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2016 Iditarod: Field of 85 Teams Starts the Last Great Race

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2016 Iditarod: Field of 85 Teams Starts the Last Great Race A VIEW FROM THE TRAIL— The Kigluaik Mountains welcome Iditarod mushers as their dog teams climb Cape Nome towards the finish line in Nome. Photo by Nils Hahn C VOLUME CXVI NO. 10 March 10, 2016 2016 Iditarod: Field of 85 teams starts the Last Great Race By Mary Pemberton salmon from large-scale mining, de- The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race spite a new Iditarod rule intended to got underway Sunday with 85 teams muzzle mushers from using the race leaving from a frozen lake north of to promote their personal agendas Anchorage and heading to Nome in and prevent them from saying any- what officials say promises to be one thing to discredit the race or its spon- of the most competitive Iditarods sors. ever. With fans cheering and lining the Not every musher was thinking chute, the Iditarod mushers and their solely of winning the world’s most dog teams — some wearing yellow, famous long-distance sled dog race. pink, green and orange neon booties Some mushers acknowledged being — took off from Willow about 50 sad to leave their wives and newborn miles north of Anchorage. The babies behind, wishing instead they weather was warm for the dogs but could stay home. Another top just about right for many of the fans, musher admitted to feelings of long- who stripped down to T-shirts and ing, watching his younger brother fi- even shorts in the nearly 40°F nally get his chance to run the race weather as the official part of the team and dream big. One four-time race began under brilliant blue skies champion said if he has any feelings with Denali in full view. of self-pity along the trail all he has A day earlier, the ceremonial start to do is think of his son in a Seattle was held in downtown Anchorage hospital recovering from a terrible where snow had to be brought by rail automobile accident. car from Fairbanks to cover the bare Another musher again was mind- pavement. The show went on any- ful of why she runs the Iditarod, way with the ceremonial start route what she calls her “purpose to my continued on page 6 mission” of protecting Bristol Bay Council postpones port tariff approval By Sandra L. Medearis The council voted unanimously to The Nome Common Council said hold back until its regular meeting ‘no’ to this season’s port tariff revi- March 28 when the city’s Finance sion at a special meeting called to ap- Director Julie Liew would be avail- prove the document to get it to able for more information. shippers. Several noted that the labor costs The revised Port of Nome fees and salaries took a large chunk of the and regulation contains minimal budget. The port budget had to ac- changes in rules, but includes a 10 commodate labor from outside the percent increase in fees applied department, for example, services across the board. performed by the public works de- The port tariff turn down hinged partment. on the price increase. A dozen to 15 “You have people with questions people attended the special meeting that want answers,” councilman Matt at noon March 3. After hearing from Culley said. “If it is 10 percent [in- several citizens who took the podium crease] on the 28th, I’ll vote for it, to speak against the increases boost- but I want answers for people who ing the cost of living and affecting have questions.” business costs, council members said The increase was not to fund op- they wanted more information on erations, but to provide a contin- budget, revenues and expenses to gency fund for emergencies, repairs back up a vote. and local matching money to chase The Port of Nome Commission federal grants for capital improve- Photo by Al Grillo OK’d the revised tariff Feb. 18 and OFF TO NOME— Melissa Owens Stewart, formerly of Nome, leaves the start line at Willow in the 2016 Id- handed it to the council for approval. continued on page 4 itarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 6. In Republican preference poll, Trump wins big in Nome On the Web: By Diana Haecker In Nome, 93 votes were cast. Nome and noted that voter participa- In addition to the 20 or so people www.nomenugget.net Preliminary results from the Forty-four votes went to Trump. tion tripled compared to the last pres- that Handeland considers “regulars”, E-mail: March 1 Republican Presidential Texas Senator Ted Cruz placed sec- idential preference poll. there were one third of the 93 who he [email protected] Preference poll in Alaska show that ond and received 23 votes (24.7 per- “Last time we had maybe 30 peo- has not seen before at the polls. New York real estate magnate Don- cent); Florida Senator Marco Rubio ple turn out, this time the number He also noted that the voters knew ald Trump took 47.3 percent of Re- received 14 votes (15.1 percent), Ben tripled to 93,” Handeland said. He their preference. “ People walked in publican votes in Nome. Nome had Carson received eight votes (8.6 per- also reported a record number of 17 and knew already who they would by far the highest percentage of Re- cent) and Ohio Governor John Ka- newly registered Republicans during vote for. Nobody seemed unde- publican voters casting their prefer- sich received four votes (4.3 the poll. “Normally we get one or cided,” Handeland said. ence poll for Trump, followed by percent). two show up at the poll and say Statewide, 21,930 votes were cast Barrow, where Trump received 42.9 Arnie Handeland volunteered at ‘might as well commit and get regis- percent or nine votes. the Republican preference poll in tered,’” Handeland said. continued on page 4 2 THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Letters Dear Editor, most beautiful photo on page 12, and one of the reasons I enjoy the Just want to thank you for B/W maybe was color originally. Nugget so very much. your wonderfully interesting paper. However, in B/W it is outstand- Thank you for the Nugget I am so glad someone was able to ing!!!!!!!!!! Stephanie Johnson and Mimi Desautels help me with accessing into your her Dog Team along Saint Michaels Chilliwack, B.C. new website! Creek. Photo by Nils Hahn. Canada The March 3, 2016 edition has the The photos are always amazing The Iditarod— The Last Great Race and Alaska’s biggest professional sport By Mark Nordman to personal conduct. For years mush- when inaccurate, false, or deliber- Race Director and Race Marshal ers have called for such a rule be- ately negative or derogatory state- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race cause they are professionals and ments are made towards any Joe Redington, Sr. organized the understand that public statements, individual or the organization. long-distance Iditarod race 43 years which are injurious, reckless and dis- Any publication, sharing, posting ago to save sled dog culture and pre- paraging, can only hurt the reputa- or comments that are deemed false, serve the historical Iditarod Trail. It tion of the sport. Organizations as derogatory or negative towards any seems unlikely now, but at the time varied as NASCAR, the NBA and musher, race personnel, the Yukon mushing was facing extinction, being professional tennis have similar Quest organization or their support- replaced by snow machining. The codes of conduct and recognize the ers will not be acceptable. race has changed considerably benefit of decorum within sport. And Demeanor, poise and personal ac- through the years with many opera- for those wanting an example a bit countability are just as important as tional, financial and public relations closer to home, following is the pol- grit, competence and ethical behav- ups and downs. icy communicated to each musher ior when you are a professional. Today’s race is about more than who participated in the Yukon Quest To be clear, concerns on the trail mushing, it represents to the whole the past couple of years: should always be brought to race of- world Alaska’s frontier spirit and the In the spirit of integrity and re- ficials. Additionally, private com- largeness that is our Greatland. spect for the mushers, organization, ments on personal matters that are Photo by John Handeland The professional athletes, both and all race personnel a sportsman- not public statements or acts, are not NUGGET— Philipp Kuzuguk, left, a former “paper boy” when Gre- two- and four-legged varieties, ship standard is being adopted. With covered by this rule. gory Albro owned the Nome Nugget, poses with Nancy McGuire, editor which are the heart and soul of the the advancement of technology, in- The other 15 pages of rules range and publisher of the Nome Nugget, at the Iditarod starting banquet in race, cast an enormous influence formation is available and shared from minimum age and proof of Anchorage on Thursday, March 3. over the community. What the mush- very quickly through both official qualification to mandatory stops and ers say during and immediately after and unofficial channels. This can must-carry trail items, the Iditarod the race, while using the race’s pub- contribute to the success of the race Trail Committee stands by this new lic platform, matters. providing fans with updates, spon- 121-word addition and the continued Last April, ahead of race registra- sors with exposure and funding part- professionalism we believe it will tion in June, the Iditarod Trail Com- ners with recognition. It can also act encourage.
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