PEEK AT THE PAST: April 18, 2000

Here’s what made news in the Mat-Su 10 years ago, from the April 18, 2000, issue of The Frontiersman:

Budget cuts could hit Valley parks

Gates to five state parks in the Mat-Su may remain locked this summer as the state implements budget cuts.

The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation had its budget slashed by $280,000 — or 5 percent of the agency’s budget — in a House version of the state budget. Lawmakers in the Senate proposed to keep the agency funding at a full level.

Anticipating the potential for the cuts to happen, the parks division released a list of state facilities that would be closed if funding is slashed. On that list of about a dozen sites were Independence Mine/Hatcher Pass, Big Lake North, Big Lake South, Rocky Lake and Kepler-Bradley.

Melt-off submerges Mat-Su Valley

A record volume of snow coating the surrounding mountains is melting and is backing up city streets.

“I’ve got people who have been here for 50 years who say they’ve never seen a year like this,” said Don Sheisl, public works director for Wasilla.

The Mat-Su saw between 30 percent and 70 percent more snowfall than normal, the Natural Resource Conservation Service reports, which makes breakup especially hard for the Valley.

Ben Balk, a hydrologist with the Alaska River Forecast Center, predicts the snowmelt flooding will continue.

“Purely from a volume standpoint, there’s going to be abnormally large amounts of water,” he said.

Bunnies don’t make great gifts

Although children love Easter for candy, egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, the cute critters aren’t the best holiday gifts.

Officials with the Mat-Su Animal Control Shelter warn that while bunnies may seem like a good idea, they often can pose problems later on. That’s because after the novelty wears off, people release rabbits into the wild instead of caring for them as pets.

“A lot of times that is when the pets are let loose and start to eat neighbors’ gardens,” said Angela Cassel, an assistant at the shelter. “It takes a few months for the people to lose interest in their new holiday pet.”

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in April 1990 you could buy:

• Spiral sliced ham for $1.98 a pound.

• Serve fresh asparagus with that ham for $1.48 a pound.

• Wash the meal down with sparkling cider, three bottles for $5.

• Have Easter photos taken with a live bunny for $39.95.

• Have your tires changed over for $9 each.