Anchorage Daily News

Yarn maker to be among artists showing their work this weekend

Some fiber artists focus on making the end product: nubbly scarves or a hand-dyed wall hanging full of different textures. Wasilla spinner Deb Frost prefers an earlier part of the process -- making the yarn itself.

Custodians' status still a contention

A recent School Board decision to once again make custodians district employees is being criticized by some board members who say it will result in dirtier schools and likely end up costing more than has been budgeted.

Plane crashes in downdraft north of Palmer; 2 hurt

An airplane crashed Monday about 25 miles northeast of Palmer, sending two men to the hospital with nonfatal injuries, according to federal aviation officials.

Open burning suspended in Mat-Su

State forestry just sent out a note announcing they have temporarily suspended permits for all open burning in the Mat-Su because of the hot, dry weather.

Proposed Houston gravel mine riles neighbors

Houston City Council plans to hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday on a permit for a 50-acre gravel mine that would span the Parks Highway just north of the fireworks stands near its city limits.

Vandals swap out and steal road signs in Sutton

Michael Garner, road maintenance supervisor for the Mat-Su Borough, said sign switching happens frequently. The borough pays about $200,000 a year to pay for missing and damaged signs -- the switched signs are part of that cost. Sometimes the sign-repair crew catches a break and can reuse the signs that have been swapped. But most of the time, switched signs are just replaced.

In brief: Mat-Su

Short news items from the valleys

COMPASS

School site should have been studied more carefully

In response to Daily News reporter Rindi White's article concerning the school site selection process audit on the South Palmer Elementary School, I believe that the community at large needs to know some of what has gone on with the borough in this process.

Knik bridge agency plans intervention in case

The state agency created to push for a Knik Arm bridge says it will try to intervene in a court case seeking to block a delay in the project.

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Mat-Su police reports

Mat-Su community datebook (7/8/09)

Events scheduled this week in the valleys

Attempt to save dog from train leads to death on ARR tracks

A man killed by a train this weekend while trying to save his dog was identified Monday as Bret P. Miller, 42, of Anchorage. Man and dog both died after being hit by a passenger train near Montana Creek north of Wasilla.

Growing septic waste issues need solution

Dealing with waste is becoming a big problem in the Valley and is likely going to require an expensive fix. Both Wasilla and Palmer are facing serious problems with their treatment plants that limit their ability to treat more waste without expensive upgrades.

More information about the study

State closes several Mat-Su streams to king fishing

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Tuesday afternoon it would close an array of Parks Highway streams and the Little Susitna River to king salmon anglers beginning 6 a.m. Friday.

Palmer greenbelt plans move ahead slowly

City officials have said they want to turn the railroad corridor that splits Palmer into a green space that includes meandering trails, trees, outdoor concert spots and interpretive signs that discuss the city's history and setting.

Blog Mat-Su View: Council to work with railroad

Train kills man trying to pull dog off tracks

A 42-year-old man was killed Saturday afternoon while trying to rescue a dog from a train track south of Trapper Creek.

Selection tactic for school sites draws criticism

An audit of the process used to pick a site for the new elementary school opening this fall showed that Mat-Su Borough employees knew developer Rex Turner's giant Ranch subdivision had access issues.

In brief: Mat-Su

Short news items from the valleys

Letters from Mat-Su readers

Reader opinions

Judge denies Knik bridge request

Superior Court Judge Sen Tan has rejected a request from two Mat-Su town mayors to block a delay of the Knik Arm bridge project.

Vehicle rollover ends with charges against driver

A 19-year-old Big Lake man was charged with assault, evidence tampering and failure to report a traffic accident after a crash.