A decade of news

MAT-SU — The first decade of the new millennium saw the Mat-Su Valley continue long-standing debates — Port MacKenzie and a ski area at Hatcher Pass — and thrust into the glaring spotlight of the world media. From growth to high-profile crimes to the political rise of former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin, the past decade has been a busy one for local newsmakers.

2000

The communication age in the Mat-Su kicked off the new millennium with an attempt by Alaska Communication Systems attempting to purchase Matanuska Telephone Association.

In April 2000, state Rep. Scott Ogan, R-Palmer, pulled part of his own legislation when another lawmaker attached a rider that would have gutted existing statutes regarding the sale of member-owned utilities. After Ogan pulled his legislation, Wasilla state Sen. Rick Halford introduced a provision to the power-cost equalization bill that would have streamlined the procedure for what would have been a private takeover attempt of MTA. It was reported ACS had offered $187.5 million to buy the Palmer-based utility.

In the end, the takeover failed even though more than 9,000 members voted in favor of the sale because the vote lacked the required turnout necessary to make the vote official.

President Bill Clinton declared Southcentral Alaska a disaster area after the region was rocked by heavy winter storms and avalanches. An avalanche on Jan. 31 took days to clean up and caused thousands of dollars in damage to telephone and electrical equipment after it buried parts of the Old Glenn Highway. The snowfall also would claim a human victim in Kerry Brookman, 53, a Wasilla resident who died in an avalanche at Bird Flats. He was operating heavy machinery to clear snow from railroad tracks when he was hit by a snow slide.

In the courtroom, it took a local jury only two hours to convict Kim Michael Cook of the 1999 murder of a Palmer police officer. Cook shot Officer James Rowland Jr. after Rowland contacted him during a routine welfare check in his pickup, which was parked on the ramp to the Carrs parking lot in Palmer.

In a surprising twist during the trial, Cook fired his court-appointed lawyer and represented himself, at one point cross-examining his own father and step-mother.

As the decade comes to a close with plans to build a new prison at Point MacKenzie, the groundwork was put down in 2000, when the port officially opened in September of that year.

Voters first approved the concept of a port in 1970, but it wasn’t until 30 years later the concept became reality.

Another idea that’s still hotly debated today was on the minds of Mat-Su Borough officials in 2000 — a ski area at Hatcher Pass. Supporters of a resort in the area were dismayed about reports that newly elected Borough Mayor Tim Anderson had asked Hatcher Pass Development Corp. not to sign a management agreement. “It’s not stalled,” Anderson said at the time. “It’s not a dead issue.”

2001

Growing pains began to be felt on the heels of the latest U.S. Census Bureau report, which showed the Valley as the fastest growing area of the state. Included in those changes were surprising changes to the Valley’s state representation as district boundary lines were redrawn. In the end, the Valley gained more representation, including a new district that included Butte, Lazy Mountain, Chickaloon and Sutton. That district wraps around the other three established districts.

The biggest story of the year — and decade — for the United States were the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In the Mat-Su, it wasn’t until three days later that some semblance of normalcy began to return for local emergency response officials.

On the political front, a judge threw out a petition that sought to recall Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Jim Colver. The petition was filed by Cheryl Turner, wife of Jim Turner, who lost his assembly seat to Colver by 329 votes.

It was a year for recall efforts, as an effort to recall Borough Mayor Tim Anderson was dropped.

Some notable deaths of 2000 included Curtis C. Menard II, eldest son of former Valley state Sen. Curt Menard and current state Sen. Linda Menard, and Sara Machetanz, a Palmer resident and wife of painter Fred Machetanz. The borough’s newest elementary school, which opened in 2009, bears their name.

This was also a pivotal year for then Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin and the city of Wasilla. The city approved nearly $90,000 for a contract to develop a multi-use sports complex, which included a special sales tax to pay for the project.

In a year that saw two Colony High School teachers arrested on sex charges, a Wasilla woman accused of setting a fire that killed her son to allegedly collect $100,000 of life insurance dominated headlines. Suzette Welton was also indicted on 17 counts of welfare fraud.

2002

“2002 had one story that could foreshadow a brighter, or at least more influential, future for Valley politicians who may have their eyes on statewide issues and campaigns,” wrote Frontiersman reporter Scott Christiansen in the Jan. 3, 2003, edition.

In what would turn out to be a prophetic story introduction, Christiansen was writing about former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin, who unsuccessfully tried to become the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. Palin campaigned while still serving as the city’s mayor and finished a close second.

“Palin also said she hasn’t finished with public service,” Christiansen wrote.

Now on a national tour promoting her new book “Going Rogue,” Palin in 2002 touted some of the same ideals she would in campaigns to be Alaska governor and an unsuccessful run as vice president on the Republican ticket in 2008.

“I think that the Republican Party saw that some molds needed to be broken within the party,” she said. “The party, too, has suffered, I believe, from the perception that the party is a ‘good ol’ boy,’ rich, white, male-dominated party.”

Palin was just beginning to make local political news in the decade.

Staying in Wasilla, one of the biggest stories of the year came in March, when voters approved a $14.7 million bond to build the multi-use sports complex. It was a special election, and the 10-year tax hike to pay for the bond passed by just 20 votes, 306-286.

As the city of Palmer works now to come up with a new annexation plan, city officials were doing the same in 2002, most notably planning for parks and recreation facilities.

This was a banner year for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, which added a Sunday edition to its already twice-weekly publication on Tuesdays and Fridays.

2003

Large projects kept the borough busy in 2003, spurred on mostly by continued accelerated growth in the Valley.

Hatcher Pass Road was paved while residents clamored for more police protection in the more densely populated areas of the borough.

In February, arson destroyed the historic Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperative Association building. A trio of teenagers were charged with the crime, which caused more than $1 million in damage and took more than 24 hours to extinguish.

Also on the crime front, the 27-year-old son of Valley resident Grace Butler was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing his mother in the face. A Houston man, Timothy F. Christofferson, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for secretly videotaping women and girls while they were showering or changing clothes at his house on Frog Lake. One young victim was taped 12 times without her knowledge, Alaska State Troopers said.

Sarah Palin is appointed by Gov.. Frank Murkowski to a seat on the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission.

Nugen’s Ranch, the Valley’s only residential detox facility, was forced to close its doors after grant negotiations with the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health fell through, leaving the facility $250,000 short.

The Wasilla sports complex was still making news, with construction on the $14.7 million facility beginning in the spring and wrapping up in time for the Iditarod Restart in 2004.

Valley Hospital Association finalized an agreement with Triad Hospitals Inc. in a deal that would set the stage for the building of the new Mat-Su Regional Medical Center on Trunk Road. The parties came to an agreement effective Dec. 1, with Triad retaining a little more than 75 percent of the market share.

2004

As growth continues to impact Valley communities, erosion of the banks of the Matanuska River is becoming more of a problem, the borough reports. The river recently began tearing into surrounding banks near Circle View subdivision and large cottonwoods, boulders and a dirt road were seen crashing into the river’s waters. Local resident Ron Thornsley documented the erosion, which included statistics that showed that from July 10 to July 16 the banks had eroded 73 feet near Brian Drive.

The Valley’s population tops 70,000, including nearly 11,000 new residents in the past four years.

Fred Meyer opens the doors on its 70,000-square-foot Palmer store in March. That news is followed up in May when the Palmer City Council unanimously passed an ordinance regulating big-box retail stores.

Valley grower Scott Robb weighed in at the Alaska State Fair with a world record cantaloupe, which weighed in at 64.8 pounds.

Other business openings to make headlines in 2004 included a new Spenard Builders Supply store in Palmer off Inner Springer Loop and the opening of the new Grand View Inn and Suites along the Parks Highway in Wasilla. The hotel was built by twin brothers John and Ernie Emmi.

2005

Topping the headlines in 2005 was a sad and patriotic story of Palmer resident Sgt. Kurtis Arcala, who became the fifth Alaskan and first from the Valley to die in the Iraq War. Arcala was killed on Sept. 11 and was memorialized at a service at Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

A local man, Christopher Kevan, was charged with strangling his girlfriend and their 7-week-old son in the home. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Also on the crime beat, Richard “”Bart”” Deremer III of Big Lake was found guilty of first-degree murder, arson and tampering with physical evidence in a murder-for-drugs case. He killed his wife’s cousin with a shotgun blast to the head, looting his safe and setting fire to the house to destroy evidence.

In April, Valley Catholics filed into Sacred Heart Catholic Church to mourn the passing of Pope John Paul II.

The value of an average family home in the borough jumped about 15 percent in 2005, while Wal-Mart drew the ire of some Palmer residents when it purchased a plot of land adjacent to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway.

2006

After a couple of quiet years in the news, Sarah Palin made headlines again, winning a decisive victory over Gov. Tony Knowles to become Alaska’s governor. Her election came near the end of an eventful year of news in the Valley.

In August, borough Mayor Tim Anderson declared a disaster as the borough worked with the state to aid flood-ravaged residents. Bridges and roads were washed out while residents were displaced from the high water.

Another Valley son was claimed by the war on terror when Army Spc. Shane Woods, a Palmer resident, was killed in Iraq after an explosive detonated near his vehicle.

The weekend of Sept. 8 was marked by a standoff between a Talkeetna man and state troopers. Donald Voorhis barricaded himself in his trailer after pointing a gun at a neighbor. He later fired a weapon at the neighbor’s house. Officials surrounded the trailer while Voorhis resisted efforts for three days to get him to surrender. Troopers finally got him out after peeling away part of the trailer with a bulldozer.

Mat-Su Borough School District custodians and their supporters packed school board meetings in an effort to keep the board from contracting with NANA Management for the district’s custodial needs. More than 700 people packed a February meeting. The board eventually decided in favor of the NANA contract.

McKenna Dinkel, 7, won the national Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest for her pungent footwear — a pair of hand-me-down mocasin-style shoes that originally belonged to her older brother.

2007

From high-profile killings to political corruption, there was little slow about 2007 for Mat-Su Valley news.

A year of political upheaval for the Mat-Su Valley’s former seven-time state Rep.Vic Kohring came to a head Nov. 1 with his conviction on federal bribery, attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion charges. A jury deliberated for an afternoon and a morning following five days of testimony that he accepted money from former VECO Corp. oil executives in exchange for his support on legislation affecting the oil industry. Former VECO CEO Bill Allen, in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, testified against Kohring, saying he gave the lawmaker about $2,600 total on several occasions. In return, Allen testified he expected Kohring’s loyalty.

The Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage were shocked the morning of Dec. 3 to learn one man was responsible for a string of brutal and violent attacks that left two people dead and three others seriously wounded over a 26-hour period. Anchorage police arrested Christopher Erin Rogers Jr. after he shot a man while carjacking his vehicle. While in custody, Rogers, who goes by Erin, allegedly admitted a rampage that began in Palmer in the early morning the day before, Dec. 2. Rogers allegedly attacked his father, Christopher Erin Rogers Sr., and his father’s fiancée, Elann Moren, with a machete while they slept.

For Matanuska Electric Association, 2007 unfolded like the transcript of a bad soap opera as it feuded with the Mat-Su Borough and some vocal member-owners over its plans to build a coal-fired electric generation plant. Following a year of controversy and debate over coal power generation, MEA’s board voted to accept a recommendation from MEA General Manager Wayne Carmony to table the coal plant for at least five years. MEA is moving forward with its plan to build a gas-fired plant.

A 71-year Alaska dairy farming tradition came to an end in December with the closing of state-owned Matanuska Maid Dairy. The move was the culmination of more than six months of debate and political controversy that saw Gov. Sarah Palin dismiss the entire state Board of Agriculture and Conservation and a new private dairy operation scramble to take Mat Maid’s place.

Maurice Bailey was recognized on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, for his work on behalf of the state’s military veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Advocacy Award. Bailey is president and one of the founders of Veterans Aviation Outreach, a non-profit organization that provides help, support and fellowship for Alaska veterans, even in remote areas.

Wasilla City Council called for a probe into how city staff and administration handled a proposed retail development. An Aug. 24 letter to property owners near the development signed by Mayor Dianne M. Keller indirectly threatens the city could take their land if they didn’t sell. That threat was reversed.

While many children may daydream about the school burning down, it happened to students at Su Valley Jr./Sr. High School. The school burned to its foundation June 5, leaving the Upper Susitna area and about 185 students without a school.

2008

Palin makes another jump to the top of Valley newsmakers in a big way when she was tapped to be U.S. Sen. John McCain’s running mate on the Republican ticket for president. It was early the morning of Aug. 29 when Alaskans awoke to the news. Wasilla became Ground Zero for reporters vetting the newest addition to the GOP ticket, painting the town in both a positive and negative light, depending on who was doing the reporting.

Following a months-long scandal about whether the city and former Wasilla Mayor Dianne M. Keller used their positions to benefit a private developer, the council voted 4-1 asking for Keller’s resignation. Keller declined to resign and her term ended in October.

Wasilla was rocked in June when a neighborhood feud boiled over, ending with two men dead. Police said Fred Heilman shot and killed Michael Zagars as he drove by his home. Heilman then barricaded himself in his house before coming out and taking his own life.

A Wasilla mother was arrested May 6, accused of killer her baby in Colorado. Morgan Hite was taken into custody in the Valley and said, in discussions with police, that the baby was stillborn and that she didn’t know what to do. She stashed the baby’s body in a plastic tub at her parents’ house in Grand Junction, Colo.

2009

See today’s “2009 in Review” special New Year’s edition of the Frontiersman for stories and photos about what made news the past 12 months.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.