The Top 5 Stories of 2013 From the KTNA Website

The beginning of a new year is often a time to reflect on the year that was.  Last week, we put together a retrospective look at the year, but, with the magic of the internet, we’re able to take a closer look at what you, the listener (and reader), paid the most attention to.

It likely does not come as a surprise that the two biggest stories of 2013, taken as a whole, were the Sunshine Community Health Center and the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project.  Both stories drew considerable local attention, and had long lifespans.  In fact, both stories are continuing into 2014.

As for individual stories, I’ve picked five that received more unique visits on the KTNA website than any others.  They are as follows, in chronological order:

In April, the Alaska State Trooper helicopter, Helo-1, crashed near Larsen Lake, claiming the lives of Troopers Mel Nading and Tage Toll as well as Talkeetna resident Carl Ober.

In July, two Washington men were rescued near Iron Creek when their plane went down after the pilot attempted to fly up the wrong waterway.  Everything from a helicopter to and F-22 Raptor was involved in the rescue.

In August, there were a number of stories regarding the Clinic that all received significant traffic.  The one that won out, however, was the story from August 17th clarifying the role that Shelis Jorgensen was to play at the Sunshine Clinic.  A later interview with the then Clinic Board president revealed that the plan had been altered, and Jorgensen would not be brought on board.

In October, the Borough Assembly voted to place the M/V Susitna into a “wet layup,” which is somewhere between dry-docking the vessel and keeping it completely seaworthy.  The Borough has sought a buyer for the Navy prototype ferry for months.

In December, Governor Parnell announced his proposed capital budget for next fiscal year.  It included significant cuts to many projects, including cutting funding to the Susitna-Watana Project to less than ten percent of what was requested.

2013 was an eventful year in the Upper Valley, and we hope you’ll keep listening in 2014.