FROM THE BLOTTER: Big-rig sideswipes motor home, continues driving

PALMER — A big-rig that sideswiped a motor home outside of Chickaloon Thursday didn’t stop until the law caught up with it in Palmer, Alaska State Troopers report.

According to an AST press statement, shortly before 12:30 p.m. Clanton R. Salikie, 62, of Hermiston, Ore., was westbound driving a commercial tractor-trailer near Mile 78.5 of the Glenn Highway when he started sliding on snow and slush going down a hill.

“The left rear corner of the trailer sideswiped the driver’s side of an eastbound motor home,” according to the trooper statement.

The driver of the motor home, Rebecca R. Muir, 24, of Anchorage and her three passengers were all buckled in and were not hurt.

“Damage to Muir’s motor home was estimated to be will in excess of $500,” according to troopers. It was still drivable.

A Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officer caught up to the tractor-trailer in Palmer. Troopers say commercial vehicle officers are investigating in conjunction with the troopers’ Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol.

Search on for thieves

BIG LAKE — Thieves broke into a local phone company lot and stole $800 worth of stuff Friday.

According to an Alaska State Trooper press statement, the theft was reported at 9:09 a.m. Troopers say the theft happened sometime after 6 p.m. the day before.

The thief broke through a fence, doing $200 damage. Anyone with information is asked to call troopers at 745-2131 or, to remain anonymous, call Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.

Weather slows search

for missing skiers

PALMER — Turns out the weather that kept troopers from launching their aircraft to look for two overdue skiers was the same weather that caused those skiers to be overdue in the first place.

Palmer troopers received report at 8:34 p.m. Thursday that Stephen Rasuse, 30, and Matthew Jessup, 28, both of Anchorage, had not returned as planned from a ski trip to Hatcher Pass. Their trip included staying overnight at an area cabin.

Weather didn’t allow troopers to get their aircraft airborne until Friday.

They launched at noon. Six hours later troopers spotted the skiers heading toward Hatcher Pass Road. Troopers talked to them when they arrived at their vehicles.

“Due to weather conditions they decided to stay in the cabin an extra night,” troopers report. Neither skier required medical attention.

—Andrew Wellner