Many touching stories in 2009

MAT-SU — In addition to keeping the Valley informed about local politics, zoning disputes and government, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman has featured personal stories from many memorable residents over the past year.

Here are a few of the highlights.

Handicap doesn’t slow him

WASILLA — Jim White doesn’t let his double amputation keep him down.

Even without his legs, White can be seen often on the roof of his home repairing leaks or winching himself into his hunting stand.

In February he laid out his story — both of losing his legs and of losing his health care coverage — over two editions of the Frontiersman.

Since then, the bulk of his outstanding medical bills have been forgiven and a local man has begun a campaign to build White a new house, to replace the trailer home kept habitable by the sweat of White’s brow.

White’s story and his refusal to let his handicap keep him from doing the things he always did — hunting, home repairs, swimming — at least judging by the e-mails and phone calls we’ve received, has made a lasting impression on the Valley.

A new companion

WASILLA — When Jack Runser lost his dog Sheba last year, readers responded by the bushel offering him help and by the end of this year he had a new companion.

Runser, who is deaf and has cerebral palsey, is a fixture around the Valley, especially at the Alaska Club where he works. He and Sheba could be seen there many days or walking along the road, completing errands. Sheba was hit by a car late last year.

Aside from being Runser’s companion and best friend, Sheba also served as his ears, alerting him to solicitors at the door but also to smoke alarms and even, once, a burglar. So Runser needed a new dog. And service dogs don’t come cheap.

The Wasilla Police Officer’s Association set up a fund for interested parties to donate to Jack. And donate they did. By November, Jack was back in town with a well-trained, very obedient border collie named Sam.

Though Jack misses Sheba, he and Sam are the same constant presence he and Sheba were. And he is grateful to everyone who heard his story and felt moved to help.

Community helps again

WASILLA — Caitlin Racenet needed a dog. The 3-year-old suffers from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, causing her to have as few as six and as many as 30 seizures each day.

A company in Ohio trains dogs. 4 Paws for Ability raises assistance animals for people with all kinds of special needs. The seizure assistance dogs can calm someone in the throws of an attack, divert attention from potential stimuli, and even detect when seizures are going to occur to offer some warning.

Sounded like a good match, until the Racenet’s learned they had to pay $11,000 for the dog.

The family started raising money hoping they could reach that sum. They were shocked how quickly the community jumped up to help.

Hearing the story, the Wasilla Curves, Palmer Dairy Queen and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church all had fundraisers in the Racenet’s honor. The $11,000 mark was easily surpassed, Caitlin got her dog, and the extra money was donated to another child needing help to get an assistance dog.

Singer rebounds from cancer

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Valley’s favorite voice made an amazing comeback after head and neck cancer threatened to cut it off.

Ken Peltier spent the first part of 2009 largely immobilized by round after round of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

While performing with his band was never that far out of his thoughts, surviving was first and foremost.

Not only did Peltier make it through, but he was headlining the opening night of the Alaska State Fair with Waymore’s Outlaws nine months after he had 47 lymph nodes and both tonsils removed.