Photo of the day - February 8

This caribou ice sculpture was carved by none other than Delta's own ice sculptor, Sam Vose. It resides in the Clearwater Area of Delta Junction. Photo Courtesy Dwight Phillips.

Polar Bear Plunge Results for this Week

Adam Schneider - Buffalo Center Service 120 Votes

Marshall Brown - CRTC 101 Votes

Teresa Knopp - Alaskan Steakhouse 86 Votes

Mike Crouch Jr. - Delta Industrial 10 Votes

Jennifer Anderson - Buffalo Center Service 9 Votes

Matthew Andreassen - Mat's Auto 9 Votes

Gregg Wojcik - Football Coach 9 Votes

Jason Howell  8 Votes

Robert Grimes - DHS Principal 7 Votes

Billy Miller - Alaskan Steakhouse 6 Votes

Mark Adams - Basketball Coach 2 Votes

Patsy Ewing - Clearwater Lodge 1 Votes

*Shannon Nichols (Hockey Coach) will not be able to jump, because The Delta Hockey Team made it to state which conflicts with the Polar Bear Plunge.  Congratulations Huskies!

Our Very own Librarian Joyce McCombs Injured While on Vacation

Joyce has been on vacation visting Arizona and Laughlin, Nevada.  Last Wednesday morning a man drove his car into the casino shortly after Joyce and her husband, Steve finished having breakfast.  She was thrown to the ground and the person standing next to her was killed instantly.  Joyce suffered a servere head laceration and is now recovering from other bruises and sprains.

To read the entire story click here.

Quartz Lake Ice Fishing Derby

The Delta Junction Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Festival of Lights February 12 - 14.

Delta Christian Center is hosting one of their events, the ice fishing derby Saturday Feb. 13 at Quartz Lake.

There will be a warm up fire. Hotdogs cooked on the grill will be served on a donation basis with chips and soda pop and several cash prizes for biggest fish ($45, $25, and $25), to be given out at the end of the derby for the largest fish caught.


Registration is at the lake and is free. Time is from 10am to 2pm. You need to bring your own gear, ie. rods, lures, ice scoops, whatever you need for a successful catch. Holes can be cut for you if you don't have an auger.

If you want more information call 803-3343 after 5pm. Come and join us on the ice this Saturday.

2010 Festival of Lights Schedule

The 2010 Festival of Lights is Proudly Hosted by : The Delta Chamber of Commerce!

Friday Feb. 12

4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner at the Delta Presbyterian Church. Contact Pastor Bear at 895-4322 for more information.

Saturday Feb. 13

10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Galleria/Trade Show at the small gym of the High School. Contact Dani at 895-5068 for more information.

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Kids’ Greeting Card Workshop at the Delta Library. Contact the library at 895-4102 for more information.

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fishing Derby at Quartz Lake. Contact Dwight at 803-3343 after 5pm for further information.

10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Relay for Life Kick-Off Event at the Community Center. Contact Karen Sutherland at 895-4266 for more information.

 

2 - 10 p.m. DHS Boosters 1st Annual Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor at the Delta High School art room.

4 - 9 p.m.Valentine’s Dinner at the Clearwater Lodge. Contact Patsy at 895-5152.

4 p.m. Polar Bear Plunge at the Delta High School parking lot. Contact Dani at 895-5068 for further information.

5 - 8 p.m. Mardi Gras Party at the Alaskan Steakhouse. Contact number for this event is 895-5175.

7:30 p.m. Light-Up the Night Fireworks Display at the City Park located on Kimball Street. Contact Dani at 895-5152 for more information.

10 p.m.Wet Land Will Band at the Clearwater Lodge. Contact Patsy at 895-5152 for further information on this event.

 

Sunday Feb. 14

Noon - ? Dart Tournament at the Delta-Clearwater Moose Lodge 911. Contact Dale Diviney at 895-4300 for more information

5 p.m. - ? Bonfire at the Delta River across from the Delta Airfield.

Boy Scouts of America Founded (1910)

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over four million youth members in its age-related divisions. Since its founding in 1910 as part of the international Scout Movement, more than 110 million Americans have been members of the BSA.

The BSA goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to inculcate typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking

For more information see Wikipedia

Photo of the day - February 6

The rarely seen Albino Moose is a beautiful sight that Mother Nature has kept fairly secret for years. The Albino are totally white with pink eyes. They don't blend in with the forest very well so they tend to be easy targets for predators. Albinism is due to various gene mutations that affect the production of normal pigmentation. Their pink nose is also a sign of being an albino. This is the same moose that made our photo of the day back in October. This photo was taken on February 5. Photo Courtesy Lisa Stossmeister

Super Bowl Party at DCC

Super Bowl Party, free food. Game starts at 2:00pm

Wii games for kids, open gym. Bring your friends.

Location: Delta Christian Center. 

Spaghetti Dinner February 12

Come and celebrate the Festival of Lights at the Delta/Presbyterian/Faith Lutheran Church next to the Delta Community Center on the Richardson Highway. Friday, February 12, 4:30 - 7:30pm

Meal includes cole slaw, spaghetti, garlic bread, beverage and dessert. Suggested donation: $10 for over 12; $5 for 12 and under.

Take-out and Vegertarian Sauce available.

SOS searches for survivors of fallen service members

The Survivor Outreach Services program manager at Fort Richardson is searching for all survivors of fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines within the state of Alaska to provide a full range of services to include long-term support and continued connection and communication with the Army.
SOS provides a standardized, multi-agency, decentralized approach to improving support for survivors of fallen service members in communities closest to where families live.

The program standardizes services for survivors and provides trained experts in benefits counseling, financial counseling, grief counseling and casualty assistance.

The SOS process also places emphasis on the service member’s responsibility to prepare, prior to deployment, for the possibility of death. This preparation involves the service member, the service member’s spouse, children and extended family.

SOS supports the service member and family readiness during and after the painful and devastating experience of the loss of a loved one. SOS provides support to Casualty Assistance Officers to ensure families receive the most current information on benefits and entitlements and have access to long-term outreach, face-to-face, individual and group financial, legal and emotional support.

Service delivery strategies include a variety of services such as Web-based accessibility, outreach, face-to-face and group services. Services are offered at stateside, overseas, and geographically dispersed locations.

For more information about SOS, contact Kimberly Williams, Survivor Outreach Services support coordinator at (907) 384-0272 or by e-mail at kimberly.williams24@us.army.mil

Galleria and Trade Show February 13

The Delta Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Galleria and Trade Show on February 13th at the Delta High school in the small gym.

There are still tables available. Tables are $20.00 each. Call Dani Markham at 895-5068 to reserve your table today!

Photo of the day - February 5

I never get tired of looking at the mountain ranges that surround us. Even though this photo was taken in the fall time, we are so blessed to have the beautiful range to enjoy while covered in snow at this time of the year. Photo courtesy Barb Tharp.

Community Bonfire on Valentines Day

The Festival of Lights is coming up quickly.  There are many activities on the schedule. 

One of the events that will require your participation is the bonfire.  It will be across from Forestry in the area where they burn brush in the summer and fall.

You can help by hauling your brush, old boards, cardboard, pallets, anything that will burn.  Please do not bring household garbage or tires.  We need to get a huge pile to make the bonfire a success.

The bonfire will take place on Sunday, February 14 at 5pm.

Thank you for your help and support of the Festival of Lights events.  The schedule will be posted on Monday of the activities taking place.

Delta News Web is Looking for Photos

A brief note to the community.  Delta News Web is looking for your photos for the photo of the day section.  The archive files are getting low again.
If you have a photo that you would like to share with the community, please send to webeditor@deltanewsweb.com

 Photo examples are: sports, fundraiser events, wildlife, or anything that may be of interest to the community.

Thank you for your support. 

Photo of the day - February 4

The image above shows more colorful times here in the interior. We are surrounded by Great Beauty.
Photo courtesy CRTC/Mike Kingston

Click on the photo for a photo enlargement.

"Huntin' For a Cure" to Kickoff Delta's Relay for Life

Relay for Life of Delta Junction Kickoff will be on February 13th, 10am to 4pm, at the Delta Community Center. The theme for this year is “Huntin’ For a Cure” which is sure to make this year’s Relay better than ever!
The Delta Junction community is encouraged to join the fight against cancer. At the Delta Community Center, there will be information regarding the American Cancer Society, information about joining or putting together a team, event sponsorship information, survivor sign-up, food, and more! Volunteering for Relay offers an opportunity to get involved in the community, make friends, and provides an opportunity to celebrate and honor survivors as well as to remember those who have lost their battle with cancer. But perhaps most importantly, Relay raises funds so that the American Cancer Society can continue to do research and find a cure. In short, Relay is a life-changing organization that helps us celebrate loved ones while working towards a future without cancer.

For more information about Relay for Life of Delta Junction, contract the American Cancer Society office at 1-800-ACS-2345 or Joyce Bendell at 907-803-3994.

Cold Climate Building and Mold Workshops Offered

Cold Climate Building Workshops Feb. 13 in Delta: Mold Workshop offered on the 12th

Using cold climate building techniques with new homes can trim homeowners’ energy bills. Richard Seifert, Cooperative Extension’s Service energy and housing specialist, will offer two courses in Delta Junction aimed at lowering home energy costs and indoor air quality.

During the cold climate workshop, Seifert will talk about windows, ventilation, cold climate options, walls, indoor air quality, roofs and permafrost foundations. Participants in the cold climate workshop will receive a free manual with a CD. During the mold workshop Rich will discuss types of mold and how to control it.

Seifert will offer his newly developed course, “Mold” from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Delta Career Advancement Center, and his Cold Climate Homebuilding Techniques Workshop will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 13, also at the center. Both workshops are free.

To register for either workshop, call 895-4215 email cmroden@alaska.edu
For more information, call Seifert at 800-478-8324 at the Fairbanks Extension office. Registration deadline is Thursday, February 11, 2010.

Photo of the day - February 3

After a day of shooting pictures, the already low sun was getting even lower in the horizon.
Photo courtesy Barb Tharp

Photo of the day - February 2

While photographing these bull moose, a trumpeter just happened to fly into the same frame. And really its not Photo-shopped. Photo by Steve Thomas

Happy Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is an annual holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks. The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog.

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as high as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886.

For more information see Wikipedia

Letter to the Editor

Hi Everyone,

I am saddened to inform all of you that as of today I am no longer serving the Deltana Community Services Partnership non-profit in the capacity of Project Administrator. This change has come not of my choosing, but by extenuating circumstances beyond my control. Though I no longer am employed by Northwest Resource Associates to serve the Partnership in the Deltana area as facilitator and contact person, I am available to serve when needed. My contact info is below; please do not hesitate to call me if I can assist. It has been my pleasure to have been of service to the Partnership as administrator since July 2009. Thank you to each of you who made it a joy and for the support given.
Wednesday's 12noon Children's Services Workgroup meeting is canceled. I plan to remain the chair person as long as there is a Children's Workgroup. I would appreciate hearing especially from those in the workgroup. I am having to regroup my thoughts as you can well assume. Though we haven't accomplished much, I believe in what our vision and purpose has been and is.

I will continue to assist those in the area that are in need of their GED, so I can still be contacted at the 895-3234 (DCSP 0ffice)...just leave a message.

Now! On a personal note.

There is a an upside to this great disappointment! I can clean out a couple of closets and reorganize my craft/sewing/laundry room...whew! Most importantly, be available for my family and friends as well! I would love to remain at home writing and painting, and when called upon, make specialty occasion cakes (wedding birthday, anniversary...etc...). But being among the unemployed populous, I hope to find part-time employment.

Again, in Your Service,
Deborah Snyder

Photo of the day - February 1

Macro image of a bee doing his thing on a wild Alaskan Iris. Many beautiful things are available to be seen if we take the time to look around us. Image courtesy Dwight Phillips.

Alaska Weekly Gas Price Update and Outlook

Alaska, AK, February 1- Average retail gasoline prices in Alaska have risen 6.0 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.50/g today. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.67/g, according to gasoline price website AlaskaGasPrices.com.


Including the change in gas prices in Alaska during the past week, prices today are $1.06/g higher than the same day one year ago and are 3.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 2.7 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 81.5 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.

"Prices will slowly fall across much of the country as a stronger dollar and better than expected gains in gasoline inventories push oil prices lower", says GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan.

DeHaan says that motorists can expect to see lower prices at the pump through mid-February before rising in March and April as refiners complete work on their plants. He also notes the significant jump in prices compared to last year, saying "higher gasoline prices are making it hard for the economy to recover as many Americans are still jobless, looking for employment."

About AlaskaGasPrices.com

GasBuddy.com operates over 200 live gasoline price-tracking websites, including AlaskaGasPrices.com. GasBuddy.com was named one of Time magazine's 50 best websites and to PC World's 100 most useful websites of 2008.

For more information or methodology, contact:

Patrick DeHaan
Senior Petroleum Analyst, GasBuddy.com
E-mail: pdehaan@gasbuddy.com
616-717-5618

Jason Toews
Co-Founder, GasBuddy.com
E-mail: jtoews@gasbuddy.com
612-875-2766

Livestock Workshop Deadline Extended

Livestock Workshop - Wednesday Feb 3 from 2:00 - 4:00


with Milan Shipka - Livestock Specialist

Deadline has been extended to noon on Tuesday, Feb 2.

To see the original posting, please click here

2010 Ice Carving Contest February 6

The Friends of Delta Agriculture are hosting this years Ice Carving Contest! February 6th from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Everyone is invited to participate. This is a great event for families to take part in. Each participant (s) must provide their own tools.

Due to insurance reasons no one under the age of 18 is allowed to run a chainsaw. For more information or to sign up ahead of time please contact Carol McNabb at 895-1936

Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon

The next membership luncheon will be held at noon on February 18, 2010 at the ALASKAN STEAKHOUSE. Lunch will be $15.00. Please RSVP by 4pm on February 16th to be eligible for the free lunch drawing.

The featured program is Delta High School Internships and Guest speaker will be Delta High School Counselor, Lindsey Pinkelman.

Delta High School offers a course called Senior Internship in which only Seniors are eligible to enroll. This year six students were placed in the community in the following businesses:

Crossroads Family Dentistry
Delta Greely District Office
Posh Salon
Delta Elementary
Schultz Farms/ Family log business
A Higher Knead Massage Therapy

We are interested in strengthening the relationship between the high school and the community businesses to place students interested in pursuing a particular career field. The unpaid internship provides them an opportunity to see the daily ins and outs of the career.

Congratulations to Family Medical Center’s Mary Kaspari for winning the door prize and to Karen Cedzo, Sawmill Creek Enterprises, for winning the free lunch at the chamber’s January Membership Luncheon at the
Snowhook Club.

National Freedom Day February 1

National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. President Lincoln signed the Amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865, although it was not ratified by the states until later.


On June 30, 1948, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming February 1st as National Freedom Day. It is not a federal holiday; government offices and banks are open for business.

For more information see Wikipedia

Photo of the day - January 30

This is a sight not see very often. This lynx yawned not once, but three times as it posed for me to take its photo. I don't think the snowshoe hare, its main food source, has a chance with the teeth this lynx has. Photo Courtesy Steve Thomas