Bethel, AK

On the agenda is a ballot proposition that will appear on municipal ballots this October. The ballot measure will determine whether the City of Bethel has the authority to issue mask mandates. Voting "yes" on the ballot means you think that the city should be able to issue the mandates. Voting "no" means you think that it shouldn’t have the authority. More than 117 residents signed a petition requesting that the proposition appear on the ballot.

Beginning next week, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) expects to begin offering Covid-19 vaccinations to children ages 6-months to 5-years-old. In a statement, the health corporation says it has ordered the vaccinations for this age group and expects to begin administering them on July 6, if the doses arrive as scheduled.

The free fish bin has returned to Bethel. You can pick up free salmon from the green bin, which is located between the Brown’s Slough bridge and Corina’s Case Lot Groceries. The salmon come from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Bethel Test Fishery. The fishery harvests...

• On 6/6/22 EMS responded for two unresponsive people laying on the ground. • On 6/7/22 EMS responded for an unresponsive person. • On 6/7/22 EMS responded for a person with leg pain. • On 6/7/22 EMS responded for a person who hung themselves. • On 6/7/22 EMS responded for...

Orutsararmiut Native Council and the Native Village of Eek, Sovereign Tribal Governments from the Kuskokwim Region of Alaska, Challenge State’s Decision to Grant 12 Permanent Water Rights to World’s Largest Open Pit Gold Mine Project. While news about a proposed EPA action to protect Bristol Bay from the...

Last week we featured the Yukon/Kuskokwim adventure canoers 22 year old Thomas Dyment and 23 year old Luke Wenger from Bethel who paddled all the way from Fairbanks to Bethel via the Paimute Yukon/Kuskokwim Portage from May 13th to June 9th, 2022. We were able to meet up with them to ask a few questions about their trip.

Steven Pitka, 27 3rd Degree Assault 6 Mos., 2 Yrs. Prob. Jennifer M.L. Gusty, 32 Violate Condition of Release, 5th Degree Criminal Mischief 30 Days $150, 1 Yr. Prob. Daniel Kelila, 47 3rd Degree Assault 2 Yrs., 5 Yrs. Prob. Shondell M.R. Merculief, 21 4th Degree Assault, Unlawful Contact Per...

My next article is a continuation of what I brought up not too long ago. A lifelong friend of mine and I openly discussed the homeless situation in Bethel because he has had a brush with the homeless on his property. The community of Bethel became a caterer to people who had no place to stay and were not Bethel residents, but people from various villages in the Y-K Delta.

Two Bethel men made an epic journey from Fairbanks to Bethel on a single canoe, traveling approximately 850 miles while paddling their way down the Tanana, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers. Thomas Dyment and Luke Wenger have been friends for years, working together as EMTs at the Bethel Fire Department. Their...

The AVCP Executive Board and Staff offer condolences to the immediate and extended family of Bea Kristovich. Bea was born in Napaimute and lived most of her life in Bethel. She was a leader for the Y-K Delta and devoted a lot of time to education and working to protect Native rights. Bea was a trailblazer. As the first woman to hold the position of AVCP Second Traditional Chief, she demonstrated to everyone what is possible for our Tribes and Tribal organizations. She always thought about the region’s people first and tried to help everyone.

2 year old Amelia Chaney of Napaskiak is happy to be helping her grandparents Joe and Susan Bavilla hang their salmon strips at their family’s fish rack. She is the daughter of Alex Chaney and Jolene Bavilla. Photo by Jolene Bavilla.

Yesterday (June 13, 2022), a 20-year-old was sentenced to 99 years for the murder of a 10-year-old girl in the village of Quinhagak in 2020. Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Michael MacDonald sentenced Jordan Mark to 99 years to serve for one count of murder in the first degree. No trial took place. Court proceedings occurred in Bethel.

Avoid long hold times or a drive to a local Trooper post by reporting certain crimes online. The Alaska State Troopers have launched a new crime reporting system that will allow Alaskans to submit information about certain crimes securely online. The new system, which is available today (June 10th, 2022), is intended for certain non-emergency incidents and situations where the suspect is not known and the crime was not witnessed. While the new online reporting system may be expanded, reports for fraud, harassing phone calls, shoplifting, theft, trespassing, and vandalism/criminal mischief are currently being accepted.

Donald Lee Fancher was born in Bethel, Alaska, on January 30, 1955 to Elizabeth Wassilie and Edward Giarraputo. He was later adopted by Maxwell and Gladys Fancher. Don grew up in Bethel, Alaska, and attended Bethel Regional High School up until junior high. While in junior high he was active on the wrestling team. He attended high school in Unalakleet at Unalakleet Covenant High School. While in high school he played basketball and played the trumpet. During the high school basketball games, he would take his trumpet, and being the lone instrument player, play a certain tune to rile the crowd up. He would continue to play the tune, louder and louder, and they would yell “CHARGE!” He graduated from Covenant High in 1973. He attended college at George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon, for two years.

Last week, as fire conditions of the East Fork tundra fire appeared poised to reach St. Mary’s and Pitka’s Point, it also began to threaten access to both the St. Mary’s and Mt. Village airports. At the recommendation of fire response officials, by request of Tribal and city leaders of the area, and in partnership with multiple regional and State organizations, YKHC took the lead in supporting the voluntary relocation of about 145 St. Mary’s, Pitka’s Point, and Mt. Village residents to Bethel.

At least 145 people chose to fly to Bethel after a historic tundra fire moved closer to their homes in the lower Yukon River communities of St. Mary’s, Pitkas Point, and Mountain Village. Most who relocated stayed at two emergency shelters in Bethel set up at the National Guard Armory and Gladys Jung Elementary School. On June 19, the shelters closed and the all people staying in them flew home. Many local individuals and organizations worked together to help the people who relocated. Here is a list of some of them.