Letter

A Joint Base Richardson-Elmendorf pilot carried out a very special mission on Thursday, after hearing about a unique request from a 9 year-old boy who had lost his father. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Gallegos was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. His son MacAidan, who goes by "Mac", was five years old at the time. Every year on January 24th, his father's birthday, MacAidan and his mother celebrate by doing something special like baking cupcakes or throwing a party. But this year, MacAidan, now nine years old, decided to celebrate differently.

by Mary Pemberton The Associated Press Tuesday, May 4, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Three former top administrators with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are warning the governor about a bill allowing a Native corporation to hand-pick lands in the Tongass National Forest. The three say in a letter that the bill could create severe economic problems for Southeast Alaska if it leads to the Queen Charlotte goshawk and the Alexander Archipelago wolf being listed under the Endangered Species Act. The letter says a federal plan is in place to keep the two species off the list by creating old-growth forest reserves where logging would not occur.

  They say time heals all wounds, but what if it was the complete opposite? Where every moment that passed you by was an accumulation of pain, sadness, loneliness, and missed memories? This is the life that has been dealt to the Fairbanks Four. Nearly fifteen years have been accumulated. Sixty years when you add all four of our lives together. Perhaps thousands of years when you include our family and friends. The first fourteen years were tough, but none as tough as the past year.

If you're hoping to get a letter from Santa himself this year by Christmas, then the deadline is Monday, December 10. For sixty years, people have been ordering personalized letters from Saint Nick, that come from the Santa Claus house in North Pole, Alaska.   The letters let kids know that the magic of the season is real, and they are safely on the big guy's "nice" list. Again, the deadline is December 10 and that gives Santa enough time to write you a letter back, which will arrive with an authentic postmark from North Pole.

By Mary Pemberton Associated Press Writer Wednesday, July 28, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Dozens of U.S. House members have signed a letter opposing a bill allowing a private Alaska Native corporation to select choice lands in the nation's largest national forest for its own use. The bill would allow Sealaska Corp. to pick lands outside designated areas - a feature that has led to charges that the Native corporation is cherry-picking lands in the Tongass National Forest.

by The Associated Press Friday, April 2, 2010 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Gov. Sean Parnell is among the governors who have received letters demanding they leave office or be removed. As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received the letters from a group calling itself Guardians of the free Republics. Its Web site says it wants to "restore America" by peacefully dismantling parts of the government. Parnell spokeswoman Sharon Leighow confirmed Friday that Parnell had received a letter in his Anchorage office.

by Ted Land Tuesday, May 11, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Some of the nation's top climate researchers, including a University of Alaska Fairbanks professor, are defending their work in a very public way. The researchers published a joint letter in this month's copy of the journal "Science. " The letter says they're deeply disturbed by what the researchers call a recent escalation of political assaults on scientists. The group is calling for an end to "McCarthy-like" threats and harassment of academics who present evidence showing the planet is warming as a result of human activity.

by Mary Pemberton The Associated Press Tuesday, March 23, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game commissioner is sticking by his choice to lead the Division of Wildlife Conservation. Commissioner Denby Lloyd wrote a letter Tuesday to John Schoen, senior scientist at Audubon Alaska, one day after Schoen sent the commissioner a letter signed by 39 former Fish and Game employees. The letter asked that Corey Rossi be ousted because he lacks the educational background and scientific training to head the division.

Acting President of the Mountain View Community Council Don Crandall sent a letter Wednesday to the Executive Director of RurAL CAP in reaction to the proposed relocation of the "Housing First" project Karluk Manor. The letter comes nearly four weeks later, after a letter sent by the Council to Mayor Sullivan's office, expressing disappointment from left out of the decision-making process with regard to the possible location of "Karluk 2. " Wednesday's letter to Executive Director of RurAL CAP, David Hardenbergh, expressed similar disappointment in the Council's continued non-involvement in the decision to the location of the new Karluk Manor, as well as concerns about the proposed location's proximity to Tyson Elementary School.

West Anchorage football players Conor Feckley, Kieran Kuiper, and Lincoln Tulimasealii have made their college choices on national signing day.  All three players are going to Division II schools. Feckley, Alaska's all-time leader in passing yards at quarterback, has signed with Colorado Mesa University. A three year starter, he amassed over 7,000 career passing yards, including 2,305 this past season in only nine games.  Alaska's coaches voted Feckley the 2012 Offensive Player Of The Year.

A Joint Base Richardson-Elmendorf pilot carried out a very special mission on Thursday, after hearing about a unique request from a 9 year-old boy who had lost his father. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Gallegos was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. His son MacAidan, who goes by "Mac", was five years old at the time. Every year on January 24th, his father's birthday, MacAidan and his mother celebrate by doing something special like baking cupcakes or throwing a party. But this year, MacAidan, now nine years old, decided to celebrate differently.

The local radio station, KMVN, also known as Movin' 105.7, is collecting cards and letters to send to Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut as part of their "MOVIN Stamps to Sandy" program. Until December 28th, individuals will be able to drop off their warm words and thoughts to honor the victims from the tragic shooting and to show support for the Newtown community. Items will be collected at 4700 Business Park Boulevard, Building E, Suite 44 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you're hoping to get a letter from Santa himself this year by Christmas, then the deadline is Monday, December 10. For sixty years, people have been ordering personalized letters from Saint Nick, that come from the Santa Claus house in North Pole, Alaska.   The letters let kids know that the magic of the season is real, and they are safely on the big guy's "nice" list. Again, the deadline is December 10 and that gives Santa enough time to write you a letter back, which will arrive with an authentic postmark from North Pole.

Alaska's D.C.  Delegation, including Rep. Don Young and Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, has voiced their concerns again over the proposal to move the F-16 squadron from Fairbanks to Anchorage with a letter to the Air Force's top brass at the Pentagon. In the letter, the delegation echoes the concerns that Governor Sean Parnell made earlier this month to the Air Force, since the military announced its plan to move forward with an Environmental Impact Statement. Parnell requested an extension of the public comment to 60 days and asked that multiple public scoping meetings be held and one public hearing be held in the affected communities near the bases in Anchorage and North Pole, including the Mat-Su Valley.

  They say time heals all wounds, but what if it was the complete opposite? Where every moment that passed you by was an accumulation of pain, sadness, loneliness, and missed memories? This is the life that has been dealt to the Fairbanks Four. Nearly fifteen years have been accumulated. Sixty years when you add all four of our lives together. Perhaps thousands of years when you include our family and friends. The first fourteen years were tough, but none as tough as the past year.

State prosecutors say a man armed with a 39-inch broomstick handle had raised it above his head and was less than two feet short of being able to strike an APD officer when he was shot to death June 9 in Mountain View, according to a letter released Friday. In the June 22 letter (PDF) to APD detective Mark Huelskoetter on 26-year-old Shane Tasi's death, assistant attorney general Greggory M. Olson with the Office of Special Prosections and Appeals explained his decision not to charge Officer Boaz Gionson.