Fires Grow Around Interior Charged Staff Report NEWSROOM in Death of @NEWSMINER.COM

One dollar WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018 newsminer.com

T HE VOICE OF INTERIOR ALASKA

Inside Today XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.Small earthquake was reported Tuesday morning in Hamilton Acres. » A5 » AX Man Fires grow around Interior charged Staff report NEWSROOM in death of @NEWSMINER.COM

A wildfire burning southwest of Northway son backs had grown to 730 acres as of a Monday evening estimate. out of deal The Taixtsalda Hill By Dorothy Chomicz Fire started Monday. DCHOMICZ The initial reports of @NEWSMINER.COM the fire came in from motorists and resi- A North Pole man dents at 12:45 p.m. charged with the 2015 Smokejumpers and death of his 4-year-old aircraft were sent to son backed out of a plea the fire Monday, and deal at the last minute two ground crews were Tuesday afternoon after being ordered. An Alas- apologizing to the judge ka Fire Service news and prosecutor. release states 43 per- Christopher Allen sonnel were working on Sadowski Sr., 30, was the fire. charged with one count of The fire is located in a A flame front burns through black spruce Monday from the Taixtsalda Hill Fire. JASON JORDET/ first-degree murder and full protection manage- ALASKA DIVISION OF FORESTRY two counts of second-de- ment area and is burn- gree murder after his son ing in a mixture of black are causing the fire reads. “The cause of the up around the Interior ers National Preserve, died of blunt force trau- and white spruce. to exhibit active fire fire is unknown at this this week after a quite a cluster of seven fires ma and thermal burns on “The volatile fuel behavior that includes time and is under inves- June and early July. are burning, including May 5, 2015. Sadowski types combined with torching and crowning,” tigation.” In the eastern Interior initially told Alaska State the hot, dry conditions the fire agency’s report Fire service has picked of Yukon-Charley Riv- FIRE » A3 Troopers he accidental- ly scalded the boy in the shower and blamed the child’s extensive bruising GOOD on his being active and clumsy. MORNING The child had signifi- Medal of Honor recipient hosts cant bruising all over his body and serious burns over his face, neck and upper torso when troop- tour to talk about mental health ers responded to Sadows- ki’s home for a report of By Sam Friedman an unresponsive child. SFRIEDMAN A medical examiner @NEWSMINER.COM determined the child’s The weather. injuries could not have A Medal of Hon- been caused in the way The warm days con- or recipient will be in Sadowski claimed they tinue with more sun Fairbanks this week to were. and occasional clouds. talk to soldiers and air- Sadowski was set to go men about behavioral to trial the week of May 7 High today ...... 84 health care. but agreed to take a plea Master Sgt. Leroy deal with the state. His Low tonight ...... 62 Petry is a retired Army plea hearing was resched- Ranger who received uled three times since Sunrise: 4:26 a.m. the military’s highest then, but all parties Sunset: 11:26 p.m. honor for grabbing a agreed Tuesday that the grenade thrown near deal was set and the plea WEATHER » A7 him and saving the would be entered. life of fellow soldiers Justin Racette, Sadows- during a 2008 attack ki’s public defender, told • • • on a Taliban com- Superior Court Judge pound in Afghanistan’s Douglas Blankenship Paktia province. Petry his client would plead is one of 72 living Med- Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Leroy Petry, left, poses next guilty to one count of sec- al of Honor recipients. to Greg Walker. Walker, retired from the Special Forces, is the ond-degree murder, with Petry will speak at military liaison for Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital in Marysville, a minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 55 Fort Wainwright today. Washington. The hospital dedicated a 16-bed military program, On Thursday, he will years imprisonment. The Extra Mile Military Care, in honor of Master Sergeant Petry on the attend a wreath laying other murder charges ceremony at Veter- anniversary of D-Day, June 6. “Forward Operating Base VALOR” is would be dropped, and an’s Memorial Park on the first such program in the United States to be formally endorsed Blankenship could Cushman Street and and supported by a Medal of Honor recipient. The program is open to impose additional sus- will speak at Eielson veterans from across the nation as well as military and veteran family pended time and other Air Force Base. members. PHOTO COURTESY GREG WALKER terms and conditions at Petry lost his right his discretion. hand to the grenade helps other wounded ans and active duty or veterans who die by Racette noted the NEXT ON blast. After recov- soldiers. service members. He suicide every day on minimum sentence for STAGE ery from his injuries Now retired from frequently travels to average and because second-degree murder Last UAF athletic and being fitted with the Army, Petry is speak about the impor- there is stigma about would normally be 10 director candidate a prosthetic hand, he an ambassador for tance of mental health- talking about these years. hosts forum on re-enlisted in the Army a private Washing- care and substance subjects in the military, “It would typically require a jury finding campus. and served in the U.S. ton behavioral hos- abuse treatment. He Petry said in an inter- Special Operations pital with a program does it because of the view Tuesday. to waive the minimum,” SPORTS Command Warrior that specializes in 33 American active Racette said. “It goes Page B1 Care Program, which treatment of veter- duty service members HONOR » A3 to 20 if the decedent is the natural child of the defendant, and there’s no • • • serious dispute as to that factual matter.” SOURDOUGH JACK: Blankenship asked Sad- “‘If you can’t Walker holds edge in cash as campaign heats up owski if he understood the terms of the agree- stand the heat, By Becky Bohrer The four major candidates for governor, reported contributions ment. get out of the ASSOCIATED PRESS governor — Walker, Democrat of more than $110,000, including “Your attorney has kitchen.’ But Mark Begich and Republicans about $25,000 in personal funds advised that he’s dis- where else do I JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Bill Mead Treadwell and Mike Dun- plus other contributions listed as cussed that with you, and Walker leads his rivals in avail- leavy — all made non-monetary non-monetary. He reported hav- that you’re giving up your go?” able cash as the campaign season donations to their respective ing about $71,000 available. right to have a jury make heats up. campaigns. Dunleavy, a former state sena- that determination,” In a filing with the Alaska Pub- Begich and Treadwell joined tor from Wasilla, reported contri- Blankenship said. lic Offices Commission, Walker the race June 1. butions of more than $160,000 “It was my son, your reported contributions of more Since then, Begich report- since February. He had the low- honor,” Sadowski replied. than $220,000 since early Feb- ed contributions of more than est cash on hand of the major Blankenship began to ruary. Walker ended the latest $130,000, including $25,000 gubernatorial candidates, about explain the consequences reporting period Friday with from the Democratic party. $43,000. of entering a guilty plea about $330,000 available after Begich, who had about $95,000 Dunleavy and Treadwell are when Sadowski suddenly debts. on hand, faces no primary oppo- the highest-profile Republicans interrupted him. Contributions include cash nent. in a crowded GOP field. The pri- and nonmonetary donations. Treadwell, a former lieutenant mary is Aug. 21. SON » A3