PRIME REAL ESTATE— Gulls, ducks and Red-necked Phalaropes crowded around what’s left of a shrinking water pond due to dry weather, on July17. Photo by Diana Haecker C VOLUME CXV NO. 29 July 23, 2015 Nome Council members push for utility rate increases By Sandra L. Medearis to send it through the port headers on banks. Their new bank also wanted a “Nome Joint Utilities System will Jerald Brown pushed for higher util- In a special meeting, the City of Tuesday, according to utility man- letter of credit on a bill for fuel vol- be paying for fuel with NJUS money ity rates. Over the last year, NJUS Nome has agreed to back a note ager John K. Handeland. ume and price that would not be as we always have,” Handeland said. executives have stated that the util- Nome Joint Utilities System has Buying fuel with a loan from known precisely until after delivery. Two to three days after delivery ity was short of money because rates taken with Wells Fargo Bank to fi- Wells Fargo was an usual transac- NJUS made an alternate arrange- and the fuel settles, the parties would had not been raised in 20 years to nance the utility’s 2016 fuel pur- tion, according to Handeland, except ment by which Wells Fargo would confirm the quantity and the money keep up with expenses. The NJUS chase. that this year Wells Fargo wanted a hold the note, not to exceed $6 mil- would be dispensed from the escrow Board was scheduled to meet twice The first barge of fuel, delivered guarantee from City of Nome. Addi- lion, in escrow, to save the substan- account. this week to consider rate revisions by Vitus Marine, lay off the Port of tionally, the fuel supplier, Vitus Ma- tial cost to the utility of a letter of By the agreement, NJUS was to for electrical power. Nome on Monday night, with plans rine of Anchorage, had changed credit. make two payments of interest and At the meeting during comments, pay out the remainder of the fuel cost Brown wanted to know if a rate in- over the next year. crease would come before the Coun- As the deal goes, City of Nome cil for a vote. Answer: Yes. pays Wells Fargo on the 15th of the “Would it be out of line to have an month. NJUS deposits money in the ordinance in case the utility board City’s account from utility revenues. fails to have one?” he asked. “The NJUS will be paying an interest rate utility board is the most logical en- of 2.95 percent to Wells Fargo, ac- tity to set rates is the utility board.” cording to Handeland “I am willing to give them a last “This transaction provides a more chance,” Brown said. “If they don’t favorable rate this year than in the come up with a recommendation, I past,” he told the Council. At the same meeting Councilman continued on page 4 Nome man found dead in outbuilding By Diana Haecker bathroom behind the water and A man reported missing was portable toilet business found Rivers found dead on Thursday, July 16 in a inside. port-a-potty behind the Moonlight NPD officers identified the man Springs Water Service building off as Francis Rivers Jr. Seppala Drive. According to Papasodora, the po- According to Nome Police Chief lice doesn’t suspect foul play nor sui- John Papasodora, Francis Rivers Jr. cide as the reason for Rivers’ death. was reported missing on Saturday, Next of kin were notified. July 11. The body of Francis Rivers was Photo by Peggy Fagerstrom Nome police searched for the 47- sent to the Medical Examiner’s of- DANCING UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN— The Nome King Island Dancers put on an impromptu per- year old man but was not successful fice in Anchorage to determine the formance at Anvil City Square on July 8, to the delight of passersby who enjoyed the unexpected treat of in locating him. cause of death. As of press time on entertainment on a beautiful summer evening in Nome. On July 16, at 9:25 a.m. two peo- Monday, the determination has not ple who tried to use the portable been made yet. Lightning ignites two wildfires on Seward Peninsula By Diana Haecker dination Center, the fire is on moni- Lightning caused two wildfires in tor status, with daily observation the Nome area, one is still burning, overflights and satellite monitoring. the other has been fought and is con- The fire is holding at Garfield sidered inactive. Creek, near an area where heavy The current fire started on July 19 equipment is stored. and is located east of Quartz Creek, Last week, a fire at Anita Gulch, on Mingvk Lake. visible from Osborne and the Dexter The fire has burned 7,659 acres as area, burned 42 acres. It was re- of Tuesday morning. According to ported to be approximately 15 miles Kale Casey, public information offi- from Nome. cer at the Alaska Interagency Coor- The Anita Gulch fire began with a lightning strike on July 16. The Alaska Fire Service sent eight smokejumpers from Fairbanks to On the Web: Nome to fight the flames because www.nomenugget.net the fire was burning near Native al- lotments, although no structures E-mail: were at risk. The fire was doused [email protected] with water from the air and was ex- tinguished. Prior to these two fires, Nome and the region was enveloped in smoky haze last week. The smoke originated from fires in the Interior near Tanana, Galena continued on page 5 Photo by Diana Haecker WILDFIRE— Smoke billowed from a tundra fire on Anita Gulch with camps at Osborne in the foreground. 2 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Sound Off: Things I Will Miss About Teaching By Joel Bachelder gether the many pieces of the com- sunny days but too many were last at a different pace, and yet teachers eyes and rejoices, “Mr. B. I’ve been #11 Amazing parent volunteers plicated English language and then minute decisions at the end-of-the- are chastised, students are harassed, waiting all these long years wanting who spend dozens of hours in the express joyful victory as the puzzle month in bitter cold and wind. and parents are threatened for a low to learn about Space and I finally room correcting spelling tests, sta- takes shape. #9 Sub Plans – When a teacher score. am…with you. You make me so so pling math and reading packets, #4 Seeing the incredible enthusi- needs to be out of the classroom for #3 Favoritism – A principal se- happy.” leading small groups, and interacting asm of students to delve into knowl- meetings, training, sickness, or med- lects about 10 teachers, staff mem- #7 Little girl, “Joel, I had a with the students. edge about cities, states, countries, ical reasons, they never “call in bers, and parents who kiss up to woman pre-school teacher and I had #10 Fellow staff members who earth, space, weather, animals, in- sick.” They go in for three hours to them…lavishes them with praise and a woman Kindergarten teacher, and offer cheery greetings in the hallway sects, plants, oceans, fish, ships, jets, make detailed lesson plans. perks, and then proceeds to treat the I was just getting into women. Now and words of humor and care. and the amazing human body. #8 Staff Development – You re- rest of the humans in the school like I have you for first grade, and now #9 The wonderful people who #3 Performing multiple versions member 10 percent of what you read dirt. I’m getting into men.” lovingly clean my classroom and in- of “Goldilocks & the Three Bears,” and hear and 90 percent of what you #2 Sit Down and Shut Up – #6 A boy coughed & sniffled, geniously repair everything that’s “Jack & the Beanstalk,” “Three Billy do and experience. So we all look Teachers who hold the philosophy then turned around. “Mr. B., I can’t broken. They make the school look Goats Gruff,” “The Boy Who Cried forward to the interesting and inter- that children should be seen and not finish my chocolate milk. Can you like a palace! Wolf,” and more. Some creative im- active teacher in-services, which heard…yell threats and penalties to finish it for me?” #8 Precious students who come promptu lines leave us all laughing. come along once every four years. their students all day if they dare to #5 Little boy declared, “Mr. B., by my room to say “Hi” even years #2 Singling lively songs with stu- #7 New Program – Teachers vol- talk softly or even whisper. you can come to my house anytime. after they were in my class. dents as they follow the words. Most unteer their time and pay for babysit- #1 Make it Boring – Some princi- You could stay at my house for a #7 School events: carnivals, kids laugh at the jokes and even ters in order to attend a “highly pals make it their duty to go around thousand generations.” dances, soup & science nights, con- jump up to dance for the finale. recommended” new program in-ser- and squash anything that hits at #4 Boy says, “It’s easy to get to certs, choirs, talent shows, Hobo Jim, #1 Organizing 540 students birth- vice, the district spends thousands of humor, music, drama, motion, sci- my house, you just turn that way and Shelley Gill, Dr. Seuss nights, and day parties complete with cards, dollars on materials…only to scrap ence, art, cooking, color, jokes, high then you turn the other way, and then more.