NEWS BRIEFS: April 23, 2017

United Way campaign video nominated for an Emmy

United Way of Mat-Su recently learned that its 2015 Campaign video, “Born to Live United,” is a finalist for the 2017 54th Annual Emmy Awards.

According to a press release, for the last 10 years, in partnerships with Stage 2 Studios, United Way of Mat-Su has produced a campaign video showcasing the organization’s mission and vision within the community.

“The 2015 video was especially poignant and was entered by owner/operator of Stage 2, John Conn, for an Emmy award at a recent luncheon to honor Stephanie Allen’s 10-year anniversary with the organization,” according to the release. “Conn sent a video announcing that ‘Born to Live United’ was one of four Emmy finalists in the Community Service PSA Single Spot category Furthermore, United Way of Mat-Su Executive Director, Stephanie Allen, is now an Emmy-nominated Executive Producer.”

Award winners will be announced June 3 at Fremont Studios in Seattle.

To watch “Born to Live United” visit www.unitedwaymatsu.org/media.

MEA annual meeting set Tuesday

The Matanuska Electric Association annual meeting is set for Tuesday, April 25, at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the business meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m., according to MEA. Every registered member in attendance will receive a $10 credit on their electricity bill, refreshments and the chance to win door prizes.

According to MEA, this year’s election features two total board seats representing the Eagle River District (Eagle River, Birchwood, Chugiak, Peters Creek and Eklutna) and Matanuska District (Palmer, Butte, Sutton, Chickaloon and Glacier View). All members will have the opportunity to vote on two proposed Bylaw change recommendations. Bylaw Proposition 1 asks for a change in the board candidate withdrawal timeframe, while Bylaw Proposition 2 adjusts the language of association records request to reference applicable state law.

Election materials were sent to members March 31. All votes must be received by Monday, April 24, at 5 p.m. Two online voters will be selected to win a year of free electricity, or 10,000 kWh, whichever comes first.

For more information, election materials or event details, visit: www.mea.coop/2017election.

Jansen to address Palmer chamber

Sara Jansen, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s chief of planning services, will be the featured speaker at the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce meeting April 26. Jansen’s presentation is titled “MSB Long Range Transportation Plan.”

Networking time begins at 11:45 a.m. with the program beginning at noon. The program fee is $5; lunch is $15 or a soup and salad option is $8. The chamber meets at the Palmer Moose Lodge, 1136 S. Cobb St. For more information, call 745-2880.

State unemployment rate at 6.4 percent in March

Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4 percent in March, unchanged from February, according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The comparable national rate was 4.5 percent.

According to the release, “preliminary estimates show employment was down by 7,100 jobs, or 2.2 percent, compared to March 2016. Substantial losses continued in oil, construction, state government, and professional and business services, which is tied to oil and construction activity. Health care, local government, and leisure and hospitality were the only industries with job growth.”

While Alaska has been losing jobs for over a year now, employment loss doesn’t necessarily lead to higher unemployment rates, according to the release. To be counted as unemployed, a person must remain in the state and be actively seeking work.

March’s not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.2 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from February, which is a typical seasonal change.

Unadjusted rates fell in all but four boroughs and census areas. Kusilvak Census Area had the highest unemployment rate at 20.4 percent. Aided by winter fisheries, Aleutians East Borough had the lowest rate at 1.8 percent.

Snowbird Mini Storage now a U-Haul dealer

U-Haul of Alaska has announced that Snowbird Mini Storage has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer in Wasilla. The, facility is located at 2730 S. Knik-Goose Bay Road, will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment and support rental items, according to a press release. Steve Manual is the Snowbird Mini Storage owner.

Hours of operation for U-Haul rentals are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and on-call Sunday. The phone number is 631-3611.

Seed sale under way

The state Division of Agriculture’s Plant Materials Center has opened its annual seed sale. A list of available species and their quantities has been posted to the PMC website at http://plants.alaska.gov.

According to the state, those interested in purchasing seed may place orders by contacting Pete Johnson at the PMC at 745-8105 or peter.johnson@alaska.gov, or by faxing a seed order to 746-1568. Seed will include grass, grain and flower.