Nome Nugget, March 22, 2012

Photo by Nadja Cavin WEARIN’ OF THE GREEN— Saint Patrick made his annual appearance on March 17 for his special day. Buddy O’Kleasik led the parade which was the westernmost event in Paddy’s honor. The marchers arrived at the Iditarod finish as musher Hank Debruin entered the chute and dispersed as he was checked in. C VOLUME CXII NO. 12 March 22, 2012 Red Lantern Banquet wraps trail tales of Iditarod XL By Diana Haecker Chlupach, who crossed the finish Red Lantern banquet in a while, as associated with the Iditarod, the Red put more distance between me and The distinction to extinguish the line just a few minutes ahead of her, the last mushers in the past few years Lantern crowd feasted on the same Aliy,” Seavey said. His father Mitch, red Widow’s Lantern fell to musher Nome put on a Red Lantern banquet have finished in time for the official dinner served as at the awards ban- the 2004 Iditarod champion, not as Jan Steves. In honor of the last at the Mini Convention Center on awards banquet held on Sunday. quet and in a more intimate setting at eager to speak in front of a big crowd musher and her companion Bob Monday evening. This was the first The least formal of all banquets the smaller venue and heard stories as his 25-year-old son, said that in of the trail that didn’t include thank this race he finally started to learn you speeches to sponsors. how to take care of himself a little bit It included tales of amazing north- better. “It’s usually all about the ern light displays while dog drivers dogs, we’re on our hands and feet, were mushing their teams through crawling around the dogs, tending to the night, it included harrowing tales their feet and needs, but I learned of rookie Jan Steves and her partner that I can be just as fast and effective Bob Chlupach trying to untangle taking care of them when I take care their dog teams while a growling of myself,” Seavey said. moose lay on the trail. It included Mackey, recounting again how his Lance Mackey’s jokes like “I set my- lead dog Maple and her heat cycle self up to get the most improved interfered with his race, but finding a musher award next year” and more silver lining in the situation, he said profound observations of not sweat- he enjoyed hanging out with a dif- ing the small stuff like what place he ferent kind of people in the middle finishes when he is alive and mush- of the pack. That is “until they left ing a dog team in the Last Great me behind!” Mackey said. Race. He talked about how every dog Champion Dallas Seavey spoke wanted to breed his Maple along the about a section in the trail between way and then even a little fox started Shaktoolik and Koyuk, where he hanging around the team as it moved was trying to run away from the through the night. “That little fox competition. Looking over his shoul- was running across the trail in front der, he noticed first one, then two, of us, jumping up and spinning then three lights in the distance, clos- around, coming back and I actually ing in on him. He started ski poling, stopped a few times to see how close kicking, running alongside the sled he would dare to come,” Mackey and working up a sweat. And those said. The fox continued his antics headlights, still gained on him. He until Mackey realized, darn it, the lit- said, he had kissed the thought of tle guy put on the show to impress winning the Iditarod good-bye, won- Maple. dering how his competition could Trent Herbst talked about the ini- move along so quick and effortlessly. tial confusion at the start line in Wil- Well, after a while, when collaps- low, where fans mistook him as ing exhausted on his sled, he realized Lance Mackey. “They offered me that he was trying to run away from beer, hot dogs, held up signs and two snowmachines that gained on cheered me on, until they realized him and passed him leisurely at 15 that ‘hey, he’s not Lance,’” Herbst mph. “Maybe that extra push gave said. me the advantage and helped me to continued on page 4 Photo by David Head NOME TAKES THIRD AT STATE—Senior Tyler Eide drives in hard for two against Monroe Catholic School. Sophomore Cass Mattheis is at the ready. See story inside. Council tackles taxing task By Sandra L. Medearis more into the budget and yet add Council meeting but that Chandler The Nome Common Council is some exceptions, like taking the 5 would come to Nome next week for getting ready to ride herd on the ex- percent sales tax off concessions a face-to-face meeting with the ad- isting sales tax ordinance to pull sold by students to raise money for ministration. Musich foretold that extracurricular activities. the City would have a public hear- The City’s administration has put ing yet to be announced. On the Web: a draft ordinance on the Council The draft ordinance removes the table with the help and guidance of sales tax from services and con- www.nomenugget.net the City’s attorney, Brooks Chandler. struction materials for actual use and E-mail: The document, backed up by more either consumption or absorption in than 40 pages of details, also holds a construction project for which a [email protected] changes in penalties for those who building permit has been issued or a do not turn in reports and render construction contract awarded by the unto Caesar in a timely manner, in- state or the state agency, or a sub- Photo by Diana Haecker cluding a hefty fine and possible jail contract awarded in connection with RED LANTERN— Last off the Iditarod trail gets the Red Lantern time for tax evasion. the project funded under the con- award and this year the honor went to Edmonds, Washington musher City Clerk Vanessa Musich said struction contract. Jan Steves. Steves finished her first Iditarod race in 14 days, 11 hours, 57 Monday that the measure would not minutes and 11 seconds and received the award during the Red Lantern come up for first reading at the next continued on page 4 banquet on Monday evening. 2 THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Letters Ulu News Dear Editor, anonymous gives the complaint ab- SENATOR DONALD OLSON be put on the ballot this fall. Lieu- ilarity’ and more on passing ‘a good I wanted to make some comments solutely no standing. Our Board ULU NEWS - DISTRICT T tenant Governor Mead Treadwell bill.’ on the process by which the public policy reads: “The School Board Alaska Native Language Preser- certified the citizen initiative to es- Last year, a second special session brings their concerns about Nome places trust in its employees and de- vation and Advisory Council tablish an Alaska Coastal Manage- was called specifically with the Public Schools to the Board and to sires to support their actions in such The Alaska State Senate passed a ment Program recently. The hopes of saving the program. Un- school administration. As a Board, manner that employees are free from bill last week aimed at protecting Division of Elections completed its fortunately it ended with the House we want to hear your concerns and unwarranted, spiteful or negative and restoring Alaska Native Lan- review of signatures and determined rejecting a Senate’s version. Both compliments. We have several criticism and complaints.” We as a guages, a bill I sponsored. Senate they meet constitutional and statu- bodies couldn’t come to an agree- Board Policies that cover the process board cannot determine if a criticism Bill 130 will establish the Alaska Na- tory requirements for initiative peti- ment regarding the idea of scientific of how this should be done. The we receive may be spiteful, or un- tive Language Preservation and Ad- tions. evidence trumping local knowledge. exact methods about how certain warranted, or even true, if it sent to visory Council to assess the state of However, several rural legislators At this point, it’s still too early to concerns and complaints are re- us anonymously. NPS Board Policy Alaska Native Languages, reevalu- have been considering bringing the tell if HB 325 will make it’s way ceived and dealt with are spelled out 4030 expresses the Board’s mandate ate the programs within the state, program back and Representative through the legislature before ses- in our Administrative Regulations: that no employee shall be discrimi- and make recommendations to the Alan Austerman has taken the lead sion ends in 30 days. Rep. Auster- AR 1312.1 PUBLIC COM- nated against or harassed for “good Governor and Legislature to estab- and has introduced legislation man said his intentions of PLAINTS CONCERNING faith reporting to the board on a mat- lish new programs or reorganize the reestablishing the ACMP. House introducing HB 325 was to get the SCHOOL PERSONNEL. These ter of public concern.” I also take current programs. Bill 325 is said to be very similar to conversation on the issue going. He policies are in pIace to ensure every- this further and believe no commu- Alaska Native Languages are the initiative and is awaiting it’s first acknowledged some lawmakers fear one has a voice and can be heard. It nity member will be discriminated threatened by extinction.

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