Anchorage Daily News

Homer sees its first homicide within city limits since 1989. The Homer News and Homer Tribune reported on a Saturday night drinking party that resulted in a gunshot wound to the belly of Michael Swanger. Charles Stuart Young, known locally as "Yukon Charlie," was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and misconduct involving a weapon.

The event happened in a home near Bishop's Beach.

"Yukon Charlie" was described as "a Homer artist known around town for his genial nature and willingness to help out in the community." Homer Police Chief Mark Robl said, "Lots of alcohol and guns involved." He also said Swanger's death was the first murder within Homer city limits since Odie Walters shot Neil Miller with a 30.06 rifle at the home of Walters' estranged wife in June 1989.

***

Election morning-after headlines: the search for just the right word. The only race from Tuesday's primary still uncertain is the Don Young/Sean Parnell battle. Depending on when they went to bed last night, news organizations recorded different margins. The state's unofficial results page is here.

The morning-after stories in that race had a particular nail-biting flavor.

> Young has a "razor-thin lead" (CQ Politics)

> Young's fate "hangs in balance" (Roll Call)

> Young "edging out" Parnell (CBS News)

From the Republican Senate race:

> Alaska's Shame (National Review Online)

> Stevens on the November race: "piece of cake" (Associated Press)

> Can't make him say "Uncle" (National Journal)

By the way, APRN "twittered" the election night, and ADN live-blogged it.

***

Update from Alaska bloggers at the Democratic National Convention. Celtic Diva's blog is filled with photos of Alaskans in Denver and videos of stage events, and these descriptions of what it's like to be there:

The Alaskan delegates have been pretty popular here. Pictures, requests for interviews or just shouts of "Hey! You from Alaska?" are heard around the room.

As punishment for having such good seats, Alaska delegates are constantly doing battle for their seats.

For those who don't know, the floor plan was pretty strategic. Illinois and Delaware are front and center, and highly targeted swing states (including Alaska) are right on the floor surrounding the podium.

Alaska Real offered the observation that the national media may be overplaying the Hillary-delegates-are-unhappy story. She says she only heard one person say that, on TV. In long bus lines and bus rides, she said delegates were calling the speech just right.

She also posted the Yupik version of the "I have voted" sticker.

***

Fairbanks delegates react to Republican Jim Whitaker's endorsement of Obama. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner asked for reaction and got it.

"I'm very proud of him," said Fairbanks delegate Elyse Guttenberg.

"It's so great to see an Alaskan speak," said Rex Okakok, a delegate and whaling captain from Barrow.

The animated Inupiaq man expressed a bit of culture shock at the surrounding melee. He said his first trip to Colorado had been eye-opening.

"They're having the same problems we have in rural Alaska," he said of the energy and social issues emphasized by speakers. "I feel like I'm just part of the average American, not just an Eskimo."

***

Alaska sells oil to Japan. Not. A Kansas City Star columnist decided to clear the air on this myth that has been circulating on the Internet since May. He provides links to state documents proving it just ain't so and to Snopes.com, a myth-debunking site that wrote about the issue in May.

***

Kenai breaks ground on a new Wal-Mart. The Peninsula Clarion reports that dignitaries and public officials gathered to toss the first shovelful of dirt this week. If all goes well, the store is to open by March 2010.

Jennifer Spalding, a Wal-Mart spokesperson, said the store meant 250 to 300 jobs, 70 percent of which would be full-time with full benefits. Asked about the effect the store's opening might have on local business, she said prices on many items have started to fall at local stores, from 20 to 30 percent. "Our view is why didn't you offer the savings to your customers in the first place?" she said.

***

Kodiak is the best place to sell Vaseline. It's all that dry skin, you see. KMXT reported that Unilever is making commercials there for its Intensive Rescue body lotion and using lots of local residents in the commercials that will air on national television throughout the fall.

A Unilever spokesman said Kodiak got the treatment because of its "iconic cold weather" and because the community is tightknit, and word of mouth travels fast.

***

Denali Park's road strategy is under review. KUAC reported that the National Park Service is looking for input on the future of traffic on the road into the national park.

A parks spokesperson said increasing pressure from tour operators who want to funnel more and more people onto their company buses is putting pressure on the park's public buses.

Hearings are scheduled in September to take public input. Meanwhile, the park has collared 20 bears and 20 sheep to monitor their movement to see if they move away from the road during the day or at certain times of the year.

Also, the Fairbanks News-Miner reports today that a section of the park road, between miles 80 and 84, is scheduled for rehabilitation. This is an area of the western section where the park's landscape shifts from "rolling terrain" to "rugged canyons." It's had the fewest improvements since the road was constructed in the 1930s.

***

Alaska Airlines planes get a new look, and the airline readies to lay off 80. The unveiling is in Seattle at a special event Thursday, but you can check the Seattle PI for a sneak preview. Hint: It's very blue.

Meantime, Pacific Business News reports that the airline will lay off 80 midlevel managers this month, most of them in Seattle.

ADVERTISEMENT