Photo by Denise Olin READY TO ROLL—Snowmachine racers line up for the start of the 2010 Nome-Golovin race Saturday on the sea ice just east of Nome. For more on this year’s race, see page 7. C VOLUME CIX NO. 11 MARCH 18, 2010 Four! Lance Mackey crosses the line and goes into the record books as the Iditarod’s only musher to win four in a row By Tyler Rhodes Mackey led the race the entire way Just in case the crowd had any up the coast after making a bold move doubt as to what he was after, when coming off the Yukon River. He blew Lance Mackey left Willow for the through the Kaltag checkpoint to grab start of the 2010 Iditarod he raised the lead from another four-time winner, four fingers in the air. Jeff King, and continue on toward Un- Eight days, 23 hours and 59 min- alakleet. He was able to hold that lead utes later, it was a bottle of champagne and claim the $2,500 in gold nuggets that Mackey lifted to the sky as he waiting for him in Unalakleet for being drove his 11 remaining dogs to the first musher to the coast. “I wanted Nome’s Burled Arch for an unprece- to spoil Jeff’s fun a little bit and take one dented fourth Iditarod victory in a row. of those prizes,” he said at the finish. Drenched in sunshine and greeted The gamble paid off as Mackey’s by temperatures that finally climbed dogs proved to be up to the challenge out of the subzero range and into the of a longer run on less rest, a com- teens March 23, Mackey made his- mon theme in Mackey’s wins. “I tory just shy of 3 p.m. as the only musher to put a string of four victo- continued on page 9 ries together. He had plenty of com- pany to help celebrate the moment. The crowd collapsed on Mackey as A TOAST—Lancy Mackey hoists he made his way toward the chute of a bottle of champagne high as he Front Street, shaking his hand, offer- drives his team into the finish ing congratulations and likely hand- chute in Nome Tuesday to claim his ing him that bottle of bubbly. fourth Iditarod victory in a row. Photo by Tyler Rhodes Photo by Tyler Morgan claims Nome-Golovin win By Tyler Rhodes a free entry into next year’s Iron Dog. After a disappointing and early Morgan, racing a Polaris 600 scratch in this year’s Iron Dog, Rush, said his machine gave him no Nome-grown Mike Morgan came problems as he negotiated the course home to seek a little redemption on that runs from the sea ice in front of a familiar course. Nome to Golovin and back. Others On a cold, cloudless Saturday, weren’t so lucky. “There were a lot Morgan heated up the 200-mile course to take the 2010 Nome- continued on page 6 Golovin Snowmachine Race in two hours, 21 minutes and 32 seconds. Morgan outpaced second place Chris Collins from Kotzebue by just over a On the Web: minute. “It was a good run,” Morgan www.nomenugget.net said as he milled about the finish while fellow racers blazed through E-mail: the chute every couple of minutes. [email protected] As part of his prize, Morgan receives FINISHED—Nome’s Shantah Es- parza rockets through the finish chute Saturday on the sea ice in front of Nome for the finish of the Photo by Tyler Rhodes Photo by Tyler 2010 Nome-Golovin race. 2 THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Letters Dear Editor, to all the meetings and work ses- assistant principal position. During principal position must have some- at the high school. Eliminating this I was surprised at the March 11 sions. the March 11 meeting throughout thing to do with the executive ses- position because they may be afraid Nome School Board meeting that the Board Member Albert McComas “Board Members Open Discussion” sion. Bingo! The Board, or at least of a lawsuit is an example of Board board put the assistant principal po- and I had a discussion after the no member of the School Board some members, are worried about members showing no concern for sition on the agenda for the “special March 11 meeting and he claimed to brought up the idea of eliminating the lawsuit that they discussed in what is best for NPS students. It cer- meeting” scheduled prior to a regular have mentioned in past years that he the Assistant Principal position. Dur- executive session. Mr. McComas tainly will not follow the NPS mis- work session (on March 23). This saw no need for the Assistant Princi- ing the business manager’s lengthy and perhaps others have told people sion statement to “provide a occurred almost immediately after pal position at the Nome Beltz Junior explanation of the FY11 budget, no they voted no on the Assistant Prin- positive learning environment that the Board came out of an executive and Senior High School. I do re- board member brought the idea of cipal contract because they wanted to educates all students for success in session. For anyone not familiar with member him mentioning his feelings cutting that position. I do remember eliminate the position. Yet the Dis- life.” what a “special meeting” is, it is a in the past, but he never made a mo- Board Member Barb Nickels asking trict has that position in their FY11 Respectfully, meeting the board holds to vote on tion to eliminate the job. I know he the business manager if all the cur- budget and NPS has advertised for Betsy Brennan action items outside of their regular has told several individuals since the rent positions are in the FY11 budget the Assistant Principal position for Nome, AK meeting schedule. According to the January 12 School Board meeting she presented. The answer was yes. over a month. There has been no FY11 Budget Development and that he voted no on Doug Boyer’s As I walked home from the March public discussion at any board meet- Dear Nancy McGuire and the Voting Adoption Schedule handed out at contract because the Board and/or he 11 meeting, I thought about the ex- ing about eliminating the position. I Public, their last meeting, the March 23 wanted to cut that position. He actu- ecutive session that the Board held urge the Board to take this topic off The Nome School Board has plans work session will include a discus- ally spoke to Doug Boyer and told that night. The reason given to the the “special agenda” portion of the to discuss and then vote on the As- sion of the FY11 budget (that would him the same thing. public was very clear and exact: To March 23 meeting. Discuss the elim- sistant Principal position at a special be the school budget for next year). I told Albert that I find it ex- consult with the District lawyer ination of the assistant principal po- session, which has been added prior This budget includes an Assistant tremely suspicious that the board about a threatened lawsuit against sition in public, during the work to their regular work session on Principal position. I question if the would schedule a vote to possibly the District. After coming out of the session scheduled for March 23. Tuesday, March 23. Board intends to vote on whether the eliminate a position that has not even executive session, Kirsten Timbers Allow public comment and discus- What does that mean? Reconsid- position will remain in the budget. I been discussed publicly. That the asked that the “AP” assistant princi- sion over a few weeks on this possi- ering the contract? Changing the job am concerned because at no point in board would do this just before they pal position be put on the “special bility. Give the public good, description? Eliminating the posi- the last several meetings has there even discuss the FY11 budget in meeting” agenda. I suddenly had a educationally sound reasons to elim- been a PUBLIC Board discussion public is perplexing. During the Feb- thought…. Eliminating the assistant inate the assistant principal position continued on page 18 regarding the elimination of this po- ruary 23 work session, no board sition. How do I know? I have been member spoke about eliminating the Foster’s Report Letters to the editor must be signed and Operating Budget Moves to Senate All Alaskans Count / Census 2010 include an address and phone number. Thank yous With four weeks remaining in the legislative session Just a reminder, during the Census, it is extremely im- and political endorsements are considered ads. the House has passed its version of the Operating Budget portant that everyone be counted. The census will be- and the bill moves to the Senate where they will re-write come the basis for future representation and fund those portions of the budget that are not in line with Sen- distribution. Reapportionment is based on the popula- ate priorities. In the meantime the House is waiting for tion numbers that are developed and annually over $400 the Senate to pass their version the Capital Budget so that billion in federal funds are distributed to tribal, state and Editorial it can be considered by the House Finance Committee. local governments on the basis of population. Legislation of Interest Other Issues Let the Sun Shine The Senate Resources Committee passed Senate Bill The House Democrats have asked the Attorney Gen- While we are struggling with disruptive sleep patterns and moving 220, the Alaska Sustainable Energy Act which outlines eral to take further action to protect Teacher Retirement our clocks forward to fool ourselves into thinking we have an extra what will hopefully become the State’s unified plan for System (TRS) and Public Employee Retirement System hour of daylight, we have to face the reality that it is -30°F in Nome and dealing with energy issues.