2024 in review: July-September

As we prepare to enter a new year, we can also look back on the past 12 months. This a piece of a four-part series noting a few of the headline you saw in the Frontiersman in 2024.

Let's take a look back at July, August and September. For more, see an upcoming edition of the Frontiersman and frontiersman.com.

July

Former Houston city treasurer sentenced for wire fraud, money laundering, tax evasion

Former City of Houston Treasurer Jess Adams was sentenced on July 9 to two-and-a-half years in prison for embezzling more than $1.16 million from the City of Houston and later from a Wasilla-based equipment company, and then evading taxes on the embezzled profits said to have taken place from 2015 to 2022.

Palmer’s popular Friday Fling is back with changes made to improve traffic safety

Palmer’s Friday Fling was on again Friday, July 12, after a temporary pause due to traffic safety concerns. The popular event, the first held in 2002, brings vendors and the public into downtown Palmer on summer Fridays for a farmers’ market featuring locally-grown foods and hand-made crafts, food from the community’s mobile chefs and music.

24 years of Mat-Su service: John Moosey reflects

John Moosey is a career public servant and he believes pubic officials – appointed and elected – should keep a laser-like focus on providing effective services to citizens with efficiency and the lowest cost. Anything apart from that, like being dragged into culture wars, distracts from the core mission.

August

Stephen Jellie is hired as new Palmer city manager

Palmer has a new city manager, effective Aug. 19. He is Stephen P. Jellie, most recently Emergency Services Supervisor in Teton County/Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Community rallying to support family of Palmer High graduate killed in an automobile accident

Community members across the Mat-Su Valley and beyond are coming together to support Alaskan country music performer Ken Peltier and his family after losing their son Luke Peltier who recently died in an automobile accident.

Jesse Sumner withdraws from state House District 28 race, citing family

Rep. Jesse Sumner’s decision Thursday to withdraw from his race for reelection in Wasilla’s House District 28 came as no surprise to many who knew him. Sumner was judged to be one of the most effective members of the state House, notching up a number of accomplishments. Among Sumner’s accomplishments in the Legislature is his steering a bill through the House establishing a lumber grading program for locally-harvested timber that would allow Alaska sawmill operators to be trained to certify the quality and strength of local lumber.

Houston City Council puts hold on airport resolution, giving more time for Airport Committee to explore options

Tensions were brewing as Willow residents attended the Houston City Council meeting on August 8, during which a resolution to accept land chosen by the Airport Committee for a future airport in the City of Houston that would support a long-term municipal airport with up to a 10,000-foot runway was expected to be vote on.

Palmer man wins the 2024 Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off for the second straight year

Scott Robb won the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off for the second time in a row at the Alaska State Fair Friday, August 30. Robb's winning cabbage came in at 97.35 pounds. The Palmer-based grower said that growing giant vegetables is one of the ways he likes to spend his retirement and he takes a lot of joy from the process from seed to scale.

Alaska State Fair CEO reflects on 2024 season

The 2024 Alaska State Fair season showcased several notable milestones. According to Alaska State Fair CEO Jeff Curtis, the overall attendance reached an all-time high this year. There were 370,485 fairgoers, which was nearly 4,000 more than last year's total number.

September

Palmer woman dies in plane crash in Northern Alaska

A Palmer woman died in a plane crash in Northern Alaska, according to the Alaska State Troopers. AST identified Hannah Dollick, 28, as the pilot and sole occupant of a Cessna 206 that was reported to have crashed on the Porcupine River, northwest of Chalkyitsik.

One dead in Palmer shooting

Palmer Police reports that during the early morning hours on September 2, one man was shot and killed after several people called 911 to report shots fired. According to a press release from the PPD, just before 1:00 am, officers arrived at the Speedway Express Gas Station on Glacier View Avenue and found 22-year-old Steven Williams deceased with “apparent gunshot wounds.”

Mat-Su assemblyman resigns

Mat-Su Borough Assembly member Robert Yundt resigned from the assembly, citing a decision to move outside the borough’s Assembly District 4, which includes the greater Wasilla area. Yundt notified by borough by email.

Knik Charter School opens new fitness center

Knik Charter School was one of three schools in Alaska to receive a new fitness center as part of a mission to increase the health and fitness of students across all 50 states, and was made possible through the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) and the DON’T QUIT! Fitness campaign.

Student assessment scores indicate Mat-Su performing above state standards

The Alaska System of Academic Readiness test, commonly referred to as the AK STAR assessment, evaluates student knowledge of grade-level standards in English language arts and mathematics for third through ninth graders and grade-level standards for science in fifth, eighth and 10th grades.

Construction of Carson-Cottle Center in full swing

Construction has been going strong this summer on the new Carson-Cottle Center in Wasilla, which will serve as a community hub, due to both its location and the nature of the services provided.