The Skagway News - Jan. 21, 2022

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THE SKAGWAY NEWS.

headed for State PAGE 8

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January 21, 2022

Sk a g w ay, A l a s k a

Fire dept. audit: ‘You have a lot of risk here’

By Melinda Munson The Skagway Fire Department audit was officially approved by the borough assembly Dec. 16. The 201page document lists 109 recommendations, 25 of them classified as “urgent or immediate” with “potential threat to life.” According to Interim Chief Emily Rauscher, 18 of the priority one action items have been completed thus far.

When Chief Craig Haigh, senior consultant for McGrath Consulting Group, began the audit, the situation was dire. “...Back in early August when work on this audit started, the department had a total of 11 emergency responders (paid and volunteer combined), only seven of which were active; zero active members were certified firefighters; there were three active emergency medical technicians and there was no fire chief” (pg. 11).

The borough named Rauscher, then the EMS director and the only remaining fulltime employee at the fire department, as interim fire chief. The decision was one of three recommended options set out by the audit.

“This individual is known, respected and a long-time member of the community who has strong family ties to Skagway,” the report said in reference to Rauscher.

“She has a drive and passion for the department and the borough and appears ready to work hard to rebuild the department. She has excellent administrative skills and a strong educational background in emergency medical services. Her clear drawback is the lack of firesee page 3 - Audit

Trial begins today Front

$1.50

Photo by Kari Rain

An ice-laden tug pulls into Skagway’s port in early January. Heavy ice and wind created difficulties, delaying the unloading of the weekly barge by several days.

Cargo Crocs, middle school robotics team, headed to State

By Melinda Munson After winning both the regional Champion and Robot Awards, Skagway School’s 10-member robotics team travels to Anchorage in early February to participate in state finals for First Lego League (FLL).

The sixth and seventh graders will bring their team uniform: gray beanies with an embroidered crocodile, lime green T-shirts, a rainbow assortment of Crocs and lots of excitement. About half of the group has never been to Alaska’s largest city.

Team member Lila Lawson already did the research.

She knows that Anchorage offers a water and trampoline park and multiple malls and movie theaters.

Team 46069, The Cargo Crocs, has been working since the start of school, meeting three times a week, with practices increasing to daily meetings and weekends

For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

as the Southeast competition grew closer. FLL has two components: identifying and solving a real world problem and competing in a Lego robot course.

For the first aspect, the Skagway team interviewed multiple local experts to determine the biggest problem in cargo shipping.

“We found water damage during transport is a consistent problem,” said Sam Munson.

The team did further research, but concluded that all available waterproofing methods for cardboard boxes were not eco-friendly. They found a company called RepelWell, which produces a waterproofing product for shoes and fabric that is non-toxic and environmentally safe.

The team theorized they could spray the inside and outside of cardboard boxes with RepelWell, using an

electrostatic sprayer.

“With the help of Greg Clem from the National Park Service, we tested and analyzed a variety of sprayers and evaluated the most effective and efficient application for our hydrophobic spray,” said team member Arthur Aribam.

After a certain date, which would be stamped on cardboard boxes, the waterproofing spray would break down

By Gretchen Wehmhoff The trial addressing five lawsuits challenging the Alaska Redistricting Board’s final legislative districting plan begins Jan. 21 with a decision due Feb. 15. One of those lawsuits is from the Municipality of Skagway (MOS).

The lawsuit, filed by MOS and resident Brad Ryan, op-

poses the new plan that links the northern Lynn Canal with Mendenhall Valley, rather than downtown Juneau.

The complaint notes that in a special public hearing for Skagway residents, local testimony overwhelmingly supported maintaining a connection between Skagway and the downtown area of Juneau Douglas, similar

to the current lines drawn during the 2013 redistricting plan -- a plan that also saw court intervention after original plans were challenged.

The Skagway lawsuit insists that the board ignored the concerns of the public who made comments on the issue of Skagway’s relationship with downtown Juneau

see page 8- Crocs

State redistricting trial begins today

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Jan. 21, 2022

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

Redistricting trial with five consolidated lawsuits From front page and the northern Lynn Canal. Twelve people testified during the Oct. 27 Skagway public hearing with the board. All speakers supported remaining in the same district as downtown Juneau due to economic similarities and common tourism and maritime issues. Additional written testimony was also submitted.

The suit claims that, “Skagway has historical, socio-economic and transportation ties with Juneau and Douglas. All three communities are heavily reliant upon the tourism industry as an integral part of their economies.”

The MOS complaint also challenges the economic downfalls of the new district lines stating, “Skagway, Juneau and Douglas thus share significant commonalities, including maritime economic and recreational bases, integrated socio-economic ties among their communities, as well as health care services from the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.”

The new map would leave Rep. Sara Hannan out of the running to represent Skagway. With new lines drawn, Hannan’s seat would cover portions of Mendenhall Valley rather than northern Lynn Canal.

Robin Brena, attorney for Skagway notes the impractical logistics with the district lines changing.

“When you take Skagway, with about 1,000 residents, and Haines with another 2,000, and add them to the Mendenhall Valley, it creates another issue. In order to accommodate the addition of Skagway and Haines, the line now goes right through the heart of Mendenhall Valley along Riverside. So in order to add Skagway and Haines, they had to divide Mendenhall Valley in half.”

On Dec.14, 2021, the five lawsuits against the board were consolidated by superior court order after consideration of the potential redundancy of witnesses, location and the impact the cases could have on each other.

The location was set for Anchorage.

It is unlikely three of the lawsuits will impact Skag-

way, as the redistricting maps have separated Southeast from the rest of the state just north of Yakutat. The Valdez suit might have an impact should they prevail and new district lines include Yakutat.

The City of Valdez and Mark Detter, as plaintiffs, oppose the new map that separates the city from the economically-related Richardson Highway and Prince William Sound communities, citing the pipeline, shipping, fishing and maritime commonalities. The new plan links the district to an area of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) which was not in the previous districting plans.

The complaint also notes “A Valdez citizen must drive over 120 miles after leaving the boundary of District 29, which is approximately ten miles from Valdez’s municipal boundary, in order to reenter the citizen’s own district. Valdez has been arbitrarily separated from the main transportation corridor that connects Valdez with its neighboring communities— the Richardson Highway.”

Plaintiff Calista Corporation, William Naneng and Harley Sundown, believes the changes to the maps will cause a shift in the region’s ability to stay connected and protect the interests of villages who have common hubs and economic realities.

The village of Tyonek, a part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, was added to district 37 rather than staying with the Kenai Peninsula communities in District 8. Calista is asking that “the map not dilute the voters ability to be heard and that Scammon Bay, Hooper Bay and Chevak be included in District 38 and that Kwigillingok, Kongiganak and Quinhagak be included in District 37.”

Felisa Wison, George Martinez and Yarrow Silvers, all residents of Anchorage, are challenging the senate pairings in Chugiak - Eagle River (CER), Joint Base Elmendorf Richarson, Government Hill and Muldoon in East Anchorage. The new plan does not pair the two CER districts into one senate district, but instead pairs Chugiak with JBER and the downtown community of

Government Hill. It pairs Eagle River, splitting downtown Eagle River, to a south Muldoon community in Anchorage on the other side of the Chugach Mountains. The lawsuit claims that the board did not hold public testimony to discuss senate pairings and the pairing of the two Eagle River districts with districts in other parts of Anchorage came at the end of the deliberation without warning.

The Anchorage lawsuit points out the logistics of not working to pair contiguous districts and cites the commentaries of two board members, Melaine Bahnke of Nome and Nicole Borromeo of Anchorage, who were adamantly opposed to the senate pairings -- believing the two Eagle River districts should be paired together and the two Muldoon districts should be paired to maintain the social, economic and comparable needs the more contiguous pairings would offer.

The complaint quotes Borromeo, “With reference to the East Anchorage Eagle River pairings, there is “no populated area, or military gate even connecting HD (House District) 23, Government Hill/JBER/Northeast Anchorage with HD 24-N. Eagle River/Chugiak, and one cannot travel from South Muldoon to the Eagle River Valley district without leaving the senate district they share, or crossing a mountain range.”

Wilson, Martinez and Silvers are seeking funds through donations to a legal defense fund in their name with their attorneys at Birch

Horton Bittner & Cherot.

The fifth lawsuit, filed by Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) and Michael Brown, complains that one of the new districts, the new HD 25, veers off to the south to include the City of Valdez, affirming the argument in the Valdez complaint that the areas have no commonalities and that Valdez is separated from the communities with which it shares economic and regional interests. Matsu also notes that the map for HD 30 includes the MSB communities from Big Lake, Willow, Skwenta, Trapper Creek and Anderson, Clear and Denali Peak from the Denali Borough, but stops there, leaving Cantwell out.

Instead, Cantwell is placed in the new HD 36 stretching from Holy Cross, around Fairbanks North Star Borough to the Canadian border then down to communities along the Richardson Highway, Tok Cutoff and communities once paired with Valdez.

Mat-Su notes that all of the districts attached to Mat-Su are considered overpopulated in the division of districts, whereas in comparison to the Municipality of Anchorage’s 18 districts where only two are overpopulated.

The complaint states, “The board’s plan unnecessarily divides the excess population of the MSB in a way that dilutes the effective strength of municipal voters, including by placing them in districts centered elsewhere and that have different social and political concerns; ignoring traditional senate configurations; and, failing see page 3 - Redistricting

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

Jan. 21, 2021

Page 3

Audit of fire department highlights needs of a unique small town From front page

ground operational training along with tactical incident command experience” (pg 14).

The municipality hired four individuals for temporary firefighter/EMT positions and began recruiting and training volunteers from the community.

According to Borough Manager Brad Ryan, interviews for fire chief will commence in February. The application period is open until filled. Ryan is on the hiring committee along with Mayor Andrew Cremata and Assemblymember Sam Bass, chair of the Public Safety Committee. Ryan hopes to add a fourth member with fire fighting expertise.

In his audit presentation, Haigh stressed the high level of risk that Skagway faces.

“Skagway has a greater multi-disciplined emergency preparedness need than most big cities,” Haigh said. He listed off potential hazards: the airport, cruise ships, the marina, trains, outdoor recreation, landslides and floods.

“There are very, very few communities that exist in our country today, other than maybe the big giant guys that have all of that, that need to be protected. And you’re doing it in a remote area where you can’t get assistance from anybody in a timely fashion … And if you don’t provide those services, if something goes bad in your attempt to provide those services, the world is going to know because Skagway is on the map. And it’s not going to be something that’s going to be

Redistricting

to respect political subdivision boundaries and communities of interest, thereby depriving its citizens the right to be an equally powerful and geographically effective vote, all of which is in violation of the equal protection clauses of the United States and Alaska Constitutions.”

The Doyon Coalition moved to intervene as defendants in the Mat-su case. The Coalition is composed of Doyon, Ltd., Tanana Chiefs conference: Fairbanks Native Association; Ahtna, Inc.; Sealaska; Donald Charlie, Sr.; Cherise Beatus and Gordon Carlson.

a hit. You have a lot of risk here,” he said.

Like most fire departments, a majority of Skagway’s calls are medical.

“I would say that you are an EMS agency that occasionally goes to a fire,” Haigh said. He noted that the EMS department had not been “culturally valued” in the past.

Haigh recommended doing away with “field promotions” and having clear guidelines for how and why individuals are promoted.

He described one employee who seemed “embarrassed” he was promoted because he felt he didn’t meet the qualifications. Haigh stressed the need for better record keeping and pointed out the need for a backup system should the 911 communication center fail due to weather or technical difficulties. He did not recommend a Dyea fire station, with the area making up only 2% of responses.

The report touched on communication between Ryan and former fire department staff.

“There seems to be a generalized opinion that Skagway is a ‘small sleepy town’ with few risks/threats and target hazards,” the audit said. “The lack of frequent major incidents seems to have lulled department members into believing that a lack of preparedness is somehow okay. This cultural issue is extremely dangerous and places the community at significant risk.”

“Without a full understanding of both sides of the

communication equation, a toxic culture has been created toward the manager by some fire department staff.

By the lead consultant’s best assessment, this toxicity is misplaced and not an accurate reflection of the manager’s actual position” (pg 34).

The audit cost $46,978 plus travel expenses and took four months to complete. Ryan described the audit as a “guiding document.”

The municipality can pick and choose which elements they want to implement.

“As we grow, there will be other recommendations,” he said.

Rauscher confirmed she applied for the permanent fire chief position. Paul Meyers, former fleet manager and ER responder who resigned from his full-time job at the fire department last August, gave formal resignation from the volunteer fire department in December. He sent his letter to 23 recipients.

“As of now, because of the leadership, I cannot safely or with good conscience volunteer any more. I cannot or will not work under someone who is underqualified, risking personal life and safety,” he wrote.

Neither Ryan nor Rauscher would comment on Meyers’ letter.

“I’ve never seen the fire department so active since I’ve been here. People seem to be engaged,” Ryan said. “(We) appear to be in a building phase and they’re happy to be there,” he added.

The complete audit can

from page two The Coalition argues that should MSB and Brown prevail, the interests of the individual groups and voters in the Coalition may be impaired or impeded. Should litigation favor MSB, lines would be redrawn and the interests of the Doyon Coalition could be impacted.

The redistricting board has been criticized for lack of public transparency and equitable outreach to communities.

In a letter to the board from the Alaska Democratic Party (ADP), they state that not permitting telephone or video communications in ru-

ral communities is not in line with making meetings open to the public.

“It appears that access to the board’s meetings is not being granted to all members of the public who would like to attend. While the board may be making efforts to travel throughout the state to hear from community members in person regarding the proposed plans, the board’s decision to disallow telephonic or video conference participation at community meetings poses substantial legal problems. Not only does this practice prevent see page 5 - Redistricting

be found at https://www. way_fire_department_audit_ skagway.org/sites/default/ november_2021_final_refiles/fileattachments/bor- duced.pdf. ough_assembly/meeting/ packets/46087/7b.1_skag-

WATCH THE ICE The Skagway Chamber of Commerce office hours have changed: Monday- Friday 10am-2pm Please don’t hesitate to call, email or stop by if you are in need of anything. We are here to serve you.

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Mon. - Fri. 10am - 2pm 907-983-1898 F: 983-2031 chamber@aptalaska.net www. skagwaychamber.org

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Page 4

Editor’s column

By Melinda Munson It feels like forever, but January 2022 marks my second winter in Skagway.

Many of my friends recently returned from sun-laden beaches in Hawaii, Mexico, and that crazy state that insists on clinging to the southeast coast, Florida.

And while my globe trotting comrades had to travel on a ferry with barf bags lin-

Jan. 21, 2022

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

How to survive Skagway – winter edition ing the walls, I’m still a little jealous. One day the wind blew so hard in Skagway, we had to shovel ourselves out the front door. Only problem – the shovel was ten feet outside.

My family didn’t go anywhere this holiday season, except for the hardware store, one time, when we really needed nine volt batteries.

It’s been a long, lonely, chilly winter, particularly the three weeks of school “vacation.” Now you’ll see me around town – no makeup, bleak and haggard looking, a crick in my neck, sipping something out of a coral Yeti thermos. It might be hot co-

coa, it might be … but I digress. The point is, I’ve survived and you can too. Here are a few tips to help you get through until March.

Wear ice cleats. The four minutes it takes to struggle into crampons could save a trip to the clinic, and we all know how some residents feel about that. Wearing the proper gear doesn’t make you old, it makes you smart.

Freeze milk. And butter.

And eggs, and whatever else you buy from the store that gets you through the week.

You can count on something being unavailable each shopping trip the same way you can count on Mayor Cremata wearing a snazzy suit to as-

sembly meetings.

Lotion your appendages.

O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and their Healthy Feet cream are excellent. Both can be purchased at the hardware store. (Neither O’Keeffe’s nor the hardware store paid me to print this, but Mike O’Daniel might currently be fixing my dishwasher.)

Teen night at the library.

For anyone with teenagers – send them for your own sake.

Every Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Know your limit. For me, that’s one alcoholic beverage, maybe two on a rare, wild night. I hear stories of residents drinking their way through the winter. And while I’d like to keep Melis-

sa Lee rolling in tips, I only have one liver and my memory is already terrible.

Allow three to four weeks for delivery. My mom ordered curtains from Amazon and they came in two days. I ordered diapers and they arrived four weeks later. Once packages reach the Bermuda Triangle of Juneau, there’s no telling when they’ll be placed on Seaplanes, or if inclement weather will send them on the (hopefully well-balanced) ferry.

And last but definitely not least…

Keep a snow shovel inside.

ic lattes. This drink has many names but the same healing properties. See below for a list of benefits.

tion and bioavailability. The fat molecules get dispersed with the nutrients when blasted in a blender. The nutrients then become protected by the fat coating as they enter the digestive system.

Benefits: •Reduces inflammation •Prevents cell damage •Improves mood •Supports brain function •Improves memory •Prevents heart disease •Possibly reduces the risk of cancer •Lowers blood sugar levels •Boosts the immune system •Improves digestion •Improves bone health

Tip: Use a Magic Bullet for less clean-up.

Stay warm out there, Skagway.

Your Self-Care Coach, Cole

A monthly dose of self care - check out a golden latte recipe

I’m currently sitting on a patio in 80-degree weather on the Pacific coastline in San Pancho, Mexico. I left Alaska during a winter storm, and according to all your pictures on social media, it’s still storming and dang cold! Instead of an article this month, I wanted to offer one of my favorite mug recipes to help warm up your winter.

This lovely drink is my go-to when my body tells me I need rest, healing and warmth. It’s caffeine-free, an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, raw, gluten and dairy-free. Don’t let all that healthy fool you because it’s also delicious.

You may have heard of golden milk lattes or turmer-

Ingredients: •1/2 tsp. cinnamon powder •1/2 tsp. ginger powder •1/2 tsp. turmeric powder •1 tsp. RAW organic honey •2 tsp. coconut oil* •50 ml cold non-dairy milk (just under 1/4 a cup) •200 ml boiled water (just under 1 cup) • Optional pinch of black pepper Instructions: 1. Place all ingredients into a blender, adding the hot water last.

2. Blend until frothy.

3. Pour into your favorite mug.

4. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top for that extra special touch of love.

Carl Nord

*Blending coconut oil or Carl Nord passed away organic grass-fed butter in Oct. 26, 2021 at the age of with ‘superfoods’ helps in- 82 after an unexpected and crease the nutrients’ absorp- short illness. He was born to Fred W. Nord and Ingrid Ziegler Nord on Dec. 27, 1938 in Skagway, Alaska.

When Carl was 12 years old, the Nord family migratCheck out the great ed to Bainbridge Island. He new memoir from our loved the island life so much that he made it his permanent friend Dan Branch home. He never married and had many friends. He grad(R.I.P.) of Juneau uated from the University of Washington with a bachALL CALENDARS elor’s degree in journalism ON SALE! and geography.

He was a self-employed Open 12:30-4:30 Sun-Fri, closed Saturdays landscaper that rarely missed 907-983-3354 • www.skagwaybooks.com

SKAGUAY NEWS DEPOT & BOOKS

Nicholle Chandler, NBC-HWC, is a National Board Certified Functional Health & Wellness Coach, meditation teacher, fitness instructor and local business owner. Go to colebeecoaching.com for more information.

Dec. 27,1938 - Oct. 26, 2021 a day of work in his life.

He loved getting up in the morning and working outdoors. He maintained the Bainbridge Public Library grounds for many years as well as private homes. Carl once explained his landscaping style to a friend. “I work in the sun on a cold day, I work in the shade on a hot day, and I work under the trees on a rainy day.”

For Carl, anything new was avoided if something could be repaired. If you didn’t know Carl, you may have seen him driving a 1960s era white Chevrolet with a lawn mower sticking out of the trunk. The car actually had moss growing between the roof and the door frame.

Never having children of his own, he enjoyed coaching little league and high school softball. He loved baseball and was an avid Mariner fan who knew all the players and games going back several seasons.

He loved Skagway and felt

Obituary

the gold rush was a magical time in history. Writing about Alaska and the experiences of his Skagway classmates, he published three books. He enjoyed Christmas and giving gifts wrapped in newsprint. He went to hundreds of plays in his life and was closing on a lifetime personal goal.

His friends think of Carl as soft-spoken, kind, giving, unassuming, positive and interesting.

He is survived by his sister, Mimi Nord of Burien, Washington, and the Bainbridge baseball children he coached that affectionally call themselves “Carl Nord’s Kids.”

There will be a celebration of Carl Nord’s life this coming summer. The June date will be announced in the Bainbridge paper and on Facebook. If you wish to remember Carl, please make a donation to the Skagway Historical Museum or the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum.

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

Jan. 21, 2021

Panthers dominate season basketball opener

The Skagway girls basketball team opened the season with a split at home against the Thunder Mountain (Juneau) JV team on Jan. 7-8. The Lady Panthers dominated the opener 55-37, using their press to force many turnovers that they turned into points. However, Skagway got into early foul trouble in the second game and never mustered a rally to catch the Falcons, who won 37-28.

The Panther boys open their season Jan. 21-22 at home agains Hydaburg, and then both teams hit the road Jan. 23-29 to Angoon and Kake.

Photos by Jeff Brady

Police & Fire Blotter Submitted by Skagway Police Department

Dec. 4 Police assisted with securing a residential door on 17th Avenue.

Police assisted with securing a commercial building on 1st Avenue.

Dec. 5 Police assisted with unlocking a vehicle. The owner’s keys were inside.

Dec. 7 Fire personnel responded to an automated fire alarm on Broadway Street.

Athena Smith passes ahead to Lennon Jennings after a steal in the backcourt. Jennings led Skagway with 9 points in the second game.

Tatum Sager knocks in a 3-pointer.

She led all scorers with 27 points in Skagway’s 55-37 opening victory.

Dispatch assisted with contacting a responsible party to secure a door at a downtown business.

Fire personnel responded to an audible smoke alarm at a congregate housing unit on Broadway Street.

Dec. 9 Fire personnel responded to a report of smoke coming from a residential dwelling. It was determined to be coming from the wood stove.

Ava Myers drives the lane for a shot for two of her 12 points in the win.

Eighth grader Kenadie Cox had no fear defending against the Falcons.

Census delays shorten time for redistricting litigation

from page two participation by members of rural communities who are logistically unable to travel to meeting locations, but it also excludes from meetings those who do not wish to risk infection from the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic,” writes the ADP in the letter dated Oct. 26, 2021.

Brena acknowledges that the trial is being done at lightning speed considering that the census information was delayed by four months and what would have been a six month preparation for all parties has turned into six weeks.

He said there were some problems with the redistricting board getting transcripts ready in time.

“I found myself having to depose witnesses without the benefit of transcripts,” he said.

The other option to using transcripts was to listen to hours of testimony to try and find the information he was

looking for.

Brena compared the legal process with the judge as the umpire calling balls and strikes. Brena felt the board used attorney client privilege more than would be expected.

“They were protecting over 2,400 emails under attorney client privilege when many of them didn’t even include the attorney,” he said.

In addition, during the fast track to handle the trial and all areas of discovery, the board came under scrutiny when their attorney, Matt Singer, asked for discovery items that included requests for “all communications (including emails and/or text messages) you have sent or received that relate in any way to your participation in this lawsuit” as an example from a request for production dated Dec. 23, 2021.

When four of the five plaintiffs refused, Singer filed a motion to compel.

The motion to compel was denied by Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Matthews, considering the board’s motion to be “overly broad and burdensome.”

An unnamed source shared that during discovery, the board produced thousands of non-searchable documents (scanned hard copies) to the plaintiffs, making analysis and research difficult.

The trial begins Jan. 21 via Zoom and is scheduled to last 11 days generally, running from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a lunch break.

The proceedings will be live-streamed on the Alaska State Court YouTube channel.

Page 5

Dec. 10 Fire personnel responded to an automated fire alarm at a commercial building on Main Street.

Dec. 12 Fire personnel responded to an automated fire alarm on Broadway Street.

Dec. 14 Police assisted with unlocking a vehicle. The owner’s keys were inside.

Police assisted with a burglary alarm at a downtown business.

Dispatch assisted a citizen with contacting the on duty provider at Dahl Memorial Clinic (DMC).

Dec. 21 EMS personnel assisted with a wellness check.

Klondike Highway closed due to an avalanche on the Canadian side.

Dec. 22 The Klondike Highway reopened.

Dec. 24 Dispatch assisted a citizen with contacting the DMC on duty provider.

EMS personnel assisted with a scheduled medevac from DMC. Dec. 29 The Klondike Highway closed on the Canadian side.

Dec. 30 The Klondike Highway reopened.

Jan. 2 The Klondike Highway closed due to high winds, large snow drifts and an avalanche.

Jan. 3 The Klondike Highway reopened.

Police secured an open door at a residential dwelling on Main Street.

Jan. 4 Fire personnel responded to an automated fire alarm on 2nd Avenue.

The Klondike Highway closed due to an avalanche on the Canadian side.

Dispatch assisted in contacting the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a downed tree on Dairy Drive.

The Klondike Highway reopened.

Jan. 5 Fire personnel responded to multiple automated fire alarms in the downtown area.

Fire alarms were triggered due to a power outage.

Jan. 6 Dispatch assisted in contacting the DOT for a downed tree on Dairy Drive.

Jan. 9 The Klondike Highway closed due to dangerous driving conditions.

Jan. 11 The Klondike Highway reopened.

Dispatch assisted in contacting DOT for a snow slide on Dyea Road.

Police responded to a hit and run accident, no reported injuries.

Page 6

Family Fun Page - print and share Across 1 Workout woes 7 Kind of stock option 10 Go bananas 11 “--- neither and you say neither...”

13 Pay back 14 Fermented rice drink 15 Kernel 16 Evita’s successor 18 Isn’t slang 20 Edge 21 Leaves port 24 Starts the show 26 Cribbage marker 27 Hawkeye state 29 Becomes violently active 31 Dull to learn by

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35 Roman aloha 36 Aviator Earhart 38 On one’s rocker?

39 German children 40 Beat it 41 Remodels Down 1 Silent one 2 Wander aimlessly 3 “ ... take arms against -- of troubles”(Hamlet) 4 Crackers 5 Cast lead block 6 Bierkeller mug 7 Its most famous landmark does not look normal!

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Last issue’s answers

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THE SKAGWAY NEWS 9 Bamboozle 12 Shrill cries 17 Store afloat 19 “Till the Devil whispered

behind the leaves, “It’s pretty, but --- Art ?””(Kipling)

21 Detailed requirements 22 Forward pass 23 Crested herbivorous lizard 25 Immediate ancestor 28 Honshu port 30 Composition in verse 32 Ye --- Tea Shoppe 33 Layer of a wedding cake 34 Corn spikes 37 .001 inch

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Payment can be made by cash, check or credit card. Out-oftown ads must be pre-paid with a credit card and should be phoned in to 907-9832354. All ads appear in our online edition for a minimum of two weeks.

www.skagway.org for job announcements or to download an application or contact m.gihl@skagway.org for further information.

JOBS-OPPORTUNITIES The Municipality of Skagway is accepting application for a variety of positions.

Please visit the borough’s employment opportunities section at

HOUSING AND PROPERTY COMMERCIAL-PROPERTY BUSINESS FOR SALE: Gold Digger Mine and Dine For more information see https://www. skagway.forsale/

MARKETPLACE FOR SALE PERSONALS-MISC. SERVICES FOOD BANK DONATIONS WELCOME. Donations may be

BROADWAY BULLETIN BOARD COMMUNITY CALENDAR Library Hours: M-F 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Sunday (COVID-19 mitigation practices are in place) Call 983-2665 or email library@skagway.org Dahl Clinic Winter Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Sat. and Sun. For after-hours emergencies, please dial 911.

Incinerator Hours T, Th, Sa. 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 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

See www.skagway.org for borough meeting updates.

Email Updates & New Events: editor@skagwaynews.com

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 10 a.m.

Women’s Prayer 10 a.m Tues.

Bible Study time varies.

Please inquire.

Online access available to all events.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

11th & State • 983-2518 Sun. Sacrament Meeting...10 a.m.

Sun. School/Primary ...11:10 a.m.

Relief Society/Priesthood..12 p.m.

St. Therese Catholic Church 9th & State • 983-2271 Sun. Mass.......................5 p.m.

Mass Mon. & Tues.....12:10 p.m. (when a priest is available)

RECREATION CTR SCHED Skagway Recreation Center • 12th & Main • 983-2679 Cardio • Weight Room • Locker Rooms • Showers • Rock Wall OPEN regular hours Please sign up for classes, wt. room use and cardio floor use at https://signupschedule.com/src

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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 or 907-6120313.

Weather Watch NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OBSERVATIONS FOR PREVIOUS 24-HOUR PERIOD BEFORE 7 A.M.

DATE MAX MIN PREC

Weather Watch 12/15 -1/15 12/15 16 13 12/16 14 9 12/17 18 6 .10 12/18 19 14 .10 12/19 26 19 12/20 21 10 12/21 23 12 .41 12/22 30 10 trace 12/23 20 2 12/24 19 13 12/25 20 11 12/26 12 10 12/27 23 10 .14 12/28 32 12 12/29 36 13 .15 12/30 31 12 .07 12/31 29 10 .02 1/1 30 19 .41 1/2 28 8 .02 1/3 9 5 trace 1/4 6 2 1/5 4 -1 1/6 1 -5 1/7 6 -2 1/8 7 -3 1/9 8 -5 .05 1/10 23 0 .47 1/11 31 22 .18 1/12 39 31 .02 1/13 38 32 trace 1/14 40 32 .25 1/15 38 32 .12

Jan. 21, 2022

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THE SKAGWAY NEWS

Fire department incorporates indigienous art in new logo

By Melinda Munson The Skagway Fire Department redesigned its logo in collaboration with local Tlingit/Haida artist Beau Dennis. The sleek new patch was unveiled at the Dec. 16 assembly meeting and announced on the fire department’s Facebook page Dec. 22.

Skagway Traditional Council President Jaime Bricker happened to accidentally see a poster of the logo before the Dec. 16 meeting.

“I saw the design up in city hall and flipped out,” she said. “It’s an incredible design.”

“I’m just so excited our community in all facets is embracing indiginous culture. It makes me proud,” Bricker said.

The center of the patch is

Skagway’s original fire logo, created by the town’s longest serving fire chief, Carl Mulvihill. Formline art fills the outer Maltese cross.

Emily Rauscher, acting fire chief, explained the inspiration behind the blending of the two elements.

“Together, they serve as a reminder of our history so that we may grow and move forward, always remembering where we came from,” she said.

Formline art, a traditional style that dates back two thousands years along the Pacific Northwest Coast, was used to decorate, tell stories and record family histories. It incorporates specific shapes and colors and uses negative and positive space to create bold designs.

To complete the fire logo, Dennis filled the cross arms

with ovoids, with U-shapes radiating off the ovoids.

Dennis said the formline on this project doesn’t represent anything in particular or tell a story.

“Sometimes you can just do a design that’s a design,” he said.

The artist started teaching himself formline about six years ago. He went to workshops and studied books. His inspirations are the old masters from the 1800s. He kept his very first drawing, which he described as “atrocious” to remind himself how much he has accomplished.

Dennis designed the logo for Skagway School which adorns the gymnasium floor, taught art classes for local kids through the Skagway Childcare Council and volunteered to design the new logo wear for the Fraternal

and the boxes could then be recycled.

The team further hypothesized that a version of the spray could be applied to the bottom of cargo ships, creating less resistance, requiring less fuel and lessening the carbon footprint.

The Cargo Crocs created a business plan and had it notarized, spoke with an attorney about how to protect their idea, contacted RepelWell and shared their presentation with local shipping experts.

Robotics Team Coach Mary Thole has coached FLL for about six years. She takes it seriously and tries not to add up the hours of practices and fundraising.

Her goal is for each team to “sell the idea so they can have their college or after highschool nest egg.”

The team’s competition robot, Keith McLean, is named after Keith Tentlanger who created the cargo container stacking system and Malcom McLean, who invented the intermodal shipping container.

Mark Walker, Skagway School technology director, is the robot coach, but the kids sometimes call him Mr. Wizard.

This year’s FLL experience has been challenginging. Luca Tronrud pointed out that many of the team

members, like him, woke up early for basketball practice, then stayed after school for robotics, making a long day with little free time.

There were new skills to be learned, from coding to communication.

Learning to code was easier for some students than others.

“Some people got it faster,” said Kelsey Cox. “I kept working and working and then it got fun.”

For Zane Coughran, “learning to speak clearly” and “working with people

that have different ideas” was an accomplishment he will bring into his next endeavor.

Ryder Calver noticed the team’s increased ability to communicate in a large group setting.

“We were all talking over each other. Now we work out a system,” he said.

Thole is proud of her students’ growth.

“That’s what robotics is about. Everyone moving forward together,” she said.

Order of the Eagles #25. He is currently working on a commission for the municipality which entails formline metal cutouts of eagles which will be installed on the Shoreline Park Restroom.

Dennis, whose Tlingit name is NeechWhoDia, said having indiginous representation in the borough is important.

“It’s huge. It means a great deal. It’s the muni acknowl-

edging there was life before the gold rush,” he said.

Crocs prepare to wow judges at State

Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Southcoast Region PUBLIC NOTICE: SEASONAL VEHICLE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS Issue Date: January 2022

This notice is to remind the public and the trucking industry that seasonal weight/load restrictions will be imposed soon by the Department on its highway system for all vehicles over 10,000# GVW. These annual weight restrictions are intended to reduce roadway damage caused by heavy vehicles traveling on highways weakened during spring thawing conditions. The weight restrictions are stated as a percentage of legal allowable weight and shall be applied to the maximum axle loading in accordance with 17 AAC 25.013(e).

These annual restrictions are very dependent upon weather, local soil conditions, and frost depth, but usually occur between late February and May each year for Southeast Alaska, Kodiak Island, and the Alaska Peninsula. Since these limitations may reduce the allowable gross vehicle weight by as much as 50%, it would be advisable to transport as much freight as possible prior to the above dates. All State routes may be subject to seasonal weight restrictions.

When imposed, or modified, these restrictions will be posted on the DOT&PF Division of Measurement Standards and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement webpage.

This can be found at: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/mscve/main.cfm

• Under Commercial Vehicle tab at the top of the page, click Weight Restrictions.

Julius Thole and Zane Coughran prepare to run a mission on the the board with their competition robot, Keith McLean.

• Choose the latest Southcoast Region listing to view the current version of our posted seasonal weight restriction notices.

The Department of Public Safety and MSCVE officers will be enforcing these restrictions.

Issued by: Marcus Zimmerman, Maintenance & Operations Specialist Email: marcus.zimmerman@alaska.gov Phone: (907) 465-4655 Fax: (907) 465-2021 If you or someone you represent requires special accommodations in order to respond to this public notice, please call or email the project coordinator listed above, or call Alaska Relay at 711, or call

Photos by Melinda Munson

Members of the team including Waylon Bricker and Ryder Calver, far right, practice their presentation.

(800) 770-8973 for TTY

(800) 770-8255 for voice

(800) 770-3919 for ASCII

(866) 355-6198 for STS

Ask the communications assistant to call the project coordinator listed above so arrangements can be made to assist you.