2010 in review

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series looking back on what made news in the Valley in 2010. Look for part two in Sunday’s Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.

Frontiersman staff

MAT-SU — From a rash of thefts from the local electric cooperative to homicide investigations and automobile accidents, 2010 was a busy year for news in the Valley.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Along with steady population growth, the Internet has become a leading source of information, and the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman’s Web site — frontiersman.com — is a popular choice for local stories and breaking news. In 2010, some 1,855,230 visitors to the newspaper online viewed 4,718,959 pages of local news, a marked increase from 2009, when 1,487,846 visitors viewed 3,980,489 pages.

As 2010 comes to a close, we look back on the most popular news, according to you — our readers. The top-viewed stories each month are featured.

JANUARY

Police probe theft of $100,000 in copper

A 25-year employee of MTA is facing felony theft charges after police say he took $100,000 worth of copper wire.

Sgt. Kelly Turney with the Palmer Police Department said around 60,000 feet of cable was taken. Turney called the shipping company and traced the missing cable back to MTA employee Howard Tresham.

Tresham told police he had sold the wire for $5,000 to a man named Robert. Turney explained that this “Robert” was an Oregon resident with many aliases, including Robert Stevens and Robert Ephrem.

Robert is believed to be in the Valley or Anchorage area.

Parents search for missing teen

The parents of a 16-year-old girl are asking for help from the community to locate her. Pearl Lyle was picked up in a car from her home on Knik-Goose Bay Road around 5 a.m. early this week, said her mother, Shawn Kyle. Pearl is a special needs child, her mother said, adding that she is mentally about 12 years old. The teenager is 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 118 pounds. She wrestled for Wasilla High School.

Missing teen found in Anchorage

Alaska State Troopers reported Tuesday that a teenage girl missing for two weeks had been found in Anchorage and returned home.

A very brief trooper press release stated that the Anchorage Police Department located Pearl Lyle, 16, of Wasilla, at a home in Anchorage at 2:47 p.m. Tuesday.

Troopers say Lyle was back home by 4 p.m. that day.

According to her family, she had been missing since Jan. 5 when, her mother said, Pearl got into a car outside the family’s home on Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Wire theft and more

Over the past six months, equipment and material seem to have been disappearing from MTA, leading to multiple arrests. Most recently, 30,000 feet of copper was stolen by Howard Tresham, a 25-year employee at MTA. Police believe the man who purchased the copper from Tresham, Robert Ristick — also known under the alias Robert Stevens — is still in the Valley or Anchorage area.

In a separate, unrelated case, Miles Anselm, another MTA employee, has been charged with stealing a backhoe from MTA’s Palmer facility.

Major meth bust

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Anchorage announced that 23 pounds of Mexican methamphetamine was seized on the way to Anchorage. The drugs were allegedly headed for Ricky Reese. Reese opened Shooters Billiards in Wasilla in 2007 and was linked to the meth through a confidential source from whom he agreed to take possession of the drugs. Also arrested in the meth case were Jared Lisenby of Anchorage, Ronald Hall and Debja Steilen, both of California.

FEBRUARY

Musher arrested in Seward standoff

Rohn Buser, the 20-year-old son of Iditarod champion Martin Buser, sped south past Alaska State Troopers just outside of Seward, said Seward Police Chief Tom Clemons. After chasing Buser through Seward and an hour-long standoff, police were able to approach the vehicle and take him into custody Buser was arraigned in the Seward courthouse on charges of assault by causing fear of injury with a weapon, failure to stop at the discretion of an officer and reckless driving. He was released to his parents’ custody. Clemons said the vehicle Buser used had been reported stolen in Wasilla.

Evidence shows murder; killer still walks free

Alaska State Troopers are still looking for answers in the death of Scott Johnson. Originally, troopers were open to the possibility of a hit-and-run accident; however, evidence has shown otherwise. Hit-and-runs, said Sgt. Michelyn Grigg, usually leave the victim with a host of injuries. Johnson just had one, very egregious head wound.

Grigg also said she’s identified persons of interest in the case. She just doesn’t have enough information to get search warrants or put people in jail. Johnson’s friend Matt Christiansen said it’s frustrating that nobody has been held accountable. “As time goes by I think the trail just got cold and it’s frustrating that everybody knows,” he said. “Everybody who knows that situation knows who … did it.”

Recall effort targets Purcell

Controversy surrounding the mayor of Houston is coming to a head, as an application for a recall petition was filed with the city. It is now up to City Clerk Steven Cunningham to determine if the reasons for recall cited in the application are particular to misconduct in office, incompetence or failure to perform proscribed duties. Since the application is still under review, Purcell said there is no reason to comment yet. He faced two applications for recall when he was a councilman in 2008, both of which were rejected.

Wasilla resident agrees to show AST pot operation

A person who copped to operating a marijuana cultivating operation stands to face multiple drug charges, Alaska State Troopers report. The person, who was identified only as a Wasilla resident by troopers, admitted in the early morning hours Sunday he was growing pot and agreed to show authorities his operation, according to an AST report. In all, troopers found 44 growing marijuana plants and another 13 starter plants. No arrests were made at the scene, but troopers report that four counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance will be filed against the suspect.

Houston mayor calls controversial video a ‘smokescreen’

Sgt. Charlie Seidl with the Houston Police Department said he wasn’t told why he was put on suspension early this week, but he has his suspicions. They want him to keep quiet, he said, over a video that shows Houston Mayor Roger Purcell using flashing emergency lights on a drive to Fairbanks in a police SUV. Purcell said Seidl is using the video as a “smokescreen” to distract attention from Seidl’s actions at a Houston’s animal shelter last week. Seidl stated that Purcell ordered him to euthanize eight animals.

He did, with his pistol.

Seidl said the mayor had supported his actions. “Just last week he was saying basically what a good job I was doing.”

MARCH

Palmer man found dead of gunshot wound

A senior Frontiersman employee died Tuesday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. James R. McDowell, 35, of Palmer, the paper’s production manager, was found about 4:30 p.m. just outside the building. Alaska State Troopers said in a press release that foul play is not suspected in McDowell’s death and that next of kin has been notified.

Wild chase ends with charges for Valley driver

The incident started Saturday when a trooper tried to pull over a pickup driven Joseph Diliberto, 20. During the chase, he hit a Ford Taurus, then drove his pickup into a ditch and fled on foot. Troopers used a K-9 unit to track him. Once in custody, Diliberto continually threatened troopers. He slammed his head against the rear divider in the patrol car, causing his forehead to split open. Diliberto had allegedly assaulted his girlfriend at his home shortly before troopers came into contact with him. Additionally, Diliberto was driving drunk with a revoked license.

Five charged in meth bust

According to a trooper press statement, the case started with troopers investigating several suspects who had apparently purchased more than their legally allotted limit of cold medication in a 30-day period. Troopers served a search warrant off of Popes Road, where they arrested Linda S. Howard, of Palmer. Then another was served off of Victor Lane, where Louis W. Byard and Kimberly D. Burden of Wasilla were arrested as well. Troopers discovered the three were buying cold medication for a meth lab off of Goodfishin Avenue in Caswell Lakes, where they arrested Bobby A. Davis. Naoming L. Bote, of Willow, was arrested the following day for supplying Davis with the cold medicine.

National Guard on scene to help in double fatality

According to Alaska State Troopers, a GMC pickup and a Hyundai Sonata collided near Mile 178 Parks Highway. In the Sonata, Donna Vaughn, 56, of Palmer and her granddaughter, Coral Hammond, 14, died on scene. Vaughn’s husband, Donald Vaughn, 60, and Hammond’s sister, 7-year-old Maziy Hammond, were taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage for treatment. In the GMC, driver Ann Peeples, 68, of Palmer, was flown to Alaska Regional Medical Center. Her two passengers, Deborah Gilcrest, 61, of Anchorage and Doris Thomas, 41, of Palmer were taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Murder suspect may be in the Valley

Alaska State Troopers say a man they are hoping to arrest for his involvement in a Fairbanks-area homicide might be in the Valley. David Robert Pfalmer, 26, was charged last week in the shooting death of Bryan Richardson, 20, of Fairbanks. Troopers say a $300,000 warrant has been issued for his arrest. The shooting occurred March 16 at a Fairbanks business on Goldstream Road, according to trooper reports. Troopers say a second suspect, Sean Jeffers, turned himself in on March 19. Pfalmer is white, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds.

APRIL

A valiant effort

Tammy Barber was one of the people who went to help Wednesday when a neighbor boy, William Stephens, told her the moose was stuck. She said the moose did, at times, seem to get upset, with all the activity, people, shovels and sticks around her. After she was out of the mud, Barber said the moose immediately laid down. The neighbors left her alone, hoping she’d eventually find the strength to get up and start moving. But come morning she was still lying where they left her

“I just actually went up and checked on her and she just passed away a couple of hours ago,” Barber said.

Convicted rapist sentenced to 11 years

A 37-year-old former medic and firefighter has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for twice having sex with a 15-year-old girl. At his sentencing hearing, Brett Talmadge said he didn’t believe his trial was handled fairly. He said the 14-year sentence prosecutors were seeking was extreme and would serve only to make him angry, rather than do anything to rehabilitate him. In asking for the 14-year sentence, Assistant District Attorney Rachel Gernat said she felt Talmadge had betrayed a significant trust by his actions. Superior Court Judge Vanessa White said she hoped a significant amount of time behind bars would help Talmadge change his thinking.

Man attempts to run over police officer, lands in jail

An Anchorage man is in jail this weekend after attempting to run over a police officer during a chase that involved three law enforcement agencies. Dennis R. Dix, 54, was arrested after Alaska State Troopers attempted to contact him following a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Wasilla Fishhook and Seldon roads. During the pursuit, Dix allegedly attempted to run over a police officer, troopers report. After his vehicle was finally stopped, Dix was arrested and remanded to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility. In addition to the charges, Dix also refused to submit to a chemical test, troopers report.

Trooper car wrecked, suspect still at large

A trooper with the Bureau of Highway Patrol attempted to stop a 1993 Buick speeding southbound on Church Road. In the pursuit, Church and Parks Highway, Loretta Overway, of Houston, accidentally smashed into the trooper trying to avoid the Buick. Troopers later found the Buick ditched in the parking lot of the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center. The driver and his passenger had apparently fled on foot. Troopers searched the area unsuccessfully. Troopers were unable to contact the Buick’s owner until the next day, at which point they found out the car had been stolen.

Purcell files for bankruptcy

In addition to facing a recall election, the embattled Houston mayor was ordered to leave his home after the bank foreclosed and has recently filed for bankruptcy. In addition to the bad blood around town, after news that Charlie Seidl, then a sergeant in the city’s police department, shot animals at the city’s shelter, Purcell said he started getting angry calls from animal rights activists, including death threats. One of them came when his son answered the phone, leading to a lot of trauma for the boy. “Why would anybody want to go into politics around here,” he asked. “Enough is enough. I can’t believe how mean these people are.”

MAY

Troopers release names of victims in fatal collision

Troopers have released the names of the women killed in the collision that happened shortly after 9 a.m. on May 3 on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway when a northbound minivan crossed the center line and hit a southbound SUV head-on. Yolanda Haggard of Chugiak was the driver who crossed the line. She died at the scene. Angela Johnson of Wasilla was pronounced dead at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Two small dogs were pulled from the van and taken to the borough animal shelter.

Four hurt in head-on near Palmer

The Glenn Highway has been re-opened after a traffic accident shut it down. The head-on collision was reported at 8:04 a.m. at Mile 38. An Alaska State Trooper happened on the scene as it was being reported. Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said in an e-mail that a 2007 Subaru station wagon going around a curve with three people on board went straight instead of following the road and wound up hitting a 2005 Chevy pickup’s front quarter panel to rear quarter panel. There was only one person in the pickup. The Subaru’s occupants were trapped in the wreckage, but rescue crews cut them out. A trooper press release said the driver of the Subaru was a 17-year-old Glennallen boy and identified the driver of the pickup as Eran Jenkins, 39, of Chugiak. Both vehicles were considered totaled.

Speaker was out of line

To the editor:

Tuesday night I attended the Colony High School graduation ceremony in Wasilla. I was thrilled that Chuck Heath (father of Sarah Palin) would be the keynote speaker. Both my children had him as a substitute teacher and their days with him were insightful, educational and fun.

Chuck explained how he taught all his children to hunt, track and field dress game. Then, trying to be humorous, he said he was going to teach his daughter how to field dress a donkey this fall.

I was dismayed at the suggestion of evisceration of Democrats — a partisan statement that was supposed to be a nonpartisan night of celebration. Did Chuck hope that by giving a stump speech that mirrored his daughter Sarah’s views that it would increase support for her? What message was he trying to convey to the graduates?

The “speech,” reminiscent of a Christian revival, ended with Chuck demanding the “G-word” be integrated back into public schools and government. A celebration for the senior class turned into a political diatribe and was both disappointing and inappropriate.

Bev Nash

Wasilla

Sad conclusion

Knowing her sister has been found has brought a degree of closure for Devon Lee. Her sister’s remains were found in a wooded area off King Arthur Drive after a neighborhood dog brought the woman’s skull home and Alaska State Troopers tracked it back to her sister’s — Donnay Box — body. Lee said the family last heard from Box in October 2008, though Palmer police say she was a passenger in a car stopped on Bogard Road in May 2009.

The oddest thing about Box’s disappearance is where her remains were found. The last time the family heard from Box, Lee said, she was at a party on King Arthur Drive. From the spot she was found, Lee said, “You could spit on the property where she went missing from.”

Three teens injured, one critically, in rollover

A 16-year-old Palmer boy is in critical condition and two other teens injured following an early morning rollover accident near the intersection of Bogard Road and Earl Drive. An Alaska State Troopers report says the 16-year-old driver of a 1995 Ford Explorer apparently was traveling east on Bogard Road at about 3:44 a.m. Sunday when he crossed the center line, entered a ditch and rolled the vehicle several times. The driver of the Explorer was flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center in critical condition, the report says. Two passengers in the vehicle, both males ages 16 and 17, were transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The report says only one of the three was wearing a seat belt and that the vehicle is a total loss.

See Sunday’s Frontiersman for part 2 of 2010 in Review.