“Out of the Dark”

By Marian Elliott; Cirque Press, 2024; 303 pages; $15.

A woman suffers the loss of her 19-year-old son and falls into a near-paralyzing depression. Her husband leaves their home in Long Island, New York, and moves to Florida, forbidding her to accompany him. He insists that she wants to visit relatives teaching in Toksook Bay, Alaska, and buys a camper for the trip. Accompanied by her son’s elderly shepherd-collie mix, she sets out on a road trip, unsure of where or how far she might go and really wanting only to join her husband in Florida.

This is the disquieting start to a story labeled memoir, told by Wasilla resident Marian Elliott. Memoirs generally employ an “I” to tell a true story, but “Out of the Dark” features a main character named Jeanne, an apparent stand-in for the author. (To avoid confusion, the book might have been called an autobiographical novel, based on the writer’s life but with the freedom to change identities and employ details and conversations to meet the story’s demands. There are other distinctions between memoirs and fiction, but the author must have had her reasons for choosing a third-person perspective.)

In any case, Elliott has told a compelling story with several angles. The first third of the book centers on the tragedy of losing a child to a senseless accident, the family’s inability to talk of the young man or his death, and the failing marriage. (As Jeanne learns when she finally attends a grief support group, a majority of marriages falter after such a tragedy.) Jeanne suffers emotional and mental anguish, worsened by her husband blaming her, without reason, for the death and otherwise undermining her sense of reality. He proves to be a champion of gaslighting and manipulation: “Do you have any idea how lucky you are? I know people who would give anything to go to Alaska. I wish I were going.”

Much of the remaining book is essentially a road trip, as Jeanne and the dog Gulliver, to whom she is devoted, travel together. Beginning in September, they first tour through a region she actually wants to visit — Canada’s Maritime Provinces. She seeks out ocean views and other restorative places. A single woman with an old dog draws attention, and she readily makes friends with other campers, residents, and a philosophical hitchhiker who asks, “Did you ever wonder if you met yourself on the road in a strange place, you’d recognize who you were?” The year was 1980, and her own trust and kindness seemed to invite that of others. She runs into the same travelers repeatedly, accepts invitations to visit others in their homes, and maintains correspondences for months and perhaps years afterward. When she mentions Alaska, some she meets are excited by the idea but most raise their eyebrows, especially about heading north so late in the season. Toksook Bay? She doesn’t seem to know, herself, that the Yup’ik village is not just “Alaska” but on an island far to the west, facing the Bering Sea.

Halfway through the book, three weeks after leaving her home, she’s firmly against continuing to Alaska. “She needed to make Gary (her husband) understand the Alaska trip was not going to happen.” But after a stop at her daughter’s college near Buffalo, N.Y., her husband on a phone call demands that she continue to Alaska and she agrees to drive as far as the Canadian Rockies.

Time on the road and in the narrative speeds up considerably after that. Jeanne learns that her husband has another woman in Florida — something readers might have deduced much earlier. “The only choice she could see was to go forward. Why not keep driving until she figured things out? Who knew what the road had to offer?” She drives up the Alaska Highway, where she runs out of gas and is rescued by kind men. She drives through whiteout snowstorms. In Whitehorse the dog has a medical emergency, other kind people help her, and she rushes on to Fairbanks to reach a veterinarian.

To tell much more of the story would give too much away, but suffice it to say that the old dog’s condition keeps Jeanne in Alaska until spring. She does actually get to Toksook Bay, surprised by the small plane, the numerous stops in and around Bethel, and her relatives’ request to bring a box of fruits and vegetables.

Throughout her travels, even as she continues to grieve for her son, Jeanne finds much to love about the world, in people and in nature. When a raven flies over her head in the quiet of British Columbia, the woman from New York is stunned to hear, for the first time in her life, the sound of a bird’s wings. Later, she’s entranced by the song and sight of a dipper (water ouzel), “flying just above the surface of the water following the curve of the creek. He settled on a boulder downstream and with the burbling waters rushing around him, he sang out again an ebullient medley in whistles and trills.”

In the end, “Out of the Dark” is a story of trust, self-knowledge, and healing. The journey with Jeanne/Elliott satisfies not only as a road trip marked by the kindnesses of strangers; readers will delight in the company of a woman traveler who grows into the self she’s in fact happy to recognize.

[Book review: A reluctant memoirist reflects on a tragic family story — and considers forgiveness]

[Book review: Intimate and creative, Jennifer Brice’s long-evolving essays present her sharp mind at work]

[Book review: Riveting memoir reveals lifetime of lessons from teacher’s time in Alaska village]

CNN
 — 

Two Alaska State Troopers have been charged with misdemeanor assault after using pepper spray, a taser and a canine while arresting a man on a warrant that had been issued for a different person, authorities announced Thursday.

Sgt. Joseph Miller and canine handler Jason Woodruff have both been charged with fourth-degree assault for the May 24 incident, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety James Cockrell announced in a news conference Thursday.

“I’ve been with this department 33 years, and I’ve never seen any action like this before by an Alaska State Trooper,” Cockrell said. “Because of their actions, there was significant injuries to the person that went to the hospital that was in that vehicle.”

An arraignment for the officers is scheduled on September 10.

The two troopers broke out the rear window of a man’s car, pepper sprayed him, used a taser, and ordered a police dog to repeatedly bite him while attempting to arrest him, authorities said. It wasn’t until officers took him to the hospital for treatment that they realized that they had arrested the cousin of the man they were seeking. Both men had the same last name.

The two troopers originally responded to a car parked in a public right of way in Soldotna on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, southwest of Anchorage. The car was registered to a man with an active misdemeanor warrant, according to Cockrell.

Miller and Woodruff were placed on administrative leave following the incident and the dog is no longer in service, according to Cockrell. CNN has been unable to determine if Miller and Woodruff have obtained legal representation.

The troopers attempted to speak with a man who was “hidden in the rear of the vehicle” and ordered him to exit the car, according to a news release from Alaska’s Department of Public Safety. He denied he had an active warrant and refused to exit the vehicle, the news release said.

Miller, 49, then broke out the rear window of the car and sprayed pepper spray into the car, according to the news release. “There should have been some additional questions asked before we broke the window and drug him out of his car,” Public Safety Commissioner Cockrell said in the news conference.

As the man began to exit the vehicle, the troopers attempted to handcuff him, and Miller placed his foot on the man’s head, “pushing it into the ground covered in broken glass,” according to the release. This caused his “face or head” to start bleeding, said Cockrell.

Miller also used a taser multiple times, according to the news release.

Then, even as the man seemed to be complying with commands from officers, Woodruff, 42, released his canine and “continued to order the K9 to bite the man,” the release said.

The man was eventually placed in handcuffs, given first aid and taken to a hospital.

It wasn’t until then the troopers realized he was not the person they were looking for.

According to charging documents obtained by The Associated Press, the troopers thought they had encountered a man with an outstanding warrant but the man pepper-sprayed and attacked by a dog was his cousin.

The man was left blooded and needed surgery to repair muscle lacerations after the incident, The Associated Press reported.

Charges against the man who was wrongly arrested were subsequently dropped, according to the charging document against the two officers.

“Personally, when I reviewed this video, I was totally sickened by what I saw,” Cockrell said. Authorities have said they will not release all the body camera video until the investigation is complete.

Miller and Woodruff were placed on administrative leave following the incident and the dog is no longer in service, according to Cockrell.

“Let me be clear, the actions of these two individuals are not acceptable to me, not in line with our training and policy, and I know it is not acceptable to the Alaskans we serve,” said Cockrell in the news release.

Nick Moe, a longtime Democrat turned independent, is running against Democrat Carolyn Hall for the open West Anchorage House seat. I know both of them.

I have known Nick for over a decade. He has been on my podcast a few times and he worked as a legislative staffer in Juneau. I consider him a buddy. I have known Carolyn since 2018 when she was working for the Municipality of Anchorage. Her husband Scott Jensen and I started working together in 2019. Scott and I started a production company, Tudor Road Studios, in 2021. Scott owns 15% of the Alaska Landmine. Scott and Carolyn are both friends of mine.

I had purposely avoided really covering this race for two reasons. One, I personally know both of the candidates. Two, this race is less significant in terms of the balance of power in Juneau because whoever wins will almost certainly caucus with the House Democrats.

For over a month Chelsea Foster, a supporter of Nick Moe, has been repeatedly attacking Carolyn Hall by falsely claiming that Hall owns part of the Landmine. Carolyn does not, and never has. Hall has nothing to do with the Landmine. This has been repeatedly explained to Foster, yet she has persisted with this dishonest and underhanded line of attack.

Foster has also repeated the tired and dumb argument that I attack progressive women. The truth is that I attack any elected or public official who does something stupid or that deserves scrutiny. Sometimes those people are progressive women, or men. And sometimes they are conservative men or women.

I exposed Republican Kelly Tshibaka’s illegal fishing when she was a candidate for U.S. Senate. I successfully sued Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska) on First Amendment grounds on access to press conferences. I am currently in litigation against House Speaker Cathy Tilton (R – Wasilla) over the House’s failure to take up veto overrides at the beginning of the last session, something the Alaska Constitution requires. The Landmine broke the story about how then-Mayor Dave Bronson briefly shut off the city’s fluoride supply. That story was picked up by the New York Times, which credited the Landmine.

Until yesterday, all of Foster’s public attacks were on Twitter (X). Which I more or less ignored.

When Nick Moe came on my podcast in early July, he told me before we started recording that he asked Foster to stop attacking Hall by incorrectly tying her to me. Foster, apparently, did not get the message. Yesterday, the Anchorage Daily News printed a letter to the editor by Foster in support of Moe. The letter included:

Nick isn’t just about promises; he follows through with concrete actions that make a difference in our lives. In contrast, his opponent, Carolyn Hall, has a connection to a media outlet known to target progressive women. This raises concerns about her ability to stand firm in her convictions and effectively represent the interests of her constituents. When leadership was needed most, she did not rise to the occasion. Given the stakes, we need a representative who is not only capable but also willing to take decisive action for the betterment of our community.

The irony here is that Foster claims that I attack progressive women… but it’s Foster, not me, who is attacking the progressive female candidate in this race. And she’s doing so in a dishonest effort to support a well-connected white male candidate. Foster’s attempt to use identity politics has things completely backwards here. And that’s not all.

Let’s focus on the two of the sentences in the above paragraph:

“Nick isn’t just about promises; he follows through with concrete actions that make a difference in our lives.”

“This raises concerns about her ability to stand firm in her convictions and effectively represent the interests of her constituents.”

Since filing in late May, Nick Moe has taken several concrete actions that question his convictions.

Moe has worked on and off over the years as a legislative staffer for Democratic legislators, most recently for Senator Bill Wielechowski (D – Anchorage). Wielechowski is well-known to support raising taxes on the oil industry. Moe worked to advance legislation from Wielechowski that would have done just that.

On July 1, Anchorage attorney Robin Brena donated $10,416.89 to Moe. This is over a third of the $28,300 Moe has raised so far. Brena is a huge supporter of raising oil taxes. He has contributed big money over the years in support of ballot initiatives and candidates that aim to do so.

There’s nothing wrong with Moe getting support from people like Robin Brena. But let’s just say it’s unclear where Moe’s loyalties lie.

According to Moe’s latest campaign finance report, he paid Trevor Jepsen’s company, Pragmatic Data Solutions, $1,265 for “services.” Jepsen is a petroleum engineer and legislative staffer who works for Representative Tom McKay (R – Anchorage). McKay chair’s the House Resources Committee. McKay and Jepsen are both very pro-industry. Jepsen’s dad is Scott Jepsen, a former vice president of ConocoPhillips.

Nick Moe taking money from Robin Brena and then paying Trevor Jepsen is about as loose as it gets.

Moe also paid Rose Larson’s company, De La Rose Management,$1,524 for “consulting services.” Larson is a legislative staffer who has worked for several Republicans, including Representative Jamie Allard (R – Eagle River) and Representative McKay. She currently works for Senator David Wilson (R – Wasilla).

Moe has enjoyed support from several Republican staffers and one Republican representative. All of these staffers work for Republicans who have vocally opposed raising oil taxes. Some Young Republicans have even been doing lit drops in the district to support Moe.

Moe has taken accepted donations from the following people:

• Representative Jesse Sumner (R – Wasilla) – $521.15.
• Craig Valdez – $52.40. Valdez works for Representative George Rauscher (R – Sutton).
• Bernard Aota – $72.19. Aota works for Representative Will Stapp (R – Fairbanks).
• Dawson Mann – $104.48. Mann works for Senator Robb Myers (R – North Pole).
• Katie McCall – $51.35. McCall works for Representative Dan Saddler (R – Eagle River).
• Forrest Wolfe – $100. Wolfe works for Representative Stanley Wright (R – Anchorage).
• Joe Byrnes – $49. Works as legislative liaison for the Department of Natural Resources. Previously worked for former Republican Representative Bart LeBon.

In addition to donating money to Moe, most of these Republican staffers were listed as co-hosts for a Nick Moe fundraiser, along with Brena and several progressive Democrats. Awkward. 

Former Senator George Jacko also donated $49 to Moe’s campaign. I wonder what Chelsea Foster – who is so concerned with protecting progressive women – thinks about Nick Moe taking money from a guy who was formally censured for harassing female staffers? From a 1993 LA Times article titled, “Sexual Harassment Flap Tops Agenda of Alaska Lawmakers:”

The whole thing started with a 4:30 a.m. call to police.

An Alaska state senator, George Jacko, was on the line. He said he was a state legislator and wanted the police to help him get into the motel room of a female legislative aide. The dispatcher asked why.

“It’s confidential,” the senator said. “It has to do with state government . . . . It’s kind of an urgent situation.”

The skeptical dispatcher said there was nothing she could do. Jacko, who had been knocking on the motel door and trying to persuade the desk clerk to give him a key to the woman’s room, “reeked of alcohol,” the clerk said.

Moe and Jacko actually might have one thing in common. Moe has indicated to some Republicans that he’s open to caucusing with them if elected, while assuring Democrats he will not. From the 1993 LA Times article, “Elected as a Democrat from a rural district the size of Oregon, Jacko angered his party by joining Republicans in a new coalition, giving the GOP a one-vote majority. He was appointed chairman of the Rules Committee.”

In her letter, Foster said, “Given the stakes, we need a representative who is not only capable but also willing to take decisive action for the betterment of our community.” West Anchorage voters should ask themselves what kind of “decisive action” Nick Moe intends to take if elected. Will he listen to the guy who donated a third of the funding for his campaign–or all the Republicans who donated to and did boots-on-the-ground work to help get him elected?