Goodbye, good luck, Mr. Lindauer?

Whatever the reasons, John Lindauer appears determined to take one public step after another to virtually insure he is never to be a serious factor in Alaska politics let alone governor.

The almost daily exposure of inconsistencies in his stories, coupled with his apparent contempt for the abilities of the public to recognize his inconsistencies, brings us to a point where he seems almost more to be pitied than criticized.

All the pieces havent fallen out of the sky yet, and it may be in days to come that others associated with Lindauers campaign will have to account for their activities and statements, too.

It is time for Alaskans to get on with it.

We have serious issues to deal with and some people in public life left who are willing to deal with those issues.

Unless he has some nearly miraculous explanation for the bizarre twists of the last few weeks, it would seem fitting to say goodbye and good luck to Mr. Lindauer.

Watch out for moose along roads

It is not a new phenomenon. Each autumn, automobile-moose collisions become more and more common in the Mat-Su Valley.

Each year, we have to readjust to darker drives home and more frequent four-legged visitors along the roadways.

Already this month, weve reported on several moose accidents. Luckily, no one was injured in these accidents and all occupants were wearing seat belts.

Too often, circumstances are not so fortunate. Signs posted around the Valley keep a record of the number of moose accidents, too many of which end in injury or death of the humans involved and always of the animals.

To some extent, this hazard is a part of life in Alaska. But there are a few precautions people can take to hopefully decrease the chances of causing thousands of dollars in damage to their vehicles and injury to themselves or others.

First, slow down and pay attention.

It is no longer July, with midnight sunlight and dry roads. It is getting darker and darker each day, and this means decreased visibility. Already, frost is causing pavement to be slick in early morning and late evening.

Keep windshields and headlights clean.

Dont drive too quickly, especially in areas where moose are common or visibility is poor. In addition to the Glenn and Parks highways, other especially dangerous drives in the winter include Knik-Goose Bay Road, Trunk Road and the Old Glenn Highway. But no road is free of the danger.

Dont just stare at the road.

Keep your eyes moving, and watch on the sides of the road for approaching moose. Often, the glimmer of their eyes will give the moose away and may allow you time to slow down before its too late.

Finally, where there is one moose, there may be more. Even after a calf crosses safely in front of you, dont resume your previous speed. Most likely, mom will be following along shortly.

These are all precautions weve heard a thousand times before. Theyre based mainly on common sense. But after a summer of easy driving, it is time to remember we live in Alaska and that means sharing the roadways with our furred neighbors.

- Frontiersman