The Skagway News - March 25, 2022

DDF

Buckwheat returns

Feeling lucky?

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THE SKAGWAY NEWS.

Heads to nationals Page 3

Conditions were great Page 8

Train your brain Page 5

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

March 25, 2022

$1.50

High school robotics team ends season with a win

By Melinda Munson In a town focused on basketball, there wasn’t much fanfare when the high school robotics club, the Prickles, headed to Anchorage to participate in State.

But according to Coach Mindy Miller, there was plenty of excitement in the arena as Skagway’s eight-member team competed in the First Tech Challenge (FTC), Feb. 25-26.

“It was gut wrenching. The robot kept breaking down but they pulled through,” she said. The Prickles ended up earning Second Place Finalist and the Connect Award, for technical and non-technical outreach.

Co-Coach Andy Miller listed the skills students learn when they join the robotics club: public speaking, building a portfolio, Word, Excel, 3D printing, CAD and JavaScript.

He described the experience as a “whole lot of classes wrapped into one.”

The Millers started the high school team in 2019.

Previously, they coached the junior high club. When their kids aged out, there was no high school equivalent, so the Millers established a secondary team.

“It’s an alternative to basketball. I didn’t like basketball that much,” said their son, ninth grader Calvin.

Calvin takes after his mom, who participated in Skagway basketball, but said she didn’t really enjoy it.

“This would have taught me way more life skills,” Mindy said.

Robotics is all about learning, and sometimes the elder (see page 5- Robotics)

Photo by Jeff Brady

Skagway volunteer and LCSS Vice President Cory Thole tows kids back from the aid station castle. See the story and more pictures on page 8.

Two DMC board directors replaced by assembly members ‘The clinic is failing to meet the needs of our community’

By Melinda Munson In an unprecedented move, the Skagway Borough Assembly voted to replace two Dahl Memorial Clinic (DMC) Board of Directors with two of their own members.

Long-time board members Linda Calver and Cory Thole were asked by Mayor Andrew Cremata to step down.

They both declined but were removed after a five to one vote on March 17, with Jay Burnham the only assembly member voting against the measure.

Calver and Thole were replaced by Assemblymember Deb Potter and Dustin Stone.

Asemblymember Reba Hylton was relieved as assembly liaison with Assemblymember Sam Bass taking her place.

The shakeup comes as the

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clinic struggles to maintain adequate qualified staff and health consortium SEARHC is in talks with the municipality to possibly takeover clinic land, buildings and services, depending on a yet unscheduled municipal vote. “...I don’t think anybody would have chosen this as their first go-to way to address the problems at the clinic,” Stone said. “…the clinic is failing to meet the

needs of our community.

And that failure lies on all of us, everybody sitting up here and everybody on the clinic board. Currently, the amount of turnover at the clinic is unacceptable. It’s unacceptable when patients are turned away because the clinic is short-staffed or does not have the ability to treat as needed. There’s a lot that’s unacceptable going on at the clinic. And this is not

new. This is a problem that we’ve been talking about and addressing for longer than I can remember, at this point. So now it’s time to potentially make a potentially unpopular decision. Because it needs to be addressed.

This isn’t about protecting people’s feelings.”

Thole, who was clinic board vice-president prior to the vote, suggested increas-

By Melinda Munson The assembly voted Feb. 17 to give a two-year contract to manage Garden City RV Park and Pullen Creek RV Park to JBW at $88,000 per year. According to Borough Manager Brad Ryan, the contract fell through. “…This has been a bit of a roller coaster,” Ryan said. “…the low, low bidder and us couldn’t get all the paperwork in order to complete that contract, and by code

within seven days if that doesn’t happen, we go to the next lowest bidder.”

The next lowest bidder was Heger Construction, LLC at $126,700 annually. Janilyn Heger’s name was on the bid form with no subcontractors listed. The assembly voted unanimously to award a oneyear contract.

“I look forward to the Hegers running a good RV park this summer,” said As-

semblymember Orion Hanson. “I know they will. Janilyn is taskmaster, if you’ve ever met her, dealt with her – she runs a tight ship. And her husband is a very talented guy. I’m looking forward to a good season.”

The contract runs April 15, 2022 to April 14, 2023, with the Hegers responsible for bookings throughout the off-season.

(see page 3- DMC board )

RV parks contract re-awarded to next bidder

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The Skagway News.

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Christened in 1897, buried alive in 1904 and resurrected in 1978, The Skagway News is currently celebrating 45 years of reporting in Skagway and Dyea, Alaska, recording our Centennial years and beyond.

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by April 1 Vol. XLV, No.5 (921) Mar. 25, 2022

Published on the second and fourth Friday of the month

Phone: (907) 983-2354 www.skagwaynews.com editor@skagwaynews.com sales@skagwaynews.com Publishers Melinda Munson Gretchen Wehmhoff Managing Editor Melinda Munson Production Editor/Sales Gretchen Wehmhoff Contributors Denise Caposy Editor Emeritus

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March 25, 2022

Letters and Opinion

Statement on Upcoming Special Election for U.S House Seat Alaskans for Better Elections share our condolences with the family, friends, staff and all Alaskans on the passing of Congressman Don Young, Dean of the House, who served the 49th State for the last 49 years.

When a vacancy occurs in the U.S. House of Representatives, a provision of the United States Constitution requires a special election to be called before a replacement can be seated.

The timeline for the election is guided by state law and the exact date will be announced by the Governor.

Existing law, prior to the passage of Ballot Measure 2 in 2020, already required this system of special elections and BM2 left that timeline intact. However, prior law required an initial election followed by a runoff election if no

candidate achieved a majority of votes.

BM2 replaced that system with a top four special primary and ranked choice special election.

Since this will be Alaskans’ first opportunity to use their new voting system, education and community engagement will be critical. It is unknown how many candidates will ultimately file for the seat, but under this system, voters will be assured that the majority of Alaskans stand behind the people we send to represent us in Washington D.C. With Alaska having a single seat in the House, the intent of the voters should be paramount.

The new system is simple: a nonpartisan primary will be open to all candidates and all voters. Each voter chooses their one favorite, and the top four vote

Peace to Ukraine

In 2008, I left Skagway to be with my Grandpa Joy in the last year of his life. Among many talents, my Grandpa was an avid gardener in his able years. It was a great sadness for him when he lost the ability to tend his roses and care for his modest yard. One of my favorite memories of our last summer together was going to the Tacoma Farmers Market with him and Mom. He lit up seeing all the fresh flowers. I bought him a photo of sunflowers that day. It hung in his living room until his death. Since then, it has hung in my bedroom, reminding me daily of the strong and beautiful man that helped me in so many ways through my life.

Now, it also reminds me of Ukraine and the strong and beautiful people who are fighting for their right to live freely.

I heard someone complain about a daily inconvenience we experience in Skagway, calling it “the worst.” It’s not the worst. We are so blessed to be here in this time and place, despite the inconveniences, despite the uncertainties and fears about the upcoming year. The worst is to live in a land where your neighbor bombs your children’s hospital. The worst is being told there is a secure space for you to flee fighting only to have the ones promising safety bomb the path you tread.

We are blessed. Please, let’s all do our best to be thankful for the lives we enjoy and to do what we are able to help those who do not enjoy the blessings we find at home. Peace to you, my friends.

Peace to Ukraine.

- Wendy Anderson

getters will advance to a general election.

In the general election, ranked choice voting will allow voters to rank candidates in order of their preference. When a candidate receives a majority, they win. If no candidate receives a majority in the first round, the candidate with the fewest first choice votes is eliminated and voters who ranked them first have their vote transferred to their next choice. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority.

Alaskans for Better Elections will continue to fully support Alaskans and the Division of Elections as we transition to this new system.

Jason Grenn Executive Director Alaskans for Better Elections

Robotics holds open house

Leo Lucchetti and Charles Deach run the autonomous program of the Prickles robot. See story on the front page.

Poetry Out Loud contestant advances to State

January 2022 Students of the Month Originality

All print subscriptions include online access.

Skagway (local) $30 Out-of-town $45 (periodical rate) Online Only $25

Photo provided by family

Callia Fielding, far right, pictured with her sisters, competed Feb. 2 at Skagway School and advanced to the state finals for Poetry Out Loud. She performed “We Are Not Responsible” by Harryette Mullen, “Passive Voice” by Laura Da, and “Silence” by Thomas Hood.

Corrections

USPS 697130 ISSN 0745-872X

Periodicals postage paid at Skagway, Alaska 99840 and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER send address changes to: The Skagway News PO Box 244, Skagway, AK 99840

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

Photo provided by Skagway School

Matyas Schindler (3rd), Jaxon Larsen (5th) and Paige Rurner (12th)

Paul Myers name was misspelled in previous editions.

In the March 11 issue, the caption for the team photo of the girls basketball team should have been credited to Paul Myers. We regret the errors.

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

March 25, 2022

ing the board of directors from nine to 11 or making “every regular clinic board meeting a joint HEW meeting.”

He suggested “…instead of removing senior members of the DMC board that have an intrinsic knowledge of clinic business, structure, operations and policy, and replacing them with assembly members who have limited knowledge of clinic nuances and may already be stretched thin in their responsibilities as an elected official and personal lives/ careers, we collaborate and combine resources.”

“The best path forward in rebuilding the clinic and restoring community trust is to work together,” he said.

“Under a shared vision. Not to create scenarios that can lead to questions there may be alternative motives for restructuring the makeup of the DMC Board. Especially under the shadow of the

SEARHC Letter of Intent the additional stress that has created for staff members and community members alike.”

The assembly’s move was made pursuant to SMC 3.17.025(A), after review by the borough attorney.

Assemblymember Deb Potter emphasized her willingness to collaborate.

“We are in this together,” she said. “It’s a co-applicant agreement. It’s the assembly and the clinic board. …This is a decision that wasn’t taken lightly and it’s absolutely not about any individual.

As assembly members we get hit up all the time with complaints about the clinic and it’s really frustrating to only be able to say assembly members have little control over what is going on at the clinic. My hope coming from this is that we together as the assembly in the clinic board can look at things maybe with fresh eyes.”

Assemblymember Sam

Bass acknowledged how the vote might appear to the community.

“I do think that this decision … can come across as a bit, as a bit drastic. But I do think it’s reasonable. And I think, again, that the reason it’s reasonable, is that we have to have a functioning clinic. It has to be a highly functioning clinic. We’re a very isolated, small community with a lot of visitors. We have to have a functioning, highly functioning clinic…”

Katie Auer, an alternate member, was named to a permanent seat. Board Member Lisa Mandeville noted at the meeting that some unexpected board vacancies had very recently arisen.

The only assembly member to express support for SEARHC taking over the clinic is Hylton. Potter and Stone have remained neutral on the topic. Bass noted he backs the clinic staying in local hands.

By Gretchen Wehmhoff The DDF Panthers rocked through the competitions at the Southeast regional tournament, placing first and second in most contests. In duo interpretation of literature, Juniors Callia Fielding and Tessa Murphy placed first and Seniors Tatum Sager and Paige Turner took second. Fielding placed second in informative speaking and fourth in extemporaneous speaking. Sager took first in oration and second in informative. The reader’s theater ensemble of Fielding, Murphy, Sager, Turner and freshman Kaitlyn Tronrud took first place.

The team sent six competitors to the state tournament in Anchorage Feb. 17-19.

Those six speakers brought home enough awards to receive the State Runner up Sweepstakes Award.

“Pretty amazing for such a small team,” said Coach Kent Fielding. The team limit for any school is 15 participants.

Fielding and Murphy placed first in Dou Interpretation with Sager and Turner placing second. Fielding also took second in informative speaking. The readers’

theater (RT) team of Fielding, Murphy, Sager, Athena Smith and Turner placed second.

Coach Fielding said the RT team was placing first in each of the three preliminary rounds and the audience was prepared to hear Skagway win first – but things didn’t go that way.

“It took the Sitka team about 10 seconds to realize they had actually won,” he said The RT team performed a collage of poetry, fiction and articles that expressed what it means to be a woman in 2021. They titled it Bodies to Society. The girls created the piece to make a statement coming from young women about the societal issues facing women. The RT received a command performance.

“The students really wanted to make statements with the pieces they chose to do.

The statement was more important to the girls than winning,” he said.

“This was probably one of the most fun seasons I’ve had coaching,” said Coach Fielding.

Skagway has sent at least one person a year to national competitions. This team

is the largest team Skagway will have ever sent,” said Coach Fielding.

Sager and Turner placed first in duo interpretation at the Western Washington Qualifying Tournament March 2-4, qualifying the girls for nationals.

There are several national tournaments on the schedule for the state winners.

Fielding, Murphy, Sager and Turner will compete online at the National Individual Event Tournament of Champions May 12-14.

Fielding and Murphy will also compete at the National Catholic Forensic League in Washington, D.C. over Memorial Day weekend. Fielding, Murphy, Sager, Smith and Turner will all compete in the National Speech and Debate Association tournament in June.

Fundraising is always a part of participating in DDF. Prior to 2019, the team normally took the state ferry to tournaments. Since then, with fewer ferries available, the team has had to fly more often, bringing the cost of going to trips sometimes out of reach.

While the school district

DMC sees changes in the board of directors continued from front page

DDF sends five to nationals

(see page 5- DDF)

“When it comes to the SEARHC question, I probably lean more to not having SEARHC,” Bass said. “And I’ll just publicly say … that I think that the community, I hope the community can maintain their own clinic.”

Page 3

Chilkoot-GatewayInsurance Agency

Our office is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Due to the size of our office, we can only accommodate one person or family unit at a time so PLEASE make an appointment.

Masks are REQUIRED If you feel strongly about the use of a face mask, give us a call as we can do most things electronically, if necessary.

Agent Debbie L. Ackerman, CISR PH:(907)983-2240

251 State Street

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

7th & State

P.O.B. 194

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Open 12:30-4:30 Sun-Fri, closed Saturdays 907-983-3354 • www.skagwaybooks.com

Page 4

Editor’s column

March 25, 2022

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

I sold my soul for a pair of boots

tomer service counter at my favorite big box store and plunked my return on the counter. The associate eyed the mud-covered rain boots, mended in true Alaska style with duct tape.

“I’ll need to call my manager,” she hedged.

The manager, clad in red,

By Melinda Munson literally came running over.

(Editor’s note: Melinda is He was young, hip and sick this week, so this is an looked well rested. (If he had oldie but goodie, written be- a baby, it wasn’t keeping him fore the BIG MOVE to Skag- up at night.) way. Nowadays, she would I explained that I had buy Xtra Tuffs at Duffs, bought the boots at the bewhere the products perse- ginning of the summer. My vere and customer service is 8-year-old had worn them guaranteed.) just a few times on the river I walked up to the cus- before they broke. Since he’s

not a commercial fisherman, I figured it was reasonable to get a refund.

The manager disagreed.

“If you had brought them in after the first couple of weeks, I could help you,” he said.

My eyes narrowed and my super-patient, super-slow mom voice emerged.

“So, you only stand behind your products for a few weeks?” I asked. “Should I expect everything I buy here to last only a few weeks?”

I politely informed Mr. Hip that one pair of rain boots for each of our seven kids totals $200 yearly. Multiply that by the number of years until each child turns 18, and my family was a rubber gold mine.

He was not impressed.

I got huffy and said something passive aggressive, which I would quickly regret.

“That’s fine. We’ll never buy boots here again. I don’t

trust your products.” I asked him to throw the offending boots away and headed for the baby aisle.

As we passed the boy’s boots, I noticed there were only a few left. One pair was my son’s size, a pattern I knew he would like. I cursed myself for throwing away the damaged footwear. They would have lasted until the first snowfall when we could pull out the winter paraphernalia.

That’s when Satan appeared.

“Xtra Tuffs are expensive and he’ll grow out of them fast,” The Father of All Lies murmured in my ear.

In a weak moment, I reached for the forbidden boots. Trying to hide my lack of moral character, I hid the shoes at the bottom of the cart underneath underwear and tampons.

At the checkout, I put the wellies on the conveyor belt at the last possible sec-

ond while I furtively looked around for Mr. Hip. The checker rang up the boots and left them next to my bagged items, the bright blue and green shark pattern a testament to my lack of moral fiber.

I felt dirty and cheap.

“Pstt,” I whispered to the clerk. “Can you bag the boots, please?”

She looked at me funny and put the tainted purchase in a big bag, along with my pride. I hurried home.

Later, at the Munson Manor, Sam pulled on the boots with a big grin.

“I love them!” he said as he plodded around the house planning his next fishing trip with Dad. Sometimes, selling your soul is worth it.

Are you a homeowner experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic?

You are not alone. You may be eligible for Alaska Housing Homeowner Assistance.

Apply online at: AlaskaHousingRelief.org Deadline to apply is Monday, April 4, 2022, 11:59 p.m. AKST Questions? Call 1-833-330-8290 toll free

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

March 25, 2022

Are you feeling lucky?

By Nicholle Chandler The brain doesn’t like to be wrong.

It will decide on something (negative or positive) and then spend time looking for reasons to back that thought up. It’s called psychological consistency.

Emily Fletcher, the author of “Stress Less, Accomplish More,” held a global meditation on Instagram a year ago.

The lesson was on luck. It was all about seeing luck differently and using affirmations to make our brain back it up.

“You are what you say you are. The trick? You have to believe it,” she said as I stared at my phone with about 200 other people from around the world.

Belief is powerful but not always easy. As I continued to listen, I reflected on my mental health journey. When we struggle with depression and anxiety, our brain will prove the lies that depression tells us.

And we all know depression is a lying bastard.

Those lies put us in the wheel of endless rumination and spiraling down in a black hole of doom. I’ve been there. I still sometimes go there. It’s not fun. Nothing lucky or positive comes from thoughts that are stuck in a scary black hole.

Emily invited us to practice an exercise for the next seven days to get us into a mindset of luck and positive beliefs. It’s called Dump, Affirm, Manifest.

Here’s the practice: DUMP - For one minute, dump/rant out all the things bogging you down. It might sound like this: “I am so sick of this weather. I hate my job. I need new friends. I can’t stand my loud neighbor!” etc. It’s pretty easy to rant during these times. LET IT RIP! (If you don’t feel the need to rant, then skip step one.)

AFFIRM - After your one minute rant, take a deep breath and say: “I am the luckiest person I know. Lucky things happen to me. I am lucky.”

MANIFEST - Part of luck is getting very clear on what you want, why you want it and saying it aloud. Sit in the feeling of already having it. Write it out in your journal or say it out loud to yourself.

During my rant that day, not only did it feel good to yell aloud the things that were upsetting me, but surprisingly, I started laughing. Venting them out loud to an empty apartment (except my dog Max – he did look at me curiously), I began to hear my Inner Brat, and a smile miraculously formed in the chaos. It was nice to be able to laugh at her finally. (Curious about the Inner Brat? Read “Maybe it’s You” by Lauren Zander.)

If you still aren’t feeling lucky after the seven days, Emily suggests being someone else’s luck. Buy someone coffee, leave a stranger a note, tip too much or pull a favor for someone “just because.” The act of creating luck for others may give you insights into how fortunate you are.

After doing this for seven days, I won the land lottery, passed the National Board Exam and a potential buyer for my stores expressed interest.

I am lucky.

Lucky things happen to me.

I am the luckiest person I know.

XO, - Cole 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.

Page 5

Robotics

Continued from front

an elective credit, one time Millers don’t have all the an- only. swers.

The robotics team memAt a Prickles open house, bers are engaged, thoughtful eighth grader Lina Hischer and, well – teenagers. demonstrated a 3D printer “How cool is it to drive which the team used to cre- a robot around? It’s every ate plastic pieces to supple- kid’s dream,” said Charles ment their metal robot. This is the first year the team has utilized such technology.

They watched YouTube tutorials and contacted another helps with some travel, the team in the Lower 48 to un- budget doesn’t cover it all.

Fielding hopes the team derstand the techniques.

The printer is on loan from can find an addition $5,000 the Skagway Development to $7,000 to help them get Corp. Hischer has her eye to the Metlakatla and Sitka on a model that costs around tournaments.

Coach Fielding figures $350 that could “print anythey need another $12,000 thing for a robot.”

Since the club gets no funding from the school, earning money is a large part of the team’s duties. Duffs, Klondike Doughboy and White Pass have helped sponsor the Prickles.

Adalia Deach estimates the club spends half their time fundraising.

“It makes it a lot harder to get the funding to do what other teams do,” she said.

According to Adalia, most teams are at least partially funded by their school.

“We’d like to have more involvement with the school,” she said.

In Juneau, club members receive half a science credit every season. Skagway School currently offers half

DDF wrap up

Deach, sophomore.

Visit the team’s website at https://theprickles.wixsite. com/prickles and https:// www.firstinspires.org to learn more about non-profit robotics programs.

Continued from front

to fund the national trips.

He says there will be a community performance on April 16 at Happy Endings Saloon. The team will present a variety of their pieces for about an hour and a half.

They hope to accept donations at the event.

Page 6

Family Fun Page - print and share Across 1 Out of whack 4 Brass groupings 9 Running great --- Devers 10 In plain view 11 Approximately 12 More recent 13 Where landlubbers are found 15 Drink greedily 17 Rotation period 18 Wingless parasites 19 Sacked out 22 Al --- (pasta order) 23 Shuck 24 Short Egyptian boy king?

March 25, 2022

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

25 “Avenger” Mrs. Peel 26 Birl 30 Gem State capital 32 Czech track champ -- Zátopek 33 Orange Muppet 34 Pestered persistently 35 Takes five 36 It can be the limit Down 1 Rowers in a boat 2 Angle 3 Bad places to build houses 4 Thin as a rake 5 Reverential salutation 6 Publications from special groups

7 Became shorter 8 Hard-and-fast 9 Former Portuguese colony in India 14 Backstabber 16 “Aw, heck!”

19 --- who must be obeyed 20 Surplus furniture 21 “Rum Punch” writer --- Leonard 22 Batman and Robin, for example 24 Corners 27 Out of control 28 In apple-pie order 29 Catastrophic occurrence (abbr.)

31 Command to Rover

Last issue’s answers

codeword

To play codeword, refer to the grid above with 26 spaces. Three boxes have letters. For instance, box 17 has an R. Find all of the boxes in the puzzle numbered 17 and place an R in them. Do the same for the other two clues. All number 12 boxes should be filled with a C. All number 26 boxes should be filled with an I. Once you fill the spaces, you should start to put together words. As you find new number codes, enter them in the grid above and fill them in on the puzzle. Good luck.

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THE SKAGWAY NEWS

March 25, 2022

News Classified Ads cost 40 cents per word, $4 minimum.

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JOBS-OPPORTUNITIES

Longtime summer worker desperately searching for housing for upcoming season. Text or call 907-312-6413.

The Municipality of Skagway is accepting application for a variety of positions. Please visit the borough’s employment opportunities section at www.skagway.org for job announcements or to download an application or contact m.gihl@

HOUSING AND PROPERTY

PERSONALS-MISC. SERVICES FOOD

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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 or 907-6120313.

LEGAL ADS The Municipality of Skagway is accepting bids to provide janitorial services for Skagway Municipal Buildings including: City Hall (700 Spring St.), AB Hall (245 Broadway), and the Skagway Public Library (769 State St.).

These locations include municipal

DONATIONS

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 7:30 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

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

8th & State • 907-983-2350 Sun. Worship....................11 a.m.

Wed. Bible Devotions & Prayer 7 p.m.

Email skagwayag@outlook.com

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First Presbyterian Church 5th & Main • 983-2260 Sunday Worship 11 a.m.

Sunday School 9:45 a.m.

Women’s Prayer 10 a.m Tues.

Bible Study time varies.

Please inquire.

Online access available to all events.

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.

Customer Service Representative – Skagway

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

office spaces and public areas, with multiple bathroom facilities within each building.

Bid/RFP Due Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2022 - 2:00pm A full copy of the Request for Bids can be obtained by e-mailing a.lawson@skagway.org, or on the municipal website at https://www. skagway.org/rfps.

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BROADWAY BULLETIN BOARD COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Page 7

$1000.00 Sign-On Bonus*

Alaska Power & Telephone has a full time opening for a Customer Service Representative (CSR) in Skagway. This position will sell and promote services of the company while dealing with new and existing customers. Responsibilities also include taking power and telecom service orders and payments, answering phones, assisting customers, balancing daily cash, handling customer billing (charges, credits, etc.), assisting with inventory and various other administrative support duties as assigned.

We are looking for a dependable, unflappable person who excels at juggling multiple tasks and providing exceptional customer service. Our ideal candidate is a person who is driven to serve our customers with a positive “can-do” attitude, who is great with people, eager to learn and can communicate effectively in a fast-paced work environment.

Candidates must be available to work 7:00am-4:00pm Monday through Friday.

Candidate Qualifications Required

• • • • • • •

High School Diploma or GED

1-2 years of experience in an office or face-to-face customer service Proficient with MS Office Suite/10-key skills

Valid driver’s license and ability to be insured by AP&T

Ability to pass a pre-employment background and drug test

Ability to periodically travel to other properties and meetings as required Proven ability to cope with Alaska’s harsh weather & challenging environment This position will be open until filled.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

$1000.00 SIGN-ON BONUS

(sign-on bonus to be paid after successful 6-months of employment) Interested? Apply today at:

https://aptalaska.workbrightats.com/jobs/740052-176045.html

AP&T is a EEO Employer /Vets /Disabled ~ AP&T is a Drug and Alcohol-free workplace

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Page 8

Another Buckwheat Ski Classic

By Denise Caposey Another Buckwheat Ski Classic come and gone, and another ski year spent. Time slips away faster all the time. No one ever tells you that, and you don’t really get it anyway, when you’re young and waiting around for something to happen.

That’s how the Buckwheat Ski Race all started back in the good old days, an idea to bring new faces to Skagway and a way to meet chicks.

At least that’s how I heard it from the race’s namesake, Mr. Buckwheat Donahue himself.

Now in its 35th year, the race was once again on the beautiful British Columbia ski trails. Last year, you’ll recall, the race was at Lower Lake on the Dewey Trail System. The Log Cabin Ski Society makes the decisions and coordinates all the logistics of this event, which wouldn’t be possible without its many steadfast volunteers.

We were in the throes of another COVID year last season, and it was decided to make the most of the copious amounts of snow that fell here on the coast. The course went around Lower Lake, and if you were a racer, you did this course several times to make it a traditional 5K or 10K race.

With TEMSCO Helicopter assists, many folks seized the opportunity to get outside and ski around or just came up to enjoy the barbeque and watch the COVID ball drop, so to speak. We had over 200 Skagwegians attend. Once again, an amazing event was pulled off in what appeared to be seamless fashion.

Those behind the scenes of the Buckwheat Ski Classic know the amount of work this race entails. Trail Crew Boss Cory Thole wrangles folks who run the machines that groom and set track.

Stuart Brown helps keep those machines running. Tim Bourcy and Don Corwin work tirelessly at the BBQ pit. Locals provide transportation and housing for our visiting teams and guests, and ALL this gets done, by the people of Skagway. We sure know how to throw a party.

The Buckwheat Ski Classic is the start of the season.

That’s why it was sad to see few Skagway folks at the race this year. Only six of us registered to race.

The hoops we had to jump through to get into Canada made things more cumbersome than usual for the U.S. volunteers and racers. The Canadian border required proof of vaccination, the ArriveCAN app filled out no more than three days in advance and current negative COVID test results. Since the best we can do is a molecular test that is good for 72 hours, that gave us three days of border crossings before we would need another current negative test.

Thanks to the Skagway Tribal Council (STC) and their crew, we were able to obtain the necessary tests to satisfy the Canadian Border Patrol and get most of us through. STC did this testing free of charge and even extended their testing window to accommodate race participants. Thank you to Sarah Kinjo-Hischer and volunteer Rory Bricker, it made things seem more doable. Still, not many Skagway folks were willing or able to jump through all the hoops and were missed this year. You know who you are.

I guess this is the point of my dissertation. Skagway, Alaska, this tiny little port town in the remote far north reaches of the USA, hosts and welcomes our Yukon Territory Canadian neighbors, in a tiny little corner of the world under what in Canada is considered Queensland.

This Queen’s Land happens to be in British Columbia, Canada, whose border is just 15 miles from Skagway. Isn’t it just fascinating how we made this international event happen, given the pandemic and Putin’s war just over the horizon? Two years of fearing the dreaded COVID and now a war looms? This is insane!

But on Saturday, I blissfully skied my 10-kilometer race alongside my friends and neighbors from the North, and I actually forgot about the threat of nuclear war for a while. I forgot to keep six feet apart too, as we all went in for hugs and congratulations at the finish line. For a few hours I forgot how old I am, and afterwards

sat and pondered how many Buckwheat Ski Classics I’ve participated in. As I relished my hot dog in the snow sculptured wind break of the Aid Station with my trusty ski buddy, Nan Saldi, we weren’t thinking about war or the pandemic, we were thinking maybe the race registration should have a senior division, for old skiers like us. Who knows, maybe I could still medal?

Signing off, this is Ms. Caposey, proud to be a veteran Buckwheater. BIG thanks to all the volunteers who make this spring ski extravaganza so much fun for all, skiers and non-skiers alike. I hope to see you all up there next year. Peace.

See more photos with the online version of the story at

www.skagwaynews.com

March 25, 2022

THE SKAGWAY NEWS

Results available at:

http://buckwheatskiclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BISC-2022-Results-by-Category.pdf

Photo by Cory Thole

Miss Buckwheat 2022 was awarded to the Kramer sisters, Anika (right) and Mikayla (not pictured, she was away skating at ‘Disney on Ice’). Her dad Mike accepted the banner on her behalf.

The Kramers of Whitehorse have been stalwart volunteers with the Log Cabin Ski Society over the years, and have helped keep the trails open during the pandemic.

The Ryan family represents Skagway at the 35th Buckwheat events in March.

Photo by Mary Thole

Photo provided by winners

Best Costume winners. From left are Jani Djokic, Harriet Stanford and Vivienne Steele. Not pictured is the fourth member of this group, Kristine McNaughton.