Akutan - Atka - False Pass - Nelson Lagoon - Nikolski - St. George Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER APICDA NON-PROFIT 302 Gold Street, Suite 202 US POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK Juneau, AK 99801 PERMIT NO. 69 Aleutian Wave Fall 2016 ATKA Memory Eternal Ray McCullough Jr. | Paul Nicholas Nesbit | Mike Tunohun Jr. APICDA Communities Fall16 2016 | Aleutian Wave Akutan - Atka - False Pass - Nelson Lagoon - Nikolski - St. George Haginaa Kidul - Helping to Grow1 Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association (APICDA) Message from the CEO APICDA Tragedy in Atka APICDA’s Larry Cotter, Gary Chythlook and Sean Hislop accompanied by Julie Dirks, Atka City Administrator, trav- BOARD OF DIRECTORS To our APICDA Communities and Stakeholders, n the early evening on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, Atka Pride eled to Atka soon after the accident to meet with community Seafoods’ (APS) employees Ray McCullough, Mike Tuno- members. The ripple effects of this event were felt deeply by he summer of 2016 will be remembered as one of APICDA’s most difficult seasons. As Mark Snigaroff ATKA hun Jr. and Paul Nesbit lost their lives and six people sus- the community of Atka, not only the initial trauma and re- many of you know, we had a vehicle accident in Atka in June that resulted in the death Chair Itained injuries in a serious vehicle accident in the communi- sponse, but the impact of having APS temporarily closed for of three employees and six injured. In addition to the Atka accident, we had some issues ty of Atka, Alaska. The accident occurred when employees a brief period; the local fisherman had no place to sell their Twith our vessels and a fire at the Bering Pacific Seafoods (BPS) Mechanic Shop in False Pass. Andrew “AJ” Lestenkof Jr. NIKOLSKI were traveling a short distance from the processing plant to fish. APICDA has worked for nearly 25 years alongside the Tragedy teaches us many things; lessons we would rather not learn in this Vice-Chair the bunkhouse for dinner. Local residents Susie Hill, William residents of Atka, building APS and strengthening the local very painful and difficult way. One important lesson learned this summer Dushkin, and Millie Prokopeuff responded to the incident im- economy. APS plays a very important role in Atka and our was how our communities and staff must pull together when addressing Justine Gundersen mediately and displayed true heroism as did all Atka commu- hearts go out the community as they recover from this trauma. emergency situations and providing support. NELSON LAGOON nity members who assisted with the life-saving measures. Secretary/Treasurer APICDA is grateful to the first responders, the Atka Com- The magnitude of the Atka accident was unprecedented and residents did The Alaska State Troopers found the driver to be at fault and munity, Aleutian Pribilof Island Association, Eastern Aleu- everything humanly possible to provide emergency medical care— I was Nikki Hoblet charged him with nine felonies and one misdemeanor. The tian Tribes, the U.S. Coast Guard, Adak Emergency Medical FALSE PASS profoundly moved by their heroic actions. We are grateful to the commu- charges compound this tragedy that has caused tremendous Services Team, Guardian Flight, Fr. Evon Bereskin, Aleu- Director nity members who offered their steadfast support to our resident employees; this was especial- heartbreak for the families of those who died, the injured, tian Spray Seafoods, Grief Coordinator Dave Shoemak- ly hard on APS management. The Adak EMS team and clinic, Guardian Flight, and the United Harvey McGlashan their families, and the community of Atka. The criminal er, Janssen Funeral Home, Seattle Fisherman’s Memorial, States Coast Guard played a critical role during the evacuation process and will never know AKUTAN charges, if proved, mean the driver violated strict compa- Global Rescue, the staff at APS and APICDA, and the many how their efforts impacted the lives of the surviving accident victims and their loved ones. Director ny policies concerning alcohol consumption and state laws others who assisted and offered support during and after The fire that broke out at the BPS Machine Shop was contained due to the quick response Mark Merculief and, in so doing, created immeasurable harm. this devastating event. and leadership of the City of False Pass local volunteer fire department, under the direction ST. GEORGE of Village Public Safety Officer, Chris Stewart. The community pitched in alongside BPS staff, Director and tender crews who came to shore to fight the fire in the early morning hours of Aug 14. It Bill Shaishnikoff was miraculous that no one was injured and the fire was contained to one building without UNALASKA any damage to our processing facility. In fact, the BPS staff processed fish that very afternoon. Ex-Officio RAYCondolences: LEE MCCULLOUGH JR. PAUL NICHOLAS NESBIT MIKE TUNOHUN JR. APICDA will weather the storms and learn from these experiences; while continuing to stay Pete Crandall (1972 - 2016) (1958 - 2016) (1964 - 2016) focused on our mission and the many great things happening in our region like improving Financial Industry Ray was born on June 22, 1972, Paul was a man who loved his family and Mike Rambo Tunohun Jr. was born in our refrigerated freight systems in False Pass, supporting culture camps in our communities Ex-Officio in Portland, Oregon. He moved to struggled for many years with sobriety. He Kodiak and raised in Old Harbor, Alaska. and providing scholarships to students heading off to college. Tim Meintz Anchorage in 1997 and was very turned his life around and found a support- Mike was in the National Guard and was Fishing Industry involved with church activities. ive community at Anchorage Native As- always upbeat with a smile on his face. Director Ray loved music, especially playing sembly of God where he worked as a driver He will be greatly missed and will be re- the drums. and helper for his church. His pastor said he membered for his great athleticism and Larry Cotter, APICDA Chief Executive Officer Ray enjoyed spending time with was a doer and a joy, and was concerned artistic talent. He loved to go hunting his children and will be remem- about the people around him and those he and fishing and jigging for halibut. He ON THE COVER: bered for his infectious laugh. worked with. Paul was a driver for a towing is preceded in death by his father, Mike In This Issue: Atka in June. Ray is survived by his wife, Cindy company and was known as a careful man. Sr., whom he never stopped grieving for —Photo by Tim Malloy 2015 McCullough of Valdez, Alaska; son, He reinvented himself in his adult life and it along with sisters, Thelma, Debbie and Lisa; 3. Tragedy in Atka was the “new Paul” that passed in Atka that brothers, Eugene and Ronnie; nephew, This issue of the Aleutian Tyrese R. McCullough of Valdez; U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska day in June. It was his second season as a Sargent; and grandnephew, Trenton. He 4. WAVE is dedicated to the daughter, Klee Bisconer of An- 5. Game Changer in False Pass community of Atka. chorage; daughter, Kylee Biscon- fish processor with APICDA, last summer is survived by his mother, Polly; sister, Jan- he worked in False Pass. et; brother, Wayne of Anchorage; brother, 6. New Staff / Aleutian Adventures er of Anchorage; son, Kurtis Mc- Paul was buried next to his parents in Dennis; and sister, Laura Mae of Old Har- 7. What’s In A Name? Cullough of Anchorage; daughter, Kyesha Bisconer of Anchorage; his home village of Chuathbaluk, upriv- bor; and many neices and nephews. 8. Cruising Alaska er from Aniak on the Kuskokwim River A service was held at St. Innocents Russian and the Northwest Passage daughter, Jamonica Gibbs of An- chorage; sister, April Turner of Port- where he grew up fishing, hunting and Orthodox Cathedral in Anchorage, with 10. Training & Education land, Oregon; niece, Nicole Phillips trapping. an additional service at the Three Saints Scholarships / Interns of Anchorage; along with many He is survived by his wife Bertha, chil- Orthodox Church in Kodiak where he was 12. My Unalaskan Summer www.apicda.com family and friends from all over. dren and grandchildren. laid to rest at the Old Harbor Cemetery. 15. Atka Culture Camp 2 16Fall 2016 APICDA Communities of Akutan - Atka - False Pass - Nelson Lagoon - Nikolski - St. George Haginaa Kidul - Helping to Grow1 3 Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association (APICDA) Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association (APICDA) U.S. Coast Guard's Operation Arctic Shield What is really needed are updated maps for the region, as his summer a new and improved system they provide the best tools for avoiding environmental di- went into effect at APICDA’s Bering Pacific Game Changer in False Pass he Coast Guard has been carrying out rescue oper- sasters akin to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (March 24, 1989). Seafoods (BPS) loading dock in False Pass, Without them, these massive fuel-loaded vessels will be Twith help from American President Lines (APL) and ation exercises and developing emergency plans in Arctic Alaska in order to prepare for things like a sailing blindly through Alaska’s waters. Today, some maps some collective problem solving. Tman-made incident or natural disaster. commonly employed are using data 50 to 100 years old, With some new equipment when mapping technology was far from accurate compared Logistics and communication are the biggest hurdles when on loan from APL and Sam- to modern-day techniques. Mappers say they are working it comes to being prepared for the worst on routes with ex- son Tug & Barge Co., the as fast as they can but, given the short season, their window treme weather conditions like the Northwest Passage.