BOMBER TAIL – Northern Pioneer Helicopters assisted in a recovery project of the B17 north of Talkeetna on Thursday

In September 1951, a B17 bomber crashed north of Talkeenta.  Bush Pilot Cliff Hudson is credited for saving the lives of the souls on board.  This week and next, the wreckage of that plane is being airlifted out of the wilderness to Talkeetna and transported to Ohio for a project at the Champaign Aviation Museum.  The story is about history, love of aviation, and a restoration project that some might think impossible.  Sue Deyoe has more…

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**Mahay’s, Northern Pioneer Helicopters, K2 Aviation and a large number of others are credited with help in this operation.

Post offices in Skwentna, Platinum, Circle, Shageluk and Kaltag are among 36 post offices in Alaska tentatively slated for closure under a federal money-saving plan.

The U.S. Postal Service Tuesday announced it is considering closing about 3,600 offices nationwide. That’s about 11 percent of its local offices. Most are in small communities. (more…)

A web special – This is a story will not air, but is a story of how our hometown operates.  KTNA, as long time residents know, is a clearinghouse for all things lost and found.  Your lost wallet, a lost dog, a found jacket and so on.  On Tuesday, a kind person turned in an expensive smart phone to KTNA.  An announcement went on the air. The phone was locked, so staff could not get any information off the phone.  Early Friday morning, yet another phone was turned in by a kind and honest soul.  (more…)

Music lovers in Talkeetna have been listening to the sounds of Rocco John Iacovone and Murray Nash for two decades.  Five years ago, a new jazz sound was introduced and and a large group of jazz enthusiasts in the upper valley took classes given by the Rocco John Group from New York City.  The Talkeetna Jazz Orchestra will play this weekend in its 5^th annual concert.  Sue Deyoe spoke with Rocco and Denise Iacovone about the metamorphisis of the group and its future…

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The world’s toughest handcycle race finished its 4^th stage today (thurs) in downtown Talkeetna after a 9 a.m. start at the Denali View North overlook near Byers Lake. The Sadler’s Alaska Challenge is a 260 mile competition that stretches from Fairbanks to Anchorage this year.   Sue Deyoe has a report on the race so far

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KTNA’s morning news, weather forecast, Denali echos, announcements for July 29th. Host is Trisha Costello.  Headlines – Talkeetna Jazz Orchestra celebrates its 5th season; Sadlers Alaska Challenge races into Talkeetna.  16 min.

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KTNA’s morning news, weather forecast, Denali echos, announcements for July 28th.  Host is Sue Deyoe. Headlines – Earthquake shakes Skwentna and the upper valley; Post offices closures on the horizon; Fish Creek open to dipnetting; Wheelchair race into Talkeetna today.  16 min.

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The earthquake this morning at 6 a.m. was originally measured by the Alaska Earthquake Information Center at 5.6 and then was changed quickly to a magnitude of  5.3.  It was located at a depth of 51 miles.

It was centered 8 miles northwest of Skwentna, 43 miles southwest of Talkeetna and 46 miles northwest of Willow.

The quake was felt widely in southcentral Alaska and as far away as Fairbanks and Valdez.  The maximum intensity was reported in Willow and Talkeetna.  There are no reports of damage so far

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game as issued an emergency order to open Fish Creek in the Big Lake drainage to personal use dipnetting.

The opening starts at 6 a.m. on Friday July 29^th and runs thru Sunday July 31^st at 11 pm.  King salmon can not be retained.  All other salmon species are legal.  Fishing is allowed all three days from 6 a.m. to 11 pm.  Participants have to have a 2011 Cook Inlet personal use permit and a resident sport fishing license. (more…)