The Arctic Airman SSounderounder graduate Northwest Arctic and the North Slope Page 2 Vol. 21, No. 26 $1.00 Barrow, Kotzebue and Northern Villages June 14, 2007 Courtesy photo/James Omnik Jr. A skin boat belonging to Elijah Attungana’s whaling crew stands ready to be taken out to sea as soon as a whale is spotted in Point Hope, May 13. More photos from May whale hunting trips appear on page 8. Wainwright residents treated after rabies confirmed in puppy By The Sounder staff Village health aides identified and inter- for the North Slope Borough, explained after the rabies confirmation. viewed 33 residents who might have been that rabies is spread by saliva, generally Exposed persons received the first pre- The Alaska State Virology Laboratory exposed to the puppy during the week through an infected animal’s bite. ventive medicines immediately. Treatment confirmed a case of rabies in a Wainwright before it began to show symptoms, and It is unusual but possible for the virus to consists of one dose of human rabies family’s puppy on Wednesday, June 6. plans were made for medical personnel be spread if a rabid dog licks someone’s immune globulin and five doses of rabies The pup was believed to have contracted from the Alaska Section of Epidemiology mouth or eyes. It is not possible to get rabies vaccine over a period of 28 days. the illness after fighting with an arctic fox. to bring vaccines immediately to simply by petting the sick animal or coming “I’m really proud of the quick response After it was notified of the potential rabies Wainwright. in contact with its blood, urine or feces. by our staff,” Habeich said. case on June 5, the North Slope Borough Of the 33 interviewed, 10 were identi- A team of doctors and nurses from the “Vaccine arrived in the village two days Health Department ordered the puppy to fied to have had contact with the animal’s state health department, the Samuel after we found out about this case. That be killed and arranged for its immediate saliva. Simmonds Hospital in Barrow and the takes a lot of coordination, and it shows shipment to a virology lab in Fairbanks. Lab Rosie Habeich, director of the North Slope Borough public health nursing just how seriously our health care workers tests confirmed the rabies diagnosis. Department of Health and Social Services office flew to Wainwright with the vaccines take this kind of event,” she said. Visiting teacher seeks clues to greenhouse effect When applying for the program, Wilder indicat- Tundra study measures ed his interest in environmental science and was sent crucial role of carbon to Barrow to join researcher Steven Oberbauer in his study of climate change effects on the arctic. By Tamar Ben-Yosef While in Barrow, Wilder and Oberbauer will share The Arctic Sounder their experiences with fellow scientists, teachers and Wilder’s own students back in South Carolina Rob Wilder wakes up in Barrow every morning through online journals, message boards, photo to science, and the last thing he does before he goes albums, phone calls and presentations from the field. to bed is science. “This program simulates what it is really like for And he thinks that’s “neat.” researchers collecting data and the way it is supposed Wilder, a high school science teacher from to happen,” Wilder said. Spartanburg, S.C., is one of 15 teachers selected to “I have only been here a week and I am already participate in PolarTrec-Teachers and Researchers excited about what I can take home from this to my Exploring and Collaborating in the Arctic and students,” he said. Antarctic. Wilder said he feels that program will energize his PolarTrec is a 3-year-old program focused on an teaching. He has already been in contact by e-mail educational research experience funded by the with some of his students who are interested in what AS 06-14-07 National Science Foundation and managed by the their teacher is doing in the North Slope. Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. “This program brings home how little time we By bringing researchers and teachers together, the have, as teachers, to do this kind of research,” Wilder program hopes to produce a legacy of long-term col- said. laborations, improved teacher knowledge through Oberbauer and Wilder’s team are investigating the Courtesy photo/Rob Wilder experience in scientific studies and a broader public Rob Wilder, a PolarTrec teacher, samples goose soup at 8 5 4 1 5 9 0 0 0 0 4 2 interest and engagement in polar science. See Page 15, Effect an Apugauti celebration on Thursday, May 31, in Barrow. Page 2 The Arctic Sounder June 14, 2007 Shungnak man charged with attempted AIRMAN 1ST CLASS GRADUATES Courtesy photo murder, kidnapping, robbery counts Air Force Airman 1st Class Leandre Jose V. Girl, 10, alleges being thing of the incident due to his high level of Malijan of Barrow is a inebriation. recent graduate of basic thrown off family ATV In addition to the charge of first-degree military training at attempted murder, Sun was charged with first- Lackland Air Force Base By Tamar Ben-Yosef degree kidnapping by restraining the victim with- in San Antonio, Texas. The Arctic Sounder out parental permission during the commission Malijan is the son of of a felony, according to court documents. Ernesto Malijan of State troopers based in Kotzebue arrested a Sun was charged with first-degree robbery Barrow and nephew of Shungnak man on Sunday, June 3, and charged by using physical force to take the vehicle and Rudy Malijan of him with first-degree attempted murder. with second-degree vehicle theft by taking the Anchorage. During six Joseph Allen Sun, 21, is the main suspect is a vehicle without permission from the owner. weeks of training, Malijan case involving assault, kidnapping and theft of State troopers responded to Shungnak with studied the Air Force a minor, according to Kotzebue Court District the assistance of the Kobuk village public safe- mission, organization and documents. ty officer and arrested Sun, who was transport- military customs and On Saturday, June 2, a 10-year-old Shungnak ed to Nome Correctional Center, where at press courtesies; performed girl was out riding her family’s all-terrain vehi- time he was behind bars awaiting trial. drill and ceremony cle near the Kobuk River in Shungnak. The girl On May 22, 2004, Sun was sentenced to two marches, and received had unloaded boxes from the ATV and mount- years in jail with 18 months suspended for an physical training, rifle ed the vehicle, when a person she identified as attempted sexual assault and fourth-degree marksmanship, field Sun jumped onto the front of the vehicle, assault. He pled no contest to that crime. training exercises, and grabbed her around the neck and threw her special training in human down, causing her to hit her head on the ground. relations. The victim told state troopers Sun dis- mounted the vehicle and continued to strangle IN MEMORY her, causing her to become briefly unconscious. The victim reported lying on the ground, lis- Francis Andrew ‘Bud’ Knapp, 73 IRTHS tening as her ATV was driven away, until she no Lifelong Alaska resident B longer heard the vehicle’s engine, at which point Francis Andrew “Bud” she got up and was able to run to her relative’s Knapp died Thursday, Kotzebue on June 6, 2007. She weighed 6 Kyren Gabrial Natchaiyaq Mehaffey home. June 7, 2007, at his home pounds, 4.2 ounces and measured 18-3/4 inch- Brianna Downing of Kotzebue announces The victim was reported to have suffered in Kasilof. He was 73. es long. Grandparents are Henry and Janet the birth of Kyren Gabrial Natchaiyaq injuries and was airlifted to the Alaska Native Funeral services were to Schaeffer and Norman and Joanne Jones. She Mehaffey, born at 10:38 a.m. on May 22, 2007, Medical Center in Anchorage to undergo treat- be held on Thursday, June joined siblings Quinton and Jacey Schaeffer. at the Maniilaq Medical Center in Kotzebue. ment. 14, at Peninsula Memorial He weighed 8 pounds and was 20 inches long. Willie Ray Ballot Jr. Sun was spotted driving the victim’s vehicle Chapel in Kenai. He was Grandparents are Rachel and Don Knoblich. Willie and Krystal Ballot of Selawik along the Kobuk River around 2:30 p.m. on to be buried at Spruce He joined sister Faleace Nanini. announce the birth of Willie Ray Ballot Jr., born June 2. Grove Memorial Park in Kasilof. Casey Rose Schaeffer at 3:56 a.m. on June 2, 2007, at the Maniilaq Sun was contacted by state troopers on June A celebration of life was to follow at the 3 and reported he had been consuming home- Knapp residence. Henry and Innie Schaeffer of Kotzebue Health Center in Kotzebue. He weighed 6 brewed alcohol at 9:30 on the night previous to Pallbearers were to include his sons, Andy, announce the birth of Casey Rose Schaeffer, pounds, 11 ounces and measured at 19-5/8 the incident. Joe, Jerry, Ross and Carl Knapp, and his son in- born at the Maniilaq Health Center in inches long. Grandparents are Brenda Karmun, Joe and Diana Ballot and Maggie Black He Sun told troopers he had passed out in the law, Chad Mills. Honorary pallbearers were joined siblings Jesse, Ryan, Oorcas, Marie, morning of the incident and did not wake up Frank Stein, Marv Mattson, Bob Stevenson, Why Not? Kandi, Kevin, Steven, Myia and Brenda.