Beluga

A package mailed 33 years ago to the residents of 7500 Beluga Circle on Anchorage's east side finally arrived on Monday. The manila envelope, addressed to a “Mr. & Mrs. James Wilson” in October 1978, was sent from a cousin of James Wilson in Atlanta. James Wilson passed away this summer. His wife Betty now lives in Arkansas. The package probably still would have been long-lost, had it not been for Betty's friend of 40 years, Norma McDonald, who now lives in Betty's old house.

The Matanuska Electric Association has announced a celebration of life next week for former state lawmaker Cheryll Heinze, who died Tuesday night in the Homer crash of a floatplane carrying five MEA employees. The event will be held just outside Palmer at the Lazy Mountain Bible Church at 16005 E. Shawn Dr. on Tuesday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. All members of the MEA family are invited to attend. MEA spokesperson Kevin Brown -- who worked for Heinze, the electric co-op's director of human resources and public affairs -- eloquently described her philosophy in a statement about the event Friday.

Within 30 minutes of a plane crash, a civil air patrol crew happened to be flying over the crash site, discovering two survivors. A volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol crew said the stars aligned with rescue crews responding within an hour. The Civil Air Patrol aircrew was flying Friday between Anchorage and Bethel when it heard the sound of an emergency location transponder. Peter Katinsky said his crew, which is volunteer-based, was listening to an old 121.5 frequency that satellites don't monitor anymore, and that's how they heard the ELT. “The signal came in very strong,” said Peter Katinszky, who was on the plane with three other volunteers.

New regulations passed by the Alaska Board of Fisheries in February will affect fisheries in the Mat-Su Valleys and Northern Cook Inlet. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says king salmon, coho (silver) salmon, general salmon and northern pike fisheries will be affected. From the Fish and Game Release (not a comprehensive list of regulations):  King salmon sport fisheries: The Chuitna, Theodore, Lewis, and Beluga rivers are closed to sport fishing for king salmon.

Chevron announced plans Tuesday to sell its assets in Cook Inlet -- but what does that mean for the future of oil and gas development in the inlet? Chevron's decision comes as production in Cook Inlet oil and gas fields is on the decline. Large energy companies like Chevron typically lose interest in such investments -- and that's when smaller operators jump in. “We had been discussing these plans with Chevron for some time now, so it was not a surprise,” said Kevin Banks, director of the state’s Division of Oil and Gas. Banks says the inlet still contains large amounts of oil and natural gas, but exploration and production have declined.

A polar cub is gaining weight and getting healthy at the Alaska Zoo after oil field workers discovered her abandoned on Alaska's North Slope earlier this month. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service credits her survival to the keen eyes of oil field workers, but also to the Endangered Species Act.  Under the ESA, oil companies are required to notify USFWS every time workers spot a polar bear.  There are currently 22 animals in Alaska that are...

Southcentral Alaska power companies are disputing rate increases set to hit customers in several parts of the region this month, after they were approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska Saturday. The Matanuska Electric Association says the RCA greenlit a 42 percent increase in wholesale power rates MEA pays to Chugach Electric Association, with lesser increases being absorbed by Chugach's other customers. In a Monday statement, MEA spokesperson Kevin Brown says the rate increase will cost its customers about $8.7 million annually, or about $24,000 per day, saying the highest increases will fall during the winter months.

Twenty-seven miles of road separate Anchorage and Girdwood, one of the most scenic stretches of highway in a state filled with spectacular roadside attractions. For many Anchorage residents, the Turnagain Arm is often seen from the window of a vehicle, stuck behind a gargantuan tour bus or weekend traffic to the Kenai Peninsula. But if you like to eat, hike, fish and look at mountains that come straight up out of the sea, the Turnagain Arm is a destination in its own right. Along this curvy stretch of road with inlet-and-mountain views, there are atmospheric watering holes, with menus that range from fine dining to down home pit barbeque, along with natural delights.

Location and Climate Wainwright is located on the Chukchi Sea coast, 3 miles northeast of the Kuk River estuary. The community lies at approximately 70.636940° North Latitude and -160.038330° West Longitude.  (Sec. 24, T015N, R032W, Umiat Meridian.)   Wainwright is located in the Barrow Recording District.  The area encompasses 17.6 sq. miles of land and 24.9 sq. miles of water.  The climate is arctic. Temperatures range from -56 to 80. Precipitation is light, averaging 5 inches annually, with snowfall of 12 inches.

Location and Climate Barrow, the northernmost community in North America, is located on the Chukchi Sea coast, 10 miles south of Point Barrow from which it takes its name. It lies 725 air miles from Anchorage. The community lies at approximately 71.290560° North Latitude and -156.788610° West Longitude.  (Sec. 06, T022N, R018W, Umiat Meridian.)   Barrow is located in the Barrow Recording District.  The area encompasses 18.4 sq. miles of land and 2.9 sq. miles of water.  The climate of Barrow is arctic.