Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA -- Not long ago dissed as Valley trash, Wasilla is turning into the power center of Alaska.

It's the town that churns out winners. Chests here are so puffed up with pride these days that probably no one will bother to complain about being called the Mistake by the Lake.

First, Wasilla gave the state Sarah Palin, whose popularity hasn't waned one iota after her four months as governor.

She came as a package deal with husband Todd, who last month brought Wasilla a different kind of glory by winning the state's -- and the world's -- longest snowmachine race.

Then, over the weekend, Wasilla High School pulled off an Alaska rarity: The Warriors swept both the boys and the girls championships at the state basketball tournament in Anchorage.

And wouldn't you know it, the teams received their trophies from Palin, who delivered a pregame pep talk to the girls. It was like Wasilla threw itself an intimate little party, except it was held at a packed Sullivan Arena.

Suddenly, the Hovel that Hugs the Highway -- a city sprawled unchecked along the Parks Highway, teeming with commercial development and concrete but still quite rural at its heart -- is the state's most prestigious address.

Next thing you know, Lance Mackey will take up residence on Wasilla Lake.

"We're proud to be Valley trash," said Toni Pruski, who attends Wasilla High School. "This shows you how cool Valley trash can be."

The planets are so aligned for all things Wasilla, why don't we just make Alaska's strip-mall capital the state capital?

Lawmakers can get here more cheaply than they can get to Juneau. Citizens can get here, period. The governor's already got a place to live, so there's no need for a mansion. And FBI headquarters is just 40 minutes away in Anchorage, a plus for the next time there's a raid on legislators.

Luring the capital would be the ultimate revenge for a place once notoriously dismissed as trash.

"Valley trash, we've come to embrace that," said Stephen Wehe, a senior at the high school. "For us to have that label of Valley trash and to take (the state basketball championships) -- well, call us what you want to call us. It doesn't erase the fact we're the best."

Wasilla Mayor Dianne Keller is happily tooting her town's horn, especially the recent show of superiority on the basketball court. "I can't wait to rub it in to Mayor Combs," she said, referring to the mayor of Valley rival Palmer. Keys to the city will go to all of the basketball players, coaches and members of the pep band.

Hard to believe it was only a few weeks ago that Wasilla residents were wringing their hands over what appears to be a permanent abandonment by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. For five years running, Iditarod officials have ruled trail conditions in town unsuitable for racing and taken the race's restart 30 miles north to Willow.

Right about now, the Iditarod should be thinking about how it can ride Wasilla's coattails. The town is thriving; there's always a new store or a new restaurant opening, and more and more Anchorage residents are moving here.

"It makes me feel good to see the town is going somewhere," said resident Mike Hope, who retired to Wasilla in 1990 after several years in Anchorage. "We've been considered a bunch of hicks so long by Anchorage folks."

No more. Wasilla's gone from worst to first, from court jester to king. Alaska's Ugly Betty has become the It Girl.

Beth Bragg's opinion column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Her e-mail address is bbragg@adn.com.