Photo by Diana Haecker BUSY PORT— With slightly improved weather and less winds, fishing boats were able to go out crabbing and delivered their catch to the Norton Sound Seafood Products plant. VOLUME CXI NO. 29 JULY 21, 2011 School Board OKs one JROTC contract Activities director’s contract still hangs in limbo By Diana Haecker tracts and job descriptions in front of The Nome Public Schools Board them, questions arose – and couldn’t met in a regular session last week to be answered — as to how long it discuss two agenda items dealing would take to get the proper certifi- with the three dorm rental units and cation and what the latest status of its the extension of contracts to two in- progress is. According to NPS Su- structors for the JROTC program. perintendent Mike Brawner, Knowl- The board of education, with Glo- ton has been working on his ria Karmun, Marie Tozier and Barb certification. As board members re- Nickels present, (Barb Amarok par- quested more information, NPS ticipated telephonically) voted unan- Human Resources Director Bill Gar- imously to extend the contract for tung said he has inquired with the Sergeant First Class James Doll. military what exactly is missing from The contract for SFC Kevin Knowlton’s certification but could Knowlton is still under consideration not obtain a concrete answer from by the board because of a non-com- the military side. According to an pliance issue with certification re- Army JROTC Instructor Certifica- quired from the military. School tion application, an Army instructor board member Barb Nickels ex- needs to fulfill eligibility require- Photo by Diana Haecker plained that the JROTC program for ments, complete online initial quali- Nome is on probation because of this fication training and undergo an VISITOR FROM AFAR— Shyla Tungwenuk holds up the crab identified as Hanasaki crab or Paralith- issue that has not been resolved in interview process. To be an Army In- odes brevipes that was caught by fisherman Tony Shelp in Norton Sound. the past two years. Although the board had the con- continued on page 5 Trawl surveys underway in Norton Sound and north By Diana Haecker way up north. areas on the Asian side of the Bering Sea and bers as to be commercially fishable, Lean said The 66-foot state-owned research trawler Climate change experts speak of the north- North Pacific. Lean said the find is quite stun- that the little fellow sitting in the NSSP fish R/V Pandalus made it to Nome from its home- ward distribution of species but those asser- ning because it means that the crab has made tank along with all the red king crabs, is inter- port of Homer last week to conduct several tions don’t register until a local fisherman does its way across the ocean’s deep trenches from esting because it does prove that the species is trawl surveys in Norton Sound and further find something unusual in his net. That’s what Asia. He said the only place for the shallow- rapidly moving north and east, presumably due north. Alaska Department of Fish and Game happened last week. Along with the regular red water-loving crab species to cross the Bering to warmer waters associated with climate and Norton Sound Economic Development king crabs, fisherman Tony Shelp had a crab in Sea would be closer to the Bering Strait or the change. Corp. coordinated their needs to find out what’s his pot that has not yet been found in Norton shallows around St. Lawrence Island. The crab was identified as a male. While it’s out there in the ocean, and how much of it. The Sound waters. Lean said that there is anecdotal information fate is yet undetermined, a taxidermist in An- state’s ADF&G survey takes place roughly NSEDC fishery biologist Charlie Lean iden- that Hanasaki crabs have been caught at St. chorage offered NSSP $200 to purchase and every three years and while fishermen have a tified the unusual looking king crab as a Par- Lawrence Island and Little Diomede. “It’s a big mount the specimen. good idea of what swims in Norton Sound, alithodes brevipes, also known as Hanasaki deal insofar as that this species now has moved more information is needed to really find out crab. The crab is considered a luxury food item onto the north American shore,” Lean said. continued on page 6 what species are either here, or making their in Japan and is mostly found in more southern While they are not appearing in such num- Radio KNOM turns 40 By Diana Haecker last Thursday. The number 780 “We’re just getting started” the radio The smell of 780 hot dogs on a faired big as 780 was the original station is in a time of transition. grill wafted through the air in cele- AM frequency assigned to KNOM KNOM started out –and still is – a bration of KNOM’s 40th year on air when it first went on air in 1971. Catholic radio mission with the li- Familiar faces gathered around the cense still owned by the Catholic barbeque, including former volun- Bishop of Fairbanks. It is the oldest On the Web: teers and news directors Paul Ko- Catholic radio station in the US. rchin and Michael Jones. Station Former news director Paul Ko- www.nomenugget.net Manager Ric Schmidt said while it rchin now lives in Fairbanks and E-mail: feels great to celebrate this 40th works as a professor at the religion birthday of KNOM, it also is time to department of the University of Fair- [email protected] reflect on people like Augie Hiebert, banks. Korchin was in Nome from Tom Busch and Senator Ted Stevens 1988 until 2009, first as a volunteer who have helped to shape KNOM and then full time staff at KNOM. into a functioning, connecting radio He was happy to see that the news- Photo by Diana Haecker station to serve western Alaska. “We room still carries on and connects CELEBRATING— KNOM business director Lynette Schmidt, Father are standing on the shoulders of western Alaska with pertinent news Ross Tozzi and former KNOM news director Paul Korchin were some of those folks who have gone before the many visitors and staff to celebrate the 40th birthday of KNOM on us,” Schmidt said. Under the motto continued on page 4 July 14. 2 THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2011 OPINION THE NOME NUGGET Ulu News By Senator Donald Olson that is a major source of frustration 1. Oil spill preparedness that development is both culturally munities to reevaluate and resubmit Senate District T for the coastal districts. It is my plan 2. The transfer and transporta- and environmentally responsible. those projects for next year’s budget. Alaska Coastal Management to enter this discussion and work tion of oil over water That will be the principle that guides Despite the vetoes I am pleased with Program sunsets side-by-side with my colleagues to 3. Mixing zones me as we enter this debate and dis- the funding allocated to our villages. The second special session, which help create a new program from 4. Marine Parks cuss the future of Alaska. I appreciate the collaborative efforts recently convened to extend the scratch that will represent rural We are also looking at other states of the councils, school boards, and Alaska Coastal Management Pro- Alaska’s concerns. Accordingly, my ‘coastal management programs and $ Capital funding projects $ communities working to secure these gram (ACMP) failed to produce any office is currently reviewing certain what they do – particularly those The capital budget for fiscal year critical funds. For District 39, the results. I regret to inform my con- federal laws: states along the Gulf of Mexico. I’d 2012 was signed by Governor Par- total amount of projects funded is stituents that our attempt to save the 1. OPA 90 (Oil Pollution Act of also like to mention that I welcome nell a couple of weeks ago. As you $67,131,783 and for District 40, the program is over, for now. As a 1990) any of your thoughts or ideas per- know, the capital budget funds infra- total amount of projects funded is strong proponent of reforming and 2. Deep Water Port Act taining to a new coastal management structure projects statewide and $75,478,679. Our districts will see extending ACMP, I am very frus- 3. Clean Water Act program bill next session. greatly impacts Alaska’s rural funding for school renovations, wind trated with this outcome. I have 4. Comprehensive Environmental I’d like to close by informing my economies. The Governor did veto energy feasibility studies, generator been trying to reform ACMP since Responses, Compensation, and Lia- constituents, my colleagues, the some good projects for both Districts replacements, health care facilities, former Governor Frank Murkowski bility Act Governor, and the oil & gas industry 39 and 40, but Representatives Neal airport & road projects, as well as for gutted the program in 2003. (a.k.a. SUPERFUND) that I am a strong supporter of de- Foster and Reggie Joule and I will many heavy equipment needs. Since we left Juneau, there has 5. Coastal Zone Management velopment in our state, so long as work with the leaders of those com- been talk among my colleagues in Act the legislature of a new effort to re- 6. Outer Continental Shelf establish the program next session. I Lands Act will welcome this new effort and en- I’ve also directed my staff A Look at the Past gage in this debate.