A lot happened in 2011. Here is a slice of what happened in the valley as seen through the lens.
Matthew Simmons with the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center escorts
one of the wolves at Wolf Country USA in Palmer from it's dog house
to a waiting travel kennel. All 29 wollves have been turned over to
the California sanctuary. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryA group of smoosh race participants struggle to stay up as they
negotiate a turn during Colony Christmas smoosh race action in
downtown Palmer. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerry2011 Alaska State Fair Giant Cabbage Weigh Off winner Steve
Hubacek stands behind his cabbage as Clark James Mishler takes a
photograph. Hubacek's head weighed 126.4 lbs. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryFormer Rep. Vic Kohring leaves the federal court house in
Anchorage a convicted felon but a free man. Kohring pled guilty to
conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs that receive
federal funds. He was sentenced to time served for the 12 months he
has already spent in prison and placed on supervised release for a
period of 18 months. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryNolie Libao carries a giant stuffed animal on his shoulders as
he makes his way through the crowd at the Alaska State Fair in
Palmer. Libao won the prize for his girlfriend at rollerball.
(ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryA troupe of ballet dancers from Sonja's Studio of Dance perform
during the winter dance recital 'Land of Sweets' at Teeland Middle
School. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryChloe St. Jean-Richard performs for the crowd with the German
wheel during the Cirque Magnifique performance on opening day of
the 2011 Alaska State Fair in Palmer. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryCasey Boylan leaves a trail of dust as he flies through the air
during the Supercross qualifer at the Alaska State Fair. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerrySanta's snowcat and reindeer prepare for take off along Vicki
Way and E. Blue Lupine Drive. This Christmas light set up and most
of the other houses in the small neighborhood are synchronized to
music that you can listen to by tuning into 104.9 F.M. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryCarolyn and Pat Heitman pose for a picture at the Alaska State
Fair in Palmer. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryThe Palmer water tower is silhoutted against an explosion of
fireworks during the Country Cuts fireworks show in downtown
Palmer. Robert DeBerryIce Racing Alaska pro class racer Mike Estes hangs off the side
of his sled as he speeds around a turn during a recent race on Big
Lake. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryLinda Lockhart sits inside her store in the East lake Mall in
Big Lake. Lockhart has been battling cancer. The community of Big
Lake has organized a series of fundraisers to help Linda Lockhart
with her medical expenses beginning Feb.4.(ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryMichael Horsman has a talent for art. One of his drawings is
currently on the Wasilla City flag. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright waves to traffic at the corner of
the Parks Highway and Main Street in Wasilla on election day.
(ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Four of the seven National Outdoor Leadership School students
that were attacked by a bear near Chulitna tell their story to the
media at the school's Palmer facility. The students were in their
24th day of a 30-day backpacking trip when the attack happened.
(ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryValley resident Lilly Libby, 6, tries to have a conversation
with one of the pelicans on display at the Birds Down Under exhibit
at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryDawn Syers sits on the steps in front of her home holding a
picture of her fiancé Dale Prater. Prater, who turned 45 in August,
was gunned down Saturday night at a neighbor's home inside the
4-plex wgere he lived. Prater and Syers were going to be married in
Las Vegas in October. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryTyler Fishback performs during a Wasilla Symphonic Jazz Coir
practice. The choir's choice of a queen song has raised concerns
with parents and school officials. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Alaska National Guard 2nd Lieutenant Harkleroad works with 2nd
Lieutenant Heath on how to operate the LRAS3 long-range
surveillance system during a training excercise in the Hatcher Pass
area. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryAnthony Keller, 15, and Taylia Hardy, 5, will have a connection
to each other for the rest of their lives. Keller revived Hardy
using CPR after Hardy had drowned in a pool while on a trip to
Kenai. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryJim Aldrich, left, sits with his son Christian, 8, as mom Amber
kisses his hand Friday afternoon in Palmer. Christian was in a
snowmachine accident in November of 2010 and for a brief period was
not breathing and had no pulse. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Linda Ducey helps her husband Dan get set up with his page
turning device so he can read a book in their Wasilla home. The two
were married in 1977. Dan became a quadriplegic in 1993 when he was
in a body surfing accident in Hawaii. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryPalmer resident Wayne Jenski cultivates and attends to hundreds
of some of the world’s rarest carnivorous plants. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanDavid Board of Palmer has received rave reviews from the video
gaming community for his new game, ‘Lifeless Planet.' ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanFour of the seven National Outdoor Leadership School students that were attacked by a bear near Chulitna Saturday evening tell their story to the media Monday at the school's Palmer facility. The students were in their 24th day of a 30-day backpacking trip when the attack happened. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanWillow Slone, 3, visits with the cabbage fairy and her flamingo
at the Children’s Garden Tea Party at the Palmer Museum and Visitor
Center. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Eileen Burnley stands in front of the casket of her late husband
Dr. Kenneth Stephen Burnley during the celebration of his life at
Teeland Middle School in July. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanValley resident karen davis peeks through a hole in her sign as
she stands along the Parks Highway near Harold J. newcomb Park
during the Occupy Wasilla Protest Saturday afternoon. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanWasilla city councilman Steve Menard listens to Wasilla resident
John Dewar during a December 2011 council meeting. Menard was
recalled by voters Tuesday. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanChristian Aldridge stand with seven of his eight casts at his
home off Soapstone Road. Aldridge was hit by a truck a year ago and
was prounced dead. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman.com) Robert DeBerryA 4-door sedan sits submerged in the channel between the two
parts of Wasilla Lake. The vehicle was driven by a teen whose name
has not been released. There were no injuries. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryFlames fully engulf a Winnebago R.V off N. Tanana Drive in
Wasilla. A trailer and several cars in close proximity were saved
due to a quick response from the Mat-Su Central Fire Department.
There were no major injuries reported. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Ron Harvey stands with his original hand painted sign outside
his now closed downtown Palmer motorcycle shop. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Col. Mike Bridges kisses the hand of Shirley Hemenway after
presenting she and her husband Robert with a U.S. flag he flew over
a base in Iraq on Sept. 11, 2007. A Battlefield Cross Memorial was
dedicated to the memory of their son, ET1 Ronald J. Hemenway, at
Wasilla High School on the 10th anniversary of his tragic death.
(HEATHER A. RESZ/Frontiersman)Friends and family of Cody Dennis watch a slide show at Houston
Middle School during a Celebration of Life event for the young man.
Dennis succumbed to cancer Oct 10, 2011. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryEzra Davidson, 1, center, flanked by his two sister Ava, 5, and
Lucia, 7, waves his flag along Monday's fourth of July parade route
in Wasilla. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Members of the Combat Veterans Association salute the flag as it
flies at half mast during the September 11 ceremony at the
Veterans' Wall of Honor in Wasilla. This is the 10-year-anniversary
of the terrorist attacks. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryA pack of scouts watch with anticipation as their pinewood derby
cars roll from the starting gate and race towards the finish line
during the pinewood derby races at the Scout-O-Rama at Wasilla High
School. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Members of the Army National Guard Honor Guard are silhouetted
against the setting sun as they present the colors at the first
annual Memory Day/Patriots Day Ceremony at the Veterans Wall of
Honor in Wasilla. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman))Alaska National Guard Major General Thomas Katkus holds a salute
as the colors are presented during the Memorial Day ceremony at the
Veterans' Wall of Honor in Wasilla. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Volunteer Reno Hyce, left, takes a turkey from volunteer Richard
Grant, right, as recipient Barbara LaCroix looks on at the Valley
Thanksgiving Blessing at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in
Wasilla. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryThe sun sinks behind the clouds as Anton Chamblee, 13, searches
the waters of Wolf Lake for minnows. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerrySharon Weeks gets her 1956 John Deere 520 tractor moving during
the Antique Power Club Tractor Pull at the Museum of Alaska
Transportation and Industry. The tractor pull was part of the blast
from the past event. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)A pair of ice fisherman are silhoutted against the bright orange
colors of the setting sun reflecting off the ice on Finger Lake.
(ROBERT DEBERRY/Frontiersman)Erin Hogan spots his landing as he goes inverted off a jump at
the Wasilla Skatepark. Hogan amd Turecki have been building a small
snowboard park for an upcoming exhibition. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryTo beat the heat Sam Parkinson, 12, makes the jump into Wasilla
Creek with his brother Kris, 10. Temperatures in the Valley reached
into the high sixties and are expected to remain throughout the
weekend. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Valley resident James Jones crosses the boat's wake as he mono
skis across Wasilla Lake. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Ferdinand, a 12-year-old musk ox, braves the cold and windy
weather as he stands on top of a hill at the 80 acre musk ox farm
in Palmer. The outer hair of the musk ox is it's protective layer
that provides insulation during cold weather. In May the animals
are combed to remove the underlying layer of hair. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryMountain Rose Estates residents Ginny Tabor and Eileen Craig
place flags along the edge of the streets in their Palmer
neighborhood. More than 500 flags will be put in the ground in
rememberance of the September 11 terrorist attacks. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryWorld class olympic cross country skier Kikkan Randall enters
the Machetanz Elementary School gymnasium on a unicycle during a
guest appearance. Randall, who is a 2009 World Championship silver
mdalist, spoke to the students about setting and reaching goals in
life and about staying physically fit. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryMy House volunteer Barbara Gibbs participates in the second
annual candlelight vigil for homeless youth at the Palmer Train
Depot. The goal of My House, which stands for Mat-Su Youth Housing,
is to provide resources, housing and support for homeless youth.
For more information email myhousematsu@gmail.com. Robert DeBerryKen Peltier along with the Ken Peltier Band entertains the crowd
at the Santa Cop and Hereos Barn Dance fundraiser at the Curtis D.
Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryDenali Gymnastics' Kelsey Schober spots her landing after
dismounting from the uneven bars during her competition routine
during a USA girls gymnastics meet at Denali Gymnastics in Wasilla.
(ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Blue sky, the Chugach Range and fall colors reflect on the still
water of Reflection Lake. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryMembers of the Sockeye Sally's and Devil's Club roller derby
teams push and shove as they skate around the oval during a
competition at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in
Wasilla. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Devil's Club roller deby team member Nautical Nuisance puts on
her game face before the start of a roller derby match at the
Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Madison Newman, 6, and Santa Clause watch as Madison's brother
Brayden, 18 months, starts to cry during Saturday's Colony
Christmas celebration in Palmer. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerrySusan Helmericks of Mat Valley Kitties Rescue carries a cat from
a residence on Leprechaun Drive in Houston Monday afternoon. More
than 30 cats were abondoned after the property was foreclosed on.
(ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryCare Tuk just went through her 100th surgery two weeks ago. She
has fought cancer 11 times and has lived to write about the
experience. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerrySpectators, friends and family cheer on the graduating class of
2011 as they walk around the track at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial
Sports Center in Wasilla. (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Gorilla Fireworks employee Jackie Johnson loads fireworks into a
box for a customer Thursday afternoon in Houston. According to
Matanuska-Susitna Borough code 8.35.020 fireworks that were
lawfully purchased shall be allowed annually without a permit on
private property with the permission of the property owner and
under the direct supervision of a person 21 years or older, during
the seven-hour period beginning at 6 p.m. on December 31 and ending
at 1 a.m. on January 1, except in these restricted areas: within
1,250 feet of any health care facility or assisted living facility,
library, school, or place of worship; within 500 feet of any
automotive service station or other premises where flammable
liquids or gases are stored, and within or from any structure or
vehicle. At all other times of the year fireworks are prohibited
except within the Houston City limits where fireworks are allowed
year-round. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanTroy Fowler does his best spiderman impression as he makes the
jump into Finger Lake during the 2011Valley Polar Plunge Saturday
afternoon. This years plunge was to benefit Mat-Su Sertoma, the
Turn a Leaf thrift store and Food Pantry of Wasilla. They raised
close to $30,000. Robert DeBerryLeslie Michaelson places a flag on the grave of her father
during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Wasilla Cemetary. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman)Hailey, 8, and her brother Skyler, 9, proudly hold out a
photograph of their mother, 30-year-old Sgt. Jessica Ceown, sharing
a high-five with a young Afghan boy while on patrol in the town of
Pul-e Alam in eastern Afghanistan. The photograph taken by Reuters
photographer Umit Bektas is included on the online site BuzzFeed,
which named it No. 45 on its list of “The 45 Most Powerful Images
of 2011.” (ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryMat-Su Carbon Crew's David Johnson talks about the arboretum on
the Mat-Su College campus. Johnson and the crew have been working
to clear the overgrown underbrush that has encroached on the
arboretum over the decades. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanFormer Mat-Su Borough Assembly woman and tireless volunteer Jay
Nolfi stands on the dock at Fish Creek park in Big Lake.The Mat-Su
Borough will officially dedicate the park to Nolfi on Saturday
afternoon. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanLongtime Alaska resident and former Mat-Su Borough Assembly
woman Jay Nolfi gets a first look at the dedication plaque at Jay
Nolfi Fish Creek Park in Big Lake. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanIndividual Service Specialist Belinda Wielander shows group home
resident Michael Chase how much she cares for him. Brian Giani, for
whom the home was originally built 10 years ago by his mother Linda
Giani, is in the background. Brian and Michael share the house in
Woodfield Estates in Wasilla with another severely disabled
resident and three companion animals. (HEATHER A.
RESZ/Frontiersman)Valley resident Karen Davis peeks through a hole in her sign as
she stands along the Parks Highway near Harold J. Newcomb Park
during the Occupy Wasilla Protest. (ROBERT
DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerryThe World According to Chuck Chuck LeggeRemy is a Labrador retriever that has been at the shelter since
Sept. 9. He has completed the Shelter Pet Obedience Training
program and will cost $119.50 to adopt. CASEY BRANCH/FrontiersmanTracy Kalytiak snaps a photo of a sunset after hiking with Lisa
Rodgers to the top of Bodenburg Butte early in November. Rodgers
and Kalytiak are Palmer mothers who collaborate on a local hiking
blog, twomomswhohikeinalaska.wordpress.com. Submitted photo by Lisa RodgersSunsets can be beautiful even without displays of intense
colors. Here is an example, seen from on top of the Butte. Submitted photo by Tracy KalytiakFormer Palmer High baseball standout takes a swing at a pitch
during a Moose baseball game in 2011. Rockey was a team captain and
earned first-team All-Conference honors as a senior. The 2011
Palmer High graduate was named a Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/Mat-Su
Sea Hawkers Student-Athlete of the Year. ROBERT DEBERRY/Frontiersman file photoTim Rockey, right, walks with a classmate during the Palmer High
2011 graduation in May. Rockey, who spoke at the ceremony, has been
named at Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/Mat-Su Sea Hawkers
Student-Athlete of the Year. ROBERT DEBERRY/Frontiersman file photoWork continues in the lobby area of the new Valley Cinema in
Wasilla. The Theater opened Friday, April 22. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanThe seating inside the new Valley Cinema feature high backs,
plush cushions as well as cup holders in the arm rests. The 1,700
seat theater opened April 22. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanKendal Venzke, a 2011 graduate of Palmer High School was named a
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/Mat-Su Sea Hawkers Student-Athlete of
the Year. Venzke was a three-sport standout at Palmer High, earning
first-team All-Northern Lights Conference honors in volleyball,
girls’ basketball and girls’ soccer. ROBERT DEBERRY/FrontiersmanKendal Venzke was a three-sport standout at Palmer High. She
earned first-team all-conference honors in volleyball, girls’
basketball and girls’ soccer as a senior. Venzke has been named a
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/Mat-Su Sea Hawkers Student-Athlete of
the Year. ROBERT DEBERRY/Frontiersman file photoChristian Aldrich, 8, stands with the help of his walker as mom,
Amber and dad, Jim look on. Christian was pinned under a pick-up
truck during a snowmachine accident in November of 2010. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanBurchell High School life coach Michelle Overstreet is helping
Tainna stay focused on her studies and working with her on getting
her son back. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanJim Aldrich, left, sits with his son Christian, 8, as mom Amber
kisses his hand Friday afternoon in Palmer. Christian was in a
snowmachine accident in November of 2010 and for a brief period was
not breathing and had no pulse. ROBERT DeBERRY/FrontiersmanJohn Buckley and Robert DeBerry pose for a photograph inside
Buckley's hospital room at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Buckley
lost part of his right arm in an industrial accident outside the
Frontiersman newspaper office last week. HEATHER A. RESZ/FrontiersmanMat-Su Valley Frontiersman newspaper employees Doris Armstrong,
Laura Cox and Robert DeBerry were first to respond to an industrial
accident where a man lost part of his right arm outside the
newspaper office last week. HEATHER A. RESZ/FrontiersmanFour time Iditarod Sled Dog Race champion Lance mackey signs an
autograph for Colleen Wake before the start of race in Willow.
(ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman) Robert DeBerry
