Official to discuss the state of Alaska tourism

Alaska Travel Industry Association head Ron Peck will talk about the state of tourism in Alaska at the upcoming Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau luncheon.

The luncheon is at noon Friday at Evangelo's Restaurant in Wasilla. Paul Landis of Cook Inlet Region Inc. Alaska Tourism Corporation will also speak at the luncheon about the newly formed Alaska Alliance for Cruise Travel.

For more information about the luncheon or to reserve a seat, e-mail justin@alaskavisit.com.

Town hall meetings planned this weekend

Sen. Charlie Huggins, R-Mat-Su, and Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, plan to hold a town hall meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Big Lake Elementary School.

The men plan to talk about major issues currently facing the legislature and answer questions.

Huggins, Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, and Republican Eagle River and Anchorage elected officials Sen. Con Bunde, Sen. Fred Dyson, Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom, Rep. Anna Fairclough and Rep. Mike Hawker plan to host a town hall meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Eagle River Municipal Conference Room, at 12001 Business Blvd. #170 in Eagle River.

Rohn Buser faces felony charges in Seward

WASILLA -- Twenty-year-old former Iditarod musher Rohn Buser led Seward police officers on a chase through the city that ended with weapons drawn on the Big Lake resident.

Buser is the son of Martin Buser and completed the Iditarod in 2008 after having won the 2007 Junior Iditarod.

Seward Police Lieutenant Louis Tiner said contractors working on a road project outside of Seward called 911 at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 to report that Buser had sped through the construction site and narrowly missed hitting a flagger. About 20 minutes later Buser arrived in Seward where Tiner said an officer clocked his speed at 62 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone.

Tiner said Buser refused to stop for lights and sirens so the officer followed him out Lowell Point Road. They circled around and came back toward town, he said. Other Seward Police officers drove out to try to get him to stop. Along the way, Tiner said, they learned that the vehicle Buser was driving had been reported stolen in Wasilla.

Three police officers followed Buser and two Alaska State Troopers helped by setting down spike strips on Lowell Point Road, Tiner said. Buser drove across the strips, puncturing three tires, and he pulled off the road near the city's new Branson Pavilion.

After about an hour and 15 minutes, Tiner said, Buser tried to move the vehicle. But Seward Police Cpl. Patrick Messmer blocked Buser's vehicle and officers approached with guns drawn.

Tiner said he could see Buser had no weapons in his hands. An officer broke the driver's side window and a trooper sprayed pepper spray. Buser was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and failure to stop at the direction of an officer, both felonies, and with misdemeanor reckless driving. He was taken to Seward City Jail and held overnight, and released to his parents the following day.

Tiner said more charges may follow. Officers are waiting for a toxicology report to be completed, he said. A preliminary hearing is set for March 17 in Seward Courthouse.

Museum to show Valley documentary

As part of the Cook Inlet Historical Society's 2009-2010 lecture series, the Anchorage Museum is hosting a two-night event focused on "Alaska Far Away," the documentary about Matanuska colonists who settled Palmer in 1935.

A screening of the 91-minute documentary is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. March 17, followed the next evening at 7:30 p.m. by a panel discussion entitled "The Matanuska Colony Kids: Where Are They Now?" Colonist grandchild and historical consultant to the documentary Jim Fox will also deliver a lecture and lead the panel.

Both events are free and open to the public. Parking is free in the museum garage. For more information contact 1-907-346-2755 or jbarnett@alaska.com.

Wasilla seniors receive Walmart grant

Wasilla Area Seniors announced Monday it had received a $15,000 grant from Walmart Foundation to help the group's Meals on Wheels program buy a vehicle to continue serving home-bound seniors in the Wasilla area.

According to a statement from Wasilla Area Seniors, many Meals on Wheels programs were forced to change or reduce their services last year. The Walmart Foundation gave grants that helped restore some of those meals and this year is spending $2 million around the nation to assist Meals on Wheels programs by providing funding for equipment.

"Thanks to the Walmart Foundation Impact Grant, we now have a reliable, economical vehicle to deliver meals to seniors for years to come," said Sondra Kaplan, the Wasilla Area Seniors executive director.