Alaska

Wildfire in Katmai National Park grows to 3,500 acres – Alaska Public Media

Published

2 years ago

June 3, 2022

Wildfire in Katmai National Park grows to 3,500 acres – Alaska Public Media

An aerial view of the Contact Creek Hearth burning 40 miles southeast of King Salmon in a restricted administration space in Katmai Nationwide Park & Protect. Might 30, 2022. (Nationwide Park Service picture)

A non-public pilot reported a wildfire on Sunday evening in Katmai Nationwide Park and Protect, in accordance to the Nationwide Park Service. The hearth is presently smoldering and rising to the southeast, nevertheless it hasn’t broken any infrastructure.

Officers say lightning possible brought on the Contact Creek fireplace, which is burning in an uninhabited space about 40 miles southeast of King Salmon, on Lake Brooks.

Park Service Public Data Officer Caron McKee stated residents of King Salmon may even see smoke from the hearth, which has unfold throughout an estimated 3,439.

The hearth is a mile and a half from a distant climate station.

“Crews have truly gone in and completed wrapping that climate station and protecting construction wraps to guard it simply in case the hearth ought to attain it. That’s at this level, the hearth has not reached it.”

Crews with the park service and the Division of Forestry are monitoring the hearth by air. However they’re not actively controlling it. Every nationwide park has its personal fireplace administration plan. In Katmai, fires in areas with out a whole lot of infrastructure are normally left to burn. And the Contact Creek fireplace is about 20 miles from the closest Native allotment.

“The distinctive factor about Alaska is there’s so many areas the place a hearth would possibly begin that it’s simply not close to any infrastructure, and generally the hearth may even be useful to the ecosystem,” she stated. “So in these restricted administration areas, what they’ll do is monitor the hearth and simply make certain it’s not encroaching on any infrastructure however not actively suppress it. After which they’ll all the time change ways if wanted if the hearth circumstances have been to alter.

McKee stated that this hearth is burning tundra and grass, however that thus far, it hasn’t burned that deep into the bottom.

“The hearth administration officers that have been observing it within the final couple of days described it as, it’s actually solely burning in regards to the high three inches or so — the vegetation —so it’s actually type of staying on the floor.”

Scorching and dry climate round Alaska has triggered Crimson Flag warnings and burn bans. Within the Bristol Bay space, that climate is predicted to proceed into this weekend.

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Alaska

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

The Alaska Republican Party said on Sunday that it will be asking the Division of Elections for a recount of the votes on Ballot Measure 2, which gave Alaskans the option of repealing ranked-choice voting.

Although dark money from Outside Alaska overwhelmed proponents of the repeal, it ended up failing to be repealed by just 664 votes, a tiny margin.

Of the 340,110 votes cast on the measure, the margin of “No” votes to “Yes” votes was 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must cover the costs of a recount when the margin is this close.

“We will submit this request, along with the names of the requisite Alaskan voters required to initiate this process, once the election is certiﬁed, which is scheduled for November 30, 2024,” said the statement issued by the Alaska Republican Party.

The party has hired the Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on the ground during the recount and review, along with Alaska-based party counsel and observers.

“Ms. Dhillon and her firm are a nationally recognized, seasoned election integrity legal team, and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this recount process. Ms. Dhillon is an expert in election law. She and her colleagues Michael Columbo and Mark Meuser were recently on the legal teams in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other crucial locations nationally to ensure a fair, transparent, and thorough process,” said Party Chairwoman Carmela Warfield. “Our Party Counsel, Ms. Stacey Stone and her team, are experienced Alaskan election law practitioners, and in September 2024, they successfully intervened on the Alaska Republican Party’s behalf in the case of Alaska Democratic Party v. State of Alaska Division of Elections, ultimately prevailing in the Alaska Supreme Court.”

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Alaska

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

Published

10 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Norma Aldefer didn’t expect to turn 100. Now, one day after her 101st birthday, she’s even more surprised.

Inside her pristine apartment, Aldefer’s table is full of cards wishing her a happy birthday. She points out a favorite, which reads “You’re how old?”

Celebratory messages from loved ones, along with congratulations from state officials Senator Lisa Murkowski and Governor Mike Dunleavy. Aldefer said last year’s centennial birthday even brought in regards from President Joe Biden.

Aldefer moved to Alaska to marry her husband, who was originally from her hometown. The photograph she has at her side is of her as a younger woman posing with her mother in 1948.

Norma and her parents pose “all dressed up” for family photos.(Olivia Nordyke)

“We took pictures of ourselves and and I’m all dressed up in high heels and a hat and a purse. And my little bag that I was carrying.” Aldefer said she was scared leaving the small farm she grew up on, but by working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, she expanded her horizons.

Multiple times Aldefer stated she’s remained curious all her years. She said it’s the reason she’s been able to maintain herself rather than losing her faculties, and believes it’s the way to feel fulfilled.

“Sometimes people get into things they don’t enjoy, but they think, ‘Oh, I have to make a living.’ Don’t do that. If you’re not comfortable, go do something else,” Aldefer said.

“May not make a good living for a while, but you might enjoy life.”

Aldefer says she still enjoys life, and continues to enjoy a nightly martini alongside cheese and crackers before she begins to cook dinner.

Over the course of the interview, she marveled at her gratitude for her world – calling herself blessed.

“I know I’m not going to be here much probably much longer, but I’ve had such a good life, you know. I’m not afraid of it.”

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