Episodes

VALDEZ, Alaska –Tyler Bellison of Wasilla, Alaska took 2^nd place in the 14 to 16 age division of the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby Saturday. “No talent is needed to fish because every cast you would get one,” Bellison said. Valdez local Kate Goudreau took her daughter, Amelia, out fishing Saturday and said it has been years since she fished Allison Point. “It was awesome,” commented Goudreau. “Everyone was super stoked. Fish were biting left and right.” While most kids didn’t have a problem catching a pink salmon, it does seem some families might have a secret to catching big fish.

This year Avery Creer of El Paso, Texas took 1^st place in the 11 to 13 age division with a 7.94 pound pink salmon. Her sister McKinley Creer took 1^st place in the 8 to 10 age division with a 6.96 pound pink. Josie Jenkins of Fairbanks, Alaska took 2^nd place in the 8 to 10 year age division this year with a 6.76 pound pink and her brother Riley captured 3^rd place in the 14-16 age division with a 5.26 pound pink salmon.

The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby started in 2008 and the biggest fish ever caught in the Kids Derby was a 10.12 pound monster caught by Alex Plowman of Fairbanks back in 2017. Last year Plowman caught a 7.32 pound pink salmon. It wasn’t the largest fish in the 2018 Kids Derby, but it was big enough for him to capture 1^st place in the 11 to 13 age division. This year Plowman was back and brought in another big fish. He weighed in a 6.38 pound pink salmon. A nice fish, but Wesley Horschel of Valdez also caught a 6.38 pound pink salmon. The rules state that if there is a tie, the person who weighs their fish in first wins so Wesley Horschel captured 3^rd place. Does Horschel sound like a familiar name? That might be because Caleb Horschel won 2^nd place with a 7.90 pound pink in 2017 and 1^st place in 2016 with a 7.64 pound pink. Lilia Horschel took 3^rd place in 2017 year with a 7.74 pound pink salmon and captured 2^nd place in the 5 to 7 age division this year with a 6.82 pound pink salmon. CLICK HERE for results and pictures. Scroll to bottom of the page to see Top 10 All Time.

The first place winner in each division won a longboard skateboard. The 2^nd place winners in each division received a skateboard and the 3^rd place winners in each division received a fishing pole from Prospector. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is a free event open to kids age 5 to 16. The weigh-in station gave away 350 free t-shirts to kids age 5 to 16 that got a line wet and hosted a free family barbeque attended by 500 people at Dock Point picnic area.

With more than 350 kids weighing in fish for the 2019 Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby, there is no doubt future anglers are being made in Valdez. Who knows, perhaps we will see some of these names on the leaderboard for the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. Last year, the $10,000 top prize in the Silver Derby was won by 7-year-old Aksel Hutchinson.

The first place winner in each division won a longboard skateboard. The 2^nd place winners in each division received a skateboard and the 3^rd place winners in each division received a fishing pole from Prospector. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is a free event open to kids age 5 to 16. The weigh-in station gave away 350 free t-shirts to kids age 5 to 16 that got a line wet and hosted a free family barbeque attended by 500 people at Dock Point picnic area.

Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby – 2019 Winners

5 to 7 Age Division

1^st        Cole Moore                             North Pole, AK                       7.18 lbs.

2^nd        Lilia Horschel                          Valdez, AK                 6.82 lbs.

3^rd        Eston Bailey                            Fairbanks, AK             6.30 lbs.

8 to 10 Age Division

1^st        McKinley Creer                      El Paso, TX                 6.96 lbs.

2^nd        Josie Jenkins                            Fairbanks, AK             6.76 lbs.

3^rd        Hunter Burgess                       East Wenatchee, WA  6.24 lbs.

11 to 13 Age Division

1^st        Avery Creer                            El Paso, TX                 7.94 lbs.

2^nd        Fritz Stangl                             Fairbanks, AK             7.08 lbs.

3^rd        Wesley Horschel                     Valdez, AK                 6.38 lbs.

14 to 16 Age Division

1^st        Ginger Keller                          Valdez, AK                 5.78 lbs.

2^nd        Tyler Belliston             Wasilla, AK                5.64 lbs.

3^rd        Riley Jenkins                           Fairbanks, AK             5.26 lbs.

VALDEZ, Alaska – Dianne Marshall of Fairbanks, Alaska made her way to the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station Saturday to weigh-in the first silver salmon in the Valdez Derby amid the charming chaos of the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. More than 350 kids made the trek to the weigh-in station Saturday to get a free t-shirt and pose with their catch for the one-day Kids Pink Salmon Derby event. “I just bought the tickets (Derby Ticket) to have some fun and see what we could get,” said Marshall. After catching the “kick-off” fish of the derby, Marshall shared fishing advice to live by, “Be patient, have fun, enjoy.” Marshall enjoyed her day fishing but by the end of the day, it was Crista Anderson of Valdez who took home the 1^st place daily prize and the top spot in the overall standings.

Anderson brought in a 9.25 pound silver she caught aboard the Crista June. Grace Keller of Valdez won the 2^nd place daily prize in the Silver Derby with a 9.22 pound silver salmon she caught aboard the Alaskai. Keller, soon to be a senior at Valdez High School, was fishing with her Mother, grandfather and her younger sister Ginger. Ginger won 1^st place in the 14 to 16 year age division of the Kids Pink Salmon Derby with a 5.78 pink salmon. While she was being interviewed by KVAK, Ginger commented, “I just want to do a shout out – thank you Grandpa Wayne for taking me out fishing. And I love you”. Ginger not only caught a fish, she was also part of the KVAK Kids Club broadcasting team that acted as emcee’s for the Kids Derby Awards Ceremony. When asked to reveal a tip about fishing she responded, “Just have fun and be grateful that you’re actually catching fish.”

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby runs through September 1^st and has daily 1^st and 2^nd place prizes, as well as a $10,000 Grand prize for the largest fish caught during the season. The cost of a daily derby ticket is $10 and a season ticket is $50.

The Valdez Halibut Derby is going strong and boats are still returning to Port Valdez with nice catches of halibut, lingcod and other bottom fish. Now that silver season has started many charters are picking up silver salmon also on their way back to town. Christine Ives of Fairbanks Alaska is leading the halibut derby with a 385.6 pound halibut. Valdez Fish Derbies is now gearing up for Silver Salmon Big Prize Friday and the 2019 Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. Big Prize Friday is July 26^th and the angler catching the largest silver salmon that day will win $500 in addition to the regular prizes. The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is Saturday, August 10^th with an opening event on Friday, August 9^th. The theme of this year’s Women’s Derby is “Pajama Party”. The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby Page on the Valdez Fish Derbies website has all the information.

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        Matt Janezic               Duluth, MN                 203.4 lbs.         June 28            Bold Eagle

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st        Kurt Gremley                  Tampa, FL                  176.8 lbs.         July 18             The Reflection

2^nd        Robert Dooley              Eielson AFB, AK         129.6 lbs.         July 18            Straydog

Silver Salmon Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Crista Anderson            Valdez, AK                  9.26 lbs.         July 20             Crista June

2^nd        Grace Keller                Valdez, AK                  9.22 lbs.         July 20             Alaskai

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

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Comments Due July 26th; Public Teleconferences on July 29th

(JUNEAU, Alaska) – The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities’ proposed Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) schedule for October 2019 through April 2020 is now available for public review.

On the proposed schedule, Valdez will experience a service gap, meaning no ferries would service Valdez from Oct. 1st through April 30th.

Communities and interested people can review and comment on the proposed schedule through July 26, 2019 and public teleconferences are scheduled for July 29, 2019.

The proposed ferry service is based on funding levels for fiscal year 2020. The operating plan has been designed to stay within available funding levels by maximizing revenue generation while providing best possible service to communities and maintaining regulatory and safety standards for the vessels.

The draft schedule is available online with accompanying documents at www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdf

Written comments will be accepted on or before July 26, 2019  via email at dot.amhs.comments@alaska.gov and by fax at (907) 228-6873.

A teleconference to hear comments and consider adjustments is scheduled for Monday, July. 29, 2019, at 10:00 AM for Southeast schedules and at 1:30 PM for Southwest and Southcentral schedules. The toll-free number to participate in either teleconference is 1-515-604-9000, access code 279613.

For people wishing to attend in person, the teleconferences will be held in Ketchikan at the Alaska Marine Highway Central Office at 7559 North Tongass Highway.

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. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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SCHOOL CALENDAR

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NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

It is the policy of Valdez City School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, national origin, parenthood, marital status, changes in marital status, gender, disability, admission/access to, or treatment/employment in its programs and activities. This notice is made to: applicants for admission and employment, and unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or processional agreements. This policy is in compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Chapter 18 of the School Laws of Alaska.

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