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SUNNY NOME— A ray of sunlight falls on the City of Nome, as seen here from the top of Newton Peak. Photo by Nils Hahn C VOLUME CXVIII NO. 30 July 19, 2018 Reward for missing hiker Joseph Balderas raised to $20,000 By Maisie Thomas Alaska State Troopers to reopen After over two years without an- their investigation into the case. swers, the family of missing Members of the Balderas family Nomeite Joseph Balderas increased testified at his presumptive death the reward for information sur- hearing last July that they believe rounding the 36-year-old’s disap- Balderas’s disappearance was the re- pearance from $10,000 to $20,000. sult of foul play. Citing the extensive Balderas’s sister Salina Hargis aerial and land searches, Hargis told said the decision has been on the the Nome Nugget, “I don’t think he family’s mind for “a while” as an at- just walked off or got lost, I don’t tempt to find both answers and clo- think there’s any way he’s out there,” sure. “It’s the only thing we have she said. The last known traces of control over,” she stated. Balderas were his waders and hiking Balderas was believed to have boots found inside the truck he had been hiking near the East Fork of the been driving, which was parked near Solomon River in late June of 2016, mile 44 of the Nome-Council High- but never returned from the trip. way. Search efforts yielded no evidence Hargis, along with her mother and and Balderas was legally declared sister, are coming to Nome this week deceased last year. to personally post the reward signs. However, the nagging question of The three are making the trip both to what led to his disappearance re- thank volunteers they first met two mains. Hargis hopes doubling the re- years ago and “to feel a little closer” ward will provide people who may to their missing son and brother. “We have information with additional in- have to find him, and we’ll do what- centive to come forward. She ex- ever it take, so we can be at peace,” plained that a tip would allow the she said. Liitfik Wellness Center moves forward By James Mason deal with anger management, trauma Norton Sound Health Corporation and even problem solving and deci- is making progress to build the sion making skills. “Those skills planned Liitfik Wellness Center. erode through long periods of alco- The Wellness Center — pilings hol abuse,” said Nelson. have been pounded in already— will As the center will be dealing with be build across the street from the patients from throughout the region Norton Sound Regional Hospital. there will be sober housing on site According to Liitfik director for those who’ve come into Nome Marie Nelson they are hoping for for treatment. The treatment, how- construction, move-in, and grand ever, is strictly outpatient. Currently, opening in 2020. without the completed center, pa- The center aims to address high tients must go to Anchorage or even substance abuse in the region with the Lower 48. Because of this the comprehensive outpatient treatment Cultural Committee requested a bet- and support which will provide “a ter facility ten years ago. wrap-around” approach to sobriety. Counseling and therapy is pro- The Cultural Committee, made up vided in the villages. If the numbers of Elders from throughout the re- get to big or if there’s a crime com- gion, got together and said “We need mitted the patients travel to Nome. something through the hospital and In some cases, Kawerak will help Photo by James Mason Behavioral Health Services. We find housing or patients might stay GARDENS AT PILGRIM— Tasha Lee waters seedlings inside the hoop house at Pilgrim Hot Sprints. The need something that is planned and with relatives in Nome. hoop house proves a protective environment for the seedlings to grow until they are ready to be replanted out- proven.” They were seeing people And sometimes the Nome Com- side. taken to the hospital emergency munity Center helps out. “So it is for room and recognized more needed to continued on page 4 be done. Organic vegetables growing at Pilgrim “The program we’re using is Ma- trix, which was developed for sub- By James Mason by preparing the ground. “You’ve volcanic soil of Pilgrim Hot Springs stance use,” said Nelson. By the end of July Nome’s loca- got all the spring growth and that had is managed by Bering Straits Devel- Alcohol use is by a wide margin vores should be seeing top quality or- to be moed down,” said Bensin. opment Company, a subsidiary of the biggest substance abuse problem On the Web: “It encourages AA and the Twelve ganically grown vegetables for sale “And then we had to do a small Bering Straits Native Corporation. www.nomenugget.net on Front Street. Pilgrim Hot Springs amount of tilling, mostly in the po- The program is under the umbrella of Steps, as well as faith-based sup- is a great place to grow things and tato field, and then make or prepare Unaatuq LLC, a consortium of seven port.” the gardens this year are bigger and our beds. And transport all our starts Native corporations that own Pilgrim There are also varied sober sup- more varied than in the past. Ac- from Nome out to here.” The crew Hot Springs. port groups, which will be involved. cording to Rob Bensin, who overseas constructed a large hoop house for This year the farmers are growing “We’re trying to make it as culturally the gardening program, spinach, getting seedlings ready to transplant more vegetables than last year. specific as possible with facilitators arugula, and salad greens should be and created a secondary field for di- “About 30,” said Bensin. “We’re try- who are Alaska Native with some ready soon. rect seeding. continued on page 8 Elders coming in and participating in The gardeners began in mid-June The growing of vegetables in the the group sessions.” Groups will 2 THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Results from our July 10 Letters To the Editor: Editor’s note: When asked for clarification, Mr. Gold- - July 16 online poll. Hey, we look like a Trump Town! Nice touch, guys…. beck said the letter was written in reference to the abun- (Go to nomenugget.net in order to participate) Jim Goldbeck dant flag decorations in Nome for the Fourth of July PO Box 1617 festivities. Nome, Alaska 99762 Op-Ed: A time to build By Emily Murray even in our region. but also trained local people from the The Norton Sound and Bering It is a reality that the Bering Strait communities in the region who are Strait region has one of the most pris- waterway is now open to the tankers, experts and knowledgeable about the tine and cleanest shorelines in cruise ships, cargo ships, barges and tides, sensitive mammal breeding Alaska. We have fifteen communi- other seafaring traffic that utilize the grounds and spawning areas. ties who depend on the sea mammals Northwest Passage as a sea lane to In order to have an adequate and and the fish that migrate to the fresh haul their goods worldwide. Norton fast operation in the event of an oil water rivers to spawn. Not only do Sound and the Bering Strait are spill disaster we need to be prepared. we rely on the resources but also caught right in the middle of this Trained and prepared manpower those who buy our commercial fish- ever-increasing sea highway. with skills and equipment is ensuring ermen’s catch and the crabbers who So far there hasn’t been a major the protection of not only our shore- sell to the market state and world- accident but scientific studies show lines but also the fishing and crab- wide. Scientists can tell you that that as the traffic increases so do im- bing economy. When we talk about there are various kinds of birds that pacts on marine mammals and the sustainability of our natural re- nest along the cliffs and there are potential for shipping accidents. Also sources as labeled ‘sustainable’, we bird sanctuaries to protect the breed- with the Trump administration‘s ef- need to protect that very thought. ing grounds. forts to substantially increase off- Just as fertile land is needed to grow Editorial Alaska is a state that has an oil shore oil and gas in our area one healthy crops on land, we need an pipeline and the possibility of more happening, is a reality. The Valdez ecosystem underneath and on the oil being discovered or drilled. Al- oil spill can testify to that. We must shorelines of the Bering Strait and though that is an economic benefit act now, instead of reacting when a Norton Sound and ocean floor to The Nome Nugget has new caretakers. for our state we have a sustainable major oil spill happens. We need to produce a healthy yield. The ownership of Alaska’s oldest newspaper recently changed economy that keeps our local fisher- put protective measures enroute and To conclude, we (community hands from the Estate of Nancy L. McGuire to longtime employees, men and crabbers thriving. Offshore this includes not only oil spill re- my husband Nils Hahn and me, Diana Haecker. exploration is constantly on the radar sponse equipment in strategic areas continued on page 3 Nancy McGuire owned, published and edited The Nome Nugget for 34 years. Her first editorial in the January 7, 1982 edition of the Correction: Nugget began with the words that “it is with great pride and an over- In the July 5, 2018 issue of The Nome Nugget the name of the father of Miss Arctic Native Brotherhood was in- whelming sense of responsibility that I assume the duties of editor and correct.