For hardcore music festival fans across Alaska, this weekend will be bittersweet.  It is the last Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival….ever.  That’s a promise made by organizers. Organziers complain that it’s the policies of the Mat Su Borough that have finally shut down the festival for good.  Sue Deyoe has more on the end of the largest  summer music festival in Alaska.  (note – the story says the festival is on private land NORTH of Talkeetna – its actually south of Trapper Creek AND Talkeetna, but north of the Talkeetna “Y”)

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The Mat Su Borough Assembly voted against a memorandum on Talkeetna water utility metering Tuesday evening.

Assemblyman Vern Halter put a stop to the proposed engineering contract to study how and where to install meters for both residents and commercial properties. (more…)

Voters in the Mat Su Borough will have a tower ballot measure on the October 4^th ballot.  The Mat Su Borough Assembly was split in their decision to ask the voting public whether the communication towers in the Borough should have a different setback than currently. (more…)

The Talkeetna Community Council has received the capital list  for work that is scheduled to be completed in three Borough parks in the Talkeetna area.

Originally, James King, the Community Development director at the Mat Su Borough, said that a large sum of money was slated to be spent at Christenson Lake, Talkeetna Lakes and downtown Talkeenta Village Park.  However, that sum is less than half of what he estimated.  Instead of $390,000 dollars, the total line item for the three parks is about $170,000.  Deshka River, Meadow Lakes and Willow also will receive substantial improvements bringing the Borough wide amount to two hundred and ninety thousand dollars. (more…)

RESTORATION IN PROGRESS – The YCC, US Fish & Wildlife, AK Dept F&G, Mat Su Borough and the USSWCD work to repair salmon habitat along Sunshine Creek.

Sunshine Creek, north of Talkeetna, is a popular location for anglers at this time of year.  The Creek has seen severe  stream bank deterioration over the past few years.  This week, over a dozen youth from the Upper Valley, ages 14 to 17,  are working to improve the salmon habitat in the area.  Sue Deyoe visited the work project and has this story:

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KTNA’s morning news, weather forecasts, Denali echos, announcements for June 16th. Host is Sue Deyoe. Headlines – Congressional delegation releases disclosure forms; ADFG orders closure of Little Su; Talkeetna parks get an facelift; Trapper Creek Elementary School roof repairs on way to completion. 16 min.

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A few weeks ago, the Mat Su Borough Assembly passed their 2012 budget.  The mayor had his turn at vetos and the Assembly came back with their overrides.  One item that stayed out of the budget is information technology.  Upper Valley residents will have to wait another year to see if improved access to Borough meetings will happen.

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The Talkeetna Community Council meeting became slightly heated Monday night after a brief report from Talkeetna Sewer and Water Board chairman Jim Kellard.  Borough Assemblyman Vern Halter asked why the utility board had not come to a decision on a rate increase that had been proposed, even after 4 months of discussion. (more…)

After hours of deliberations in three different public meetings, the Mat Su Borough Assembly passed their 2012 budget. The mayor then came in with his vetos and the Assembly hit back with veto overrides.  Sue Deyoe has more on the process and the final budget:

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