cents per word,
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.
The Municipality of Skagway is requesting proposals from qualified engineers for the design, permitting, and construction administration/inspection of improvements to the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) in Skagway, Alaska. The purpose of the improvements is to improve facility performance, bring the facility into compliance with its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, and meet future flow demands through 2053.
The successful proposer shall provide design, permitting, and construction/inspection services for the construction of the improvements listed above. The proposer shall provide the following services:
• Evaluate existing WWTF conditions and previous designs.
• Provide conceptual drawings with rough order of magnitude costs before proceeding to 35% design.
• Upon reception of a direction from the MOS, provide 35%, 65%, and 95% designs to be presented in person to the Municipality.
• Provide All Permitting for Construction Phase.
• Provide Cost estimates at 35%, 65%, and 95% design.
• Provide bid ready documents for construction.
• Provide Project Schedule.
• Provide plan for construction
administration and inspection services during construction.
• Assist with grant management and compliance.
Deliverables: Conceptual designs and rough order of magnitude
cost estimates
• 35% design & Cost Estimate
• 65% Plan, Specifications, and Cost Estimate
• 95% Plan, Specifications, and Cost Estimate
• Complete (100%) Bid ready Documents
• All Federal, State, and local permits
• Construction administration and inspection services
All bid documents shall be in compliance with federal grant requirements. Bidders are required to familiarize themselves with the federal grant requirements.
Proposals which do not address the items listed in this section may be considered incomplete and may be deemed nonresponsive by the Municipality of Skagway in its sole discretion. It is the responsibility of the firms submitting proposals to determine the actual efforts required to complete the project. Interested firms shall submit one electronic copy and 8 paper copies of the completed proposal in an envelope marked “WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
DESIGN SERVICES” and are due no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 8, 2024, to PO Box 415 Skagway, AK 99840 or delivered directly to the Municipal Offices at 700 Spring Street. Faxed or e-mailed proposals will not be accepted.
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
Solid Waste Facility Hours T, Th, Sa, Su. 1 - 3 p.m. Skagway Museum
907-983-2420
Border stations: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Call each station for specifics. Ferry Terminal Hours
RECREATION CENTER
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)
TABLE from US Harbors
See the link to monthly tides on www.skagwaynews.com
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.
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
● Skagway Recreation Center
● The Station
● U.S. Post
● Grizzly’s General Emergency medical assistance is still necessary after administering naloxone.
TIDE
www.corkeycomics.com
2024 Yukon River Quest Results
SOLO CLASSES
Top 3 in each class receive pendant from Gold Trail Jewellers of Dawson City.
Women’s Solo Canoe C1:
Team #48 Fitbuddy – Leslie Davenport, Gloucester, ON, Canada [27:45:42].
Men’s Solo Canoe C1:
Team #23 Mike and All His Friends – Mike De Abreu, Arnprior, ON, Canada [24:19:16].
Team #57 Whine Naught – Colin Lathe, Cornwell, ON, Canada [25:17:48].
Team #55 Octopus Shipyard – Jan Basta, Oubenice Kocabou, Czech Republic [27:27:13].
Women’s Solo Kayak K1:
Team #54 Midnight Sun – Michelle Bousquet, Montreal, QC, Canada [26:50:41].
Team #46 Stroke of Serendipity – Kimberly Dodds, Whitehorse, YT, Canada [27:41:52].
Team #31 Bite Me – Julie Ardoin, Orange Beach, AL, USA [28:09:58].
Men’s Solo Kayak K1:
1. Team # 39 Belgian Bear – Bernard Moyersoen, Liege, Belgium [22:04:10]. 7TH OVERALL.
2. Team #61 Golden Retriever – Wayne Anderson, Calgary, AB, Canada [23:55:15].
Team #51 Toby Cracknell – Toby Cracknell, Woy Woy, NSW, Australia [24:21:49].
Team #2 Suptrainer Canada – Chris Prince, Ottawa, ON, Canada [29:32:11].
Team #32 Forward Progress – Kevin Crowe, Calgary, AB, Canada [29:38:50].
TANDEM CANOE CLASSES (C2)
Women’s C2:
Team #37 Oar We There Yet – Anne-Christelle (Kiki) Vidal & Heidi Cyr, Whitehorse, YT, Canada [29:25:45].
Team #29 Midnight Madams – Michelle Larson & Anne Keyworth, Scottsdale, AZ & Raleigh, NC, USA [29:42:47].
Mixed C2:
Team #20 6ix to 6ixty – Adam Pukier & Tali Pukier, Toronto, ON, Canada [21:57:33]. 6TH OVERALL
Team #43 Ripple FX – Chris Prater & Trina Lynn Ross, London, ON & Winnepeg, MB, Canada [22:53:22]. 9TH OVERALL
Team #24 Tashmanian Devils – Natasia Varieur & Steve Varieur, Huntsville, ON and Canmore, AB, Canada [24:11:57].
Men’s C2:
1. Team #44 Seb & Gates Go for a Paddle – Seb Courville & Gaetan Plourde, Golden Lake, ON, and North Gower, ON, Canada [20:23:57]. 1ST OVERALL
2. Team #60 Team Alpha Super Awesome Cool Dynamite Wolf Squadron – Robert Spinks & Jake Paleczny, Whitehorse, YT, Canada [20:45:12]. 2ND OVERALL.
3. Team #76 Rudderly Ruthless Racing – Crispin Studer & Shane Orban, Whitehorse, YT, Canada [21:05:40]. 5TH OVERALL.
TANDEM KAYAK CLASSES (K2)
Women’s K2: (none raced in 2024)
Mixed K2: (none raced in 2024)
Men’s K2:
1. Team #21 Team 132 – Jeff Brainard & Bob Ross, Kingston, ON, Canada [20:47:19]. 3RD OVERALL
2. Team #73 daron team – Paul Laforet & Gorgan Wildberger, Saint pierre Reunion & Meudon, France [23:03:47]. 10TH OVERALL
3. Team #41 The Yukon Boys – Richard Holland & Owen Bennett, Vancouver, BC, Canada [25:28:30].
4-PERSON CANOE CLASSES (C4)
Mixed C4 (2 men, 2 women): (none raced in 2024)
Women’s C4 (all women):
1. Team #15 Fat Bottomed Girls – Carmen Gustafson, Bonnie Pankw, Sophie Coupal, & Heidi Virtanen - Whitehorse, YT, Chelsea, QC, Cantley, QC, & High River, AB, Canada [21:04:22] 4TH
OVERALL
Open C4 (all or predominantly men):
1. Team #17 Spirit of the Yukon – Peter van den Berg, Francis Soenen, Danny Veys, Pascal Waeyaert - Essen, Roeselare, Marke, & Beernem, Belgium [22:28:00]. 8TH OVERALL
2. Team #13 Bucking the Tide – Justin Dorn, Wesley Brooks, Harlan Nimmo, & Seth Mason - Juneau, AK, Sacramento, CA, & Carbondale, CO, USA [23:49:12].
3. Team #13 Wet Mondays – Ben Menkens, Rodney Dowd, Daniel Ballaam, & Marc-Andre Chartrand - Townsville, QLD & Tumbi Umbi, QLD, Australia, & Whitehorse, YT, Canada [28:01:39].
VOYAGEUR CANOE CLASSES (6 or more persons - VC) Women’s Voyageur (all women):
1. Team #5 Stix Together – Cheryl Rivest, Carolyn Relf, Kirsti de Vries, Susan Hamilton, Anna Peacock, Jennifer King, Natalie Haltrich, Maddie Nicholson - Whitehorse, YT, Canada [24:26:48].
2. Team #7 Team Whoa – Tunde Fulop, Elizabeth Clune, Lisa Robertson, Noreen Schaefer, Patricia Clune, Rolanda BarabonoffWhitehorse, YT, Toronto, ON, Mackenzie, BC, Canada [27:15:05].
3. Team #9 Paddlers Abreast – Eliza Pahl, Colleen Latham, Marianna Berko, Monique Levesque, Asa Berg, Lynn Rice-Rideout, Jay Cherian, & Amy Miller - Whitehorse, YT, Canada [27:42:41].
Mixed Voyageur (1/3 of team must be women):
1. Team #8 Listers Motor Sports – Brian Edelman, Spencer Edelman, Ariana Edelman, Aiden Harvey, Jason Biensch, & Linda Casson – Whitehorse, YT, Canada [24:24:33].
2. Team #3 Dyea Dippers – Nicole Kovacs, Jen Larsen, Jon Hillis, Stephanie Hawney, Sam Best, Logan Weber, & Alexandra Luque - Skagway, AK, Bellingham, WA, & Puyallup, WA, USA [26:51:02].
Open Voyageur (all or predominantly men):
Team #6 Billy Smart & His One Trick Ponies – Peter Mant, Rob Howe, Bill Baker, Iain Burnett, Paddy Broughton, & Angus Woods – Armagh, Monmouth, & London, Great Britain, Sydney, Australia, & Wicklow, Ireland [23:45:41].
Team #4 The James Whalen – Eric Bongelli, Aaron Brecka, Carter Morash, Stu Maclean, Jordan Kamerman, Bailey Gleed, Devin Van Elburg, Josh Newransky, Tim Baxter, & Zach Maclean – Thunder Bay, ON, Canada [24:21:22].
Team #1 Northwestel – Kerry Pettitt, Wade Schmidt, Sean Booth, David Bakica, Scott Legge, & Thomas Bakica – Whitehorse, YT, Canada [25:30:55].
YRQ 300 (registered for Half Quest to Carmacks)
Women’s C4 Half *
1. Team #11 Mini Stix – Deb Bartlette, Anne Jessup, Karen Mann, Kim Schlossser - Whitehorse, YT, Canada [24:11:39] *.
Top Overall Team: Team #44 Seb and Gates Go for a Paddle –Seb Courville and Gaetan Plourde - Ontario [free entry for captain and same team members in 2025 YRQ and name on permanent trophy).
Top Solo Awards: Gold/silver pendants from Gold Trail Jewellers of Dawson City will be presented later to top solo paddlers in each class (noted above).
Top Yukoners: Men’s C2 team #60 Team Alpha Super Awesome Cool Dynamite Wolf Squadron [Yukon Brewing beer pack]. Spirit of the Yukon Award: The volunteers at the Lower Laberge Checkpoint who were tasked with holding up and checking on paddlers for 2.5 hours after the Thirtymile fire flared up: Dan Potvin (CP coordinator), Atlin Potvin, William Oestreich, Brad Lovell, and Mary Ellen Kellington. [Engraved paddle by Dawson City students from Klondike Visitors Association]
Red Lantern: Team #52 Fortytude, K1 Half Quest paddler Nadia Kang of Nova Scotia for winning the race to not be the last team to finish.
Fire, winds challenge YRQ paddlers
It wasn’t the ending paddlers had hoped when taking on the Yukon River Quest in June. The goal was to move as fast as they could (or wanted to) down the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City, Yukon. Nature wasn’t having any of that.
Dangerous wildfires along the North Klondike Highway caused race officials to make the tough choice to end the event at Carmacks out of concern for the support teams, paddlers and firefighters.
While 74 teams started, 58 were able to finish in Carmacks before the cutoff time of 34 hours. Most of those who scratched stopped at Lower Laberge. Officials mark the scratch rate at 22%.
The youngest paddler in the event was River Lougheed (16) in Team #18 Midnight Marauders, while the oldest were Anne Jessup (70) in Team #11 Mini-Stix and Peter van den Berg (70) in Team #17 Spirit of the Yukon.
The lake was calm for most teams, but winds came up from all four directions for the leaders, and later in the evening, causing several solo teams to miss the off-lake cutoff time. The river also was at a low level for late June.
Trouble with the fires started the evening of June 26, with a message that paddlers who had made it past Lower Laberge to pull over while other racers were held up until the course was deemed safe enough to continue.
The next afternoon, an announcement was made that the Quest would end in Carmacks after consulting with emergency offices with Yukon Wildland Fires and other officials.
“The 24th Yukon River Quest is ending in Carmacks this year due to circumstances beyond our control. The board of the Yukon Marathon Paddlers Association (YMPA) made this difficult decision today after conferring with government officials about the fire situation along the North Klondike Highway, which has been closed except for essential travel,” the announcement read.
More than 170 volunteers were involved in this year’s Yukon River Quest and many race sponsors. They will be named and thanked in a full-page ad in the Yukon Star later in July.
Jeff Brady and Gretchen Wehmhoff contributed to this story.
Left - Dyea Dippers pass Burma Road Landing about two hours after their start. Support crew member Lexi Korobkin and her dog, Kaiya, capture a photo. Kayaker (K1) Brad Pennington drafts the Dippers voyager canoe. Above - The Dyea Dippers after arriving in Carmacks.
