The Skagway News - July 28, 2023

THE SKAGWAY NEWS.

July 28, 2023

Rail union ratifies TA, contract is immediate

By Gretchen Wehmhoff

After six years without an updated contract, White Pass & Yukon Route (WPYR) and SMART-TD railway workers have a deal.

The parties gave one last push on July 21. The session, originally planned for a federal mediator to facilitate, included only WPYR and SMART-TD.

“We were so close that he was fine with having the parties meet without him. It took a bit of time to get together. But we were very close in the last round of meetings and continued to have some conversations and finally got together. And we were supportive of that. I believe the union was as well, just to get home to a deal,” WPYR Executive Director Tyler Rose said.

The results of the meetings came in the form of a tentative agreement (TA). By Wednesday morning, the TA was ratified by the 27 members of Local 1626.

The actual vote count is not public, but according to Local 1626 Chairperson Jason Guiler, it was overwhelmingly positive. Per union rules, the ratification was voted on by craft -- brakemen, conductors and engineers.

“So 51% or higher per craft is considered a passing vote and each craft must pass. So all of the engineers vote separately from all of the conductors who then vote separately from all of the brakemen,” Guiler said.

Members had a 48-hour window to review the tentative agreement. Ballots were due Wednesday morning by 8 a.m. Guiler and the local secretary jeremy simmons (who does not capitalize his name) tabulated the votes after work on Wednesday.

“I’m very proud of this agreement … It’s been a lot of work. And I’m really proud to say that we were able to, you know, to keep things moving to a point that we were able to reach an agreement rather than continue in a direction that could have ended in a very different manner,” Guiler said.

The union expressed its appreciation that the three-person crew was maintained in the negotiations. One sticking point had been the potential accepted attrition of the brakeman position. Guiler was pleased.

“We were able to protect the jobs of the brakemen,” he said.

Neither WPYR or the union are publicly sharing the TA, percentage increase or wages in the deal.

Another issue the parties tackled was the concept of retroactive pay. Members will receive a bonus payment in lieu of past pay compensation. Members will also maintain their health benefits package, although there was some change in the member co-pay.

“So everything that was enacted in the contract will be from [Wednesday], as far as pay increases and everything else, I think it’s really positive,” Rose said.

The ratified TA is effective as of Wednesday morning and will continue until Dec. 31, 2027. According to the deal, the negotiated bonuses will be paid out Oct. 31.

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Blues, Brews & BBQ and a giant potato

By Gretchen Wehmhoff

When the Idaho Potato Commission’s Tater Team contacted Skagway, their plan was to bring their giant potato campaign to a decent sized town in Alaska that they could drive to. Taking a giant potato on a long bed semi truck down the Klondike Highway was probably just small potatoes to Tater Team driver Melissa, aka Spud Racer, who had been driving the team for four years.

Tourism Director Jamie Bricker and Mayor Andrew Cremata decided to take advantage of the visit.

“I talked to Jamie and I’m like we’re gonna go big. So instead of just having them show up with a potato truck and go to the Blues, Brew & BBQ, let’s have a parade, let’s declare a festival, let’s

go hog wild -- let’s have a potato king and queen,” Cremata said.

Bricker made sashes for the potato royalty and Cremata created scepters with a large Russet potatoes jabbed onto a wooden dowel. Idaho born twins Cory Bricker and Cody Bricker Jennings became the first Potato King and Queen. They, and others, rode down Broadway on the large truck with the enormous sculptured potato.

“When we turned on to Broadway on the giant potato it was like the Fourth of July, there must have been 2,000 people out there. It was crazy,” Cremata said, “It was overwhelmingly awesome. The parade was super fun.”

After the parade, the truck parked at Seven Pastures where the Skagway Arts

Council’s Annual Blues, Brew & BBQ festival was in motion.

The concert kept the stage busy with different blues artists. Local vendors such as Lucy’s, Peppers and The Station provided food, most with some sort of potato theme.

About mid-concert, Spuddy Buddy, the potato mascot, exited the traveling potato and spent the evening greeting children and posing for photos.

The weather dropped some rain on the event, but the music never stopped. Cremata was impressed with the line-up.

“Probably the best one in my opinion. It was pretty much all blues. I mean, it was really good music from start to finish,” he said.

Skagway, Alaska

“Tator Tot Twins” and Potato Royalty for the day, Cory Bricker and Cody Bricker Jennings prepare to reign over the Potato Parade. More pictures on page 2.

Photo by Jaime Bricker

The Skagway News. Skagway’s First Newspaper

Christened in 1897, buried alive in 1904 and resurrected in 1978, The Skagway News is currently celebrating 46 years of reporting in Skagway and Dyea, Alaska, recording our Centennial years and beyond.

ADVERTISING & NEWS COPY DEADLINES

Next issue will be published

AUGUST 11, 2023

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All ads and classifieds by Aug.4

COPY, LETTERS, CALENDAR DEADLINE:

Please email editor@skagwaynews.com

All news copy, letters and calendar events by Aug. 4, 2023

Vol. XLVI, No 13 (952) July 28, 2023

Published on the second and fourth Friday of the month

Phone: (907) 983-2354 www.skagwaynews.com editor@skagwaynews.com sales@skagwaynews.com

Publishers

Melinda Munson

Gretchen Wehmhoff

Contributors

Jaime Bricker

Andrew Cremata

Donna Griffard

Larry Persily

Editor Emeritus

William J. “Jeff” Brady

Submissions

The Skagway News welcomes opinions pieces and letters to the editor. Opinion pieces should be no longer than 600 words and will be published based on space availability and relevance to current and local events.

Letters to the editor should not exceed 250 words.

Submit letters and opinions to editor@skagwaynews. com. Letters may be edited for grammar and length.

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Blues, Brews & BBG with a potato in Skagway

Blues, Brews & BBQ sponsored by the Skagway Arts Council

Photo by Donna Griffard

Photo by Donna Griffard

Photo by Jaime Bricker

Photo by Jaime Bricker

Photo provided by Jaime Bricker

Skagway and visitors line Broadway to watch the giant Potato Truck pass through town.

Photo by Andrew Cremata

Spuddy Buddy pals around with Skagway Tourism Director, Jaime Bricker.

Spuddy Buddy greets Skagway children at the Blues, Brew and BBQ event at Seven Pastures.

Deb Potter celebrates the Big Idaho Potato at the Blues, Brews and BBQ celebration with Mayor Andrew Cremata.

Dedman Stage lights up for blues music at the Blues, Brews and BBQ festival.

Spuddy Buddy joins the party at Seven Pastures. Team Tator parks the giant potato from Idaho at the celebration.

Photo by Andrew Cremata

Fry guy, Alex Martin from The Station

By Melinda Munson

Only bid for Ore Dock project comes in high, muni reduces scope not

The Municipality of Skagway received just one bid for the Ore Dock Redevelopment Project. Borough Manager Brad Ryan attributed the lack of competition and the higher than expected price tag to timing.

“It’s the nature of how we’re coming out of COVID, and still kind of suffering from that. And being in Alaska, Alaska is struggling,” he said.

Pacific Pile and Marine quoted approximately $75 million “to install a cruise ship float, fuel header, sea walk and other upland utilities,” according to a memo from Ryan. The proposal is significantly higher than the engineer’s estimate and the $65 million bond Skagway voters approved in October 2022.

In response, the assembly met in a special meeting July 18 and approved a modified project plan, referred to as Scope B, which continues to allow the placement of two deep water dolphins. For roughly $4 million, the dolphins make it possible for a very large vessel to berth on the new Ore Dock without encroaching on a ship at Broadway Dock. The sea walk and other upgrades will have to wait, for now.

Ryan estimated that holding off on the deep water dolphins until a later date might end up costing $10 million.

Ryan said the goal with the modified plan is to “get the float in, get it operational.” There will be no new fuel header and docks north of the current ore loader will remain. Water will be available for fire protection but

for ships to replenish their supply.

“We’re not getting utilities dug in,” Ryan stated. He pointed to the cost of contamination clean-up as a major factor in the decision.

“I do just want to make it clear for the community that none of this is a design change. It’s just a phasing, possible phasing delay…” said Assemblymember Deb Potter.

Scope B is estimated to cost $41,196,876 with an additional expense of $5,288,490 for project management and permit compliance, totaling $46,485,366. There is $45 million remaining in the revenue bond. The vote was unanimous.

“I agree that option B makes the most sense,” said Assemblymember Sam Bass. “It is concerning that we’re only gonna have a 3% contingency on such a large capital project with so many moving parts. And that’s worrisome.”

Commercial Passenger Vessel Excise Tax (CPV) and higher than expected sales tax returns were all discussed as possible ways to offset the increased expense.

The Marine Service Platform (MSP), expected to be paid for by the Yukon government, is not a part of the bid discussed by the assembly. The MSP came in at $7 million higher than anticipated and will have to be re-negotiated.

At the July 20 assembly meeting, the body approved a project management contract with KPFF Consulting Engineers, the same company that designed the redevelopment project.

“...$5,288,490 is a lot of

money,” said Assemblymember Hanson. For this to be done in this tight window with all the moving parts, the tight environmental compliance permitting … We have to pull this off. This is absolutely imperative.”

Construction on the project will commence in October with long, cold, seven-day work weeks which will include an on-call attorney and a marine mammal watch vessel. If all goes well, a new Ore Dock will be ready to welcome cruise passengers in Spring 2024.

Community members Tim Cochran and John Tronrud spoke at citizens present during the special meeting, advocating for completing the redevelopment project in phases.

Cochran noted the port spent $11 million last year and $12 million so far this year.

“We really have to watch our spending and have some serious oversight,” he said.

Visual from Skagway.org.

Photo by Jaime Bricker

By Melinda Munson

Last month at Mollie Walsh Park, I assaulted a four-yearold. It was with the best of intentions. I was at the swings with my 19-year-old, who is non-verbal and blind. There isn’t much in life he enjoys: oatmeal, live music and soaring on the swings. When he sits on the plastic seat and starts pumping, legs flying higher than any other child, too high for my maternal instincts, I squash down my discomfort and allow him to enjoy the freedom. He doesn’t participate in soccer or go to prom, for him this is the pinnacle of existence.

July 11

Just keep swinging

I intentionally place him on an end swing and stand guard to make sure no little ones step in front of him. Without eyeballs, he won’t see them in time to stop, not that physics would allow cessation at that speed.

Somehow that day one little girl stepped too close. Panicked that she was about to lose her brains, I grabbed her arm and jerked her out of harm’s way.

“I’m sorry, honey,” I explained. “You were about to get kicked in the head.”

She immediately ran to her father at the other end of the park and reported my misdeed. Unable to leave my son who was still swinging enthusiastically, I asked a nearby local mother to talk to the dad and explain what had happened.

He never approached me so he must have accepted the incident report. The little girl did not. She continued to point at me and speak heat-

-A blue Android phone was turned into dispatch.

-Police personnel responded to a report of a loose dog barking at bicyclists on Dyea Road. Officers were unable to locate.

-Police helped reunite a lost cat with its owner.

-A backpack full of camping supplies was found at Lower Reid Lake and turned into dispatch.

-Officers informed a group of people with open alcohol at Pullen Pond that this was not legal.

July 12

-Fire personnel assisted with two separate scheduled medevacs.

-Police advised an individual selling artwork on municipal property that they were not allowed to do so.

-Fire personnel responded to a medical emergency.

July 13

-Fire personnel responded to a medical emergency.

-Police performed a welfare check.

July 14

-Police personnel responded to a report of a stolen rental vehicle. It turned out to be a customer misunderstanding.

-Dispatch received a report of a lost credit card.

-A lost bag including a phone was turned in to police and reunited with its owner.

-Black iPhone turned in.

-Fire personnel investigated smoldering logs left at Yakutania Point.

July 15

-Fire personnel responded to an EWS Fire Alarm at a downtown business.

-Dispatch assisted a citizen in contacting the on

edly. I ran into that family several times that morning. Each time the girl narrowed her eyes, waved her arms at me and said something to express her displeasure.

Normally, I’m the person helping visitors have a wonderful experience in Skagway: greeting them at the dock with the newsies, giving directions, recommending where to eat lunch. I imagined this family might leave a Yahoo review praising Skagway except for the crazy lady at the park who abuses small children.

The episode made me question the appropriateness of having my son on the swings. While he needs help toileting and showering like a toddler, I shave his face every other day. On the rare occasion he stands up straight, I think he’s taller than me. Being the mom of a child/ adult with special needs means always wondering when they’ve reached the

duty clinic provider.

point of giving something up. Is this the year my daughter stops trick or treating? Is it okay to keep participating in the Easter egg hunt when you’re in your 20s? I live in a strange reality where I’m teaching my dependent adult children to pay rent and at the same time emphasizing that Harry Potter is just pretend. It’s hard asking grown up children to relinquish childhood pursuits when they don’t fully comprehend

The 2023 Skaguay Alaskan Vistors Guide

It’s Free Pick it up around town and on the SMART Bus

-Fire personnel responded to a report of a fire at Hidden Cove.

-Dispatch received a report of four lost hikers. They were later located on their cruise ship.

July 16

-Fire personnel assisted with a scheduled medevac.

-A temporary burn ban put into effect.

-A lost wallet was reunited with its owner.

-Dispatch contacted the on duty provider.

-Fire personnel responded to a medical emergency.

-Fire personnel assisted with a scheduled medevac.

July 17

-Police responded to an automated call reporting a vehicle accident. Officers made contact with the phone owner who advised there was no accident, he had dropped his phone.

-Previously reported black iPhone reunited with owner.

-Police assisted with a vehicle lockout.

-Fire personnel responded to a medical emergency.

July 18

-The temporary burn ban was lifted.

-Fire personnel responded to a medical emergency.

-Dispatch received a report of a non-injury traffic collision.

-Hamilton Construction blasting at rock quarry on Klondike Highway.

July 19

-A lost purse was reunited with its owner.

July 20

-A bear was spotted near Yakutania Point.

the world around them.

We decided to organize our own egg hunt next year with beeping eggs and blindfolds for sighted participants. Halloween will be a Harry Potter marathon with a bowl full of chocolate.

I don’t think we’ll ever give up the swings. I’ll continue to stand watch to protect your kids, but my son deserves this one sliver of the park, no matter how old he is.

-A lost iPhone was reunited with its owner.

-Fire personnel assisted with a scheduled medevac.

-Police advised a busker of the correct location and required permits.

-Dispatch received a report of an aggressive dog barking at passersby – owners were located.

July 21

-Fire personnel assisted with a scheduled medevac.

-Police advised a group that having opened alcohol containers downtown was not allowed.

-Fire personnel responded to a medical emergency.

July 22

-Police responded to multiple reports of possible gunshots. They turned out to be fireworks.

-Black bear spotted near the start of Dyea Road multiple times.

-A counterfeit $20 bill was found downtown.

-Dispatch contacted the on duty provider twice.

July 23

-Dispatch contacted the on duty provider twice.

-Police responded to a report of an intoxicated individual in public.

July 24

-A black bear spotted on Dyea Road, later in Seven Pastures and later near Pioneer Cemetery. -Two lost credit cards were reunited with their owners.

-Police assisted with two separate vehicle lockouts.

-A lost iPhone was reunited with its owner. -Dispatch contacted the on duty provider.

-Fire personnel assisted with two scheduled medevacs.

Washington State Ferries system suffers same problems as Alaska

By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel

The Washington State Ferries system still has not returned to its full pre-pandemic schedule, coming up short due to fewer riders, an inability to recruit, hire and train onboard crew, high rates of retirements and resignations, and a “lack of vessels due to unanticipated breakdowns and an aging fleet.”

Some sailings have been canceled for lack of crew, and a few routes are running at reduced service.

It sounds a lot like the Alaska Marine Highway System.

The Washington state system, which has been around since 1951, 12 years older than Alaska’s ferry service, has 21 operable ships, down from 24 just four years ago, said John Vezina, director of planning, customer and government relations.

It’s similar to Alaska, which has sold or scrapped four of its vessels in the past five years.

Washington needs a minimum of 19 vessels to maintain a full summer schedule in Puget Sound, Vezina said. But it’s challenging. There are not enough drydocks in the area to work on all the ferries in the winter, so some ships get pulled from service during the summer.

And, like Alaska which operates two ships more than 40 years old, some of Washington’s vessels date back to the 1960s and 1970s. “We have to spend money to keep those going,” said Vezina, a former Alaskan who is well familiar with the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Washington went a decade without building any new ships, 2000-2010. It was a self-inflicted wound. “Washington does a lot by (voter) referendum,” Vezina explained. A 1999 anti-tax ballot initiative abolished the state fee for vehicle tags — the revenues had gone to the ferries. “We lost all our dedicated funding,” Vezina said.

The ballot initiative was later declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court, but lawmakers responded by repealing the tax anyway.

Motor fuel taxes help fund the Washington Department

of Transportation, but as people drive less, drive more fuel-efficient vehicles or drive electric vehicles, motor fuel sales — and tax revenues — are in decline, according to state reports. That’s even with a tax of 49.4 cents a gallon, the third highest in the nation. The state tax rate in Alaska is eight cents a gallon, unchanged in 53 years.

It wasn’t until 2018 that Washington launched a new ferry, and the next new ship will not join the fleet until 2027, at the earliest, Vezina said.

Another similarity between the two states’ ferry systems is wanting to keep ship construction jobs at home. Alaska has in the past forsaken the competitive bidding required to use federal dollars, giving all its work to the shipyard in Ketchikan. Washington did much the same. “We have a build-in-Washington law,” Vezina said, which precludes opening the work to out-ofstate yards at the cost of lost federal funding.

The Washington Legislature has relented a bit and given some flexibility to the ferries to send work out of state, he said.

The two ferry systems are substantially different in their job, crew numbers and distances covered. Whereas Alaska’s routes can last days, with staterooms for passengers, all of Washington’s ferries run short trips around Puget Sound, all under an hour.

Washington’s onboard crew totals about 1,700, roughly four times the size of Alaska, but the two share in common a shortage of workers in most every job category on the ships.

Salaries are not that far apart. The starting wage for a first-year ordinary seaman, a deck worker aboard the vessels, is $25.66 an hour in Washington versus $28.42 for the Alaska Marine Highway, effective July 1 under their respective union contracts.

Washington workers, however, are due for a substantial raise under their contract effective July 1, 2024, to $27.20 an hour, narrowing the pay gap with Alaska, where an ordinary seaman will go to $29.24 under their

contract next year.

The two systems share in common a decline in ridership, even as travel picks up post-pandemic. As of July 9, Washington’s passenger loads were still down about 25% from their 2019 peak. Ridership ranged between 22 million and 25 million a year between 2002-2019.

In Alaska, however, ridership on the Southeast ferries plummeted from 372,000 passengers in 1992 to 152,000 in pre-pandemic 2019, and still have not recovered anywhere close to that level.

The inability to fully staff the ships is part of the reason for reduced service. Alaska lost almost two ferry crew members to retirement and resignation for

every new hire 2020 through 2022, according to the state Department of Transportation. Washington did better, though it added only a net gain of 61 new hires last year after accounting for crew who left the job.

Vezina, who has been with the Washington State Ferries for about seven years, said management has been telling legislators for years “we have a silver tsunami coming,” as older workers retire.

Half of the system’s senior

officers will be retiring within the next five years, he said.

To fight the tide, Washington pays for new-hire training for U.S. Coast Guard certification and goes into middle schools and high schools to talk up maritime jobs, Vezina said.

“There is a lack of respect for the trades,” he said of the reluctance of some jobseekers to work for the ferries. “There is a general lack of emphasis on our maritime careers.”

Ø Shall the Municipality of Skagway increase the property tax exemption level from $250,000 to $350,000.00 for primary residences within the Municipality of Skagway Borough for residents who are “65 years of age or older,” “disabled veterans,” or “widows or widowers of persons who qualified for an exemption”?

For ! "

Against ! "

Ø Two (2) Assembly Seats – for three (3) year terms each, to expire October 2026;

Ø One (1) Borough Mayor Seat – for two (2) year term, to expire 2025;

Ø Three (3) School Board Seats

two (2) for a three (3) year terms, to expire October 2026 One (1) for a one (1) year term, to expire October 2024.

: Any person qualified to vote in borough elections may have their name placed on the ballot for election as a candidate for any borough elective office. No person may serve simultaneously as mayor and assembly member. F

: Interested persons wishing to file for an elected office may file

with the Borough Clerk between

must be on file in the Borough Clerk’s Office or attached to the Declaration of Candidacy to be considered complete.

: The polls will open at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, and will close at 8:00 p.m. on the same day.

: The deadline to register to vote in the October 3, 2023, Regular Municipal Election is Sunday, September 3, 2023 V

: A person may vote in a municipal election only if the person:

1. is qualified to vote in state elections under AS 15.05.010;

2. has been a resident of the municipality for 30 days immediately preceding the election;

3. has registered before the election as required under AS 15.07 and is not registered to vote in another jurisdiction

G : Voters who will be out of town for the Regular Municipal Election on October 3, 2023, are able to vote absentee in person at the Borough Offices beginning Monday, September 18, 2023, and ending Monday, October 2, 2023, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To allow sufficient time for mailing, absentee ballots by mail should be requested by Friday, September 22, 2023

For more information visit www.skagway.org and click on “Government” then “Elections,” or contact the Borough Clerk at s.burnham@skagway.org or 907-983-9706.

An Alaska Marine Highway ferry and a Washington State ferry.

Photos from Adobe Stock

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CLASSIFIEDS

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.

JOBS

AP&T has a full time CSR (customer service representative) position open at our Skagway location. Starting wage is $22.00 with a generous benefits package. Hours are Monday-Friday 7:00-

BROADWAY BULLETIN BOARD

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

JOBS

Starting wage is $27.32 with step increases per 1000 hours and a generous benefits package. For more information on this position please see the full listing at:

Careers - AP&T (aptalaska.com)

Skagway Child Care Council is happy to announce they will be opening the Little Dippers Learning Center February 21st. The Center still needs full time teachers for the summer, Housing is available. Little Dippers is a non profit learning center dedicated to serving children and families. For more information on how to apply please visit www. skagwaylittledippers.com “

REAL ESTATE

Lot For Sale by Owner Lot 9 Block 74, $115,000. Call or text 907.723.2030

Library Hours:

Mon. - Thurs. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Fri. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Weekends 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Call 983-2665 or email library@skagway.org

Dahl Clinic Winter Hours:

Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sat. and Sun. 907-983-2255

For after-hours emergencies, dial 911.

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 M-F

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 11 a.m.

Sunday School 9:45 a.m.

Women’s Prayer 10 a.m Tues. Bible Study time varies. Please inquire. Online access available to all events.

To

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)

FY23 NOTICE TO TAXPAYER (AS 29.45.020)

For the current fiscal year the Municipality of Skagway has been allocated the following amount of state aid for school and municipal purposes under the applicable financial assistance Acts:

PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION PROGRAM ASSISTANCE (AS 14.17)

STATE AID FOR RETIREMENT OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION DEBT (AS 14.11.100) $0

COMMUNITY REVENUE SHARING PROGRAM (AS 29.60.850‐29.60.879)

TOTAL AID $1,801,071

The millage equivalent of this state aid, based on the dollar value of a mill in the municipality during the current assessment year and for the preceding assessment year, is:

MILLAGE EQUIVALENT

LAST YEARTHIS YEAR

907-983-2232

THE FUNNIES

907-983-2259

PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION

PROGRAM ASSISTANCE

STATE AID FOR RETIREMENT OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION DEBT

COMMUNITY REVENUE

SHARING PROGRAM

TOTAL MILLAGE EQUIVALENT

3.09MILLS3.52MILLS

0.00MILLS0.00MILLS

0.73MILLS0.83MILLS

3.82 MILLS 4.35 MILLS

reach the Dahl on-duty provider, contact police dispatch at

By Andrew Cremata

The hit was unmistakable. My fishing buddy’s rod bent hard. His fishing lure was near the surface, so I stood up and peered out over the calm clear water, hoping to glimpse whatever inhaled the seven-inch-long diving plug. Thirty feet away, I saw a massive lake trout twisting and turning only inches from the surface, attempting to figure out the nature of its predicament.

Even though we were only a stone’s throw from shore, windless weather made it possible for me to cut the engine without worrying about drifting into the beach. The substantial weight of the fish immediately began pulling the boat.

“You’ve got a monster,” I said.

My focus quickly turned toward reeling in my lure to prevent it from becoming twisted in my buddy’s line. There was no sound other than rods clacking and reel gears turning.

While reeling in my lure, my mind registered the sound of splashing water. Fully focused on the steps necessary for landing the trophy trout tethered to the end of my buddy’s fishing line, my brain decided the splashing sound was a waterfall. Waterfalls don’t suddenly appear out of nowhere, I thought to myself.

My head instinctively lifted toward the sound of the splashing water.

At first, I thought I saw a moose because it was big, brown, and running at top speed in shallow water only 100 feet away. Then my eyes fully focused, but it was hard to believe what they were telling me.

“Holy mackerel! It’s a giant grizzly bear!”

The fierce bruin ran at full speed in shallow water for reasons that are entirely unexplainable to anyone other than the bear. Whether it was chasing invisible prey, simply enjoying a rare hot windless day, or angry at the two Alaskans catch-

Cutting bait

ing Canadian fish was unclear.

I shouted at my buddy, “Are you seeing this?”

“Ummm, I’m kind of busy at the moment.”

I’d almost forgotten. The bizarre sight of the speedy brown bear made me lose focus on the task at hand. By the time I glanced back down toward the fish, it was quickly approaching the boat. I grabbed the net but the trout was already well on its way to the bottom of the lake, nearly 100 feet below. My buddy held on for dear life as 25-pound monofilament line peeled from his reel in long bursts.

A few minutes later, I scooped up the thirtyplus-pound trout into the net. It was too big to keep which wasn’t a big deal because we already had two healthy lakers sitting on ice in the cooler.

After a smooth release, we fished for another hour without a bite. It was already past noon, but the wind remained calm, an unusual occurrence in the Yukon. We reeled in our gear and headed south toward a spot that looked promising on the map - a large river outflow with a steep underwater dropoff.

Normally, I’d carefully consider making a forty-minute afternoon southerly run on an exposed Yukon lake but the surface was so calm, it created a perfect reflection of the landscape.

Forty-five minutes later, we were trolling along the steep ledge within sight of the river mouth. My electronic sonar marked dozens of fish from the top to the bottom of the water column. Optimistic it wouldn’t take long to get a bite, I held onto my fishing rod rather than place it in the holder.

My optimism faded after glancing over my shoulder toward the southern horizon. As dark clouds rolled over the mountain peaks, whitecaps began to form, quickly advancing toward my fourteen-foot skiff.

Every fishing adventure eventually leads to a

question - when is it time to call it quits?

It’s not always easy to end a great day on the water, especially when the fish are biting and there’s still room in the cooler.

Still, there are plenty of reasons to cut bait and hang the rods in their holders and a gathering storm is arguably the number-one reason.

Without hesitating, I looked at my buddy and said, “Reel ‘em up. It’s time to go.”

The lake was already getting choppy but we managed to stay out in front of the worst weather. By the time we reached the dock about forty minutes later, the dark ominous clouds were nearly overhead. After pulling the boat onto the trailer and packing up the gear, we hopped into my vehicle just before the wind cranked up to thirty miles per hour and the clouds unleashed a deluge that would have caused Noah to raise an eyebrow.

While I could have fished until sundown on this particular day, there have been days when I’ve packed it in for no other reason than it felt like the right time. The reality of any endeavor is that there will always be successes and failures. Some goals will be completed while others are left unmet.

The lure of unfinished business is a bad reason to keep fishing, especially when the dark clouds of instinct swiftly gather on the horizon.

Later that afternoon, I was back home in Skagway. After filleting the fish, I took a walk with my wife and dogs and enjoyed some local warmth and sunshine while dark Yukon storm clouds drifted on unseen trajectories far to the north.

Sometimes, preserving the perfect day requires knowing when to end it.

Fish this!

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

Photo by Andrew Cremata

Dark clouds appearing on a perfect day.