by: Katie Writer – KTNA
As the Talkeetna State Airport project moves forward, the contract company, AHTNA has opened up the job site to offer locals an opportunity to heat their homes.
KTNA’s Katie Writer spoke with several people on site.
After a rainy past few weeks, the sun has returned just in time for the local wood salvage at the Takeetna State Airport. Thousands of trees were downed for the airport expansion and AHTNA is offering locals access to the project for free firewood for a two week period. Hours of operation are from 8 am – 6 pm, Monday thru Sunday, though closed September 4th and 5th in observance of Labor Day.
Among the locals cutting wood is Andy Poland who happens to live on Easy Street, which is on the edge of the expansion.
“This is great for everybody. I hope every one takes full advantage of it. The guys are really nice, and they keep making it easy access for all the wood, spreading it all out for us. Now they’ve got the water truck out there to keep the dust down.”
Some people are concerned about what will happen to the remaining wood after the proposed two weeks.
“As far as I know, the rules are that, if anything is left at the end of the two weeks, it’s either going to be chipped or hauled away. It’d be a shame for any of it to go to waste.”
According to AHTNA’s project superintendent, John Wamsganz, it will be up to the State to decide to extend the 2 week period.
Many locals don’t want to risk missing this relatively easy wood gathering opportunity.
Andy says there has been an especially high number of fully loaded trucks driving down Second Street.
“People [are] almost breaking their leaf springs, axles barely hanging on, and tires almost flat coming
out of here with a cord and a half on each truck.
AHTNA asks that people provide their own tools, labor, a safety first kind of attitude.
“We just want to make sure everybody’s safe. If you’ve got a truck or trailer, make sure you have air pressure in your tires. A lot of people are coming in and out, so just be careful coming around. We don’t want people on top of the log piles or cutting in between two of the log piles.”
Others like Katelin Walczyk and Matt Hiller who recently moved to Talkeetna are seizing the moment.
“We just moved here in May, so we have a lot of work to do. This just came up at the right time.”
One might think that there is a wood gathering competition underway, though there is quite the friendly atmosphere of teamwork displayed, as Talkeetna resident Laura Wright saw firsthand.
“I just had some super help from a couple of guys here. My chainsaw didn’t work, and I only had an hour to get a load of wood. They quickly used their chainsaws and cut up some wood. We’re loading it, and now I’m off to the paying job….This is my eleventh load.”
Though there really is no trophy for the one who hauls the most loads, the prize comes later down the road when the colder temperatures arrive.
For more information, Wood Salvage Hotline is 733-6314.
