Best wishes to our recuperating legislator …

News spreads quickly in a small community, and so it was that those attending the Alaska Outdoor Council annual meeting Saturday in Palmer were among the first to hear that Palmer Rep. Scott Ogan suffered a heart attack that day.

According to information from his Juneau office, Ogan, 49, suffered a heart attack at his Lazy Mountain home Saturday afternoon. He was preparing to attend the council's meeting to accept its "Legislator of the Year" award when the incident occurred.

He was reportedly taken to Valley Hospital in Palmer, then transported by medical evacuation helicopter to Providence Alaska Medical Center, where he is now under continual monitoring in the hospital's coronary care unit.

The news caused speakers at the meeting to expound on Ogan's many good qualities and reflect on his accomplishments a legislator these past eight years.

"My strong right arm in the House is in trouble," said Sen. Robin Taylor, who also offered prayers of support to Ogan's family.

While our relationship with Ogan has not always been wine and roses, our staff has long appreciated Ogan's candor and straightforward nature.

When asked questions -- even those of a difficult nature -- Ogan always shoots from the hip, delivering a sincere answer, not just a political sound bite and slippery explanation that no voter or reporter can pin down.

Our views may not be the same on every issue, but Ogan has never been unwilling to discuss a topic, give us a heads-up on an emerging issue, or simply shoot the bull about the status of his crab catch in Juneau or his latest hunting trip in the Valley.

There are topics on which we've agreed to disagree, but that has never caused a lull in Ogan's willingness to answer our questions in an expedient and friendly fashion.

Ogan is always reachable and, in a business that often leaves our reporting staff at the mercy of voice-mail messages and notes left with secretaries, a willingness to respond with an honest answer gives Ogan a high status among staff.

So, as Ogan recuperates at Providence Alaska Medical Center, our best wishes are with him and his family. Scott, we hope you receive the best treatment and have a speedy recovery, and that you'll soon be back at your seat in Juneau. Good luck.

His wife, Janet, and their two children have asked well-wishers to offer their prayers on his behalf but to refrain from calling or sending flowers to his hospital room or their family home. Those wishing to send cards or letters may address them to Rep. Scott Ogan, State Capitol, Juneau AK 99801-1182.