Peek at the Past

Here's what made the news 11 years ago, from the Jan. 9, 2001, edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman:

First Student wins bus contract

Mat-Su has a new school bus provider. The Mat-Su Borough school board voted to award a multi-million dollar contract to Alaska newcomer First Student. First Student was the low bidder for the district's core area. The company also sweetened the deal by offering a guarantee of all-new bus equipment and plans to relocate a central terminal on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, eliminating some public concerns about air quality at Laidlaw's Palmer and Wasilla terminals. Because the original two bids were within 5 percent, the school board legally could have continued with Laidlaw, but transportation director Scott Schwald's emphasis on fostering competition seemed to be a more convincing argument for board members.

Glenn Highway drivers may be under fire

Driving between Anchorage and the Valley may seem grueling at times, but could it be life threatening? The Department of Transportation's maintenance crew, in its regular replacement of the fog lights along the Knik River Bridge, continues to find that the majority of lights it has to replace have been shot out - a finding that worries DOT employees and Alaska State Troopers, who have been investigating the shootings.

The problems stem from the access area's heavy use by gun owners. It's become an informal, unrestricted shooting range of sorts. But when gun users shoot at the fog lights, it becomes more than mere target practice.

Trooper Lt. Chuck Feller confirmed that shooting at the lights from the access area is extremely dangerous since a bullet could easily hit a passing motorist.

Port stirs discussion at assembly meeting

Did the public have any input into the plans to build a dock at Port MacKenzie? Was that even the issue? That was a matter of some debate at a recent meeting of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, as members discussed whether or not to accept and appropriate $7.2 million from the state of Alaska.

Public input was notably lacking during construction for the port's new dock. "The real concern I have here is that we have a dock that was constructed without a great deal of public input," said Joe LeBeau, director for the Valley office of the Alaska Center for the Environment.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in 2001 you could:

• Fly round-trip to Seattle for $298.

• Purchase a two-bedroom, one-bath home with a boat dock on Big Lake for $95,000.

• Rent a two-bedroom apartment in Palmer for $650.