Delta Community News

Baccalaureate Service for Delta Graduates

A Baccalaureate Service will be held to celebrate Delta Junction graduates on Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church.

Sponsored by the Delta Ministerial Alliance, the baccalaureate service is for all graduates, regardless of religious affiliation.

Each graduate present will receive a gift from the Delta Ministerial Alliance.

The speaker will be Butch Palermo, pastor of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Delta.

Please call 895-4490 for more information.

Last Chance to Register for Little League

Did you miss Little League registration? There is still time to get your child registered.

Come to the baseball park behind Interior Building Supply at the city park on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You can register then.

If you can't make it Saturday, call Dave Becker at 895-5210 to arrange to get registration materials.

Wedding Engagement - Roy Peters and Andrea Lambert

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey L. Lambert Jr. announce the engagement of their daughter Andrea K. Lambert to Mr. Roy L. Peters son of Mr. and Mrs. John Peters (Delta area) and Mrs. Linda Peters. A June 3rd wedding is planned in Pensacola Florida. You may visit their wedding website at: royandandrea.ourweddingday.com for updates.

Photo of the day - May 9

A pair of great horned owls converse as they decide what the photographers intent is, shortly before flying away. Image by Dwight Phillips.

Military Spouse Appreciation

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - All around the nation, over the next few days, military spouses will be honored for their devotion and sense of duty. On Fort Wainwright, several events are planned in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, beginning May 9 and continuing through Sunday, May 11 (which is also Mother’s Day).

Army Community Service (ACS) Program will give away small gifts and serve refreshments on May 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Welcome Center (Bldg. 3401).

Family MWR will continue the Spouse Appreciation celebration from May 9 through May 11 with complimentary tanning sessions at the physical fitness center and free tokens for the driving range at Chena Bend Golf Course. Spouses will need to show their ID cards.

The AAFES Main Exchange will have a special cake in honor of Mother’s Day and Military Spouse Appreciation on Sunday, May 11 at 1 p.m. Manager’s Specials will be featured throughout the day, and targeted items will appeal to both male and female spouses.

AAFES will also launch a “Salute to the Military Spouse” essay contest on Sunday. Twelve essay winners will receive $500 shopping sprees and have their photos and essays published in an AAFES calendar. Details are available in the store or online.

Photo of the day - May 8

Blackpoll warblers will be arriving in interior Alaska soon from their winter grounds in South America. Blackpoll warblers are one of my favorite birds because of their unique song which is so high pitched many people can not hear it, and because of their incredible annual migratory route (see the attached map). In Scott Weidensaul's outstanding book on bird migration, "Living On The Wind" he states that blackpolls weigh less than half an ounce and yet they make an incredible migration of 12,000 miles round trip each year. In the fall, they gather on the Atlantic coast and then launch off on an 80-90 hour nonstop flight, and use prevailing winds to bring them back onshore in South America. And for all you cat owners, keep your cats indoors. Wouldn't it be ashamed to have your cat catch and unnecessarily kill a blackpoll warbler after it had worked so hard to get here. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Friendly Frontier Days Prizes to Be Given Away on May 24

We will be giving away some fantastic prizes on Saturday, May 24 at Friendly Frontier Days.

1 night stay at Sophie Station Hotel in Fairbanks. Includes $50 certificate to Zach’s Restaurant
Round trip for two on the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Anchorage
1 night stay at the Tanana Loop Country Inn, a bed & breakfast in Delta Junction (includes breakfast)
2008 Friendly Frontier Days t-shirt (total of 4 to be given out)

Our local businesses will have information for Friendly Frontier Days.

Cable Guy Towing & Recovery
Mt. McKinley Bank (see Pablo)
Durham Realty
Busy Bee Office Supply
Frontier Pull Tabs
North Star Bookkeeping
Airport Equipment Rentals
Delta Chamber of Commerce Office

Friendly Frontier Days Shirts for Sale

Preorder your Friendly Frontier day t-shirts or sweatshirts! If there is enough interest, children’s sizes may also be ordered.

T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts are gray in color.

Adult T-shirts: S-XL -$15 and 2X -3X $16
Adult Hooded T-Shirts: S-XL - $26 and 2X-3X - $27

T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts should be available for sale at the Chamber of Commerce office (Jarvis West Bldg, Suite, 1B) by May 19, but please call before stopping by to be sure. They will also be sold all day at Friendly Frontier Days on Saturday, May 24, 2008 from 11:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Please contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce at 895-5068 or deltacc@alaska.net for more information.

What is VE Day

VE Day finally arrived on May 8, 1945 after fierce efforts by the allied forces. The previous year British, Canadian, and U.S. ftroops invaded Normandy, and began to drive the Nazis out of France. At the same time, the Soviets were launching their own counter-offensive. They pushed the German army completely out of Europe. Seizing their advantage, the Soviets advanced into Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania.

By 1945, the German defenses had begun to collapse. The Soviet army occupied the eastern one-third of Germany. Eventually, the allies surounded Berlin. On April 30, Adolf Hitler commited suicide. Germany surrendered soon after.

Article used from Hear it Now 1945 website, you can read more information about VE Day and hear a report.

Kiss the Pig Nominees as of May 5, 2008

Meghan Lene (NRCS) -2 Votes
Officer Eric Walla (D.A.R.E.) -13 Votes
Krissi Falcon (Alaskan Steakhouse) - 10 Votes

Vote for the 3 who will have to catch and then kiss a pig at Friendly Frontier Days on Saturday, May 24 at 3pm

How Kiss a Pig works:

First nominate the person of your choice for $5, once they have been nominated and have accepted, they can begin receiving votes at a cost of $1 each. The 3 with the most votes will have to catch and kiss a pig.

The last day to vote at business locations in town and on Ft. Greely is Wednesday, May 21.

Voting will continue at the Friendly Frontier Days event.

Each pig kisser will receive a ham!

Friendly Frontier Days Volunteer Job Descriptions

Friendly Frontier Days will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2008 11 am – 4:30 pm At the “Delta Triangle”.

BBQ Help

Grillers will help with cooking hamburgers, buffalo burgers, brats, and hotdogs for the annual BBQ. Help is needed from 11 am – 2:30 pm. Those grilling will need to take an online Food and Safety exam, a requirement of the Alaska Department of Conservation (DEC) for handling food. After passing test, you’ll receive a food worker card (card is good for 3 years). Exam is free and takes only a short amount of time to complete.

Food Prep/Floater

Food preparers/floaters will help chop vegetables, make sure baked beans, condiments, coleslaw, desserts, chips, and lemonade and water are stocked. Help is needed from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm. Those helping with food prep will need to take an online Food and Safety exam, a requirement of the DEC for handling food. After passing test, you’ll receive a food worker card (card is good for 3 years). Exam is free and takes only a short amount of time to complete.

Chamber of Commerce Table

Help sell Friendly Frontier Days raffle tickets, t-shirts, and meal tickets. Remind people to sign up for a chance at winning a door prize. Help is needed from 11:00 am – 4:30 pm. This job allows volunteers to be seated the majority of the time.

Meal Ticket Collectors

Collect meal tickets from those going through the BBQ line. This job is very relaxed and volunteers will be able to perform their job seated. Help needed from 11:15 am – 2:30 pm.

Setup Help

Volunteers will help set up tents, tables, grills, set out garbage cans, and other miscellaneous activities. Help needed from 9 am – 11:00 am.

Takedown Help

Volunteers will help take down tables, chairs, and tents, clean trash up from grounds area, etc. Help is needed from 4:30 pm - ?

*Volunteers need not volunteer for the entire length needed for said job. Volunteer for any amount of you are able give!

Nenana Ice Classic

The Tanana River officially went out on May 6th, 2008 at 10:53 pm Alaska Standard Time. We are in the process of gathering the names of the winners and will contact them once we have all of the names and information gathered. The winners will share a Jackpot in the amount of $303,895.00. The payoff will be made on June 1st, 2008. For more information check out the official Nenana Ice Classic webiste.

"Miss Elsie" Randle Passes Away

Elsie L. H. Randle, 85, passed away on 1 May 2008. A friend checking on her found her collapsed on her floor. She okayed being taken to Fairbanks Memorial hospital, but only when sure that her dog would be cared for. That night, she passed away in the hospital at 3 am.

"Miss Elsie," as she was known to many, loved children, vanilla ice cream, dancing, and dogs. And barbeque. She was a great cook and years ago owned her own little hamburger and barbeque shop, in a cabin about where Delta's Buffalo Drive-In is today.

Born Elsie L. Harvey, her marriage certificate indicates that her place of birth is unknown. She married John J. Randle on 5 July 1946, in Chicago, Illinois. He preceeded her in death in 1995. They had no children. But she was especially fond of a little girl Elsie had watched grow up, Ayla Chapman. And her "Lower 48" family and friends kept in touch with her by phone and mail.

A day or two before her death, she prayed the sinner's prayer of faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior.

Miss Elsie had lived in Delta since September, 1959, nearly 50 years. On May 30, she would have turned 86. Her memorial share-a-dish will be at 12:30 noon, Saturday, 10 May, at Delta Community Center. For info, or to share stories/photos, please call 895-4240, or 895-3222. Help before and after her service would be very welcome.

Relay For Life Gold Sponsors

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Thanks for supporting the Relay For Life

Delta Building Supply
Delta/Clearwater Moose Lodge 911
Delta Concrete
Delta Lion's Club
Golden Eagle Outfitters
IGA Food Cache
Kel's Spetic
Morley Electric

Photo of the day - May 7

With spring well under way, the neotropical migrants have started arriving in interior Alaska after their long migration from Central and South America. One of the warbler species that should be arriving soon are Wilson's warblers. Wilson's warblers prefer brushy habitat types and can be seen and heard singing in the Donnelly Dome area in the next few weeks. The males can be identified by their "canary" yellow color and their black "cap". Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Local Folk Band & Classic Auto Joins 2008 End of Rally

The End of Road Rally invites have a new addition to their events. The local folk band, "Simple Folk Uprising" has joined the list of musical festivities to take place June 19 - 22 at the Sawmill Creek Lodge.

A classic-collectible auto area ride is also planned. At the heart of the event will be the Toy Run.
Riders & participants will travel from the lodge to a location in Delta with a new toy to donate for a special cause such as Project Christmas and to the childrens' ward at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. For details about the rally and more information, log on to www.endofroadrally.blogspot.com or contact Thomas Pyatt at 895-4924

Chinook by George Hosier II - Breaking Up

Ah, Breakup! My favorite season of Alaska’s year. How oft during the tedious months of winter have I pined for these halcyon days? Now the time has come for long lost treasures to be relinquished from the icy talons of winter’s merciless grasp. Viruses, long dormant, can now be released into my bronchial passages to test the mettle of my immune system. The unyielding ground, softening beneath my feet, tenderly draws my finest dress shoes into its embrace until I find them enveloped in an undulating ocean of glistening mire, sloshing and gurgling in rapturous celebration of its emancipation.

My yard blossoms luxuriously with toilet paper tubes, discarded Kleenexes and utility bill stubs that had been sown to the arctic wind by a frostbitten raven rummaging for a snack in my burn barrel. These assorted relics of a bygone season had been imprisoned for five interminable months in the snowdrift that entombed them. As they unfurl to greet me now, I experience an unexpected surge of nostalgia. I look fondly down with a tremulous smile of reminiscence, my feet softly making rude noises in the goop of my yard.

To read the entire article please visit our Chinook pages.

Chinook by Geroge Hosier II - Ingenuity

Nowadays everything is disposable. That’s really annoying. A guy used to be able to fix his own stuff when it broke without having to buy a new one or pay a computer geek to install a new motherboard that costs more than the original item. They call it modern convenience, but I just call it expensive.

Take a coffeepot for instance. It’s a real basic concept. Get something that holds water. Scoop water out of a puddle down by the creek. Put it on a fire until the mosquito larvae stop wiggling. Then dump it through a filter full of ground up coffee beans… and…Presto! You have coffee. In the old days, if you wanted to get fancy, you might stick a percolator in your coffeepot. Then the boiling water would gurgle up a little tube, spurt into a perforated chamber that held your filter full of grounds, and then drip back down into the coffeepot as fresh, hot coffee for your drinking pleasure.

To read the entire article please visit our Chinook pages.

Photo of the day - May 6

A young bull moose stands out as he's framed by a beautiful winter landscape.
Image by Dwight Phillips

The "Bug Lady" is Back

University of Alaska Fairbanks - Cooperative Extension Service – Delta District welcomes back Lynn Bundy for the 2008 growing season as the integrated pest management technician (IPM).

Lynn aka “The Bug Lady” is back and available to help with pest problems of the yard & garden, greenhouse, home, and crops. She will be in the CES office: Tuesday through Friday, 11:30am to 4:30pm to receive samples and discuss problems.

If you are looking for information on pest control, it can be found at www.alaska.edu/uaf/ces. If you have any questions concerning insects or weeds, plants, gardening, greenhouse problems, insect and vertebrate pest problems, and any other type of pest management questions, please contact Lynn Bundy at the Cooperative Extension Service located in the Jarvis Office Center, 895-4215 or e-mail: deltariver48@yahoo.com.

Meeting Reminder - N. Richardson Hwy. Scenic Byway

Communities along the North Richardson Highway State Scenic Byway, between Fort Greely and Fairbanks, are developing a Corridor Partnership Plan (CPP) with assistance from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The goal of this project is to develop a plan that represents the vision of the communities along the byway and that tells the complete story of the byway corridor.

At the workshop, there will be a presentation on the draft vision and goals and the draft CPP document. Completion of the CPP will open up grant funding opportunities for projects outlined in the plan.

Please join in for the presentation on the draft CPP, and give us your thoughts and feedback! We want to gather your opinions!

Who: People interested in enhancing and maintaining the North Richardson Highway Scenic Byway

Fairbanks Meeting
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Location: Pioneer Park, Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Exhibit Hall, 2300 Airport Road, Fairbanks

Delta Junction Meeting
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Delta Junction Community Center, 2287 Deborah Street, Delta Junction

Photo of the day - May 5

This picture was taken on May 1, 2008. He originally was 10 ft. tall, but the sun came out. Taken at New Hope Community Church. Photo Courtesy Barbara Schneider

Learn to Return - Navigation/GPS Workshop

Navigation/GPS Workshop teaches the basics to find your way home

Whether you’re following caribou across the tundra, day-tripping on your ATV or searching for a favorite fishing hole, having a GPS receiver along can save time and point you in the right direction. That’s why UAF Mining Extension and the Delta Mine Training Center are offering a two-day workshop on the basics of backcountry navigation and GPS use Tuesday and Wednesday, May13-14, in Delta Junction at the Delta Mine Training Center classroom.

Gary Cooper will lead the workshop. The Delta-Greely School District science and technology teacher of 23 years will focus on a wide range of topics such as reading topographic maps, understanding navigational coordinate systems and navigating with a Silva compass and a Garmin GPS. These skills can be used in charting and mapping, plotting a course, navigating from point to point, locating previously identified sites or any number of similar activities.

The Navigation/GPS workshop runs from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, May13-14, in the Delta Mine Training Center classroom, corner of Nistler Road and Richardson Highway next to Buffalo Fuel. GPS units will be provided. To register for this free workshop, contact Christy Roden at 907-895-4215.

Wells Fargo Names Stroud Delta Junction Store Manager

Wells Fargo has named Josh Stroud store manager for Delta Junction.

Most recently, Stroud served as a management trainee as part of Wells Fargo’s Alaska Management Training program. He has more than three years of previous financial services experience in New Mexico where he worked for Wells Fargo Financial. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from New Mexico State University in December 2005 as a member of the Golden Key Honor Society.

Stroud can be reached at 895-4691 or Joshua.S.Stroud@wellsfargo.com.

Department of Motor Vehicles Closures for May

DMV will be closed the following days in May:

Saturday May 17th

Wednesday May 21st

Will be open for scheduled road tests in the morning but closed in the afternoon Thursday May 22

Relay for Life - Auction "A Chair That Cares"

American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Delta, cordially invites you to a “One-of-a-Kind” Auction“A CHAIR THAT CARES”

Team members employed their talents by creating Pieces of Art from old and new chairs.

Please join us on Saturday May 10, 12 noon at the Delta High School Track.

Randy Peterson Auction Company

All chair sales proceeds go to benefit Relay for Life of DeltaHope to see you in “DELTA”

Thank you Sponsors

I would like to thank Delta Meat and Sausage and Trophy Lodge for sponsoring me to go to the Arctic Winter Games in Hockey - Yellowknife Yukon Territory. It was fun and an experience I will never forget.

Thank you from Brett Smith

Photo of the day - May 3

This Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch breeds in Alaska and probably the Canadian Rockies, then moves into Washington in winter. Although Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches are not often seen, they are widespread. This particular bird was photographed in Anaktuvuk Pass, a small native village in the Brooks Range approximately 200 miles from the Artic Ocean.
Image by Dwight Phillips

Donnelly Training Area Prescribed Burns

The US Army Alaska and the Bureau of Land Management’s Alaska Fire Service will conduct multiple prescribed burns in the Donnelly Training Area near Delta Junction. Spring 2008 burn projects include the Buffalo Drop Zone, Wills Range Complex, Texas Range, Bolio Lakes and the Oklahoma Range.

The 575 acre Buffalo Drop Zone and a 50 acre parcel in the Wills Range were successfully burned April 23. Other prescribed burns will occur between May 2 and early June as weather and military training schedules allow.

The purpose of the burns is to reduce areas of brush and cured grass to assist in preventing serious wildfires from occurring as a result of military training activities. The size of the individual burns will vary. The Oklahoma Range covers about 48,500 acres and the other areas cover about 6,000 acres.

Firefighters from the Alaska Fire Service and Fort Wainwright will be present to monitor and hold the fire at fire lines and other boundaries. Smoke may be visible near Delta Junction as a result of the burning operations.

For more information about prescribed fires, contact the Fire Information Office at the Alaska Fire Service, 907-356-5511 or visit the BLM Alaska Fire Service website

Ms Elsie Randle - Is There a Memorial Service Planned

A venerable Delta resident has left us. Is anyone planning a memorial service for Ms Elsie Randle?

If not, will anyone collaborate with us to plan and present one? Date to be announced. Call 895-4104.

Photo of the day - May 2

A familiar sight to all Deltoids, Rainbow Mountain looms beside the Richardson Highway south of Delta Junction. Image by Dwight Phillips.

Deltana Fair Sponsors, Volunteers and Advertisers Needed

July 25-27, 2008

The 2008 Deltana Fair is being planned -- want to be a part of this wonderful community activity/event? It is really easy to get involved. Just call 895-FAIR (895-3247) and leave a message about what you’d like to do.

So, what would you like to do? Volunteer to help at the fairgrounds before or during or after the fair. Superintendents are needed for several divisions at the exhibit hall. There are all the special events during the fair that need help to actually happen -- like the Pipeline Run in the Late Night Sun, or the Parade, or the Kids’ Games, or -- well, you get the picture -- there are lots of areas where volunteers are needed. If you have always thought a favorite activity should be at the fair and it isn’t, volunteer to make it happen.

Sponsors are also needed. Recently a letter went out to all the businesses that have helped in the past to sponsor fair events. If we missed you, don’t get miffed -- call us and we’ll send you one of the opportunity letters.

Advertisers are needed!!!

Advertisers are needed. This year there will be a premium book printed (as well as having the information on the website). To have that happen, we need advertisers. There will be placemats printed (with advertising) and distributed to various restaurants in the area between Tok, Paxson, and Salcha. Please contact Ann Geise at 895-4466 or 347-6052 or leave a message at 895-3247.

Donations are always welcome. You can donate your time, your money, or some item that can be one of the prizes in the Multi-Item Raffle.

Also needed are your ideas. Call 895-3247 and leave a message, or contact the fair manager Judy Sowell, assistant fair manager Deb Heral, multi-item raffle coordinator Gay Bowley, exhibit hall manager Wendy Jennings, or one of the Deltana Fair Association board members -- Carol McNab, Ellie Schneider, Ann Geise, Flower Cole, Louis Stockwell, Lynn Robertson, Pablo Martinez.

Deltana Fair --- 895-FAIR --- 895-3247

Bake Sale At Poorboy for Relay for Life

These Relay for Life participants can bake the best homemade baked goods!

The Poorboy and The Posh will have bake goods available at the restaurant tomorrow.

Come check it out!

You won't be sorry!
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Time: 4:00pm-7:00pm
Call: 907/895-1805

Relay For Life - Bronze Sponsors

On behalf of The Relay For Life, we would like to give thanks to all the Bronze Sponsors. Thank you for your support!

The Bronze Sponsors are:

MDA Kinetic Energizers
Buffalo Center Drive-In
Stanford ApartmentsPosh Salon/Poor Boy Restaurant
Ellie's Dog-Gone Kennels
Marie Fett
Raven's Brew Coffee, Inc.
A Higher Knead Message
Heritage General Contracting
Team M & J Auto Body
Energy Center
Junction Realtors
Clearwater Lodge
Cybersteppers
Pepsi Co.
Forget Me Knot Quilters
J-L Ventures
Alaska 7 Motel
Delta Meat & Sausage, Inc.
Mountain House Lodge & Adams Ribs
Alaskan Steakhouse & Motel
Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers
Crossroads Family Denistry
Sweet Occasions
Fraternal Order Alaska State Troopers
Acacia Floral & Circle S Greenhouse
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church
Delta Industrial Services, Inc.
Delta Petro Wash

Photo of the day - May 1

A fledgling great horned owl rests in the spruce forest. Image by Dwight Phillips

Sunday, May 11, 2008