Teen dumps trash, picks it up

PALMER — It didn’t take long for troopers to track down the boy who dumped a pickup load of garbage at the end of Buffalo Mine Road.

And, likewise, it didn’t take long for the trash to get cleaned up.

According to a trooper press statement, Dylan Stenger, 18, was cited for the dumping April 29.

Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said that Alaska Wildlife Trooper John Cyr was checking bear bait stations in the area when he came across the trash.

Somewhere in the pile, Peters said, Cyr came across an address. Troopers went there and talked to Stenger’s father, who told troopers he’d given his son gas money to go to the dump. He said he’d look into it.

Peters said that within an hour the boy was back out at the site, picking up the trash.

Peters said Cyr told her that in his 18 years on the job, it was the easiest case he’d ever closed.

Rail service back on track

TALKEETNA — The damaged railroad tracks north of Talkeetna have been repaired and train service is back to normal.

Breakup came quickly to the area, producing ice dams on the Susitna River which, when they released, slammed into the tracks.

The Alaska Railroad Corporation said repairs to the damaged tracks were completed Wednesday night. The affected tracks were along 16-mile stretch of track between Talkeetna and Hurricane. The damage closed the tracks to both rail and passenger service starting Sunday.

Borough Emergency Manager Tom Smayda said Tuesday he’s been keeping an eye on the rivers since breakup began. So far, he said, it seems like the railroad has gotten the worst of it. And as far as he can tell it doesn’t look like this year will see any flooding beyond what’s normal for the Valley, Smayda said.

Mayoral candidate arrested

PALMER – Borough Mayor candidate Emil “Butch” Fondahn was arrested on an outstanding warrant last week.

Fondahn is one of seven candidates who are seeking the borough mayor spot, which will serve out the term of Curt Menard, who passed away March 3.

The Palmer Police Department reported Monday they’d arrested Fondahn, 64, on April 28. The warrant was issued after he didn’t show up for his arraignment on a charge of driving in violation of a limited license.

Records show Fondahn has since bailed out of jail.

Palmer police were also the agency that filed the initial license violation charge after they arrested Fondahn April 2. At that time, he was released on his own recognizance.

According to court records, the new case triggered the re-opening of a 2006 DUI case in which prosecutors are now trying to revoke his probation.