The Skagway News Sept. 13, 2024 by publisher-skagwaynews

THE SKAGWAY NEWS.

September 13, 2024 (second edition)

Highway bus accident leaves some injured, most walk away

By Gretchen Wehmhoff

A tour bus out of Skagway left the road Sept. 6 just past the Yukon Suspension Bridge near km 52/mile 34 on the South Klondike Highway around 3:30 p.m.Yukon time.

Twenty-five passengers, including the driver, were on board when the bus veered off the pavement, stopping about 20 feet as it hit uneven ground where the bus tipped onto the driver’s side.

The bus, owned by Chilkoot Charters, was carrying cruise ship tourists when driver experienced a medical event causing him to lose control of the vehicle.

According to owner Stacy Gould, a medical doctor and an EMS trained passenger were on board and immediately started to triage and assist the injured.

Passengers were able to exit the bus on their own.

Gould said two Holland America Princess (HAP) buses stopped to assist with additional medical personnel from their tours. HAP operators radioed in the accident then provided warm shelter for the passengers.

Another Chilkoot bus stopped as well as folks headed to Skagway for the start of the annual Klondike Road Relay - several of them off duty EMS personnel.

Fire and rescue teams from Carcross and Skagway responded to the accident.

Twenty of the passengers were transported back to Skagway with the help of HAP and were able to make it onto their ship.

The driver and four others

(see page 12-Klondike)

Skagway School tops the academic bar again

Scores in English language arts, math and science are unmatched

By Gretchen Wehmhoff

Eleven years ago, Skagway Superintendent Josh Coughran hung a banner in the main entrance of the school. “Welcome to Skagway School, home of the highest achieving students in the State of Alaska.”

Now, over a decade later, Coughran reports that once again, the school topped testing scores in the state in the three main categories of ELA (English language

arts), math and science.They haven’t missed a year.

The recent scores are from The Alaska STAR test for English language arts (ELA) and math, administered by Northwest Education Association, and the Alaska Science Assessment for grades 5, 8, and 10, managed by Data Recognition Corporation.

Skagway School’s current enrollment is 139 students. With 12 full-time teachers,

the student-teacher ratio is about 11:1.

Coughran has been asked by legislators and scholars as to why Skagway School is consistently successful.

‘We have very little teacher turnover. We have several teachers with over twenty years of experience here and another group with about fifteen years of experience. That kind of stability is so valuable — especially at

(see page 3-School)

Bear family demise, nuisance fines tripled

By Gretchen Wehmhoff

The Skagway Assembly, at their Sept. 5 meeting, approved increasing the fee for creating bear attractants from $100 to $300 per citation.

The Skagway Police Department has responded to numerous calls regarding bear activity since early July. While other bears have been reported in the area, the primary focus has been on a brown bear sow and her two older cubs.

The bears took a break for a short spell, but in the end of August they returned to Skagway, disturbing trash, dumpsters and vehicles through Liarsville, along the Klondike Highway and eventually along Dyea road, where, on Aug. 28, an SPD officer shot the sow and one cub as they continued to show aggression.

“We didn’t want to do what we had to do any more than anybody wanted us to shoot. But it was getting dangerous, and I’m hopeful that nothing bad happens with the outstanding cub and its interaction with the public,” Police Chief JJ Reddick said.

“In the event that the second cub is not found, it is old enough to survive on its own. They are second year cubs. According to everybody that I’ve talked to, the biologist, the wildlife tripper, since they were second year cubs, they were probably on the verge of being pushed off by the mom anyway,” Reddick said.

A black bear has also been seen in the area

“We’ve not had any dealings with the black bear, but we are seeing the other cub

(see page 12-Bear family)

Lucy Mae Miles dances with her instructor, Talie Patalano, at the Skagway School of Dance. Patalino teaches children ballet and jazz at her studio.

Photo provided by Talie Patalano

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.

ADVERTISING & NEWS COPY DEADLINES

Next issue will be published SEPT. 27, 2024

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All news copy, letters and calendar events by Sept. 20, 2024

Vol. XLVII, No 16 (978) September 13, 2024

Published online the second and fourth Friday of the month

Phone: (907) 983-2354

www.skagwaynews.com

editor@skagwaynews.com sales@skagwaynews.com

Publisher Gretchen Wehmhoff

Contributors & Volunteers Alaska Beacon

Jeff Brady

Jaime Bricker Andrew Cremata Nat Herz

Jonathon Hillis

Katherine Moseley Kerri Raia

Christine Rogers

Joe Stoltze

Denise Welch

Editor Emeritus

William J. “Jeff” Brady

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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.

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September 13, 2024

Skagway Police Chief JJ Reddick recognizes SPD Officer James Michaels at the Aug.1 assembly meeting for his extensive and de

termined work in locating a suspect in the fentynal deaths of two Skagway residents. “His diligence in this case has been a huge asset to our community,” Reddick said. Michaels coordinated with multiple state, national and Southeast agencies that led to Michaels and Reddick arresting Jacob Cotton (32) at the Juneau International Airport as he arrived on a flight from Anchorage after a tip from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA.)

Champions of the Sitka Mudbowl

Chicos, comprised of mostly Skagway residents, win the Sitka Mudball tournament over Labor Day weekend. They beat SimCo of Ketchikan Sunday night 11-6 to take the title.The team went undefeated in the men’s upper division.

This second edition of Sept. 13 Skagway News includes the candidate responses from all four assembly candidates:Jay Burnham, Jon Hillis, William Lockette,II and Deb Potter. It also has more complete photo credits.

Corrections

A technical error altered the first paragraph of “RV permits, Garden City conceptual plans top assembly action” in the Aug. 23 issue. While the error was corrected in the digital and pdf versions of The Skagway News, it was discovered after the print deadline. The correct first two paragraphs should have read:

“The assembly adopted another resolution regulating the placement of recreational vehicles as housing on properties. The resolution, 24-22R, replaces previous versions of the RV habitation resolution.

The resolution goes into effect immediately for new permits, with current RV habitation permits not impacted until property owners or users apply for a new 2025 permit.”

The Skagway News regrets the error.

Photo provided by Chicos

Photo by Joe Stoltze

Lucy Raia takes the controls of a SVFD fire truck at the kite festival on Aug. 10.

Photo by Kerri Raia

School success is credited to staff, community, funding

the elementary level. Our teachers know our curricula because they wrote it; they know the students; and they know students’ families,” Coughran shared He believes parent support of the school and testing is a major plus.

“Other superintendents tell me they have far less parent support for state testing,” he said.

The Skagway participation rate for the school was 100% for the ELA/math testing.

Coughran says the community is extremely supportive of the school, its curricula and staff.

“We have some of the best teachers in the state of Alaska, honestly, I would put them up against any teacher workforce in the country. Our teachers do a phenome-

nal job. They are dedicated, student centered, and data driven.”

Coughran sees the future of education in Alaska depending on stable funding that districts can count on.

“What we need is a genuine commitment to education at the state level that provides forward funding not in peril of political gamesmanship.”

Coughran, in 2018 about the future of school success to a legislative survey.

‘On a larger level, one thing I see other states doing that would mean a great deal to every student is the idea of free college. I think we would be wise to put parameters on this and require some of the same type of components that the Alaska Performance Scholarship has in place, although much

less stringent. I think this would be a game changer for Alaska, we would be able to ensure that a high school ed-

ucation translates to opportunity, our workforce would grow, and our young adults would get to experience the post secondary environment unencumbered by financial concerns.

Christine Rogers caught this fireweed plant in full bloom this fall and shared it with The Skagway News.

In internet-less Sitka,

it’s both ‘mayhem’ and a ‘golden moment’

Some surgeries are on hold. Businesses have gone cash-only. Starlink units are a precious commodity. But more people are talking, sharing stories and “doing what they used to do without the internet.”

By Nat Herz Northern Journal

In the Southeast Alaska town of Sitka, some hospital surgeries are on hold.

Many shops and restaurants are operating on a cash-only basis. Contact with the outside world comes mostly through satellites.

For the past week, a break in the sole cable that provides Sitka’s internet and phone service has wreaked havoc on residents and businesses — and, at the same time, effectively launched a massive social and economic experiment: What happens for 8,000 people who have deeply integrated the internet into their lives, when the switch gets flipped off?

On the one hand: It’s an enormous pain.

“It’s mayhem,” said Rebecca Himschoot, the independent lawmaker who represents Sitka in the Alaska House. “It’s just been shocking how dependent we are on the internet and how hard it is to do daily functions without it.”

On the other hand: It’s a blissful reprieve from modernity.

“All over town, you see people walking around more, going to people’s homes, hanging out and talking,” said Jessica Ieremia, the director of Sitka’s library, which has a satellite unit that’s made it a hub for residents seeking internet. “We’ve been hearing that constantly from people, how nice it is. They’re like, ‘If I could just figure out the finances part.’”

The Great Sitka Outage of 2024 began late in the last week of August, when telecommunications firm GCI detected a break in the sole fiber optic cable connecting the town, on the outer coast of Baranof Island, to the outside world. Cell service, texting and internet all went down.

Since then, GCI says it has restored a bare minimum of voice and texting capacity using microwave and satellite services. But residents say service remains sporadic and dysfunctional. Rumors have proliferated

about the cause of the break, which, according to GCI, was somewhere between Sitka and Angoon, an Indigenous village to the northeast, toward Juneau.

But details won’t be available until, at the earliest, a ship hired by the company has arrived and begun repairs. The work could take up to six days, said Jenifer Nelson, a GCI spokeswoman.

She added, chuckling, that company officials have not considered the possibility that Elon Musk was responsible for the break.

Nonetheless, the tech mogul’s satellite internet company, Starlink, appears to be a prime beneficiary. Starlink’s sleek satellite receivers have been proliferating in Sitka over the past week.

A Juneau-based regional tribal government, the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida, sent about 15 Starlink units to Sitka the day after the outage, the Sitka Sentinel newspaper reported.

They were distributed to hospitals, schools, city government and rescue services, the council said in a statement. Others went to the local public radio station, KCAW, and to the Sentinel. Those weren’t the only Starlink units to land in Sitka after the break.

While some businesses and residents already had Starlink before the outage, others went to great lengths to acquire them afterward. With no systems available

to purchase in Sitka, Keith Grenier hopped on a jet to Seattle. He and his business partner at a mechanical contracting business bought eight Starlink units there before flying home and “handing them out to all of the people who were behind.”

Even getting on the plane in Sitka, however, was challenging. Grenier said he drove out to a remote part of town where his phone could receive data, pulled up his boarding pass on the Alaska Airlines app and took a screenshot that he could use to get past security.

“It was, like, three hours of trying to navigate this stuff just to leave the island,” he said. “There were rumors about having to have a paper boarding pass.”

Grenier’s home, and driveway, are now hotspots for friends and family in need of cell and internet service.

Other residents are holding out as conscientious Starlink objectors, refusing to send money to a company owned by Musk — a billionaire who’s increasingly aligned his politics with Donald Trump’s.

For those without access to Starlink units, however, keeping up normal business can be a huge hassle.

Numerous companies are accepting only cash, while others collect customers’ credit card information, then bring their payment processing devices to Starlink hotspots every hour or day to run the transactions. Him-

they “don’t have access to their technology.” It’s providing free admission one day this weekend to Sitka’s athletic and wellness center, as well as to a dance performance the weekend after.

The library, meanwhile, has become the local watering hole, attracting scores of visitors with its free, Starlink-based internet.

“People are hanging around our building 24 hours a day,” said Ieremia, the director. “They’re parking out on the street; the parking lot is full.”

schoot said she heard from a business owner who had one of those purchases declined.

“It’s one bagel sandwich,” she said. “But that’s a real hit when your margin’s really slim.”

There are long lines for cash at the bank, Himschoot added. She’s also worried about constituents who may miss deadlines to apply for or renew state benefits and services. And, she added: How do elders connect to the van service to get to health care?

Certain elective procedures at Sitka’s hospital, run by the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, are also still on hold, especially for “patients with complex medical needs that require telemedicine support,” according to a consortium spokesman.

It’s important for people outside Sitka to know “that this is a really, really big deal,” Himschoot said. “It has been really hard on the community.”

Nelson, from GCI, said the company understands the outage is “super, super frustrating.”

“We really do appreciate the community’s and our customers’ patience as we are working to fully restore this as quickly as we can,” she said.

GCI is providing its customers with a free month of service, she said. The company is also offering people what Nelson called “alternative entertainment,” since

Between last Thursday and Sunday, nearly 900 people updated their library cards, she added, and DVDs and books have been flying off shelves.

“People were hustling all over town to find a DVD player,” Ieremia said.

While the communications blackout has been “devastating” for residents who work from home, she said, it’s also brought people together, with the library full of visitors “talking and sharing stories and giving advice.”

“For three minutes of texting, you end up with an hour of conversation with people you haven’t seen for a while — they’re all there,” Himschoot said. “People are just spending a lot more time doing what we used to do without the internet.”

The outage has gotten Sitkans thinking — about tighter cell phone restrictions in school, even about whether there could be one day a week of community wide internet disconnection or abstention. That kind of idea might be a political nonstarter, Himschoot said, but for now, she added: “It’s kind of a golden moment, in some ways.”

Read local coverage of the outage at the Sitka Sentinel and KCAW.

Nathaniel Herz welcomes tips at natherz@gmail.com or (907) 793-0312. This article was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter from Herz. Subscribe at this link.

Kari Cravens, of Ashmo’s food truck in Sitka, takes cash from Jacil Lee, a cruise ship passenger stopping in town last week. Many business owners in Sitka are unable to accept credit and debit cards amid an outage in most phone and internet communications. (Sitka Sentinel, republished with permission)

Paw Prints

By Katherine Moseley

Soon the Skagway valley will be blanketed with vibrant fall foliage. After a busy summer season, the arrival of fall is a time that I celebrate.

Here are a few Fall tips for you and your pets:

1. As we start to lose daylight, a reminder that reflective tape, head lamps and light up gear is vital for safety for you and your pets. Make sure your light up gear has a fresh charge and or new batteries. To receive free reflective tape, go to this website and fill out the form: https://safealaskans. org/reflectivetape/

2. The weather fluctuations can exacerbate joint pain in pets with osteoarthritis. It is never too soon to start your pets on joint supplements. If your pet is experiencing pain or discomfort, please contact your veterinarian to find out about pain management options.

3. If your dog likes rolling in decomposing salmon, aka dog perfume, try this recipe to help combat the stench:

1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap (Dawn is what we use), and a little lemon juice for deodorizing. Leave the mixture on for about 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. You can follow up with regular shampoo if needed. Always do a spot test to make sure it doesn’t irritate their skin or discolor the coat.

4. Be bear aware. Bears are especially active in the fall as they try to increase their caloric intake to prepare for winter. Secure your trash. Make noise when hiking. You can put a bear bell on your dog to alert wildlife of your presence and to help keep track of your dogs. Dogs that are noise sensitive may not do well with a bear bell so take this into consideration before using one.

5. I am all for off-leash freedom for dogs but the best way to avoid fish rolling or porcupine encounters is to leash up. Fall can be a good time to practice your leash skills and keep your dog’s safe. If your dog gets

quilled from a porcupine, I recommend taking them to a veterinarian so they can be properly sedated. It is more humane and the best way to make sure you don’t miss any quills. If weather or other reasons prevent you from taking your dog to a veterinarian, you can use needle nose pliers and grab each quill as close to the skin as possible and swiftly pull them straight out. Do not cut the quill tips, this is outdated info and can cause the quills to splinter. As the summer season comes to an end, I hope you get to spend more time outside with your pets enjoying the magic and quiet that Fall brings us. Stay safe, happy, and healthy.

Laundromat fire starts with towels left unattended

By Gretchen Wehmhoff

A load of towels left in a dryer at the Garden City laundrmat started a smokyfire that filled the building with acrid smoke.

Skagway Volunteer Fire Deptartment respsponded to toxic air, smoke and eventually flames in the dryer. The laundromat was closed the rest of the evening for evaluation and investigation. It was not apparent that other machines were damaged.

Jauna Doland and this editor were in the office of the building. Doland was working her shift as the host, the editor was finishing up this paper.

Smoke was strong and we called 911. Watch The Skagway News Facebook page for updates.

Photo by Crystal Harris

Skeeter and Ivy take Katherine on an early fall walk with safety reflectors for the darker mornings.

Local candidate responses

The Skagway News will publish election information each issue as we near the Oct. 1 municipal and the Nov. 5 general election. In both the state senate and house races for Skagway, the incumbants are running unopposed. Both candidates completed the questionaire provide to the by the Alaska Beacon. Their answers will be published here.

The state primary election is scheduled for August 20 where the top four vote getters in each race will advance to the general election.

Skagway Assembly

Jay Burnham Assembly

1. Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for this term?

I was born in Skagway in 1966. I grew up here and after I graduated from Skagway Public School, in the top 10 (there where 7 of us), I joined the military and spent four years in the army. After the military I worked at the Hardware store for a few months and then I drove my motorcycle down to Los Angeles and worked for the movie industry in Hollywood for a year, obviously behind the scenes. Following that I returned home to Skagway, bartended in Moe’s for awhile, then went to work for White Pass in 1993. Aside from a year in Baghdad in 2005 with the Alaska National Guard, I haven’t lived anywhere else. My two boys went to Skagway public school kindergarten through 12th grade, as I did, and now the oldest boy, Benjamin, is away at college and my younger boy, Jeremy is working locally. As far as why I choose to run for office again, it may sound cliché but, to help out and to make a difference. Skagway has started a new chapter with taking over the waterfront, and I hope I can help be a part of steering Skagway in a direction we can all be proud of. It seems the older I get the more important things like that are. I will add this here, I will not be putting up any yard signs or flyers around town to save money for a pool, but if you have any questions for me please feel free to stop me in the street and ask.

2. Now that the MOS is in control of the port and uplands, what is your vision for uplands development? (community question)

Publication schedule for answers to the Alaska Beacon questions and those the SN asks our local candidates.

Aug. 9 - Sentate District B

Aug. 23 - House District 3

Sept.13 - Local candidates for assembly, school board Sept. 27 -U.S. Congressional candidates

I believe the first portion of the uplands to be focused on should be the ore peninsula. As of now the Municipality is working on grants to remove the existing ore terminal building. There is also a designated area for containerized ore shipment staging on the peninsula that would have to be factored in. As far as a vision, I believe we should work on the infrastructure and aesthetics of the area. I believe some more green area would be an improvement. We will of course need to improve access and tour bus routes and staging.

3. Garden City RV Park’s next few years seem to be uncertain. While the goal for utilizing the land for housing is in the future, assembly funding and budget action will determine the timeline. What should be done to maintain the park until its final days. The spaces still have non-working water and sewer hookups, even though the park is considered dry - confusing guests. The flooring in the office is badly torn and needs replacement. The laundromat continues to lose washers and dryers to mechanical problems, electrical outlets in the bathrooms are not working and the shower quarter mechanisms are broken. Should the MOS budget maintenance repairs for the park? How do you see the park’s need for repair as one of the two RV parks, and the only one of the two that can handle larger motorhomes for the next few years. Would you propose a budget for Garden City maintenance?

There should already be a maintenance budget for Garden City. The things that you have mentioned as far as flooring, loss of washers and dryers, electrical outlets, and shower problems sound like basic issues and should be addressed as ongoing maintenance. As far as proposing a budget to upgrade or invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on Garden City infrastructure, I would not be in favor of that. I would be in favor of helping an old existing RV park be renovated or a new one start up.

4. What ideas do you have for exploring options to make Broadway and State Streets safer? One resident mentioned that the number of cars parked on State Street makes it difficult to safely assess oncoming traffic. Broadway has been extra difficult this year to safely navigate. Juneau placed chains along the sidewalk to help give direction to foot traffic. What are your thoughts about these issues with traffic in downtown Skagway? What are some solutions you would consider? (community question)

I believe the municipality has made improvements in the last few years on Broadway. The crosswalks are an improvement I believe made Broadway safer. There are other ideas which may improve safety. Narrowing the roadway and increasing the width of the boardwalks. An extra foot or two of boardwalk would help and I don’t think it would dramatically impact the driving lanes or parking. The amount of visitors on Broadway is another factor. At a recent assembly

meeting under discussion items was tourism capacity. It seemed everyone on the assembly was in favor of some sort of adjustment. That is certain to be another factor being looked at by the assembly in the near term.

Jonathon Hillis Assembly

Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for this term?

I am running for assembly because I feel Skagway needs some of the next generation to step up and volunteer our time. Skagway is making decisions that are larger on scale than anything in its history in complexity and scope, these are decisions that will shape how our future looks. As a business owner and homeowner in Skagway I feel I have a responsibility to help lend my perspective and help make these decisions.

2. Now that the MOS is in control of the port and uplands, what is your vision for uplands development? (community question) I do not have a grand vision of the uplands development, however, I do think there is a lot of potential there to be a second shopping district outside the Historic District. A common area with shopping opportunities, some entertainment (busking) and a small green space to sit down is what I would like to see.

13, 2024

Candidate questions continued from page 6

and needs replacement. The laundromat continues to lose washers and dryers to mechanical problems, electrical outlets in the bathrooms are not working and the shower quarter mechanisms are broken. Should the MOS budget maintenance repairs for the park? How do you see the park’s need for repair as one of the two RV parks, and the only one of the two that can handle larger motorhomes for the next few years. Would you propose a budget for Garden City maintenance?

I ran both of the RV Parks for 2024, many of these questions are topics I have discussed many times with city crews. While I put together a wish list for Garden City RV Park that included the suggestions to cut off the water spigots and sewer dumps underground, pull tree stumps, and replace broken machines in the laundromat the truth is that our city maintenance team has a lot on their plates and the future of Garden City seems to be pointing towards it being closed. I would prioritize Pullen Creek RV Park on the maintenance crews schedule and in budgeting as well as ironing out a plan to get a new park started outside of town. I have a very hard time committing tax dollars to something that has not had a plan in 10+ years and still does not have any plan for the future.

fic. What are your thoughts about these issues with traffic in downtown Skagway? What are some solutions you would consider? (community question)

I understand the concern many have for the traffic levels on our streets. I know for myself I would hate to see anything as visually impacting as chains on our beautiful boardwalks. I know our police department is over tasked in the summer and rules that would make Broadway much safer that are in place are simply not always enforced due to lack of time and manpower. Things like parking past the yellow curbs and blocking sight lines, driving erratically, bikes riding against traffic and of course tourists oblivious to traffic. I would love to see more Skagway Ambassador type roles on Broadway encouraging tourists to stay on the boardwalk and keep lines out of the roads. I would like to see our police department with enough manpower to patrol Broadway more and issue citations for bad behaviour. In summary I do not believe we need chains or a major change in the way we do business, I think enforcing the rules we have and working to guide tourists with personal direction will be far more effective than any other alternatives.

(see page 8 Candidates)

Municipality of Skagway Election Oct. 1, 2024

Assembly candidates - two open seats

Jay L. Burnham

Jonathan Hillis

William Lockett, II (write-in)

Deb Potter

School Board - two open seats

Cory Thole

Ballot Proposition 1

“Shall the Municipality of Skagway be authorized to transition the Dahl Memorial Clinic to an independent nonprofit which adheres to the terms and conditions in Ordinance No. 24-06 and negotiate a lease with the newly created entity for the E.A. & Jenny Rasmuson Community Health Center building?”

• The Municipality of Skagway scheduled two informational town halls at AB Hall to discuss Prop. 1. Aug. 21, 7 p.m. Sept. 12, 7 p.m.

The Alaska Beacon has created an Election 2024 site where you can see candidate responses, dates and other information for state and national elections.

ELECTION HOURS: The polls will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, and will close at 8 p.m. on the same day.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE: The deadline to register to vote in the October 1, 2024, Regular Municipal Election is Sunday, September 1, 2024.

ABSENTEE VOTING: Voters who will be out of town for the Regular Municipal Election on Oct. 1, 2024, are able to vote absentee in person at the Borough Offices beginning Monday, Sept.16, 2024, and ending Monday, September 30, 2024,

The candidate filing period has closed. Any person wishing to file as a WRITE-IN CANDIDATE must submit a LETTER OF INTENT to the borough clerk before 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 27, 2024.

The Skagway News Candidate Forum Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Assembly chambers Broadcast on KHNS.

2024 Candidate Forum

Jay Burnham

Jonathon (Jon) Hillis William F. Lockette, II (write-in) Deb Potter

William Lockette, II Assembly

1. Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for this term?

My name is William Franklin Lockette II. I’ve lived in Skagway since 2012 and have been actively involved in city politics since 2019. Not the decision making, until I was put on the Historic District and the Clinic Board late last year, but in keeping track of what has been happening. When I began, I wanted to take a stand against the weaponization of regulation against our city employees that was happening. Now, I’m focused on trying to find more solutions for the nagging problems that plague our day-to-day life. Housing and Utilities, mostly. We have to be able to maintain and improve the infrastructure of our current setup. We need to be able to accommodate RVs, Cruise Ships, thousands of oddly oblivious strangers and still be able to make this a place worth living and operating in for our year-round citizens. Skagway continues to hemorrhage families and businesses. If we’re not careful, putting all our eggs in the tourism basket is going to cost us the whole game.

2. Now that the MOS is in control of the port and uplands, what is your vision for uplands development? (community question)

As much as I would love to see a walking trail and small pagoda showcasing a historical museum of the Kushtaka, I think the uplands need a more practical plan. The 2030 plan, for as much community input as it had over its development, suggests a number of ways to use the uplands to maximize their greatness. I think, while they are colorful plans, we should decide as a community exactly how much development we want to see. The complications that come with developing constantly shifting terrain and a vital inlet to our bay shouldn’t be rushed through haphazardly while we still have other areas to be concerned with, like extending utilities across the bridge, so that our town can continue to grow in a lasting manner. Whatever we decide to do should preserve the natural appeal of the area, from the little stick alcove out by the airport to Smuggler’s Cove.

3. Garden City RV Park’s next few years seem to be uncertain. While the goal for utilizing the land for housing is in the future, assembly funding and budget action will determine

the timeline. What should be done to maintain the park until its final days. The spaces still have non-working water and sewer hookups, even though the park is considered dry - confusing guests. The flooring in the office is badly torn and needs replacement. The laundromat continues to lose washers and dryers to mechanical problems, electrical outlets in the bathrooms are not working and the shower quarter mechanisms are broken. Should the MOS budget maintenance repairs for the park? How do you see the park’s need for repair as one of the two RV parks, and the only one of the two that can handle larger motorhomes for the next few years. Would you propose a budget for Garden City maintenance?

I’m fortunate enough to remember when we would have the massive caravans of RVs coming through Skagway, on their way North or South. They usually occupied the interior slots, and those who would come and hang out all summer had the border spaces. Folks would set up tents and camp out, have fires, barbeques, essentially enjoying all that makes being free of a stationary home great. Those audiences wound up being put up on a shelf and forgotten, it seems to me. Working at the grocery store I got to know some of their buying habits. They spent an insane amount of money in our town, not even on jewelry, while they’re here yet they have been placed on the back burner while we go all in on our waterfront. We’ve decided to do a land lottery for the slots at Garden City. We either need to make it an RV park, or get those lots to people to put in housing, and since it seems we’ve gone with the latter of the two options, we should probably start thinking about putting some money in to Pullen Park to either upgrade that, or start looking at a spot elsewhere we can put our RV traffic.

Signs aren’t working. Handing out tickets for bad parking isn’t working. Telling people 4 times before they get to 2nd and Broadway that they shouldn’t walk in the street isn’t working. The ineffective little color dots and shapes we use to guide people, aren’t working. It’s come to a point now where we need to have a serious talk about limiting traffic on Broadway. A lot. Tour busses slow down without warning and sit for an unknown amount of time, sometimes continuing on their path without any consideration of the line of traffic behind them. Angry citizens get frustrated and mash the gas to jump out into the street only to have to slam on their brakes to avoid killing a family. Tourists will pick up their children in their arms and step out in front of anyone without a glance. We need to start looking at one way, or -very- limited operation of vehicles along Broadway during the busy summer months. I, as much as anyone, understand the need to be able to access Broadway’s businesses with a vehicle for day-to-day needs, but if we don’t separate people and traffic, we’re going to see fatalities. I’d rather walk an extra block to the Hardware from Spring street than see some happy-go-lucky tourists have their life ended in our town.

Deb Potter Assembly

1. Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for this term?

I am a 23-year resident of Skagway. Like so many others, I started as a seasonal employee but quickly became attached to this very special place. I am lucky enough to come from two very engaged parents who highly valued volunteerism. My father was the Teamster union rep for the Orange County Transit Authority bus mechanics and one of my favorite childhood memories is going to the picket line with him as they fought for fair wages, (I’m not sure if mom was aware of this.) Mom was always highly involved with the PTA, and continues, (at the age of 81), to work with groups that raise money to provide music programs in schools. I co-owned a small business in Skagway, (Sugar Mamas), for 8 years on top of bartending full-time seasonally. I was on the KHNS board of directors for over a decade, and have a vested, personal interest in the well-being of Skagway’s children, including the important issue of childcare for our hard-working parents. I’m proud to say that as an active member of this community, I have made an incredibly wide and diverse range of acquaintances and friends. In January of 2020, I was fortunate enough to become a homeowner here, but as a 19-year renter, former business owner, and dog mom, I’m FULLY aware of the challenges and feelings of vulnerability that comes with the housing situation in Skagway.

I was elected to my first term 3 years ago. I know the immense amount of work that is required to do this job properly. I’m proud of my accomplishments this first term including: a paid seasonal senior activities director position that I hope to transition to a year-round position beginning next year, Ordinance 23-23 which ensures that all future bulk ore shipments from the Port of Skagway will be done in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, and seeing the completion of the new citizen approved Ore dock. Skagway has given me so much, and it’s my honor to be able to give back. And that’s why I’m running for reelection.

2. Now that the MOS is in control of the port and uplands, what is your vision for uplands development?

The 2021 Port Master Plan which was developed with a great amount of community input,

lays out the existing plan for the uplands. I encourage everyone to look at it. (It can be easily found by googling “Skagway Port Master Plan”). However, the reality is, we live in a very different environment than we did when this plan was developed. Skagway was still effectively closed to tourism when the plan was finalized. Not only have we fully emerged from an economic shutdown, but we have done so with full force. I’m not sure if anyone could have predicted the exponential growth in tourism Skagway, (and all of Southeast Alaska), would experience post pandemic. On one hand, it’s a good problem to have, and on the other hand, we need to make sure we are managing it to ensure a quality experience for both visitors and residents alike. The immediate “in your face issue” we’re facing is congestion on Broadway. There are too many people for the limited amount of space. A question that came up at the recent September 5th Assembly meeting was, are there other areas that we want to open up to tourists to relieve Broadway of some of the traffic such as the Ore peninsula? City Manager Brad Ryan suggested the Port Master Plan might need to be revisited and I agree. I still support some of the concepts in the current Port Master Plan like a continuous sea walk and bathrooms at Ore dock, but I believe we need to revisit the plan all together. When the old ore terminal is finally removed, do we want to utilize that space to build housing, or maybe we want to create an additional business area, or some other concept brought forward by the community? Whatever the final uplands design is, it needs to be developed with community input. (But I’m serious about the bathrooms. We really need Ore dock bathrooms.)

First, I believe it’s important to acknowledge that this property is the former site of the now officially federally recognized Pius X Mission School for Native Children. This school is responsible for very real generational trauma and for that, I am sorry.

We need to support and encourage independent travelers to come to Skagway. They stay here for multiple days and spend a significant amount in local restaurants and retail shops, and on tours. Independent and rv travelers don’t need extravagant campsites, but they do need access to laundromat services, (as do local residents), and a functioning bathroom. Realistically, development on the former site of the Pious X Mission School is 3 years away. In the meantime, I support investing in some shorter-term rv park infrastructure and

maintenance including laundromat machine upgrades, (which given the recent news of losing our singular year-round laundromat, is going to be essential), as well as upgrades to the bathrooms. Since they will eventually be removed anyway, I think we should also look at the costs of removing the non-functioning electrical and water hookups which causes understandable confusion to guests. If we’re going to provide a service, such as an rv park, we should be providing a quality experience.

One issue we can all agree on is Broadway is too congested most days during the summer. There has been talk for years about changing Broadway to either one way traffic or closing it to vehicles altogether. Both options have their pros and cons, and community members have expressed their opinions each time this topic comes up. As with most ideas, it will be a challenge to find a solution that pleases everyone. However, the current situation is not working, so we need to consider trying something different. A study conducted before the pandemic recommended against making Broadway a one-way street. I believe it’s time to revisit this recommendation. While studies can seem cumbersome, they are valuable tools for making rational and informed decisions. I will be holding a Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss traffic on Broadway and potential solutions.

State Street presents a different issue. I agree that it can be difficult to navigate. Personally, I either avoid it or drive at 15 miles per hour. But because it is owned by the State, Skagway has limited ability to make any changes.

Cory Thole School Board

1. Tell us about yourself. Why are you running for this term?

I started coming to Skagway seasonally in 1998 working in restaurants and for Packer Expedi-

tions. In 2001, after finishing an undergraduate degree in field ecology and environmental science I decided to spend my first winter and have been here ever since. In 2009 I became the Junior High and High School Science teacher and truly enjoyed working with Skagway’s Youth, however, when Mary and I started having our own children both of us being highly dedicated teachers was challenging and In 2011 began working for the National Park Service.

I am running for this term because it is an honor to serve the community and school for which I care very much about. I believe the quality of education the students receive in Skagway contributes substantially to the quality of life we all enjoy here and I would like to support that in any way I can.

2. Skagway School continues to excel academically in Alaska rankings and reports. What does Skagway School do right? What advice would you offer other schools and districts in the state that might give them insight into the successes of our school.

There are a handful of reasons the Skagway School excels in both academics and culture and it would be very difficult to offer just one piece of advice to another school district and they may not be as fortunate to have multiple key factors all culminating and creating an environment we find ourselves in, multiple of which could be out of their. Skagway School’s success can be attributed to it’s, motivated students, highly dedicated teachers and staff, and an incredibly supportive community members and municipality that has the ability to fund school programs over the budget cap with programs that extend past the student base. Such as the lunch program, sports and academic extracurricular programs.

If I were to offer other school districts and their communities one piece of advice it would be to continue lobbying the State Government to increase the Base Student Allocation to appropriate levels to offset the ever increasing cost of maintaining and operating facilities and prevent them being put into a situation where they need to consider a reduction in force or cutting programs and provide the ability to establish a progressive education experience that addresses student needs and includes activities and programs that reach a wide array of interests as we are able to do in Skagway.

3. Transportation opportunities for school teams and student activities within Southeast Alaska has changed over the decade due to ferry scheduling, costs and weather events. How has this impacted the student experience? Is it still a problem?

For those of us who have been in Skagway through multiple winters we can all remember how challenging it was to travel when the ferry scheduled ferry sailings were even less than they have been the past couple of winters. Especially when there are weather cancellations. Luckily through creative problem solving and creating a partnership with Allen Marine to provide transportation and overcome some of those challenges at times. Which has benefited not only the school but residents who found themselves stranded or stuck during their travels.

That said, travel costs continue to rise and scheduling trips so students miss as little classroom time as possible is still a challenge so highlighting these points to the State DOT and the importance of regular, multi week sailings throughout all seasons at any opportunity we have to do so is very important.

The Skagway Public Library

Wifi is available outside the library 10am-10pm.. Windy Valley Babies (Story Time) Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. - designed for ages 0-3. Sing and read stories with Ms. Anna!

Music Saturdays. Come play around on our mandolin, ukulele, guitar, banjo or piano!

Late Night Library Select Friday nights at 6 p.m. Evenings include crafts, game nights, special guests and activities for young patrons in fifth grade and up!

U.S. Passports: Crystal Harris, our Library Assistant, is currently Skagway’s only passport acceptance agent. Applications are accepted by appointment only Tuesday through Friday. day. Please call to schedule. For more more information - 907-9832665 or email library@skagway.org

Grants for Recreational Trails

The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) is accepting grant applications for the Recreational Trails Program for fiscal year 2025. Approximately $2.2 million is available for eligible Alaska projects. The Recreational Trails grant program provides up to 90% matching for the cost of a project.

Funding for the program comes from the Federal Highway Administration, which has awarded Alaska $22 million (requiring $6 million in matching funds) for 571 projects since 1993. Alaska’s available apportionment is typically between $1 million and $1.5 million each year.

Grant categories include motorized, non-motorized, and diversified (winter and summer) projects.

The maximum individual grant award amounts for FY2025:

$300,000 for Motorized/Motorized diversified projects

$200,000 for Non-motorized/ Non-motorized diversified projects

Applications are due by Oct. 31, 2024. Eligible

Scholarships, grants & opportunities

applicants include non-profit organizations, educational institutions, State of Alaska, local and federal government entities, native corporations and tribal governments. Interested parties can register on IRIS. The grants will be awarded between March and May of 2025. More information is available here: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/grants/trails.htm. Rasmuson Foundation is accepting applications for Tier 1 and Community Support grants, now with increased award sizes. These awards form a central part of Rasmuson Foundation’s grantmaking activities, supporting nonprofit organizations in Alaska with key resources and infusions of capital.

Tier 1 grants

Tier 1 is a core program of the Foundation, known for fast capital and one-time funding. In addition to a 40% increase in the maximum award size, the program now allows organizations to apply up to 15% of an award toward administrative costs. Tier 1 grants will provide up to $35,000 per project and the application period opens Aug. 15. This is a rolling grant program, and applications are accepted throughout the year.

Community Support grants fund capital projects and programmatic projects with broad community impact. The grants are intended for requests between $35,000 and $250,000. Capital requests will be approved quarterly, while non-capital/programmatic requests will be reviewed twice a year. Grants of this size do not require an invitation to apply, and organizations can access the application starting Aug. 15.

The Foundation anticipates awarding 150-175 Tier 1 grants and 10-20 Community Support grants annually.

Program details, application tips, and frequently asked questions are also available at rasmuson.org.

IRS Schoolteacher deduction

The maximum deduction for classroom expenses in 2024 remains at $300.

This deduction allows educators to offset the cost of supplies, materials and other classroom essentials, providing some financial relief for those who spend their own money to improve their students’ learning experience.

Under federal law, this $300 cap is unchanged from 2023, continuing the adjustment for inflation that began in 2022 when the limit was raised from $250.

This deduction is available for teachers, instructors, counselors, principals and aides who work at least 900 hours a school year in a school providing elementary or secondary education. Educators filing jointly can claim up to $600 if both spouses are eligible, but no more than $300 per person. Educators can claim this deduction even if they take the standard deduction, and both public and private school educators qualify.

Educators can claim deductions for out-of-pocket expenses on classroom items like books, supplies, equipment (including computers and software). They may also deduct costs for professional development courses relevant to their teaching, though it could be more advantageous to use other educational tax benefits like the lifetime learning credit (refer to Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education, Chapter 3).

Expenses for homeschooling or nonathletic supplies for health or physical education are not eligible. The IRS recommends educators maintain detailed records, such as receipts and canceled checks, to substantiate their deductions.

Christine Rogers caught this beautiful, yet poisonous fly agaric mushroom in its fall glory

Back to School BBQ!

Community Corner

Kids making place-based connection through writing Skagway School’s fourth and fifth grade classes explore life in Skagway with interviews and experiences in their home town in this new Community Corner series.

Class connects with cruise ship crew

By Piper Caposey

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, the 4th and 5th grade classes took a bus to a tender, then onto the Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America cruise ship with their teachers, Ms. M, Mrs. Tholeand host Adriane Felt.

The first thing the classes did was go to the dining hall to eat pizza, hot dogs, mac and cheese, hamburgers, sushi, and pasta served with some delicious drinks like lemonade, soda, and ice tea. After they ate some food, they got a tour of the bridge, control room, theater, pool, spa, gym, library, and lounge. They loved all of it, but their favorites were the food, the elevator, and the technology.

Fourth grade student, Ryan Fairbanks, said, “My favorite part was being on the bridge because the captain showed us the maps and technology.”

Afterwards, they met the Chief Engineer, and he taught the class so many things! First he taught the students about how they get fresh water for the guests on the ship. Did you know when the ocean water is boiled, the water vapor is caught and used as freshwater for the guests, or that the food waste is put into a digester, turns into mush, and is thrown into

the ocean 12 miles offshore?

This mushy food is now food for sea creatures! Isn’t that cool?

The students loved learning from the Chief Engineer, and they would enjoy going on a cruise ship tour again. The 4th and 5th grade want to thank the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship for this memorable experience.

Animals in Skagway’s backyard

By Iris Hansen

On August 20, 2024, Jen Larson, a biologist from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park came into the fourth grade classroom at Skagway School to teach fourth grade students about animals that live in the national park such as small mammals, land and sea birds, large mammals, fish, and boreal toads. The students learned interesting facts about the boreal toad. Boreal toads lay their eggs in long clear strips, they are the size of a fingernail, and they go back to the place they were born every year!

Boreal toads aren’t the only animal Jen studies, she also studies bats with acoustic bat boxes and their mist netting. Did you know that bats are the only mammals that can fly? There are over 1,400 species of bats including long legged myotis, keen’s myotis, western long eared and silver haired bat. Bats are nocturnal hunting at night and sleeping up to twenty hours a day. Brown bats use echolocation to help them find prey in their environment, and it sounds like a bird chirping. When they catch their prey, they fly about twelve miles per hour

to catch insects swatting their tail and trapping the bugs with their wings. Did you know that bats can eat 1200 insects in an hour? Brown bats eat their prey with their teeth that are the size of the tip of a toothpick. If a bat’s teeth are worn down, they are an old bat, and if they are nice and sharp the bat is young. When winter comes, it’s time to hibernate in their ruse or their home. A big thank you to Jen Larson for coming into the fourth grade classroom to teach us about local animals.

Skagway students listen to the chief engineer on the Nieuw Amsterdam during an Aug. 21 tour of the ship.

Photo provided by Skagway School

Teachers Kortney Rupprecht, Mary Thole and Danielle McManus serve up the treats.

Cody Burnham visits with students while wearing the best avocados you will ever see in Skagway.

Photos by Gretchen Wehmhoff

16 to Sept. 4, 2024

Aug. 16

• EMS personnel responded to two separate medical emergencies.

• Callers reported a woman on a bike had just been hit by a car. EMS and police personnel responded.

• 911 was pocket dialed once.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost brown and pink wallet.

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

• Fire department personnel responded to the report of a potential chimney fire.

Aug. 17

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost Yamaha 4-wheeler key.

• 911 was pocket dialed once.

• Fire department personnel responded to a downtown fire alarm. It was found to be false.

• A caller reported their bike had just been stolen.

• A caller reported they had seen the brown bear with cubs downtown the previous night.

Aug. 18

• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.

• A caller reported their elderly dog had been missing since the previous night.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost set of Ford keys on a fish keychain.

• A caller reported a commercial driver who appeared to be on drugs.

• 911 was pocket dialed six times.

Aug. 19

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.

• A caller reported their employee had been hit by a truck while riding their bicycle but was not injured. Officers responded to investigate.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost passport and a lost wallet with a salmon design.

• Officers assisted US Customs regarding a cruise ship passenger whose partner had discovered their sexual harassment history, so they needed to disembark before their cruise ended.

Aug. 20

• 911 was pocket dialed six times.

• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a found backpack with Nebraska ID and a lost iPhone in a black case.

• A caller reported they had an unknown dog they found running loose on State Street.

• A citizen requested to borrow a live trap for use on a cat from the animal impound area.

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

• An officer responded to a loud gathering and asked the partygoers to tone it down.

Aug. 21

• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.

• EMS personnel assisted with three separate medevacs.

• 911 was pocket dialed twice

• Lost and found reports were taken for a found black cross body wallet with metal chain and two lost drivers licenses.

• A caller reported they were being followed and harassed by an unknown individual. An officer responded and spoke to both parties.

Aug. 22

• Robert West, 45, of Ohio was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and taken into protective custody overnight.

• A caller reported they were woken up by an unknown male inside their residence who stated he was looking for his brother in Haines Junction. The individual left the house and then began getting into the caller’s car. When confronted, the man insisted it was his car before wandering down the street. An officer was advised.

• 911 was pocket dialed four times.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a found bike, a found PaperShoot white digital camera and a lost credit card.

• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.

Aug. 23

• 911 was pocket dialed twice.

& Fire

• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.

• A caller reported a brown dog was loose and running on the airport runway.

• Fire department personnel responded to the report of a smoldering cigarette butt tower.

• Police personnel assisted the Alaska Court system with a paper service.

• A caller reported the mother brown bear and cubs were just spotted along the Klondike Highway. Officers responded, and while looking for the bears were informed by bystanders that the bears had been spotted nearly every night in the White Pass Campground.

• A caller reported the bears were just spotted at 9th and Alaska. An officer responded and discovered a dumpster tipped over and trash scattered across the airport runway.

Aug. 24

• Lost and Found reports were taken for a lost white gold necklace and a lost Minnesota ID.

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider twice.

• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.

• A caller reported there were three individuals on the airport runway and a plane was about to land. An officer responded but was unable to locate the individuals.

• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.

• 911 was pocket dialed once.

• Dispatch assisted Bartlett Hospital with contacting the on-duty provider.

• A caller reported seeing a man walking in the middle of the Dyea road near Nakhu Bay while seemingly waving for assistance. An officer responded but was unable to locate anyone matching the description.

• A caller reported a man and woman were currently in an active physical altercation on the ground. Officers and EMS personnel responded.

Aug. 25

• A caller reported the bears had gotten into a truck near the Corrington RV Park.

• A caller reported the bears had just been spotted in the Liarsville area. An officer responded and discovered the bears had gotten into multiple individual and business trashes overnight along the Klondike Highway.

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider three times.

• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a found California ID and a found wallet with an Iowa ID.

• A woman brought a dog into the Police Department reporting it had just been in the street in front of Garden City RV and had nearly been hit by multiple cars. The owner was located.

• 911 was pocket dialed once.

• Officers assisted with a vehicle lockout.

• EMS personnel assisted with transporting a cruise ship passenger for a Coast Guard medevac. The patient passed away enroute to the medevac so was instead taken to the Skagway Clinic morgue. Officers responded to assist with a report and investigation.

• A caller reported a telephone pole was on fire along the Klondike Highway. Fire department and police personnel responded and the fire was extinguished after AP&T temporarily cut the power.

• Multiple fire and burglary alarms were triggered around town due to the power outage. Fire department and police personnel responded to each to assure they were false.

Aug. 26

• Police personnel assisted with a vehicle lockout.

• 911 was pocket dialed twice.

• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost wallet and a found wallet.

• A caller reported they had passed two tourists pushing rented e-bikes with a broken chain on the Dyea Road. The caller reported they attempted to ask the tourists if they were ok but the tourists did not speak English and seemed very tired. Dispatch advised the bike rental companies of the situation.

• Fire department personnel responded to a downtown fire alarm. It was found to be false and caused by a cooking mishap.

• Fire department personnel responded to another downtown fire alarm. It was also found to be false and caused

Submitted

by a different cooking mishap.

• A caller reported their dog had gotten out of their yard and was missing. An officer responded to help look and the dog was located.

A caller reported it looked like there might be a fire on the mountain up the pass. An officer responded and discovered it was just the moon rising.

Aug. 27

• Fire department personnel responded to a downtown fire alarm. It was found to be false.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a found Missouri ID and a lost set of keys with a unicorn keychain.

• A caller reported the brown bear and cubs were in their yard in the Liarsville area eating Devils Club.

• A caller reported the brown bear and cubs had broken into their vehicle at the Corrington RV Park and run off with a 10-pound bag of cocoa.

• A caller reported the mama brown bear was just spotted behind some trailers in the White Pass RV Park.

• An officer discovered the bears had moved into town and had gotten into a dumpster at 9th and Alaska and trash was strewn across the airport runway.

Aug. 28

• A caller reported the bears had gotten into their vehicle along the Dyea Road sometime in the night.

• Fire Department personnel responded to a downtown fire alarm. It was found to be false.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost Kodak camera left on a SMART bus and a found Utah ID.

• A caller reported the brown bear and cubs were on the Dyea Road near the town lookout and were concerned due to a lot of tourists on bikes riding by.

• A report was received of the brown bear and cubs on the road near Nakhu Bay.

• A report was received of the brown bear and cubs in a yard along the Dyea Road.

• EMS personnel responded to two separate medical emergencies.

• Officers reported the mother brown bear and one of the cubs had been shot and killed in Dyea. The other cub ran into the woods and could not be located.

• A caller reported they witnessed a vehicle hit another and then drive away.

• A caller off the ship reported their suicidal son had gone into the woods at Lower Lake and could not be located. The caller then updated that a grandparent had just spoken to the boy on his phone, and he agreed to go back to the ship. Officers responded to make sure the boy got back to town, and then escorted the family to the ship and spoke with ship security about the situation.

Aug. 29

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

• 911 was pocket dialed five times.

• Officers assisted with a vehicle lockout.

• A caller reported they were on the rocks below Temsco and had dropped their glasses so they could not see to find them and get back up. Fire Department personnel responded and helped the individual locate their glasses.

Aug. 30

• An officer reported there was a bag of trash on the airport runway around 9th and Alaska. DOT was advised.

• 911 was pocket dialed twice.

• A caller reported their spouse was overdue coming back from fishing on a boat in the Yukon. The caller was concerned the late party could be stranded somewhere since it was dark and the border would be closing. Shortly after, it was discovered they had just gone through US customs and were ok.

Aug. 31

• 911 was pocket dialed twice.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost credit card and two different found credit cards.

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.

Sept. 1

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider twice.

• A report was received that the single brown bear cub was spotted in the Corrington’s campground. An officer responded but were unable to locate the bear.

• 911 was pocket dialed three times.

• A representative of the Veterans Crisis Line called requesting a welfare check on a potentially suicidal individual. It was discovered the individual did not reside in Skagway and dispatch assisted the Crisis Line in contacting the correct jurisdiction.

• A caller reported a car sized rock had fallen from the mountain into the middle of the Klondike Highway. An officer and DOT responded, and the highway was temporarily closed while the rock was removed.

• A caller reported a company was illegally giving commercial tours at Nakhu Bay.

• A bartender reported a customer had just walked out after refusing to pay their tab and were now at another drinking establishment down the street. Officers responded and found the individual to be uncooperative and they were consequently arrested.

• David Lee Folletti, 59, of Haines was arrested for Theft 4 -less than $250.

• A caller reported they saw the single brown bear cub earlier that morning in Liarsville.

Sept. 2

• A caller reported all the tires on their vehicle had been slashed while they were at work. Officers began an investigation.

• EMS personnel responded to two separate medical emergencies.

• EMS personnel assisted with a public service transfer.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a found Samsung phone, a lost wallet and a lost iPhone with a blue pop-it on the back.

• An officer responded to speak with a distressed caller having a mental health emergency.

• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider. Several callers reported there was a deceased cat in the middle of the road and one of the callers reported moving the cat out of the road and into some grass.

Sept. 3

• A caller reported a scam call from someone pretending to be from Amazon reporting a false $1000 charge on their account.

• Lost and found reports were taken for a lost brown wallet, a found purse, and a found blue Coach wallet.

• EMS personnel assisted with a medevac.

• 911 was pocket dialed twice.

• Blake Perry, 41, of Skagway was arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear.

• The lone brown bear cub was spotted getting into garbage cans at multiple locations around town. An officer responded and attempted to haze the bear away.

Sept. 4

• Dispatch assisted with contacting the on-duty provider.

• A caller reported they were at the US customs building trying to get back to Skagway but it was closed. They were advised that the border is closed at night and they would have to wait until morning.

• 911 was pocket dialed three times.

• On officer assisted with a vehicle lockout.

• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.

• Ship security requested assistance disposing of a cruise ship passengers confiscated ammunition. An officer responded.

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.

Call 983-2665 or email https://skagwaylibrary.com/ library@skagway.org Dahl Clinic Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sat. and Sun. 907-983-2255

For after-hours

Klondike accident

were taken by ambulance to Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH). Two of those passengers were released over the weekend and have made it back to their homes.

The driver, James Coleman, was released and is back in Skagway.

“James is doing fine. I know he’s got a huge circle of friends in Skagway that are all wondering about him. He sustained a bump on his head, but he was treated, and he’s back in Skagway. So he is doing well,” Gould said.

“Of course, all of us are all shook up, still a little bit in shock,” she added.

Gould said that while a helicopter was present at the scene, no one was airlifted as rumours had suggested while people were looking for information. All injured passengers were transported by ambulance.

Gould credits HAP drivers for the assistance.

“They were absolutely phenomenal. And I can’t say enough about those two HAP drivers and the company itself, and how they assisted us. It was fantastic. And you know, in rural places like this, we all would help out. Doesn’t matter who is having an incident or an accident. And that’s what’s really nice about the Skagway community,” she said.

As of Sept. 9, the remaining two passengers were still at WGH for observation after nonlife-threatening injuries.

The charter bus was towed to Whitehorse for insurance evaluation.

The annual Klondike Road Relay race from Skagway to Whitehorse start was delayed due to the accident and the first three legs out of Skagway were canceled.

Gould appreciated the sportsmanship of the runners and race committee in working around the situation and those who stopped to help.

“It was amazing, because people from all walks of life stopped to help. That is Skagway in a nutshell - everybody is here all doing our own businesses, but when it really comes down to it, people step up and help each other, which means a lot. It says a lot for the community itself.”

Bear family meets demise after month-long trash rampage

that is still outstanding. The guys have been chasing it through the alley ways, and it’s getting in the trash.”

Assemblymember Deb Potter is hopeful for the future.

“The good thing about these bears being dispatched is that we have the opportunity to start anew, and the next bears that will show up, it’s on us. So. The problem is us. We are the problem. So whatever we can do to hit home the seriousness of taking care of your garbage for the next generation of bears

that are going to roll through town, we owe a responsibility to the wildlife in this town,” she said.

“The problem is us. We are the problem.”

Reddick says SPD has been issuing citations for trash problems such as overflowing trash cans and dumpsters as well as overturned dumpsters that have not been secured.

Mayor Sam Bass wants to explore allowing residents to have additional free drop offs during bear season to cut down on trash waiting for removal.

“ I would like to see what the financial and staff impact would be if the city made available to our residential trash customers one or two free trash drop offs equivalent to a 30 gallon can each month during bear season for no additional charge,” he said.

(from Front page)

Anna Gala captured this photo of a brown sow and two cubs foraging in the hills between the South Klondike Highway Summit and Fraser on July 2. It is not confirmed that this was the same family that spent a month in Skagway

Photo by Anna Gala