Peek at the Past

Here’s what made the news nine years ago, from the June 21, 2002, edition of the Mat-Su Frontiersman:

Sen. Murkowski presses Russian River land deal

Alaska U.S. Sen. Frank Murkowski urged the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests to approve a land agreement that protects the rights of sportfishers to access prime fishing sites at the confluence of the Russian and Kenai rivers, while protecting the archeological and cultural features of the area. The Russian River Land Act introduced by Murkowski and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens will ratify an agreement between CIRI Inc., Southcentral’s Alaska Native Regional Corp., the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “ANCSA promised the conveyance of important burial and cultural locations to Alaska Natives. In the case of the Russian River area, the location has become important to many people as a world-class recreational fishing area. This bill will ratify an agreement that was painstakingly worked out to accommodate all the competing interests,” Murkowski said.

Hospital fills operating board

Valley Hospital Association seated three new members to its operating board of directors at its latest meeting. Most of the discussion revolved around the need to place people on the operating board with expertise in legal and financial matters. “I think our biggest need right now is in the financial area. The hospital is a business, and we want to run it according to the best practices and raise the bar,” said board member Kathleen Kelly.

The VHA’s current strategic plan includes a need for the hospital to expand and move west. Recent addition Nancy Campbell said that VHA will continue to provide health care services in Palmer after a new hospital is built.

Honor garden underway

Volunteers from Anchorage-based Nabors Alaska Drilling Inc. came to Wasilla to work on landscaping for the Armed Forces Honor Garden project. They joined Wasilla Parks and Recreation Department workers and inmates from the Point MacKenzie Rehabilitation Center to work on the project, located at the east end of Iditapark. The park is built on the former location of the Wasilla airport and began in the late 1990s when volunteers constructed Wonderland Park. Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin said volunteerism has driven the park’s development and helped the city to afford more amenities to the park each year.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in 2002 you could:

• Purchase a five-piece dining set for $310.

• Enjoy a 64-ounce bottle of Sunny Delight for $1.29.

• Get a 19-inch TV/VCR/DVD combo for $399.