Peek at the Past

Here’s what made the news 10 years ago, from the March 12, 2002, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman:

Sports complex approved

Wasilla’s sports complex proposal has passed. Sports complex booster Dave Tuttle was excited about the victory and relieved that the wait is over. “I’m looking forward to the ongoing process and glad that we came out on top,” Tuttle said. A press release from mayor Sarah Palin stated that the city anticipates construction beginning this summer. Previous estimates from the design firm of GDM have put opening day in the fall of 2003. The voters approved a bond for $147 million for the sports complex and a sales tax increase, which begins in July and raises the sales tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent. The half-penny increase will expire in 10 years or when the bonds are paid off, whichever comes first.

Talkeetna considers city incorporation

Talkeetna residents are mailing in ballots in an election that may give their town a local government.

The question before the residents sounds simple enough: “Shall Talkeetna be incorporated as a home rule city?” The ballot also includes two options for a sales tax to fund the city, a race for the mayor’s seat and a slate of nine candidates for a six-seat city council. The incorporation election is also a conditional ballot. Voters must grant the new city its sales-tax power in order for the city to incorporate.

Employees demonstrate

Several hundred school district employees wearing black, many with T-shirts that read “United, Strong, and Proud” crowded into the Mat-Su Borough School Board chambers. Hundreds more people were represented by their signatures on petitions and letters turned over to the board. The message again and again: teachers and classified employees are not being paid adequately. “We wear black tonight to demonstrate our solidarity,” said Classified Employees Association President Sheila Dickman. “We need to be included in the budget process.” Last month, the school district declared its contract talks with the two unions at an impasse. A federal mediator has been called in to assist in both negotiations, but is not scheduled to meet with the groups until the first week in April — after the school board’s April 1 deadline to have its budget to the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in 2002 you could:

• Buy a JVC personal CD player for $52.02.

• Fly one-way to Seattle for $189.

• Purchase a three-bedroom, 1.75-bath home for $149,000.