Local News

Borough breaks ground on Willow library

The long-awaited Willow Library and Community Center project is officially underway. Last week, the borough broke ground on the new facility, which will measure more than 6,500 square feet, and

Borough breaks ground on Willow library

The long-awaited Willow Library and Community Center project is officially underway.

Last week, the borough broke ground on the new facility, which will measure more than 6,500 square feet, and has a total cost estimate of $6.2 million.  A substantial portion of the funds being used to construct the new library and community center came from grants, including the largest single award ever given by the Mat-Su Health Foundation.

In addition to serving the community of Willow, the community center has also hosted Mat-Su Borough Assembly budget hearings, and it is the hub for many activities during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race each year.

At Tuesday night’s Mat-Su Borough Assembly Meeting, Borough Mayor Vern Halter, a Willow resident, said that the demolition work on the old library had proceeded very quickly.

While the Willow library will be closed temporarily, they hope to open a temporary location next week.

Read More

Su Valley Voice for August 20, 2026: River Erosion

This week on Su Valley Voice, the topic was erosion issues near Talkeetna. Host Phillip Manning was joined by guests from the Mat-Su Borough and Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to discuss the current situation and plans.

By Phillip Manning
Live KTNA 88.9 FM