Pravat Phumin, 14.68 lbs, current Silver Derby leader

VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Fish Derbies Weigh-In Station has been a busy place this past week with anglers hoping to get on the leader board in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. Pravat Phumin of Valdez is currently leading the derby with a 14.68 pound silver he caught August 13^th aboard the Seagull 2. A 14.68 silver is a respectable fish but far from the weight of the fish that have won the $10,000 grand prize over the last few years. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby features a daily 1^st and 2^nd place prize and the majority of daily winners have been in the 12 to 13 pound range. With just two weeks in the derby, there’s a good chance the $10,000 derby winner is still swimming in Prince William Sound.

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby began in 1971 and the smallest winning fish on record in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby was a 15.11 pound salmon caught that first year by Jim Burzinski. In the last 30 years of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, only two fish in the 15 pound range have won the derby. Only six fish weighing in at the 16 pound range have won the big money in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. The vast majority of winners have weighed in at 17 to 21 pounds. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby runs through Sunday, September 1^st at noon and there are prizes for the top 3 fish as well as daily prize winners. Tobey James Fisher of Tifton, Georgia is currently 2^nd place in the Silver Salmon Derby with a 14.42 pound salmon he caught August 16^th on the Kittywake. James Scheirel of Paynesville, Minnesota is holding onto 3^rd place with a 13.88 pound silver he caught August 8^th aboard the Sue Q.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby it looks like Christine Ives of Fairbanks has a lock on the $10,000 prize. She caught a 285.6 pound halibut June 6^th aboard the Nunatak and has been in the lead ever since. Christopher Barnes of Moorhead, Minnesota is currently in 2^nd place with a 225.6 pound halibut he caught June 24^th aboard the Sea Quester. Joshua Curry of Valdez is holding onto 3^rd place in the Halibut Derby with a 213.4 pound fish he caught July 21^st aboard the Mistress.  Last year’s winning halibut was a 285.8 pound flatfish caught by Patricia Johnson of Clovis, California.

Silver salmon fishing has been productive at Gold Creek and Mineral Creek. The last two weeks of the derby should be good fishing from shore as well as from a boat. Both the Valdez Halibut and Silver Salmon derbies will end at noon on Sunday, September 1^st.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Christine Ives              Fairbanks, AK            285.6 lbs.         June 6              Nunatak

2^nd       Christopher Barnes     Moorhead, MN           225.6 lbs.         June 24            Sea Quester

3^rd        Joshua Curry               Valdez, AK                 213.4 lbs.         July 21            Mistress

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st                Jeffrey Nettleton           Klamath Falls, OR        186.6 lbs.         Aug 16             The Reflection

2^nd        Fred Augustin              Lake City, FL                146.2 lbs.         Aug 12             Sea Hunter

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Pravat Phumin              Valdez, AK                  14.68 lbs.         Aug 13             Seagull 2

2^nd        Tobey James Fisher      Tifton, GA                   14.42 lbs.         Aug 16             Kittywake

3^rd        James Scheirel             Paynesville, MN           13.88 lbs.         Aug 8               Sue Q

For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com

Courtesy of VHS Coaches

Cross Country

Volleyball

The Colony Jamboree

August 17, 2019

One week into the season, the Lady Buccaneers Junior Varsity Volleyball team dusted off their summer cobwebs to compete against six other teams in the state.

The Colony Jamboree, a tournament strictly for Junior Varsity competitors, is a day long competition. The Lady Bucs faced Colony (7- 25), Palmer (14 – 25), and Grace (25 – 22) in the morning pool play to determine their ranking in the afternoon bracket. During the afternoon tournament bracket, our team was matched up with Palmer and lost (10-25) and (10-25).

Highlights from the Palmer match included some great team plays (Riley King with the dig and pass to

Ambrosia Woodgate, and set to Carsyn Hinkle for the attack and kill). Alyvia Askren has joined the Valdez Buccaneers this year and is an all-around asset as a passer, setter, and hitter. Our final match of the tournament was against the Houston Hawks. Hailey DePoppe-Lent hammered the Hawks with her bullet

serves and back-row attacks. As a team we had great improvement from the morning sessions to our afternoon contest. Our positional awareness and communication improved each game throughout the tournament. We are looking forward to a great season.

Football

Valdez Football vs. Houston Hawks

We enjoyed our first home football game of the 2019 season this past weekend. It was great to have enough players participate this year to field a JV team. They started the weekend with a 10:00 a.m. game. This was the first game that many of the players had ever participated in, and most played the entire game on both sides of the ball. It was a valuable experience to have competition at their own level of play and experience. While they did not win the game, Clay Woodgate and Aiden McAtee scored their first career touchdowns on a short run and pass, respectively. The Houston Varsity team began the season ranked at #3 in Division III, and likely will move up in the standings quickly. They are a big, athletic team with lots of experienced upperclassmen. They dominated the day, scoring early while their suffocating defense kept us from the end zone. At times, we were able to move the ball, but early season errors on our part

killed sustained drives. Our goal is to meet the Houston Hawks again in playoffs. However, this

week we will prepare for the Seward Seahawks to visit Valdez for a non- conference game on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. It looks to be a good matchup for us at this point in the season, and we look forward to improving our performance from this week.

CLICK HERE for complete schedule

9 – 11:20am: Cookoff Breakfast Category, cooking & judging

11:30am – 12:30pm: Public Tasting Session, LIVE music begins, market vendors open

12:30 – 1:30pm: People’s Choice Voting

1:30-3:50pm: Chowder cookoff & judging

4pm: Public Tasting Session

5pm: People’s Choice Voting

6-8:20pm: Main dish cookoff & judging

8:30pm: Public Tasting Session & voting

9pm: Awards Ceremony

LIVE music throughout the day will feature Area 907, The Moon Doggies, 32 Degrees, David Reynolds & DJ Kamila

CLICK HERE for more information

CLICK each for menu

AUGUST

Breakfast Menu

HHES & GMS Lunch Menu

VHS Lunch Menu

SEPTEMBER

Breakfast Menu

HHES & GMS Lunch Menu

VHS Lunch Menu

Mark Detter, photo courtesy of the City of Valdez

Valdez City Council extended Mr. Mark Detter an offer of employment as Valdez city manager

late Wednesday afternoon.

Following a nationwide recruitment effort, City Council selected two finalist candidates from a diverse applicant pool. Over the last week, finalists participated in several meetings with city staff, a guided tour of the community, a reception at the Valdez Civic Center to meet local citizens, and a formal public interview by City Council. “City Council’s goal through the recruitment process

involved identifying a city manager with very specific qualities – An experienced candidate willing to work with us to actively shape and reach community goals. A candidate who would be fully engaged to provide

leadership for city staff, interact collaboratively with our citizens, and be a champion for our city” said Mayor Pro Tempore Sharon Scheidt. “We also wanted to ensure the new city manager was fully aware of and willing to work with the unique qualities, needs, and challenges found in Valdez.”

With 25 years of service in municipal government, Mr. Detter holds a proven leadership record in city

administration, citizen engagement, and maintaining positive working relationships with elected officials.

He also has an extensive background in governmental comprehensive planning and implementation,

housing diversification efforts, and development of sustainable resources.

“The Council is pleased to welcome a city manager of Mr. Detter’s caliber and sincerely believe he meets

all of the qualities we sought from an ideal candidate,” said Mayor Jeremy O’Neil. “Mr. Detter also comes

highly recommended by both his current and past employers. We are more than satisfied he will

successfully help implement our vision for the future of Valdez.”

Under negotiated contract terms, Mr. Detter will begin his tenure as city manager no later than November

2019. Mr. Detter currently serves as the city manager for the City of Andover, Kansas. He holds a master’s

degree in public administration from Wichita State University and bachelor’s degrees in political science

and business administration from Southwestern College

Assistant City Manager Roxanne Murphy will continue to serve as interim city manager until Mr. Detter

arrives in Valdez.

To view Mr. Detter’s full resume, visit www.valdezak.gov/538/City-Manager-Candidates.

Maleah Chapin – Reaction to 1st Place Announcement

VALDEZ, Alaska – “Being crowned something or anything is just a bit shocking to me”, 12-year-old Maleah Chapin said after being crowned Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood on Saturday in Valdez. Chapin caught a 13.46 pound silver salmon to take the top prize in the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby and was very emotional as she took the stage to receive her tiara and don the ceremonial pink bathrobe. As soon as 2^nd place was announced at the Civic Center Saturday night Chapin and her family knew she was the winner. “Seeing how my mother’s face was, was really incredible. I love her so much,” Chapin said. “Whenever you see somebody and they get crowned for anything, you never think it’s a really big deal. When you actually get crowned, it’s like …wow!”

Chapin won $1,000 cash and $1,000 in prizes from Prospector Outfitters in addition to the tiara and bathrobe. When asked what she would do with the money she said she would use it for school. Chapin’s big fish also won the 1^st place daily prize in the regular silver salmon derby and she is currently in 2^nd place overall and could win more cash if her fish holds on through the end of the derby September 1^st. Rowena Palomar of Valdez took 2^nd place in the Women’s Derby, garnered herself the 2^nd place daily prize and is currently holding 3^rd place in the Silver Salmon Derby. The 3^rd place winner in the Women’s Derby was 11-year-old Lily Lindquist of Peoria, Arizona who reeled in a 12.62 pound silver salmon. Lindquist commented. “I thought it was really small, but when it came out of the water it was huge.”

Top three winners of the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby 2019

Silver salmon seem to be schooled up out at Goose Point and beyond and scattered just about everywhere in the Sound. “The seiners are really scattering the fish, but they always re-group and follow the shoreline in,” said Charter Captain Sanoe Deaver. “I have even fished at Entrance Island and they are jumping there and I have seen them there. They are working their way in.” Although fishing inside the Port and just outside the narrows was spotty and a bit sparse on Saturday, there was a top 10 fish caught from the shore at Allison Point in the Women’s Derby. Anglers should have great luck fishing from shore at Allison Point and in Port Valdez, the final weeks of the derby. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby and Valdez Halibut Derby end Sunday, September 1st at noon.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Christine Ives of Fairbanks is still leading with the 285.6 pound halibut she caught June 6th. Christopher Barnes of Moorhead, Minnesota is currently in 2^nd place overall with a 225.6 pound halibut and Joshua Curry of Valdez is holding onto 3^rd place right now with a 213. 4 pound halibut.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st         Christine Ives               Fairbanks, AK             285.6 lbs.         June 6              Nunatak

2^nd       Christopher Barnes     Moorhead, MN           225.6 lbs.         June 24            Sea Quester

3^rd        Joshua Curry                Valdez, AK                   213.4 lbs.         July 21              Mistress

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st           Thomasz Symanowski      Wasilla, AK                 181.6 lbs.         Aug 9               Jamie Lynn

2^nd        Jake Simcik                        Still Water, MN          147.8 lbs.         Aug 5              Halibut Grove

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st         James Scheirel              Paynesville, MN           13.88 lbs.         Aug 8               Sue Q

2^nd        Maleah Chapin             Pasco, WA                     13.46 lbs.         Aug 10

3^rd        Rowena Palomar          Valdez, AK                     13.34 lbs.         Aug 10

If you would like to be removed from Valdez Fish Derbies press release list, please respond by e-mail and ask to “unsubscribe”

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Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby 2019 – TOP 50

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August 6, 2019 (ANCHORAGE) – Excitement is building for Alaska hunters as seasons open this month in many regions for deer, caribou, Dall sheep, moose, mountain goat and other big game species. The Alaska Wildlife Troopers will be present in full force statewide making sure everybody plays by the rules.

“Hunting is a longstanding Alaska tradition,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy. “As we enter this harvest season, I hope hunters will take a moment to appreciate the critical role our state hunting regulations play in conserving our wildlife resources.”

Serving as the state’s primary law enforcement agency overseeing hunting and fishing regulations, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers will be busy in August and September.

“We’ll be checking in with hunters and keeping an eye out for violations of all types,” said Wildlife Troopers Colonel Doug Massie. “One thing I can’t emphasize enough: Before heading into the field, make sure you’re intimately familiar with the hunting regulations that apply to the areas and game species you plan to hunt.”

Examples of what Wildlife Troopers will be looking for include:

• HUNTING LICENSES. This almost goes without saying, but Alaska resident hunters, ages 18 years or older – and all nonresident hunters – must possess and carry in the field a valid Alaska state hunting license (see pages 9-11 of the 2019/2020 hunting regulations).
• HARVEST TICKETS. Before hunting on a harvest ticket, make sure the ticket number(s) is written on your hunting license … or you risk getting another kind of ticket (page 14 of the 2019/2020 hunting regulations).
• PERMIT TICKETS. You were the lucky winner of a drawing hunt permit? Sweet! Remember, though, it’s not valid until you sign it. Carry it with you while hunting(page 15 of the 2019/2020 hunting regulations).
• PUNCH YOUR HARVEST TICKET. Your stalk goes perfectly, shot placement is awesome, and you’ve downed your animal. What’s the very next thing you do? Yep … punch that ticket (page 14 of the 2019/2020 hunting regulations).
• TROPHIES CAN WAIT. Salvage and remove all meat from the field BEFORE or WHILE packing out the last load with horns or antlers. It’s the right thing to do ethically … it’s also the law (see page 22 of the 2019/2020 hunting regulations).
• EVIDENCE OF SEX. Hunters who kill a big game animal (other than Dall sheep) where the bag limit is restricted to one sex must keep, until processed for human consumption, enough of the sex organs naturally attached to a rear quarter to show the sex of the animal (page 22 of the 2019/2020 hunting regulations).
• WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS. Calling or texting another hunter to share the location of an animal in the field is illegal. Drones also may not be used for hunting    (page 18 of the 2019/2020 hunting regulations).

The rules above are just a few highlights. For more information, pick up a free copy of the Alaska State Hunting Regulations booklet at any Alaska Department of Fish and Game office or at any license vendor; or view the regulations online at

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildliferegulations.hunting

The Alaska Wildlife Troopers wish all hunters a safe and successful hunting season.

(KETCHIKAN, Alaska) – The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) has returned to regularly scheduled ferry service throughout coastal Alaska and to ports in Prince Rupert and Bellingham.

“As of today, all AMHS vessels have resumed their regular summer schedules. The service disruption was tough for all involved. We’re glad that service is restored and passengers and vehicles can travel smoothly,” said Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner John MacKinnon.

The strike and service interruption lasted nine days. AMHS refunded fares for 8,570 passengers and 2,468 vehicles. Refund values totaled $3.3 million.

After the strike ended, the first ferries were sailing within two days. All vessels entered service depending on the ports where they were located in and then adjusted into their normal schedules.

“The State thanks everyone who mobilized to quickly resume AMHS service. Vessel crews traveled to meet vessels, provision them, and prepare them for service. Reservation staff worked to get passengers re-booked and moving. We also want to thank travelers for their patience throughout,” MacKinnon continued.

Current sailing schedules are available at www.FerryAlaska.com or by contacting your local terminal by dialing 1-907-465-3941 or toll-free at 1-800-642-0066.

Service notices may be found at dot.alaska.gov/amhs/service_notices.shtml.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 239 airports, 10 ferries serving 35 communities, over 5,600 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska.