The Don Bowers Memorial Sled Dog Race is a tribute to a long-time musher who spent years taking teams up and down the wilds north of Willow and Talkeetna. A field of 14 sled dog teams hit the trail this past weekend to celebrate dog-powered adventures on snow.

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14 sled dog teams left Willow today, starting at noon, and set out on a race across rivers, frozen wetlands, and forests of a frozen January landscape. The Don Bowers Memorial Sled Dog Race is a tribute to a long-time musher who spent years taking teams up and down the wilds north of Willow and Talkeetna, and this weekend’s race continues to celebrate dog-powered adventures on snow.

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Alaska Energy Authority officials updated the House Energy Committee Thursday on the status of the proposed Susitna Watana Dam. AEA’s Executive Director Sara Fisher-Goad and Susitna Hydropower Lead Project Manager Wayne Dyok laid out the timeline leading up to their licensing application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which they plan to file by the end of 2015.

AEA hopes the dam will be licensed by 2017, with construction completed by 2023.  That timeline would aid the State’s goal of supplying 50% of Alaska’s energy needs with renewables by 2025. (more…)

KTNA and Members present:

The Decadent Dessert Auction

Sunday, February 12th to Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

In support of KTNA and the Upper Susitna Food Pantry

With contributors Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union and

Cubby’s Marketplace

Hear ye, hear ye! Chefs, bakers and dessert lovers!  It’s time for KTNA’s 16th Annual Decadent Dessert Auction. For years, residents of the Northern Susitna Valley have kept the phones ringing for a chance to bid on delectable, locally made creations such as Sour Cream Peach Pies, Hot Milk Cakes, Lemon Glazed Butter Logs and, of course, Chocolate Rum Cakes.  Perhaps you have baked or eaten a Decadent Dessert. We invite you to do so again!  For every dessert sold for more than $75, Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union or Cubby’s will make a contribution to our local food bank.

If you or your business would like to provide divinely delicious and exquisitely appetizing desserts during the Auction, let KTNA know well in advance.   Call Deb at (907)733-1700 or email her at wessler@ktna.org with any questions you may have. Consider being a volunteer.  Here is your opportunity to purchase a decadent dessert for your loved ones in anticipation of Valentine’s Day.  Show the love while supporting Talkeetna Community Radio!

Alaska’s Legislative delegation made an effort to diffuse the air of incivility that has come to be a prominent aspect of national politics when they participated in bipartisan seating during President Obama’s State of the Union Address.

Senator Lisa Murkowski co-authored an editorial with Senator Mark Udall, a Democrat from Colorado, criticizing partisan dysfunction that has national legislators isolating themselves from members of the other party. They continued, saying that the traditional seating by parties during the State of the Union address is a type of “boarder rivalry” that belongs in a sporting arena, not in congress.

Murkowski and Udall hope this symbolic step towards improving communication and relations across the aisle becomes a permanent tradition during the State of the Union address.

Frank Rich, the Willow man who had more than 150 abused dogs taken from his property last year, was sentenced to six months in jail and 10 years on probation.

Rich pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, which were condensed down from the 50 counts he had originally been charged with. During his probation period he cannot own or care for any animals.

In January 2011, Alaska State Troopers seized 168 dogs from Rich’s property. Nineteen dogs were found dead, according to veterinarian Katrina Zwolinski. In court Zwolinski testified the animals were emaciated, and many had parasites, cancer and wounds.

At least 20 other dogs were euthanized, before some of the seized animals were adopted out.

Rich had appealed the dogs’ seizure. He declined to comment following his sentencing, but during the hearing he told the judge he loved his dogs and they were like family.

Looking back, he said he now understands he had too many dogs and needed help. He testified he spent up to $36,000 a year on dog food.

A number of moose carcasses have been observed around the rail tracks in Talkeetna this month, and it’s got some locals wondering where the salvage crews are.

As with most high-snow years, moose killed on roadways and train tracks go up. According to the Anchorage Daily News, moose killed this year on Mat Su roadways are way above average. The numbers are up for the railroad, too.

Alaska Railroad manager of external affairs Tim Sullivan says when trains strike a moose, they notify the troopers and, in situations when the moose are struck in roadless areas, they make effort to get the kill to within reach of the road system. Sullivan says that the Railroad takes measures to help reduce moose kills, even going so far as to pack trail alongside the railroad tracks to give the moose an alternative place to walk.

According to Sullivan, 152 moose this winter have been struck by the railroad as of 5 a.m. (this morning / Tuesday January 24^th). Of those, more than half have been struck along the 66 miles of track in the Talkeetna-Willow area.

Voters at the Chase Community Council’s annual meeting voted unanimously in opposition to the construction of the Susitna Watana Dam. Chase is the first community downriver of the proposed 700 foot dam, and voters were asked if they were in favor of, or opposed to the construction of the dam. The vote was unanimous in opposition.

The Alaska Energy Authority filed the Pre-Application Document to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on December 29^th, and is currently preparing to report to the Alaska State Legislature’s 2012 session.

Also at the Chase Community Council meeting, which took place at the Roadhouse on Thursday night, two new board members were elected to the Community Council: Johnny Murdock and Kip Boers.

The Chase Community Council will write a letter in opposition to the Alaska Rail Road’s application to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit to spray herbicides along the tracks from Gold Creek to Broad Pass this summer. The herbicide, Aquamaster, is a product designed by Monsanto for killing broadleaf plants and weeds where water is present. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide, and is rated as low toxicity by the Environmental Protection Agency. Voters in the Chase Community Council are concerned because exposure to even low levels of toxicity can cause respiratory illness in animals and humans and it has been shown in some cases to cause birth abnormalities to lab rats.

In conjunction with the herbicide spray, the Railroad plans to use a wetting agent called Agri-Dex, which is an oil-based surfactant intended to increase absorption of the pesticide into the leafy plants.

A public hearing in Talkeetna will be held on February 2, 4:30 at the Northern Susitna Institute.