Alaska News

Battle of the babies, 2016: 'First' two births of the year 2 minutes apart

It was close, but it appears it was little Carter by a head.

It's a prestigious distinction, being the first cute, cuddly newborn to arrive in Alaska each year. It appears the 2016 title goes to Carter Daugherty at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, who was born to Sarah and Tim Daugherty.

Carter arrived at 12:57 a.m. on Friday, according to his happy mother. He weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and was 21 inches long.

"We couldn't be happier; he's great," Sarah said.

Carter was born quickly, with less than six hours of labor, she said.

"We weren't really expecting him to come so quickly," she said.

Carter narrowly beat out Everleigh Bissell for the very unofficial statewide title, winning by two minutes.

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Everleigh was born at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage at 12:59 a.m.

That would make her the second baby born in Alaska and the first in Anchorage, according to a check of 10 hospitals around the state by Alaska Dispatch News.

"She's a bruiser," dad said. "She's healthy and quiet."

Everleigh is taking a cue from her mother. Sarah was the first baby born in Valdez, on Jan. 2, 1982.

"It's pretty cool," Gordon Bissell said.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

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