Episodes
VHS Weekend Wrap-Up – August 26, 2019
Courtesy of VHS Coaches
Volleyball
Eielson VolleyBall 8-23/24
Head Coach: Adam Sharrai
Assistant Coach: Katie Burns
Buccaneer Volleyball headed to Eielson Friday to play its first conference game of the season. The Bucs took the Eielson Ravens in 3 straight games Friday night 25-22, 25-22, and 25-21. The Bucs had a few rough moments but kept their composure and began breathing together and working as one. After some questionable bowling at the Air-Force bowling center that evening and a nights sleep, the Bucs readied themselves for day two against the Ravens Saturday at 2:30. Starting slowly and quietly, (not what they wanted) but still looking for their rhythm they dropped their first set 23-25 to the Ravens. This woke up the Bucs and they began producing what they practice every day and work hard to achieve—communication and determination. Although not perfect this change of attitude and effort lead them to take the next three sets 25-13, 25-16, and 25-23 to win the match. The Bucs are learning to rely on each other as well as trust each others base play which will only continue to improve with more skills practice, communication, and determination to find their competiveness and find their game they want to be playing. Go Bucs!
JV Volleyball
Monroe Catholic JV Volleyball Tournament
August 23-24, 2019
This past weekend the Buccaneers JV Volleyball Team competed in the Monroe Catholic JV Volleyball Tournament, with five other Junior Varsity teams. On Friday we faced each opponent in a pool-play set game to 20. We started out in a quick game against Hutchison, winning with a score of 20 to 13. Our next set was against West Valley, falling short with a score of 8 to 20. We came out on top in the next three sets: Lathrop (20-12), Monroe (20-14), and Delta (20-17). We entered the bracket on Saturday seated #2 behind West Valley. On Saturday, our first match was against Monroe Catholic who put up quite a fight and ended up beating us in two sets (8-20 and 14-20), placing us in the losers bracket. We fought our way up through the bracket beating both Lathrop and Delta in 2 sets each and then once again facing West Valley. The West Valley match was quite a battle, trading points back and forth after long rallies. West Valley ended up taking the victory (22-24 and 18-20) after two very exciting sets. This weekend was unique in that we were missing five of our athletes. This allowed our small group to build on-court trust with one another during game competition. We have had huge growth in the past two weeks, building confidence in our rotation, setting up aggressive attacks, and communicating on the court. Our next set of goals include coverage on the net and defensive positioning. There were many strong volleyball skills being shown off by these athletes on the court this weekend. Ambrosia Woodgate and Alyvia Askren are a strong setting team on the court that show great leadership in communication and hustle, and are both dynamic hitters on the net when not setting. Carsyn Hinkle and Lindsey Gudgell made many solid attacks in the middle position and are starting to add a defensive block to their game. Rylie King, hitting outside for us this year, has excellent timing in her approach and makes great, game-speed decisions. Also unique this weekend was the use of Anna Agcaoili as libero in the back court. She was a tremendous defensive asset. Ariel Mitchel stepped up as a solid server for us this weekend and defensive specialist and Hailey DePoppe-Lent stepped to serve and play back row as well. Special shout out to Rylie King for earning an All Tournament medal for her great back row defense and aggressive attacks at the net. Great weekend Bucs!
Football
Valdez Buccaneers vs. Seward Seahawks Football
Photo courtesy of Joe Prax
We hosted the Seward Seahawks this Saturday on a beautiful sunny day for football. We started out the first quarter driving the ball well, only to stop ourselves on an unforced fumble. After a stiff defensive stop, we scored quickly for our first touchdown of the year. Another defensive stop and the subsequent punt snap mishap by Seward gave us the ball on the 1 yard line, and Gage Critchlow scored his first career touchdown on a sneak up the middle. Another 4 plays by Seward were quickly stopped by a stiff defensive stand anchored by Cam Stanford, Dennis Mott, Logan Anderson, and Sam Norris. It gave us the ball a final time in the quarter, which we quickly punched in for the score. A PAT kick attempt by Clay Woodgate put us up by 19 in the first quarter.
Photo courtesy of Joe Prax
The second quarter was a classic come-apart. Multiple penalties for off-sides, miscued plays, and a long pass for a touchdown with a minute left before half-time was a wet blanket on our first half performance. Following the half, it was a Jekyll and Hyde performance, with moments of brilliance punctuated by penalties of all sorts. For the most part, Seward was unable to move the ball on us, but our offense suffered from self-afflicted wounds. We were able to keep them from the end-zone, however, and scored twice more in the second half, carried in again by Gage Critchlow and Jona Turner. Clay Woodgate again connected on a PAT kick attempt to finalize the score at 32-6.
This was most of the team’s first varsity win, a long-time coming and well earned. We look forward to building off of what we have accomplished, and compete well at Nikiski this weekend.
Photo courtesy of Joe Prax
Cross Country
Valdez Invite
The Buccaneers Cross-Country team hosted Cordova and a community race on Saturday, August 24th. The smoke cleared in time for a combined group of nineteen runners to head up the East Dike to Mineral Creek. For the boys, Sophomore Jin Shiozaki from Valdez placed 1st, finishing in 18:30 and Senior Rafael Alfaro wasn’t far behind placing 2nd in 18:48. Cordova’s Keegan St. Amand placed 3rd with a time of 19:21. Sophomore William Benes was close on St. Amand’s heels and finished 19:25 in 4th . The first girl to finish was Anika Witsoe from Cordova at 21:06. Sophomore Momoka Ishikawa finished 2nd at 24:18 for Valdez. Valdez Senior Sophia Palomar came in 3rd at 24:31, an impressive finish for starting the season late. Valdez boys also included Senior Kalin Woods placing 5th at 19:49, Freshman Jason Smilie finishing 8th at 21:35, and Freshman Cole Wadsworth came in 9th at 21:48. Valdez girls included Senior Katelyn Wadsworth placing 5th at 24:47 and Freshman Angelina Grande finishing 6th at 24:54. Community members came out to run with the high school and middle school cross-country teams in a 5K fun run. Jordan Nelson placed 3rd on the heels of Shiozaki and Woods finishing at 21:54. Great job middle schoolers for running a full 5k. A special thank you to Cross-Country parents for helping out on the course, with timing, and the community race registration. We couldn’t have done it without you! The Buccaneers Cross-Country team travels to Anchorage next weekend to preview the state course at Bartlett. This is a key race to see what the team needs to accomplish to earn their place on the state roster in October.
Valdez Port busy as anglers try to catch the big one before the end of the derbies Sunday, September 1st
Tom Karlsten, Current 1st Place
VALDEZ, Alaska – It’s a pretty sure bet that there’s a silver salmon bigger than 15.32 pounds swimming around in Prince William Sound but whether an angler with a Valdez Fish Derby ticket will catch it and weigh it in before the end of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is anyone’s guess. Currently Tom Karlsten of St. Cloud, Florida is leading the derby with a 15.32 pound silver he caught August 19th aboard the Long Shot. Karlsten said his wife is the Captain and credited her for putting him on the fish. If Karlsten’s silver is at the top of the leader board at the end of derby Sunday, September 1st at noon, he stands to win the $10,000 first place prize. The angler taking 2ndplace in the Silver Salmon Derby will win $3,000 and the 3rd place derby angler will win $1,500. The smallest silver to ever win the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby was Jim Burzinski’s 15.11 pound silver caught back in 1971. The largest silver salmon ever caught in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby weighed in at 22.14 pounds.
Silvers are being caught in the Valdez Arm in good number and the concentration of silvers in Port near Gold Creek, Allison Point and even the Valdez Boat Harbor is increasing. The Valdez Silver Salmon derby is the oldest derby in the state, but records for winners only date back to 1971. The derby was started by the Chamber of Commerce in 1952 and many years back Bill Wyatt, owner of Bear Paw RV Park and owner of a small hotel in the 50’s, recalled the prize for the first derby was $500 and the first winner of the silver derby was Loren St. Amand with an 18.8 pound silver salmon. A history of the Valdez Fish Derbies can be found HERE.
The lead in the Valdez Halibut Derby is still being held by Christina Ives of Fairbanks. Ives reeled in a 285.6 pound halibut June 6th aboard the Nunatak. The 1st place prize in the halibut derby is $10,000 cash, the 2nd place prize is $3,000 and the 3rd place prize is $1,500. The largest halibut ever caught in the Valdez Halibut Derby is the 374 pound fish caught by Frieda Wiley of Valdez in 2017. Halibut fishing has been good for most anglers getting out further. Alaska Department of Fish and Game suggests trying large bait on muddy bottom off a rocky slope in 200 to 300 feet of water when fishing inside Prince William Sound.
The final Big Prize Friday of the season is this Friday, August 30th. The angler catching the largest silver salmon this Friday will take home $500 in addition to the daily prizes. The Valdez Fish Derbies, both halibut and salmon, will end Sunday, September 1st. Weigh-In will close at Noon on Sunday, September 1st and the derby awards party will be held 6pm Sunday night at the Elks Lodge.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Christine Ives Fairbanks, AK 285.6 lbs. June 6 Nunatak
2nd Christopher Barnes Moorhead, MN 225.6 lbs. June 24 Sea Quester
3rd Joshua Curry Valdez, AK 213.4 lbs. July 21 Mistress
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st James McCay Valdez, AK 98.2 lbs. Aug 19 Lena Claire
2nd Steve Hylton Boise, ID 92.2 lbs. Aug 20 Orion
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Tom Karlsten St. Cloud, FL 15.32 lbs. Aug 19 Long Shot
2nd Pravat Phumin Valdez, AK 14.68 lbs. Aug 13 Seagull 2
3rd Tobey James Fisher Tifton, GA 14.42 lbs. Aug 16 Kittywake
For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com
GMS Weekend Wrap-Up
CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING
Courtesy of Kyra Meyer – GMS XC is off to a running start! We have over 30 student runners, and are making quick gains! Part of the team ran this weekend at the local 5K, and had wonderful results. Eli Critcholow and Andrew Baczuk blazed the course in 26:45, galloping across the finish line together. Anika Palomar was first female in 28 flat. If your student would like to join, please contact the front desk!
VALDEZ PORT BUSY AS ANGLERS TRY TO CATCH THE BIG ONE BEFORE THE END OF THE DERBIES SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st
VALDEZ, Alaska – It’s a pretty sure bet that there’s a silver salmon bigger than 15.32 pounds swimming around in Prince William Sound but whether an angler with a Valdez Fish Derby ticket will catch it and weigh it in before the end of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is anyone’s guess. Currently Tom Karlsten of St. Cloud, Florida is leading the derby with a 15.32 pound silver he caught August 19th aboard the Long Shot. Karlsten said his wife is the Captain and credited her for putting him on the fish. If Karlsten’s silver is at the top of the leader board at the end of derby Sunday, September 1st at noon, he stands to win the $10,000 first place prize. The angler taking 2nd place in the Silver Salmon Derby will win $3,000 and the 3rd place derby angler will win $1,500. The smallest silver to ever win the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby was Jim Burzinski’s 15.11 pound silver caught back in 1971. The largest silver salmon ever caught in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby weighed in at 22.14 pounds.
Silvers are being caught in the Valdez Arm in good number and the concentration of silvers in Port near Gold Creek, Allison Point and even the Valdez Boat Harbor is increasing. The Valdez Silver Salmon derby is the oldest derby in the state, but records for winners only date back to 1971. The derby was started by the Chamber of Commerce in 1952 and many years back Bill Wyatt, owner of Bear Paw RV Park and owner of a small hotel in the 50’s, recalled the prize for the first derby was $500 and the first winner of the silver derby was Loren St. Amond with an 18.8 pound silver salmon. A history of the Valdez Fish Derbies can be found HERE.
The lead in the Valdez Halibut Derby is still being held by Christina Ives of Fairbanks. Ives reeled in a 285.6 pound halibut June 6th aboard the Nunatak. The 1st place prize in the halibut derby is $10,000 cash, the 2nd place prize is $3,000 and the 3rd place prize is $1,500. The largest halibut ever caught in the Valdez Halibut Derby is the 374 pound fish caught by Frieda Wiley of Valdez in 2017. Halibut fishing has been good for most anglers getting out further. Alaska Department of Fish and Game suggests trying large bait on muddy bottom off a rocky slope in 200 to 300 feet of water when fishing inside Prince William Sound.
The final Big Prize Friday of the season is this Friday, August 30th. The angler catching the largest silver salmon this Friday will take home $500 in addition to the daily prizes. The Valdez Fish Derbies, both halibut and salmon, will end Sunday, September 1st. Weigh-In will close at Noon on Sunday, September 1st and the derby awards party will be held 6pm Sunday night at the Elks Lodge.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Christine Ives Fairbanks, AK 285.6 lbs. June 6 Nunatak
2nd Christopher Barnes Moorhead, MN 225.6 lbs. June 24 Sea Quester
3rd Joshua Curry Valdez, AK 213.4 lbs. July 21 Mistress
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st James McCay Valdez, AK 98.2 lbs. Aug 19 Lena Claire
2nd Steve Hylton Boise, ID 92.2 lbs. Aug 20 Orion
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Tom Karlsten St. Cloud, FL 15.32 lbs. Aug 19 Long Shot
2nd Pravat Phumin Valdez, AK 14.68 lbs. Aug 13 Seagull 2
3rd Tobey James Fisher Tifton, GA 14.42 lbs. Aug 16 Kittywake
For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com
Wildlife Troopers Ask Hunters to Avoid Active Wildfire Perimeters
As firefighters work on blazes, hunters are urged to adjust plans if necessary
Alaska’s unusually volatile and prolonged wildfire season this year has extended into hunting season, creating challenges for firefighting crews and hunters alike. Of particular concern are popular game management units along the highway system between Homer and Talkeetna where several wildfires are currently burning even as moose hunting seasons open.
“With general-hunt moose seasons opening Sunday in Game Management Unit 14A, fire crews working the Deshka Landing Wildfire have expressed concerns about having 200 firefighters in the Willow Swamp area with hunters nearby potentially shooting in their direction,” said Alaska Wildlife Troopers Captain Rex Leath.
That’s a legitimate safety concern, Leath said, not only in 14A, but anywhere around the perimeters of the Deshka Landing Wildfire; the McKinley Wildfire, currently burning between Willow and Talkeetna; the Swan Lake Wildfire, being fought on the Kenai Peninsula around Cooper Landing; and the North Fork and Caribou Lake wildfires north of Homer.
“All of these fires are happening right now in popular, road-accessible hunting areas,” Leath said. “Firefighting crews and equipment are present around each fire perimeter and the best thing hunters can do is avoid these areas. That may mean changing plans, traveling well beyond active wildfires, and hunting new country.”
In addition to fears that firefighting crews could be caught downrange of hunters seeking moose and other big game, hunters also face logistical challenges in the form of road closures due to fire activity, poor visibility or air quality from smoke, and getting caught in the paths of rapidly moving fires.
“There’s a large chunk of the hunting public, for example, that uses Deshka Landing as the main access point for hunting in (GMU) 16B,” said Eddie Grasser, director of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Wildlife Conservation. “Hunters need to be aware that trucks and trailers left near fire perimeters could impede firefighting activity or even become vulnerable to fire.”
Wildlife Troopers, Fish and Game, and the Alaska Division of Forestry agree these are all good reasons to look for areas to hunt away from the fires.
Even while hunting well away from active wildfires this hunting season, hunters are asked to take extra precautions to see that new fires aren’t ignited. For information on fire safety, visit
https://www.alaskacenters.gov/trip-planning/stewardship/safety/fire-safety
Wildfires affect residents, travel across Alaska
McKinley Fire, photo courtesy of AK Division of Forestry
If you’re planning to travel this week, be sure to check how fires may impact your route. Multiple roads have been closed, along with flights cancelled due to poor visibility.
Road closures are being updated on AK 511 website and fire information is available at akfireinfo.com.
McKinley Fire: At least 50 structures were lost Sunday afternoon near Mile 88 of the Parks Highway. The Parks Highway is currently open to one-lane traffic with pilot cars between mileposts 71 and 99. Motorists should expect long delays and be aware that the road could be closed at any point due to ongoing fire activity.
Swan Lake Fire: Crossed the Sterling Highway at MP 60 into Skilak Wildlife Rec Area. Traffic on Sterling Highway between mile 53 to 75 was halted as of 1pm Sunday due to fire activity and risk from adjacent utility infrastructure and will remain closed at least until Monday.
Deshka Landing Fire: Firefighters pulling back, focusing on protecting cabins on Red Shirt Lake and securing the eastern edge of the fire so it doesn’t make a push toward subdivisions on Long Lake Road.
Watch for updates at akfireinfo.com.
CVEA Board approves rate increases
Proposed rate changes to the CVEA Tariff were unanimously approved by the Board of Directors at the regular meeting on Thursday, August 15th.
The rate changes come at the conclusion of a year-long rate study where an estimated annual revenue shortfall in the amount of $756,000 was identified.
The monthly customer charge for residential members, will increase from $12 to $20 and small commercial members will increase from $20 to $30. This component will recover $359,000 annually.
CLICK HERE for Press Release
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