Alaska State Fair: misunderstandings happen

To the editor:

I would like to apologize to the Council of Alaska Producers and the hard-working individuals who help organize the Alaska State Fair for a miscommunication that occurred.

Due to the miscommunication, I was under the assumption that the Mat-Valley Coalition was not allowed to have table space on “Mining Day” due to the nature of the material the coalition would be presenting to the public.

For those who don’t know, Mat-Valley Coalition is a growing coalition of citizens concerned about how the proposed coal mining project at Wishbone Hill is going to effect their property, health and livelihoods.

However, a state fair organizer informed me on Monday that this is not the case and that the fair does not discriminate against anyone who wishes to have a table on the fairgrounds, as long as the vendor abides by this rule of nondiscrimination as well. Mat-Valley Coalition will have a table on “Mining Day” (Saturday, Sept. 3), and I am glad it will have the opportunity to provide information to the community.

Everyone deserves an opportunity to have their voices heard, and I am thankful that the state fair agrees with this.

Christiana Wright

Palmer