2024 in review: October-December

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 October, November and December. For more, see an upcoming edition of the Frontiersman and frontiersman.com.

October

Teen dead after car accident in Wasilla area Saturday night

A Wasilla 18-year-old is dead following an accident in the Fishhook Road area Saturday night. Alaska State Troopers responded to the accident near Mile 16 of North Palmer Fishhook Road just before 9 p.m. Saturday night. Troopers said the investigation revealed the vehicle had driven off the roadway and rolled over. The 18-year-old, who was declared dead at the scene, was one of five occupants in the vehicle. The other four were transported to a local hospital with “nonsignificant injuries,” troopers said.

Palmer Police Chief put on paid suspension

During an already tense Palmer City Council meeting Tuesday night, longtime Palmer Police Department Chief Dwayne Shelton told attendees that he had been suspended effective immediately by Palmer City Manager Stephen Jellie.

Palmer City Manager resigns amid outcry from city workers, residents

The Palmer City Council has accepted the resignation of now former Palmer City Manager Stephen Jellie. The announcement came at the end of an extended closed meeting with city council members during an emergency Palmer City Council meeting on October 9. His resignation was effective immediately.

Colony High band director, marching band recognized during homecoming festivities

Colony High School band director Dr. Jamin Burton and his nationally acclaimed marching band, Thee Northern Sound, were ready for a busy week at CHS. There were all of the homecoming activities throughout the week plus the Colony Marching Band Invitational on Saturday. But Burton was not prepared for the honor he received on Friday night. It has been two decades since Burton created the marching band program at the school, and Colony High staff and alumni held a special recognition of Burton during halftime of the varsity football game.

Last-minute offer to buy Alaska Meat made during meeting to determine future of processing facility

Ben Adams, who owns 4T% Ranch in Soldotna, announced his intention to buy Alaska Meat in Palmer —the only USDA-certified meat processing facility in the southcentral — during a listening call hosted by the Alaska Division of Agriculture as it gathered input on the southcentral slaughterhouse closure after it was announced that the facility was set to close this fall.

November

Wasilla teen found dead in ‘suspicious’ death

Alaska State Troopers were notified Friday morning that the body of a female had been found along a power line trail in Wasilla, near a storage facility. The body has been identified as that of 16 year-old Alena Toennis of Wasilla.

AST investigates social media ‘threats’ by high school students

Over the weekend of Nov. 17, Alaska State Troopers (AST) received a report of a social media post that contained content related to harassment and sexual conduct. “It’s a list that has 80-plus underage students named, with threats of rape,” said parent Jason Beard, who said he saw portions of the list, then contacted AST

Steppers Construction of Wasilla is low-bidder on new Gateway Visitors Center project

Steppers Construction Inc. was the apparent low bidder on a contract to build the planned Gateway Visitor Center for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which will be a focal point for tourist information and marketing for the region. The 9,400-square-foot building will be located on the Glenn Highway west of Palmer and near the Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Park. Planning has been underway for the center since 2010, and a 49-acre site for the center was secured with a $1 million state capital appropriation made in 2014.

House, Senate incumbents face upset in state elections

Two veteran Mat-Su legislators, Senator David Wilson and Representative David Eastman, were trailing their challengers in vote counts Wednesday night. Although most precincts had reported results, there were still absentee and challenged ballots to be counted, so results could yet change.

MSB preliminary voting results show incumbents retaining seats

Results from the November 5 election indicate that several incumbents will retain their seats in contested districts following victories in Mat-Su Borough School District (MSBSD) school board and Mat-Su Borough (MSB) Assembly elections, while unopposed candidates also walked away with victories.

MSBSD, ACLU, plaintiffs reach settlement in challenged book lawsuit

The Northern Justice Project and the ACLU of Alaska reached a settlement in the lawsuit, Dawn Adams, et. al v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD), which argued that the MSBSD violated students' First Amendment rights when it removed 56 book titles from district library shelves in April 2023 that had been challenged. The settlement agreement states that MSBSD will pay $89,000 to the plaintiffs.

Palmer’s council cuts off talks with Wasilla on emergency services sharing

Palmer’s city council continues its squabbling over possible changes for the city’s emergency services. Interim city manager John Diumenti told the council last Tuesday, Nov. 26 that he and police chief Dwayne Shelton had met with Wasilla officials to discuss ways the two communities can work together to improve service and possibly save money with emergency service calls. That didn’t go over well with some on the city council.

December

Wasilla man arrested after $55,000 in cash and drugs seized at local bar

A drug trafficking investigation and subsequent warrant service at a popular Mat-Su bar led to the arrest of a Wasilla man Friday night. Mark Nester, 45, was arrested for misconduct involving a controlled substance in the third degree after law enforcement seized about $55,000 in cash and illegal drugs during a warrant service at Mug-Shot Saloon, according to the Alaska State Troopers.

Palmer council restores funding for emergency communications center; kills independent inquiry into former city manager controversy

Palmer’s council voted to fully fund the city’s emergency services call center at its Nov. 26 meeting, bringing the center’s staff back to six dispatchers and one supervisor. The city’s proposed budget for 2025 had three dispatchers and one supervisor.

Mat-Su school challenges: Lower revenues, rising costs and now a drop in enrollment

Mat-Su school board and borough assembly members got their first peek at the Fiscal Year 2026 school district proposed budget last Tuesday, Dec. 10, in a joint school board and assembly meeting. Some good news in the school district’s data presented is that Mat-Su continues to have the lowest administrative costs and spending per pupil among the top five school districts in the state, which include Anchorage, Kenai, Fairbanks, and Juneau as well as Mat-Su.