Pass & Yukon Route Railway (WP&YR) has repeatedly suggested the Municipality of Skagway (MOS) is legally required to buy Pacific Arctic Railway and Navigation Company’s (PARN) waterfront improve ments (docks, ore terminal, ore loading facilities, etc.) upon the expiration of the
Subscribe www.skagwaynews.com/subscribeata 5k race for hope Page 2 Gov. appoints Bass Page 4Ferry’s won’t see as much Page 5 Infant care Money from the feds Picked for board
(see page 2- WP&YR)(see page 8- RFP)
Don Nelson participates in the twentieth annual Red Onion Drag Show. All proceeds went to a Skagway family with medical needs.
In his report, Ryan men tions that WP&YR has sug gested in communications that they “may remove cer tain improvements unless MOS agrees to compensate PARN for those improve ments,” adding that it ap pears to be a comment to leverage the MOS.
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Tom Cochran, an employ
The RFP process, first ap proved by the assembly in April, was fraught with ten sion as rumors circulated the community of mass layoffs and the Klondike Highway shutting down. Among other issues, Petro Marine strong ly disagreed with the munic ipality that the tank farm was an improvement that would revert to the city when the lease
Ryan said he has not re ceived specific communica tion from PARN explaining precisely the costs associat ed with the assets in question after he and Port Director Cody met with Tory Korn of WP&YR.“He[Korn] presented us a list of improvements PARN intends to remove at the end of the 2022 cruise ship season. The improvements include fenders, mooring dolphin caps, catwalks, over 10,000 feet of piling and
MOS and WP&YR disagree with end of lease process
CLASSIFIED
Skagway, AlaskaAugust 26, 2022 $1.50
By Gretchen Wehmhoff
Photo by Melinda Munson
At midnight on March 18, 2023, the Skagway Port management will revert to the Municipality of Skag way (MOS), thus concluding a 55-year lease agreement with Pacific and Arctic Rail way and Navigation Compa nyWith(PARN).nine months before the end of the lease, MOS of ficials have voiced concern over recent communications with PARN dba White Pass. Borough Manager Brad Ryan addressed his concerns in his manager’s memo of July“White21.
The paragraph continues, “The lessee may place such improvements and structures thereon as are needed in such
After just a few minutes and three unanimous votes at the Aug 18 assembly meeting, current leaseholders Alaska Marine Lines (AML), Petro Marine Services and Tems co Helicopters Inc. can now begin negotiations to remain when the municipality re gains control of its port in March
operations and the same may be removed by lessee within 30 days of the termination of this lease.”
AML, Petro Marine, Temsco to begin negotiations after RFP process
“Given2023.that the 55-year master lease of the waterfront is expiring and Skagway has not been a market participant for decades, it seems entire ly reasonable for Skagway to gather and evaluate mar ket information and propos als from market participants through an RFP process as it moves forward,” said Robin Brena, attorney for the bor ough.
master lease with PARN,” wroteRyanRyan.noted that MOS council disagrees with PARN’s interpretation and refers to Ordinance 229, Article III, section 34, “any improvements and/or chat tels ... shall revert to, and ab solute title shall vest in, the City” when the master lease expires.”The1968 lease refers to Ordinance 229 in section 4 as an integral part of the lease. The 1969 lease, referring to a smaller parcel not includ ing the waterfront, has dif ferent language. Section 4 reads, “The lessee shall have the privilege of using said lands for any purpose which is necessary or desirable to the lessee in connection with its railroad and other trans portation operations.”
more. This list does not spe cifically identify the location of each improvement, in stead it simply lists the quan tity to be removed from the Broadway and Ore Docks,” wrote Ryan.
“It is concerning to get a vague list in which PARN has still not identified the exact improvements it is seeking to remove only nine months before the next cruise ship season starts. If WP&YR does remove the pilings and catwalks from the Broadway and Ore Docks as Mr. Korn stated in our meeting, MOS will not be able to berth ships at those facilities in 2023 un til the improvements are re placed,” Ryan wrote.
Ryan said he did receive a document of photos from Bob Berto, president of WP&YR, but the location and costs were not included. He replied with a request for costs and specific location of
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Thereended.were no other bids for the Freight Waterfront Lease (AML), Fuel Water front Lease (Petro Marine) and the General Waterfront Lease“I’m(Temsco).sureglad that that’s over,” said Assemblymem ber Reba Hylton. “There was a lot of fear mongering that went on … There was a lot of speculation and unknowns … that got a little out of con trol. I’m really glad we’re moving forward.”
By Melinda Munson
BLOTTER PAGE 7 PAGE 7
ceeds from the runs are split in half between Dahl Memo rial Clinic in Skagway and Shore Medical Center’s Spe cial Care Nursery in Somers Point, New Jersey.
Periodicals postage paid at Skagway, Alaska 99840 and additional mailing offices.
Letters to the editor should not exceed 250 words.
By Melinda Munson
Melinda Munson
This year, the Larsen’s four-year-old daughter, Melody, will run with her brother, Axel, seven months. When Jen had her hysterec tomy, her ovaries were left intact, allowing her and her husband to produce embry os. With the help of a ges tational carrier, Axel, whom Jen calls her rainbow baby, was born in January.
Jen hopes the races and the foundation will be an out reach to families who expe rience pregnancy or infant loss. She said that while the community assisted her fam ily immensely, “The actual support for helping someone get through this intense grief of losing a child was mini mal.”“These experiences hap pen, unfortunately. We sur vived,” Jen said.
Four days of service per week will resume in March, provided by the Le Conte and the WhileKennicot.theproposed sched ule provides more service than the 2021 schedule, some residents are dissatisfied by the timing of the vessels.
Vol. XLV, No 15 (931) August 26, 2022
By Melinda Munson
Production Editor/Sales
Skagway’s First Newspaper 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, re cording our Centennial years and beyond.
Sign up online orwww.skagwaynews.comatcallusat907-983-2354Mailchecksto:TheSkagwayNewsPOBox244,Skagway,AK99840
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Race participants can sign up online at the fol lowing link or from 7:30 to 8:30 the day of the race at Pullen Pond.
The Skagway Public Library would like to extend a big “thank you!” to the community for a fantastic Sum mer Reading Program in 2022. Reading logs, take and go craft projects and weekly youth programming filled our summer with fun as we “Read Beyond the Beat en Path.” Attendance was booming this year at Story Time for the 0-5 year old crowd, Thursday mornings for 6-12 year olds, and Late Night Library for 10-18 year olds. Thank you to Little Buck-a-roo’s, Little Cherubs, Little Dippers and all the parents/guardians who made sure their kids were there every week.
Published on the second and fourth Friday of the month
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Theride.opportunities to learn and play with the library this summer were a huge success. Library staff deeply appreciates everyone who volunteered and participated to make it that way.
The Skagway News wel comes opinions pieces and letters to the editor. Opin ion pieces should be no lon ger than 600 words and will be published based on space availability and relevance to current and local events.
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5K to raise money, hope for infant and pregnancy loss
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Stay tuned for a Winter Reading Challenge announce ment in the fall.
The Alaska Marine High way System (AMHS) wants to clarify rumors that Skag way will not have service this winter. If the current plan is approved, the town will see three ferries each week for the months of Jan uary and February.
The proposed schedule shows the Columbia mak ing port on Saturdays, with the Tazlina touching down on Fridays and Sundays. On Fridays, the ferry will arrive from Haines, but will skip the Haines stop on the way to Juneau. On Sundays, the Tazlina will come to Skag way directly from Juneau and will stop in Haines on the return trip.
Photo by Jen Larsen
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Much gratitude goes to the amazing community members who contributed time and energy to help the library provide fantastic activities: Aaron Schmidt and his music skills, the AP&T “power-rama” crew, Casey Reddick and her pour painting skills, Danielle Arnold and her incredible reptiles, Deb Boettcher and her bird expertise, Helene Crouch, Jolanta Ryan and the Nation al Park Service, Katherine Moseley and the Paws & Claws puppies, the Red Onion, the Skagway Fire Hall, Valerie Larsen, and White Pass & Yukon Route for the special “library car” on our end of season celebratory train
Submit letters and opin ions to editor@skagwaynews. com. Letters may be edited for grammar and length.
Gustavus, Angoon, and Pel ican, and with union agree ment, Haines and Skagway as well,” AMHS said.
Gretchen Wehmhoff Managing Editor
“Although I’m happy there’s going to be ferries regularly this winter, Friday, Saturday, Sunday is stupid. We often need to leave for doctors appointments, who are not open on weekends. Why not spread it out a bit?” said Jessie Baker.
Gretchen Wehmhoff
At around 22 weeks into her pregnancy with Leif, Jen started experiencing severe bleeding. Medevaced out of Skagway to Juneau, then sent to Seattle, she was di agnosed with complete pla centa previa and placenta percreta. Leif was delivered at 26 weeks premature via c-section.“Hewas really big for his age but his lungs weren’t quite developed,” Jen said.
The Skagway News.
Three ferries a week proposed for Jan-Feb 2023
bcEfYNRogAIog0g1kC_K8cBjA_RZnIW6g2H00bHi-iUqZPY93RcrhqpnfLASKA?fbclid=IwARLeifsLegacy5kRunWalkAnup.com/Race/AK/Skagway/https://runsig
Jen and Brian Larsen will honor their second born child, Leif Aleutian, (Oct. 11, 2019 - October 13, 2019) with the third annual Leif’s Legacy 5K Run on Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. Billed as a fun run, Jen hopes that non-runners “will walk their dog, dance it – or skateboard it.”
Jen Larsen with husband Brian and children Melody and Axel.
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Jen said she struggled with thoughts of suicide after Leif’s death. She had never heard of the medical condi tions that caused her compli cations, and resulting hys terectomy. She didn’t know that one in four women in the U.S. will experience in fant“It’sloss.astaggering statistic,” sheThesaid.family started to heal and contemplated how they could honor Leif and help others struggling with similar trauma. They formed the Leif Aleutian Foundation, a non-profit organiza tion registered in New Jersey, where the Lar sens live half the year. They organized their first fun runs in 2020, with one held in Skag way and a second in New Jersey. The pro
William J. “Jeff” Brady
Next issue will be published
“We’re planning on bring ing the Tazlina back into service just like we did last year. If for some reason we are unable to crew up the Ta zlina, we have supplemen tal service contracts with Goldbelt and Allen Marine that we can use for Hoonah,
The Larsens lost their son 52 hours after his birth.
Page 2 THE SKAGWAY NEWSAug. 26, 2022
USPS 697130 ISSN 0745-872X
The comment period for the schedule ends Aug. 26. The proposed schedule can be found JmZY6sqPtsvfo2JiEfA0XBxqTNum68gKV0SicEfjy6CzFLBwAR1CPZ1Wpsmhcom/G6532?fbclid=Ihttps://publicinput.below.
In addition to dredging, removal of old structures and creating fill, the 1968 lease stipulated that PARN was to begin construction with expenditures of at least $500,000 in the first six months on at least one of the following: a spur railroad line, a bulk mineral storage and handling facility, a dock and dolphins or a deep water basin at the face of the dock. All four of those facilities were directed to be complet ed within two years at a cost of no less than $2 million.
Port of Skagway, June 16, 1968
Page 3THE SKAGWAY NEWS Aug. 26, 2022
“To experience the Tongass in this area is awe-inspiring and will take your breath away every time. I’m grate ful that the Old Growth For est Network has recognized just how special this place is.”Read
WP&YR debates with MOS over status of port improvements and structures
The Old-Growth Forest Network and guides from Packer Expedi tions celebrate along the Denver Glacier Trail.
“I think ultimately, what White Pass would like to see is some sort of a transition that recognizes the invest ment that was there, the util ity of the community and be able to transition that in some form … while retaining the rights to the assets that we put in there. And I think, you know, we’re, we’re looking to work with the city on that. I think there’s a lot more discussion to come here in the coming weeks on this,” said Tyler Rose, Executive Director of Human Resourc es & Strategic Planning for WP&YR.“Weunderstand what it means to the community and are looking to find that mid dle ground where we main tain the interest in the assets, because there is value to also be able to transition and not disrupt traffic. There is a bal ance in there. We just have to sit down with the municipal ity and figure out how we do that,” Rose said.
A White Pass representa tive says Berto is scheduled to meet with MOS officials on Aug. 29 in Skagway.
Tyler says he hasn’t yet been involved in the discus sions regarding asset remov
Editors Note: This article has been updated to clarify that the 1969 lease covers a much smaller area of land that does not include the waterfront projects.
Skagway trail inducted into Old-Growth Forest Network
Since then, PARN, doing business as White Pass, built the Ore Dock, constructed the ship loader, the railroad spur to Ore Dock and Broad way Dock. Tyler said other lessees such as Alaska In dustrial Development and Export Authority, Alaska Marine Lines, Petro Marine and Temsco Helicopters also contributed to the formation of the current port.
(continued from front page)
By Melinda Munson
Photos show the tideland reaching as far inland as First and Second avenues.
al or compensation. He is aware of community concern over the port being ready for the 2023 season.
“This isn’t a negotiation,” heInsaid.2015, Skagway resi dents voted down a newly negotiated lease agreement with PARN that would have reduced the WP&YR leased area from 78 acres to 2.7 acres, giving management of the area to Skagway for port development, making way for a proposed $23 million development.Theoriginal lease cost PARN $3,600 annually. WP&YR currently pays $127,500 a year for the lease in addition to paying taxes to the MOS based on the cur rent market value of the area.
largest national forest. The 3.2-mile trail is approximate ly five miles from Skagway and often reached via the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad from May through September.Thestart of the trail con tains newer vegetation, re grown after the chaos of the Gold Rush. Further in, hikers reach the verdant old growth which includes cottonwood, hemlock and spruce. A red caboose from the 1960s is available for overnight stays through the U.S. Forest Ser vice.
With only five percent of old growth forests remain ing in the west, Old Growth Forest Network’s mission is to connect “people with na ture by creating a national network of protected, mature native forests.”
Signed in 1968, the MOS and WP&YR agreement specified that the lessee (PARN) “shall have the priv ilege of dredging a deep wa ter mooring basin for vessels and may make any and all types of excavations on the premises.”Thelease covers an area from what is now the east side of Broadway Dock, up to the current railroad spur tracks to the north, the Ore Dock, the Cruise Lines of Alaska Agency building and the Ore terminal. Photos at tached to this story show the port during the process of
Port of Skagway 1970
improvement.“Soit’salarge parcel and when it was originally leased it was tidelands; the dredge spoils, the uplands were wiped out through dredg ing,” Rose said.
Jánwu Sítʼi (“Mountain Goat Glacier” in Tlingit), is located in the Tongass Na tional Forest, a temperate rainforest and the nation’s
Photo provided by WP&YR
the assets in the photos.
“Jánwu Sítʼi (jon-woo-sitee) is a majestic place full of joyful, quiet noise,” said Jai me Bricker, tourism director.
Explore Skagway celebrat ed the dedication of Jánwu Sítʼi/Denver Glacier Trail as Alaska’s first entry into the Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN) on Aug. 10.
Old growth forests pro mote a higher diversity of plant and animal life, trap carbon and nitrogen, create topsoil and improve water and air OGFNquality.described Jánwu Sítʼi as “a trail that immerses hikers in the acoustic atmo sphere of an old-growth for est, where footsteps are pad ded by layers of soft spruce and hemlock needles and the sounds of the port of Skag way tumble away with the rushing glacial waters of the East Fork Skagway River.”
more about Jánwu Sítʼi/Denver Glacial Trail in Mayor Andrew Cremata’s article, “You can’t hear voic es if you ignore com/?s=ignore+soundhttps://skagwaynews.sound.”
“We need to get together and have those discussions. I know that it has raised a great deal of concern in the com munity and a lot of things have gone back and forth. I think that we are close to be ing able to get together and have a discussion as to how we are able to facilitate that together.”Ryansays the goal is to be ready for the 2023 season.
Photo provided by WP&YR
Photo by Jaime Bricker
Did you just say the “R” word?
“I’ve learned so much on the assembly in Skagway, and I hope to learn more.”
It was during this time in Valdez he be came intrigued with the system of oil as a unique funding process for Alaska. When the vacancy appeared on the state board, he applied.
“R” word around like the rest of my generation. I never used the term in rela tion to a person with special needs but I did employ it to describe my work schedule, my homework load or my little brother (who is in fact, not intellectually impaired). I know better now. The “R” word hurts. It demeans a condition that is already difficult to deal with. It doesn’t even make gram matical or contextual sense. (Look it Eliminatingup.) the “R” word from our vocabulary isn’t politically correct. It’s humane. It’s polite. It’s thoughtful. It’s the right thing to do. Don’t be stupid. Stop saying the “R” word.
A White Pass locomotive is lifted back onto the tracks after derailing on a low speed, non main track on Aug. 23. No passengers were on board. The company is investigating the cause. An addi tional locomotive also stopped on a hill at mile 15.6 with passengers. Another engine hooked up to the passenger cars and pulled them back to town. No one was hurt in either incident.
By Melinda Munson
Editor’s column
Bass spent 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard (USGS), many of them managing operations from Ketchikan to Yakutat, spe cifically rescue operations. He served with the as an operations manager in Valdez at the terminus of the TransAlaska Pipeline where his job working with maritime groups in the area included riding oil tankers in and out of the harbor to better understand the transit operations for the ships.
Alaska has a way of holding onto things. For example: scrunchies, allover denim and socks with sandals.Thisisn’t a bad thing -except when it comes to the “R” word.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed Skagway resident Sam Bass to the Alaska Royalty Oil & Gas Development Advisory Board earlier this month. Bass is a current member of the Skagway Assembly.
Sam Bass
municipal police depart ments from Skagway, Ju neau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines, Petersburg, Hoonah, Wrangell, Craig and Yakutat, the Alaska State Troopers, Federal Bureau of Investiga tion, Drug Enforcement Ad ministration, United States Postal Inspection Service and Coast Guard Investiga tive“ThisService.isa continued effort to combat the introduction of controlled substances into our community,” Red dick said. “We will contin ue to work hand in hand with SEACAD to keep the drugs out of our communi ty, Southeast Alaska and the Yukon.”Patterson’s employer, Heath Goebel, issued the fol lowing statement on a public Skagway Facebook page.
“The advisory board looks at the contracts and tries to determine what’s the best for Alaska. Who should we sell this oil to,” Bass said.
His five-year term will expire in 2027. By that time, he hopes to have become more experienced and proficient in the oil royalty processes and related areas. He says he con tinues to learn about how Alaska runs – his time on the assembly included.
Photo by Melinda Munson
“We had a new season al employee this year that lived in a travel trailer on our Dyea Road property that was a subject of a search and sei zure warrant. Law enforce ment was very professional and courteous. Although we are disappointed and sad dened by this event, we are very glad that the authorities are actively working to keep our community safe.”
Governor appoints Bass to Oil & Gas Board
“We were trying to get a really good pic ture of what we were trying to support,” Bass said.
The advisory board reviews contracts for bids in the royalty in kind process where oil companies present the oil to the state and the state sells the oil. The panel is considered the citizens advisory step between the Depart ment of Natural Re sources Commission er and the legislature.
By Melinda Munson Skagway seasonal em ployee and Arizona resident David Patterson, 25, was arrested Aug. 10 and held in the Skagway Public Safe ty Building jail on charges of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Tamper ing with Physical Evidence and Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the FifthTheDegree.Southeast Alas ka Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force iden tified a suspicious package being shipped from Arizona to a Skagway post office box on Aug. 4. A search warrant was obtained and the pack age proved to contain 29 gross grams of cocaine and 59 gross grams of psilocybin mushrooms.OnAug.10, the SEACAD delivered the package to the intended Skagway post of fice box. Patterson picked up the package and brought it to a residence in the area of One Dyea Mile Road. After opening the package, Pat terson was approached by SEACAD officers, detained and later arrested. Accord ing to Skagway Police Chief Jerry Reddick, Patterson at tempted to flush the package contents.SEACAD is made up of
Patterson’s next hearing is Aug. 24. He remains in cus tody in Juneau.
Page 4 THE SKAGWAY NEWSAug. 26, 2022
Growing up, I threw the
Seasonal worker arrested on drug charges
I hear the “R” word semi-frequently. I hear it in the store, in the school yard and even from other moms. “That’s so retard ed!” someone will yell when they think something is Ilame.cringe at that word be cause several of my children are retarded. (That sounds terrible, doesn’t it? It sounds cruel and harsh and inappro priate.)Letme phrase that sentence the way I normally do, when I’m not proving a point. Most of my children have mental retardation, which is now politely referred to as intellectual impairment. Their intellectual impair ment isn’t a negative. It was how they were born. It is part of who they are. Some of my kids will never go to college or hold a job or inde pendently toilet themselves. But they are precious and innocent and deserve all the respect we can give them.
By Gretchen Wehmhoff
“That was not something on our radar at all,” Alexei Painter, head of the Legisla tive Finance Division, said last week of the 50% rule.
“Those federal dollars were meant to augment state money, not replace it,” House Speaker Louise Stutes, of Kodiak, said this past spring.
The Infrastructure Act au thorizes five years of fund ing at $200 million a year for ferry systems. “It’s written so that only Alaska is eligi ble” for the money, Painter
Obituaries
said. The program is open to ferry systems that operat ed between 2015 and 2020, with routes at least 50 miles in length that serve rural ar eas — eliminating commuter ferries.Thegovernor had looked at the years of federal aid as an opportunity to cut state funding to the Alaska Ma rine Highway, but that drew opposition from legislators representing coastal commu nities.
Shandalynn was born in Skagway, Alaska at 1:23 a.m. at the Dahl Memorial
(Sheri) Nelson, cousinsRichard (Bambi), James (Molly); Christine (“Zack” Mike) Ellis, cousins - Kyle, Jestine,FuneralJayce.services were held on July 10 at Set Free Ministries, 614 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena. Please visit dalynn.tocondolenceneralhome.comwww.aswfutoofferatothefamilyorshareamemoryofShan
ing busy and doing activities with her friends and family: fishing, kayaking, ATVs, camping, hunting, hiking, gold mining, crafting draw ing and painting.
No reduction in service is expected because of the budget shuffle, state officials said. But it could mean that legislators next year will need to approve additional state funds to fully make up for the loss of federal aid, ex posing the ferries to another vote in the political process.
The governor had looked to federal infrastructure money to replace most of the state dollars in the ferry sys tem budget. The more feder al money, the less the state would have to spend on the service for coastal commu nities.But legislators this year were hesitant to rely on fed eral aid as heavily as Gov. Mike Dunleavy wanted in his budget, and they cut back the federal infrastructure dollars to less than 60% of the ferry system operating budget from the 96% pro posed by the governor.
Clinic.Shelived in many places during her lifetime; in Alas ka: Skagway, Anchorage, North Pole, Willow; Chitten den, Vermont and Montana. She attended Rutland High School and Skagway High School where she graduated in 2000. She achieved a jour neyman license in carpentry after attending a four-year program at ACTT, where she graduated at the top of her class. She loved to build things and she was excellent at her trade. She loved be
Page 5THE SKAGWAY NEWS Aug. 26, 2022
The state will receive about $36 million less in fed eral funding than expected for this year’s Alaska Marine Highway System operating budget, requiring the use of state dollars to cover the gap.
limit on funding net of revenues “doesn’t ap pear anywhere in the bill,” Painter said. Such agency rulemaking is not unusual, he said. “That’s always an issue we have.”’
The Infrastructure Invest ment and Jobs Act of 2021 allocated $200 million for ferry systems around the country, though essentially only Alaska met the qual ifications. And although the state had expected few
The state’s application for the federal money is due Sept. 6, Carpenter said. In addition to requesting infra structure money for the sys tem’s operating budget, the state will apply for funding for new ships and other im provements. “We’re going after all of it,” he said of the $200Themillion.federal grant funding can go to building new ships, though such projects require a 20% state match, Painter said. That’s double the 10% match rate normally required to obtain federal funding for highway projects.
The $16 million could be covered in the annual sup plemental budget bill used to fill holes in the state spend ing plan when legislators re turn for next year’s session.
11,
limitations on receiving the money, the Federal Tran sit Administration’s rules restrict funding to 50% of a ferry system’s operating costs not covered by reve nues.InAlaska’s case, the fer ry system budget is $143.8 million for this year, with about $50 million expected to come from passenger and vehicle fares. Of the $93.8 million not covered by rev enues, the transit administra tion grant would be limited to half, or $46.9 million.
The state budget had counted on $83.8 million in federal aid, leaving the sys tem short about $36 million.
However, the Federal Tran sit Administration, which re leased its funding rules last month, significantly reduced what the state will receive, even below what lawmakers had counted on.
The state in the years ahead expects it will need to replace at least the Columbia and possibly another of its decades-old ships.
Bradford (Maribeth Shum) Gee; maternal grandmother Bonnie Nelson. Brothers: Adam (Leigh Ryan), niece, Isabella; John (Chanel Mai ka) Brown Jr., children: Tristan, Mason, Ikaiak, Ka lia, Keani, Mikayla. Sisters: Bria Marie (Christopher) Camp; Melissa (Ricky) Mc Neel, nephew - Landen. Aunts and uncles: Edward (Joan) Gee; Bonnie (Ro land “Buddy”) Smith, cous in - “Skippy” Roland Jr.; Janet (Thomas Roberts) Reid, cousin - Tony; Edward
As a contingency, the bud get approved by legislators and signed by the governor in June includes a $20 mil lion appropriation of state dollars for the ferry system to cover any shortfall in fed eral money. That leaves the Alaska Marine Highway System short $16 million if the Federal Transit Admin istration does not change its rule.
State will not receive as much federal money for ferry system as expected
July 1982 - July 4, 2022
Shandalynn Rose Gee Bragg
She is survived by her par ents Karen (John) Brown;
“We’re pretty aghast,” said Rob Carpenter, deputy com missioner at the Alaska De partment of Transportation. He called the transit admin istration’s actions “pretty creative.”The50%
By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel writer
All of her grandmothers held a special place in her heart. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Jean Marie and Vance Gee; maternal grandfather Jan Nelson; step grandparents Beverly and Jimmie Brown.
Page 6 THE SKAGWAY NEWSAug. 26, 2022 Family Fun Page - print and share Across 1 Territory marker 6 Indisputable data 11 choristers1312meaningGeneralAlertThesecan be male or female 14 15localeAnnapurna“TheLionKing”baddies 17 Plunge headfirst 18 Lab product in “Breaking Bad” 19 Involuntary 39383736353330282625242220contractionmuscularImmerseDestroyGMTminus4hursBard’sbeforeTurnatdicePoliticalpatronageTranquilBroadcastingStandNameTurnedoffPerfumeWithout emotion Down 1 Six-sided state 2 Depend 3 Meet tosurreallypainter,proneexcess 4 Nary a soul 5 Not genuine and inferiorusually 6 Geisha’s prop 7 Impressed 8 seat,Governmentalusually 9 Alamocommander 10 Choose 16 Acute 20 Train stations 21 3432312927Goldwyn’s23sarcasticHumorouslySamuelhomelandIthappenseverybirthdayCeramicist’sfurnaceImageofadeityRepudiateSoakinliquid Last issue’s answers
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 puz zle numbered 17 and place an R in them. Do the same for the other two clues. All number 12 box es 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.
codeword
Color
Me
Ferry Terminal Hours
-EMS assisted with a scheduled medevac. -EMS responded to a medical emergency.
-A set of Subaru keys was turned in.
-Dispatch assisted in contacting the bird group for an injured crow.
-A lost iPhone was reported.
-Police responded to a report of a possi ble intoxicated driver. Aug. 2
-Dispatch helped a citizen contact the on duty -EMSprovider.responded to a medical emergency.
7/26 61 57 trace
8/3 66 53 trace
-An envelope containing two passports was turned in.
-Dispatch helped contact DOT to clear a boulder on the Dyea Road.
-A lost Sony camcorder was reported. -A lost Ricoh camera was reported. Aug. 6
CLASSIFIEDS
-Police responded to a vehicle theft from the airport. Vehicle was tracked down and was taken by mistake.
Weather Watch 6/18 - 7/02
8/5 66 54 trace
July 26
7/20 62 54
-A lost wallet was reported.
PERSONALS-MISC. SERVICES
DATE MAX MIN PREC
Advertise in the Classifieds
-A Ford ignition key was reported as lost.
-Police and fire personnel responded to a rockslide on Railroad Dock. No injuries were reported. Aug. 4
News Classified Ads cost 40 cents per word, $4 minimum.
Aug. 18
-EMS assisted with a scheduled medevac. -Dispatch assisted with reuniting a jacket with its owner.
-EMS assisted with a scheduled medevac. -Police and dispatch assisted in reuniting a lost passport and its owner.
Weekends 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Weekdays 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
8/11 58 52 .13
-Fire personnel responded to an automat ed fire alarm.
7/27 68 49 trace
July 23
-Police responded to a complaint of an intoxicated patron refusing to leave the premises. Patron was given a courtesy ride
7/19 61 52 .01
-A lost iPhone was reported. -Dispatch helped reunite a lost wallet with its EMSowner.assisted with a scheduled medevac.
-Police responded to a traffic complaint.
-Dispatch helped reunite a dog with its
-Fire personnel responded to an automat ed fire alarm.
-A lost Visa card was reported. Aug. 16
Aug. 13
-A wallet was reported as lost. -Dispatch assisted with contacting Pub lic Works to retrieve an iPhone that was dropped in the boardwalk.
7/21 57 49 .15
-Police assisted with a vehicle lockout. Aug.17
M-F 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
8/7 62 55 .11
-Dispatch helped a citizen contact the on duty -EMSprovider.responded to a medical emergency.
-Police responded to a parking complaint. Aug. 9
-EMS responded to a trauma emergency.
-Dispatch assisted with reuniting a wallet with its owner.
See www.skagway.org for bor ough meeting updates.
For after-hours emergencies, dial 911.
-Police responded to a parking complaint. -Police responded to an altercation at a downtown business.
-Dispatch helped reunite a lost cell phone with its -Dispatchowner.helped a citizen contact the on duty provider.
July 24
7/18 60 56 .02
-Police responded to a complaint of kids shooting cap guns.
-A lost Visa card was reported.
FOR PREVIOUS 24-HOUR PERIOD BEFORE 7 A.M.
-Fire personnel responded to activated sprinklers at a downtown location. -EMS responded to a trauma emergency. -Police assisted with a vehicle lockout. -Police responded to a parking complaint. Aug. 10 -EMS assisted with a scheduled medevac. -David Patterson, 25, Skagway, was ar rested for Misconduct Involving a Con trolled Substance in the Second Degree, Misconduct Involving a Controlled Sub
The Skagway News
Police & Fire Blotter
8/12 64 52 trace
-Police responded to motorists stuck at the U.S. Port of Entry after hours. They were advised they would have to wait un til the morning to get through.
-A report of camping where prohibited was -Dispatchreceived.helped a citizen contact the on duty -Dispatchprovider.helped reunite a dog at large with its owner.
-Fire personnel responded to an automat ed fire alarm. Aug. 7
8/4 65 53 .06
-EMS responded to a trauma emergency. -Dispatch helped reunite a dog at large with its owner.
-An iPhone was reported as lost. Aug. 12
7/25 60 52 .10
-Dispatch helped reunite a purse with its -EMSowner.assisted with a scheduled medevac.
owner.
-A lost iPhone was reported.
-Police responded to a traffic complaint.
July 25
Call each station for specifics.
-Police responded to a report of custom ers refusing to pay for their lodging from the previous evening.
July 28
July 29
Weather Watch
8/14 68 55 .05
8/18 66 53 .54
40 cents per word
7/23 57 51 .02
8/8 63 55 trace
-Dispatch helped a citizen contact the on duty -Dispatchprovider.helped contact the owner of a forklift. The alarm was going off.
July 30
-A piece of bismuth stone was reported as shoplifted from a downtown store.
Page 7THE SKAGWAY NEWS Aug. 26, 2022
-A lost debit card was reported.
-Dispatch received a report of a missing stop -Policesign.assisted in unlocking a residence lockout.
FOOD BANK DONATIONS
8/10 62 56
-Police responded to a parking complaint of a SMART bus impeding traffic.
8/17 62 52 .67
Skagway Museum 907-983-2420
July 27
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 907-612-0313.
-Police responded to a report of a shop ping cart taken from the grocery store. Officers made contact and the cart was returned to the store.
-Police responded to a complaint of a drone flying downtown.
7/28 66 53 .98
-Fire personnel responded to a report of a gas leak. Aug. 11
-A wallet was reported as lost.
-Fire personnel responded to a boat fire in the harbor.
-Police responded to a noise complaint at a downtown location.
Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sat. and 907-983-2255Sun.
7/22 60 49
7/31 61 54 .12
7/24 62 52 .25
-A lost purse was reported.
-A lost iPad was reported.
July 22
-Dispatch helped contact the bird club to respond to a dead bird.
7/17 59 54 .01
COMMUNITYCALENDAR
Library Hours:
Submitted by Skagway Police Department
-Policehome.responded to a disturbance at the home of the same patron from earlier.
8/2 63 55 .07
8/13 70 56
7/16 72 55
-Fire personnel responded to a vehicle fire.
-Dispatch helped contact the bird club to respond to a dead bird.
-Fire personnel responded to a vehicle fire on Klondike Highway.
7/30 62 52 .04
7/29 59 53 .48
Dahl Clinic Winter Hours:
8/15 62 55 .07
-Fire personnel responded to an automat ed fire alarm.
8/16 62 51 trace
-EMS assisted with a scheduled medevac.
-A found Canon camera was turned in. Aug. 5
-Police responded to a noise complaint. -Nikki Gallagher, 33, Skagway, was arrest ed for Violation of Condition of -Release, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Arrest. Aug. 15
-Dispatch helped a citizen contact the on duty provider.
8/9 62 53
-A black Honda Ruckus was reported as stolen and later reported as found. Aug. 3
8/19 67 48
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OBSERVATIONS
-Police responded to a bear call on Dyea Road. The bear had left the area prior to police arrival.
Call 983-2665 or library@skagway.orgemail
-Police responded to a report of a possi ble intoxicated driver.
sales@skagwaynews.com
-Police responded to a parking complaint. -A lost Samsung phone was reported. -Police assisted with a vehicle lockout.
-EMS responded to a medical emergency. July 31
Solid Waste Facility Hours T, Th, Sa, Su. 1 - 3 p.m.
Aug. 1
EMS personnel responded to a medical -Municipalityemergency. closed the Seawalk Parking Lot on the Railroad Dock for rockslide mit -Aigation.lostiPhone was reported.
stance in the Fifth Degree, and Tamper ing with Physical Evidence.
Border stations: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
8/1 66 54 .08
-Dispatch helped set up a 911 auto dialer for an elderly citizen.
-Police assisted with a vehicle lockout.
-A found GCI phone was turned in. -EMS responded to a medical emergency.
-Fire personnel responded to an automat ed fire alarm.
-A lost wallet was reported.
The best fishing buddies are always willing to lend a hand.
“I think that could have been handled differently,” he said. “I think code could have been changed if necessary to make that a less onerous transition, because you’ve got a new relationship with a new tenant. So now the municipality is a landlord. So you’re going to embark on these new contracts on a
By Andrew Cremata
It was just after 9:00 am that I unexpectedly got the rest of the day off work.
After hurrying home, I wasted no time packing my car with fishing gear. It was
such a beautiful day, I fig ured someone in town would eagerly jump at a chance to go fishing. After all, the measure of any real angler is their willingness to drop ev erything at a moment’s no tice when a buddy offers an unexpected angling opportu nity.My wife was busy and de clined. I texted a couple of fellow angling enthusiasts but they were either working or had other plans. Then I got a random Sunday morn ing message from someone curious about a recent local government ordinance and I knew it was time to seek out a quiet Yukon lake devoid of cellFortunately,service.
For a moment, the little gears in Rufus’ head were working at full steam. He backed away from the slough and wiggled his butt before launching himself full-speed over the five-food wide channel. His body fully ex tended, Rufus literally flew through the air and made it about 12-inches across be fore plopping in the cold wa ter.He managed to swim across the remainder of the slough but since that day, he tries his best to avoid wa ter deep enough to require swimming.AsIstepped into the lake, Rufus waited patiently on the shore, confidently as sured that I would offer my buddy an assist. When I ex tended my arm, he jumped right into my hand and we slowly made our way to a rocky jetty where swift rap ids flow into the lake.
We caught a lot of fish. On the drive home, Rufus tapped my arm with his paw, which is a signal to extend my fore arm so that he can comfort ably nap in my lap with his head resting on my hand.
To reach the fish, it’s necessary to wade across a shallow expanse of the
My first cast resulted in an immediate hookup. The bend in my rod assured me it was a large trout. After
reeling in the fish, I managed to get a hand around it and hoist it from the water. The trout was unhappy about this turn of events and began to thrash wildly in my hand. To prevent from dropping the fish and potentially losing it, I clutched it against my wad ers and turned to walk back towardRufusshore.was fully aware of my predicament, so he also quickly turned and hopped from rock to rock, just be yond my footfalls. One of the rocks he chose was covered in slippery mint-green algae. His back feet slipped and he fell into the swift current of the rapids, his front paws clutching the rock to prevent
Fish this!
RFPs awarded to previous lessees
Photo by Andrew Cremata
As a tour salesperson in Skagway, I answer a lot of questions on a variety of topics. While tourists could seek out an expert or pro fessional with an impressive educational background to answer their most pressing questions, they instead turn the friendly tour salesman.
The weather was perfect for fishing. I was at work, answering questions from curious“Whattourists.kindof tree is that? The one with the red ber ries?”“Mountain ash,” I an swered. It was the third time I’d heard the question in less than thirty minutes.
Page 8 THE SKAGWAY NEWSAug. 26, 2022
lake. Rufus loves fishing but he doesn’t particularly like swimming. When he was a tiny puppy, he fol lowed me to a fishing spot that required walking along a wooden plank spanning a deep slough. After walking across the slough, I realized that Rufus was still on the other side, unsure of how to cross over the plank.
Several residents have sug gested that the fence sur rounding TEMSCO allow for access to the waterfront.
“Can you eat those ber ries?”“You can, but I don’t rec ommend it.”
being swept away.
I set Rufus and my gear down and hopped along tee tering rocks until well po sitioned for casting. Some times Rufus waits patiently on the shore while I fish, but on this particular day, he hopped precariously from rock to rock so he could join me on the jetty.
As warm sunlight burned away a thick layer of fog, the Skagway valley lit up like newly panned gold. My mind drifted to thoughts of late summer lake trout on a lonely Yukon lakeshore.
Interestingly, I sometimes get questions about tours. This, however, was not one of those days.
The best fishing buddy
I will never forget the look on Rufus’ face because it wasn’t one of panic or worry. He simply looked up at me, fully confident that I was at his side and ready to ensure his safety. I reached down and plucked him from the rapids with my free hand and carried him back to shore.
(continued from front page) ee of Petro Marine, also wished the RFP process had been smoother.
fairly acrimonious and toxic foundation, which is unfor tunate, and I hope you guys can maybe make the best of that situation and we can have a positive outcome in theUpfuture.”next, the three compa nies need to negotiate new leases with the borough.
“It would be nice to see
I take this responsibili ty seriously, so I’ve taken it upon myself to become well versed in a variety of disciplines, including bot any, zoology, meteorology, cryptozoology, physics, as trophysics, geology, psy chology, mycology, parapsy chology, Gold Rush history, astronomy, astrology, zy mology, and fishing.
some discussion in there on access to those tide lands around the Temsco area,” said Assemblymember Sam Bass. “Just to see if that’s possible. I know there’s flight lines and there’s safety restrictions. But if we could, in some way, find a way to give the public access to that area, I think that’d be im portant.”
I have one fishing buddy that never fails to join me when I ask if he wants to go fishing. This most reliable buddy is my dog,ForRufus.almost eleven years, Rufus has jumped at every opportunity to walk endless miles of shoreline in search of trout, salmon, pike, and grayling. Throughout that time, Rufus has always had my back. The little twelvepound mutt has protected me from bears, caribou, moose, lynx, porcupine, and a va riety of other varmints and critters. In return, I provide treats.We were safely out of cell service range by 10:15 and walking toward one of my favorite fishing holes only fifteen minutes later. Rufus followed closely at my heels as we wound our way along an overgrown path lined with ripe blueberries and currants.