Alaskans as young as 16 will be allowed to work in restaurants, and those as young as 18 will be allowed to serve alcohol if a bill passed Monday by the Alaska Senate becomes law.
Senate Bill 15, which passed on a 19-0 vote, advances to the state House for consideration.
The bill is almost identical to House Bill 189, which the Legislature passed last year but Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed it. In his veto message, the governor noted that the House passed it after the midnight deadline on the last day of the session.
HB 189 was sponsored by Rep. Jesse Sumner, R-Wasilla, who did not seek reelection last year. Sen. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, reintroduced the bill at the start of this session, and it moved quickly through the Senate, becoming the first bill the Senate passed this year.
“Alaskan businesses are asking for relief when it comes to workforce shortages. Many establishments were in support of this bill and they wanted it to get through the Legislature as quickly as possible,” she said.
Restaurant and tourist businesses typically staff up during the summer with outof-state labor or foreign seasonal workers, she said. If SB 15 becomes law, it would allow businesses to hire younger Alaskans instead, Merrick said.
Speaking on the House floor, she said there might be some confusion about what it does and doesn’t do.
“I want to be clear: Senate Bill 15 does not allow 18- to 20-year-olds to work in bars where alcohol is the primary service,” Merrick said. Instead, those teens can only serve alcohol in places like restaurants, breweries, distilleries and wineries, but not package stores or bars.
A 16-year-old might be able to work in a brewery’s merchandise store, selling T-shirts, but wouldn’t be allowed around alcohol.
SB 15 also incorporates a separate measure, from Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, that requires alcohol-selling establishments to post a sign stating that alcohol can cause cancer and is unsafe for pregnant women.
No hearings have yet been scheduled in the House.
Panthers bball wraps regular season play, prepare for regional tourney
By Jeff Brady For the News
The SHS basketball teams completed Southeast 1A regular season play with a fairly successful week-long trip to Prince of Wales Island. Both boys and girls squads appear to be locked into second place seeding for the region tourney at the end of this month.
The boys are 9-3 in league play, while the girls are 7-3. They have completed their home slates, except for non-conference girls and JV boys games this weekend against Porter Creek of Whitehorse.
After three tries in January, Kake finally made it to Skagway Jan. 27-28 - and didn’t seem too worn out by all of the ferry attempts. The Skagway girls easily knocked off Kake in their opener, but allowed the Thunderbirds
to even the series the next day. And the T-bird boys, the 2023 state champs and 2024 runner-up, showed they are still a force and prevailed over a good Skagway team.
In the girls’ opener, senior Kaitlyn Tronrud had her best game of the year, scoring 15 of her game-high 26 points by halftime. Fellow senior point guard Kenadie Cox led the SHS defense, which shut out Kake in the first quarter and led 18-4 at the break. Led by two players with 7 points each, Kake was able to narrow the deficit to 33-23 at the final buzzer. The T-birds did a better job defensively in the rematch, playing Skagway even through three quarters. After leading 15-14 at half and 24-21 at the end of Q3, Skagway went into a shooting slump at the wrong time, allowing Kake to nab a 30-28 win. Brooklyn Hal-
linstad led Kake with 15, while Tronrud had 17 to lead the Lady Panthers. The Skagway boys were short-handed with starter Malcolm Lawson sidelined with an ankle injury, but it was Kake’s tight zone defense that frustrated the top Panther scorers. Skagway was down by 9 at the end of the first half of both games. In the opener, Skagway made a run in the final quarter to cut the lead in half, but lost 59-50. Kake’s Keontay Jackson scored 21 before fouling out, while Skagway was led by the trio of Kaleb Cochran (13), Camden Lawson (12), and senior Landon Rodig (11). Skagway played better to start the second game of the series, taking a 10-9 lead, but Kake rallied at the end of the half to go up 27-18. The teams played even in the
Photo by Jeff Brady`
Skagway senior, Landon Rodig, the team leader in hustle plays, cradles a rebound against Kake.
Sen. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, is seen on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Page 2
The Skagway News.
Skagway’s First Newspaper Christened in 1897, buried alive in 1904 and resurrected in 1978, The Skagway News is currently celebrating 48 years of reporting in Skagway and Dyea, Alaska, recording our Centennial years and beyond.
ADVERTISING
& NEWS COPY DEADLINES
Next issue will be published FEB.28, 2025
Please email sales@skagwaynews.com
All ads and classifieds by Feb. 21
COPY, LETTERS, CALENDAR DEADLINE:
Please email editor@skagwaynews.com
All news copy, letters and calendar events by Feb. 21, 2025
Vol. XLVIII, No2 (987) February 14, 2025
Published online the second and fourth Friday of the month
Phone: (907) 983-2354 www.skagwaynews.com
editor@skagwaynews.com sales@skagwaynews.com
Publisher Gretchen Wehmhoff
Contributors & Volunteers
Alaska Beacon
Chilkat Valley News
Jeff Brady
Jaime Bricker
Katherine Moseley
Larry Persily Kerri Raia
Skagway School
Joe Stoltze
Denise Welch
Editor Emeritus
William J. “Jeff” Brady
Submissions
The Skagway News welcomes opinions pieces and letters to the editor.
Opinion pieces should be no longer than 600 words and will be published based on space availability and relevance to current and local events. Letters to the editor should not exceed 250 words.
Obituaries for people with connections to Skagway are printed free of charge up to 700 words
Subscriptions
Sign up on line at www.skagwaynews.com or call 907-983-2354
Mail checks to:
The Skagway News
P.O. Box 125 Skagway, AK 99840
All subscriptions include online access.
Online Only $27 • Print $50
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 125, Skagway, AK 99840
Paw Prints
By Katherine Moseley
February 14, 2025
If you have ever spent a winter in Skagway, you have probably experienced some form of the winter blues, especially during the months of January and February. Feelings of general sadness, anxiety, and a lack of energy are common symptoms. The winter blues can cause us to feel agitated and stressed out. Our pets, particularly dogs, can detect our stress hormones with their keen sense of smell. They can synchronize with us and mirror our emotions. Stress can have a negative impact on life span. To help reduce our animal friend’s stress levels, we must keep our own stress levels under control. Here are a few tips to help you and your pet combat the winter blues:
1. Exercise. It costs nothing and can be done indoors and outdoors. My preferred choice of exercise is walking outdoors. I walk my dogs seven days a week, all year long, in all weather conditions. Some days I am too tired, or it is too cold, but I do it anyways. I always feel so much better after a walk and so do my dogs. It is vital to our physical and mental well-being. Even a short 5-minute walk can help.
2. Light therapy. Some people use “happy lights” that mimic natural sunlight. These lights can be helpful, but nothing beats the real sun. Several years ago, I worked as a medical assistant with the late Lynne Cameron at the Dahl Memorial Clinic. During the quiet winter months, Lynne would invite us to join her for a “sun break” when the sun would shine through the windows. Of course, this was a rare treat but I will always remember those golden beams blasting through the window. And in that moment, I would feel an overwhelming feeling of happiness. It was pure magic. To this day, I still celebrate “sun breaks” and think of Lynne Cameron and all the light that she brought to this small valley.
3. Catnip. Watching cats frolic in delight while enjoying a little bit of nip is always fun. And did you know that you can ingest this safe and beneficial herb too? And so can your dog. Catnip has a calming effect on humans and dogs.
4. Play. Play with your dog. Play with your cat. Turn the music up and dance. When I dance to loud music my dogs get wild. And we laugh and laugh. Yep, animals laugh too.
5. Stay socially connect
ed. This one can be hard, especially in a small town. Keep your eye on local Facebook pages to keep up to date with social events. Or if that isn’t your thing, invite a friend to go for a dog walk or to come over for some catnip tea. You never know who else may be struggling and being invited to do something could also help them.
6. Rest. Winter is here to remind us to rest and slow down. Full confession, I take a daily nap. I set an alarm so that it is a short nap. Nothing better than taking a nap snuggled up with my pets. This short nap helps recharge my batteries. My husband and I joke that our pets have a special sleepy dust that they sprinkle on us when we are sleeping. Cause some days it is harder to get up than others, especially when the North wind is howling, and the darkness seems endless. Adequate rest is important for you and your pets. Winter is a good time to conserve your energy for the upcoming busy summer season.
If you can’t seem to shake the winter blues, then you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or clinical depression. Please reach out to the Dahl Memorial Clinic at 907-983-2255 or Taiya Counseling Services at 907983-2459 And if you know someone that may be suffering, don’t expect them to reach out, you may need to reach in.
Naloxone overdose kits (name brand NARCAN) have been placed around town to assist in an opioid emergency. They can be found at the following locations:
● AMHS Ferry Terminal
● Eagles F.O.E. Aerie #25
● Elks Lodge #431
● Grizzly’s General
● Skagway Recreation Center
● The Station
● U.S. Post Office
● Wells Fargo Bank
● Two kits are at the school
Emergency medical assistance is still necessary after administering naloxone.
Panthers head to regionals in Juneau
(from FRONT page)
third, but like the girls, hit a shooting slump in the fourth quarter. The final score, 5736, was Kake’s biggest lead of the game. Cam Lawson led Skagway with 18 points, while Jackson hit 31 for the T-birds.
Between games during a ceremony on senior night,
SHS coaches Ross Barrett and Nate Jennings praised their seniors: Landon Rodig, Kenadie Cox and Kaitlyn Tronrud (see photos with what the coaches said on page 8).
On Prince of Wales, the Panther boys swept Hydaburg (50-47, 65-52), split with Klawock (67-46, 44-47), and crushed Thorne
Bay (65-16, 72-14). They then added one more impressive win over 2A Craig, 62-52.
The Lady Panthers swept Hydaburg (63-22, 55-17), fell to Klawock (34-46, 2239), and lost to 2A Craig (27-45, 43-57).
Both teams will have two weeks of good practice time
Senior Night
Boys coach Ross Barrett talks about his one senior, Landon Rodig. Of Rodig, Barrett spoke about his gifts as a ball handler, student, and being a great person: “At the start of it all, he appeared to be kind of quiet and shy, but after a few basketball trips, I realized that he’s actually just as loud as any other typical high school kid. When I’m not looking, he might even be the loudest of them all. Not in a bad way. Just that he always seems to be joking around and laughing with the rest of the guys, just having fun. As a coach, it’s always a great thing to see players like him enjoying himself being a part of the team.”
Girls coach Nate Jennings then followed with these words about his valuable seniors, Kenadie Cox and Kaitlyn Tronrud:
“My favorite moment of Kenadie’s was in the regional runner-up game when she was a freshman. She had one job: slow down Kake’s best player at the time. Slow her down was exactly what she did. Kenadie’s defense that night was a major reason we won that game and punched our ticket to the state tournament. She has been one of the region’s best defenders ever since.”
“I honestly feel we are witnessing Kaitlyn’s moment right now, this season. She is among the region’s leaders in scoring, steals and rebounds. She is a major reason why we are off to this good start. She is a big piece of our defense in which she will show you tonight. I’ve never met someone who is as hard on themselves as K.T. But I learned over the years it is only because she wants to be the best player she can be. This season she is determined, and we are all witness to it.”
before heading to Juneau for region tourney at Thunder Mountain Feb. 26-March 1.
Kenadie Cox looks to pass to fellow senior Kaitlyn Tronrud against the Thunderbirds. Photo by Jeff Brady
Photo by Jeff Brady`
Wayne Lynn Selmer Oct.
Wayne Lynn Selmer, formerly of Skagway and Haines, passed away January 4, 2025, in Whitefish, Montana. He was born on October 16, 1949, to Oscar and Alice Selmer of Skagway. He joined a brother, Stan, who was 14 months his senior. Soon they were joined by a sister, Sherrie. The family lived in the home at 7th and Broadway, where their father, Oscar, grew up. Wayne started school at the Pius X Mission. When it closed, he moved on to the Skagway Public School and graduated there in 1967. During high school summer breaks and after graduation, Wayne worked for the White Pass & Yukon Railway as a section hand. He was drafted and joined the United States Navy. After his time of service, he returned to Skagway to work for the railroad and Standard Oil. Eventually he made his way to the United States Postal Service. He started as a clerk in the Skagway Post Office, moved over to Haines to be their post-
master, and retired from the postal offices in Anchorage.
Wayne knew the people in Skagway and Haines by their post office box numbers. He prided himself in memorizing them all. He also liked to guess the weight of the letter or parcel you were mailing before he weighed it, and he even liked to guess the weight of your baby before weighing him/her on the postal scale!
Wayne loved the outdoors. You would see him out scouting the beach for logs he could cut up for his woodstove, fishing, hiking, walking and chatting with people he met along the way. He was a collector of books, stamps, postcards, art, memorabilia, and anything that might catch his eye at a garage sale or in a thrift shop. He was active in both southeast communities using his skills as an auctioneer to raise money for various charities. Fourth of July in Skagway found him auctioning off home-made goodies for the Emblem Club, and in
16, 1949 to Jan. 4, 2025
the fall helping with the Bald Eagle Festival in Haines.
After his retirement from the post office, Wayne went to work summers at the Skagway Visitors’ Center sharing the community he loved with travelers from all over the world. Finally, he decided it was time to move closer to his sister. He packed up and moved to Kalispell, Montana. There he spent his time going to garage sales and thrift shops with his sister, playing Cribbage, Farkle and other games with his family. His last months were spent in the Columbia Falls Veteran’s Home.
A Memorial Service was held at the First Baptist Church of Whitefish, Mon-
tana on February 5th.
Wayne is survived by his cat, Coco, his brother, Stan (Maxine), his sister, Sherrie (Mike); nephews, Phillip Selmer (Emily), Tom Selmer (Kelly), Michael Colyer (Trina), Jeremy Colyer (Robin), and his nieces Stephanie Kirk (Chris), and Katherine Moseley (Eric); 12 great nieces and nephews; and 2 great-great nephews and a niece.
A Celebration of Wayne’s life will be held in the spring in Skagway. Stay tuned.
Donations may be made in Wayne’s name to the Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Shelter, PO Box 825, Skagway, AK 99840, or to the charity of your choice.
Jan. 16 to 30, 2025
Jan. 16
Police & Fire Blotter
Jan. 22
• Police conducted a welfare check.
• Fire personnel responded to a fire alarm. An interior and 360 search was conducted, no signs of smoke or fire.
Jan.17
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider.
• EMS personnel responded to a medical emergency.
Jan. 19
• Fire personnel responded to a general fire call.
• Police responded to a report of a sparking power pole. AP&T was contacted, and the issue was handled.
Jan.20
• Officer reports unauthorized political flags hung up on the Skagway bridge and were removed.
• Yukon Highways and Transportation reports Klondike Highway will be closed on the morning of Friday, Jan. 24 until noon for avalanche mitigation. Nixle message was sent out to the public.
Jan. 23
• Police responded to a report of an undefined alarm going off at a business downtown. Responsible party was notified.
Jan. 24
• DOT reported the Klondike Highway closed the first half of the day and reopened in the afternoon. A Nixle message was sent out to the public.
• Police responded to a possible break in.
Jan. 25
• Dispatch assisted in contacting the on-duty provider twice.
The Skagway Library
Wifi is available outside the library 10am-10pm.
U.S. Passports: Crystal Harris, our Library Assistant, is currently Skagway’s only passport acceptance agent. Applications are accepted by appointment only Tuesday through Friday. day. Please call to schedule. For more more information - 907-983-2665 or email library@skagway.org
A three-day certified pesticide applicator training course is scheduled for April 22-24.
Course will be taught by the University Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service via Zoom and is available statewide.
Class will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is designed to help participants understand and pass the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation exam.
A $75 fee includes study materials available at Extension offices. Contact mjohansson@alaska.edu
The materials will be mailed for an additional $25.
Register via this online form
For more information, contact Phil Kaspari at pnkaspari@alaska.edu or 907-895-4215.
The deadline to register April 15.
Fentanyl Awareness
Competition for Alaska High School Students
Competition Details:
What: Students are to launch a “One Pill Can Kill” media campaign to reach high school students. The campaign can reach students in a variety of ways: posters in hallways, advertisements in student newspapers, or videos on social media are a few examples. Creativity is key.
The campaigns should use the “One Pill Can Kill” messaging and highlight the dangers of fentanyl, the risks of non-prescription drug use, and the importance of staying informed and seeking help.
Who: This competition is open to groups of high school students in Alaska. Schools
How: After launching the campaign, contestants must submit a report to Sullivan’s communications team explaining their campaign, how it was executed and what they learned.
Prize:While all campaigns will be featured on Sullivan’s website, the winning campaign will work with Sullivan’s communications team to design public service announcements featured as part of the statewide “One Pill Can Kill – Alaska” campaign and will be shared on Sullivan’s social media channels and offered for distribution to local television, radio, and print media.
Timeline: Submission Deadline: Feb. 28, 2025
Winners Announced: March 14, More information is here: https:// www.sullivan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/one_pill_can_kill_competition_one_pager.pdf
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Alaska Broadband Office (ABO) announced the opening of the Alaska Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program.
The ABO received a State Digital Equity Capacity Grant from the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA), of which $3.45 million will be made available for the instate grant program. This is the first of three tranches of Digital Equity Capacity Grant funding the ABO will receive.
The Grant program will provide funding to eligible entities proposing projects that will implement aspects of the Alaska Digital Equity Plan. These projects will work to eliminate barriers preventing Alaskans within the covered populations, identified in the Digital Equity Act of 2021, from meaningfully using the internet.
The ABO will begin accepting applications immediately through the 120-day application period ending on April 11, 2025. The grant application, and access to the online application portal – can be found on the ABO webpage at https://www. commerce.alaska.gov/web/abo/.
SHI Acceptiong applications for college, voc-tech SEALASKA Scholarships
Applications are open for the 2025-2026 school year.
The deadline to apply is March 1, 2025. However, Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is offering a $50 incentive to those who complete their scholarship application on or before Feb. 1 and who are accepted as scholarship recipients; if selected as a recipient, the $50 will be included in their scholarship award. Applications must be filled out and submitted online at scholarship.sealaskaheritage.org.
Awards will be made to Alaska Native Sealaska shareholders and descendants enrolled full- or part- time in accredited colleges, universities and voc-tech schools. Students must also have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. The scholarship program was founded by Sealaska and is administered by Sealaska Heritage.
Alaska high school students invited to apply for fair scholarships
This year, the Fair will award $8,000 in scholarships. Scholarships are open to all Alaska junior and senior high school students who plan to attend college or vocational school. The 2025 scholarship awards include:
• $3,000 first-place award
• $2,000 second-place award
• $1,500 third-place award
• $1,000 4-H/FFA/Vendor/Dependent of Fair Member award
• One $500 honorable mention.
• Applicants recieve free tickets
To apply, students should submit:Application deadline March 26, by 4:30 p.m. AKDT. For more information on require -
ments and submission, visit alaskastatefair.org or contact Kelly Larson, 907.746.7164 or kelly@ alaskastatefair.org.
February webinars on chainsaw safety and cutting firewood
In February, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will host three free webinars on cutting wood safely and keeping chainsaws in good working condition.
Glen Holt, an Extension biomass technician will lead the webinars.
Wed., Feb. 5, at noon. Learn how to dry, season and store your firewood efficiently in “Firewood Efficiency: Get the Most from Firewood.” Register using this online form.
Wed., Feb.12. at noon Safety gear and tools: “Safe Chainsaw Use: Tree Cutting Basics” Basics of felling, bucking and limbing a tree for firewood. Register using this online form.
Feb.19, Holt will give an interactive presentation on the basics of chainsaw maintenance. Register using this online form.
All webinars will be recorded, and links will be shared with those who register.
For more information about the course and accomodations, contact Molly Johansson at mjohansson@ alaska.edu, 907-786-6313.
Solid Waste Facility Hours T, Th, Sa, Su. 1 - 3 p.m. Skagway Museum 907-983-2420
Border stations: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Call each station for specifics.
Ferry Terminal Hours
Daily 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Earlier when there is an early ferry Skagway Rec Center https://skagwayrecreation.org
SKAGWAY WORSHIP DIRECTORY
Assembly of God Church 8th & State • 907-983-2350 Sun. Worship....................11 a.m. Wed. Bible Devotions & Prayer 7 p.m. Email skagwayag@outlook.com
First Presbyterian Church 5th & Main • 983-2260 Sunday Worship 11 a.m. Online access available
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 11th & State • 983-2518 Sun. Sacrament Meeting...10 a.m.
St. Therese Catholic Church 9th & State • 983-2271 Sun. Mass..........5 p.m. October - April (when a priest is available)
CLASSIFIEDS
Classified Ads cost 40 cents per word, $4 minimum.
SERVICES
FOOD BANK DONATIONS WELCOME. Donations may be sent to the Food Bank, PO Box 200, Skagway, AK 99840. The local Food Bank helps those in need with groceries. If you need assistance, or know anyone who needs assistance, at any time of year, call any pastor.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Full-Time Year-Round Job Opportunity
We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Office Manager to oversee daily administrative operations and ensure the smooth functioning of our office. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing office procedures, coordinating with staff, and maintaining a productive work environment.
Key Responsibilities:
• Oversee daily office operations and ensure a well-organized workspace.
• Manage office supplies, equipment, and inventory.
• Coordinate schedules, meetings, and appointments for staff and leadership.
• Handle administrative tasks such as filing, data entry, and correspondence.
• Support HR functions, including onboarding new employees and maintaining records.
• Assist with budgeting, expense tracking, and financial reporting.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and office regulations.
• Act as the primary point of contact for vendors, suppliers, and service providers.
• Address office-related issues and implement solutions for efficiency.
• Plan and organize office events, team meetings, and special projects. Qualifications & Skills:
• Proven experience as an Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, or similar role.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and office management software.
• Ability to multitask and handle various responsibilities efficiently.
• Problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to challenges.
• Knowledge of basic HR and accounting principles is preferred. Education & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Management, or a related field (preferred).
• 2+ years of experience in office administration or management. Work Environment
• Most work will be in an office environment, with some time spent at various division locations. The schedule will have higher hours and activity during the cruise season, with normalized hours and scheduled time off during the offseason.
• Limited travel may be required.
Salary & Benefits:
• This will be a high-level position with initial salary based on experience. There will be growth potential and continuing bonus opportunities based on performance.
• This position will have medical, dental, and optical benefits as well as an employer matching retirement plan. A robust PTO program including paid vacation is also included.
• Professional development opportunities are available through both training and education.
EEO Statement
The Klondike Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Company Description
The Klondike Group is an integrated tourism company operating multiple divisions in Skagway, Alaska. We operate Richter’s Curios, Southeast Tours, Avis/DIY Rentals, and Skagway Pizza Parlor. We also provide private luxury tours, shuttle services, and other business services throughout the year. We are a busy fast-growing company seeking engaged individuals to join us on this exciting journey.
Contact
Please send your resume or any specific questions you have to our Human Resources Department at HR@klondike group.net
If you would like to speak directly to someone locally, please call: Tyler Rose, Senior Vice-President
The Klondike Group (907) 612-0175
Opinion
By Larry Persily
The rich have enough; keep their hands off government
Wealthy people enjoy their mansions, yachts, fancy cars, private jets and private clubs. No law against being super comfortable, living the good life with servants and avoiding TSA lines and self-serve kiosks.
But considering that the ultra-wealthy already own so much, enjoy so many perks in life and never have to ask “how much” when grocery shopping, you would think they could leave alone federal services for everyone else who is not in the same high-income world.
I’m not asking them to take a vow of poverty like a nun or even share their wealth with the rest of the country, but it’d be nice if they could just consider that people who don’t live the easy life deserve to at least live an OK life.
Yet that doesn’t seem to be the case these tumultuous days in Washington, D.C., where the rich are streaming in and taking over the government much like General William
Tecumseh Sherman marched to the sea in 1864, destroying Atlanta in a scorched-earth campaign during the Civil War.
Only this time the rich are not torching homes, they are burning down jobs and services, disrupting lives and poking their noses into people’s private finances and beliefs. They want to determine which federal employees put loyalty to the president ahead of the law. “Loyalty Over the Law” gives a sad, new meaning to the emoji LOL.
Closing federal offices that help and protect people, dismantling or crippling the Department of Education, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and many other agencies is the new pastime for wealthy people appointed to positions or power and prestige in Washington. They are on a mission to disrupt the world, while their world remains quite comfortable.
And even if they are not the battalion leaders of the scorched-earth march, they are supplying the ammunition and opening the gates as Elon Musk calls out orders.
Musk, reportedly the richest person in America, is worth about $400 billion, according to Forbes magazine and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. When you’re worth that much, people will follow you most anywhere.
For now, some of the nation’s richest people are following Musk and President Donald Trump to Washington to take jobs as cabinet secretaries and other high-power positions. They are doing so in comfort. All that marching gets tiring.
Trump’s pick to serve as Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent paid $12.5 million for a mansion in Washington, D.C., according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The five-bedroom house measures about 8,000 square feet over four levels, according to the property
listing. It has a banquet-sized dining room, drawing room and library, and comes with an 800-square-foot saltwater pool. But that’s nothing compared to Trump’s choice for Secretary of Commerce, financial services company CEO Howard Lutnick, who spent $25 million — a record for Washington — on a 16,250-squarefoot house with five bedrooms. Inspired by a château in France, the property has an outdoor putting green and an indoor sports court. No sense taking a chance that rain could shut down the day’s sporting activities.
As the Trump world settles into their mansions and decides who loses their job or services, maybe they could hire some of the fired federal public servants to clean the pool or trim the grass on the putting green.
Larry Persily is the publisher of the Wrangell Sentinel
Nonresident hiring in Alaska hits new record, state analysis shows
By Yereth Rosen Alaskabeacon.com
The number of nonresidents working in Alaska hit a new record in 2023 and all major industries are relying more heavily on workers who do not live in the state, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Nonresident workers in Alaska totaled 92,664 in 2023 and made up 23.5% of the workforce, the highest percentage since 1995, according to an annual report published by the department that is mandated by state law.
Typically, about one in five workers in Alaska is not a resident of the state, and certain seasonal industries, such as seafood processing, have long relied out-of-state labor.
But nearly all Alaska industries need nonresident workers, and nearly all increased that reliance in 2023, said Rob Kreiger, a state economist who summarized the data in an article in the February issue of Alaska Economic Trends, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s monthly research magazine. Kreiger also co-authored the department’s annual report.
The increased reliance on nonresident workers coincides with a 12-year streak of net outmigration — meaning more people leaving the state than moving in — and a loss of working-age adults.
Kreiger said 2023 is the most recent year for which the department has full data. The 2024 data will not be available until next January, he said.
The trends shown now may well be continuing, he said. “I would not want to speculate, but I do think the
workers shortage persisted in 2024, which could rsult in numbers similar to what we saw in 2023,” he said by email.
The department uses Alaska Permanent Fund dividend applications to analyze worker residency. In 2023, the biggest percentage increase in nonresident employment in 2023 was in the construction sector, Kreiger reported in his analysis. Construction job growth has largely been driven by projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and by increased oil activity, Kreiger’s article said.
nonresident construction workforce nearly tripled from 2022 to 2023, jumping from 255 to 745.
Construction is project-based, making it a good fit for nonresident workers, Kreiger said.
This year, construction spending is forecast to total $6.7 billion, up from the 2024 estimate of $6.36 billion, according to an annual estimate commissioned by the Associated General Contractors of Alaska. Spending is expected to be split almost evenly between private and public sector work.
While the construction industry accounted for 6% of Alaska’s nonresident workforce, its nonresident hire increased by 24%, according to his analysis. The most dramatic increase in nonresident construction hiring was on the North Slope, where the
There are some new uncertainties about that forecast, however. President Donald Trump ordered a freeze on infrastructure spending authorized by the 2021 act, a signature accomplishment of former President Joe Biden’s administration, and the fates of many authorized projects are unclear.
In the oil and gas industry, 37.4% of the workers were nonresidents in 2023, up from 36% the year prior, according to the state’s annual report. Among oil and gas workers whose jobs are on the North Slope, 45% were nonresidents that year, according to the report.
In the metals mining industry, nonresidents accounted for 41.6% of workers, up slightly from the 41.1% in 2022, according to the department’s annual report.
Seafood processing, which has traditionally relied on nonresidents to fill most of its jobs, was even more reliant on those workers in 2023, according to the department’s annual report. That year, 82.8% of
the workers were nonresident, and the percentage has crept up steadily since 2014 and 2015, when about 74% of seafood processing workers were not Alaska residents, the annual report said.
Tourism is another seasonal industry with a longtime reliance on nonresident workers that increased in 2023. That year, 34% of workers in the visitor-related industry were nonresidents, up slightly from 32.6% in 2022.
Two nonseasonal industries that became more reliant on nonresident workers were health care and local and state government.
Nonresidents made up 14.1% of Alaska’s health care workers in 2023, up from 13.5% the previous year, according to the annual report. Among registered nurses working in Alaska in 2023, 20.5% were nonresidents, according to the report.
Although its reliance on out-ofstate workers has increased, the health care sector still has a lower percentage of nonresident workers than Alaska’s statewide average, the report noted. And nonresident health care workers “are among the most likely to be identified as residents the next year,” compared to other nonresident workers, said the report.
In state and local government, nonresidents made up 9.3% of the workforce in 2023, compared to 8.8% in the previous year. The dominant occupations within the broad category are in education, and 14.9% of Alaska teachers and instructors in 2023 were nonresidents, according to the state’s report. The state and local government sector has historically been among the least reliant on nonresident workers, the report noted.
