Episodes

VALDEZ, Alaska – Liliana Garcia has fished the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby many times, but Saturday was not the first time she has made it into the standings. Garcia reeled in a 7.80 pound pink salmon to win 1^st place in the 8 to 10 year-old age division and caught the largest fish in the 2018 Kids Derby. “I was a bit surprised when I saw it”, commented Garcia. “There are very talented children here. I was actually surprised I caught that big of a fish”.

Garcia not only caught the largest fish in this year’s derby, she made it on the list of top 10 biggest pink salmon caught since the start of the derby in 2012. Garcia said she caught her winning fish using a pixie out by Potato Point. She said her favorite part of fishing is spending time with her family and helping to cook the fish. Her advice for anglers, “You just have to keep trying and believe in yourself”.

(CLICK HERE for all results. Scroll to bottom of the page to see Top 10 All Time) Garcia won a longboard as the 1^st place winner in the 8 to 10 year-old age division. Noah McPheters won 1^st place in the 5 to 7 year old division with a 6.78 pound pink. Alex Plowman, who holds the distinction of catching the largest pink salmon ever caught in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby last year (a whopping 10.12 pounds) took 1^st place in the 11 to 13 year-old age division with a 7.32 pound pink salmon and Anthony Hursh of Fairbanks took 1^st place in the 14 to 16 year-old age division with a 6.88 pound silver salmon.

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 fishing gear 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 – 2018 Winners

5 to 7 Age Division

1^st        Noah McPheters                      Valdez, AK                  6.78 lbs.

2^nd        Maycie Johnson                       Tanacross, AK             6.20 lbs.

3^rd        Aslynn Folly                            Palmer, AK                  6.04 lbs.

8 to 10 Age Division

1^st        Liliana Garcia                          Fairbanks, AK             7.80 lbs.

2^nd        Sammy Huffman                     Valdez, AK                  7.04 lbs.

3^rd        JD Lyons                                 Delta Junction, AK      6.72 lbs.

11 to 13 Age Division

1^st        Alex Plowman                         Fairbanks, AK             7.32 lbs.

2^nd        Madison Spencer                     Fairbanks, AK             6.48 lbs.

3^rd        Alina Kockentiet                      Valdez, AK                  6.28 lbs.

14 to 16 Age Division

1^st        Anthony Hursh                                    Fairbanks, AK             6.88 lbs.

2^nd        Abby Creer                              North Pole, AK                        6.38 lbs.

3^rd        Brad Baker                              Salcha, AK                  6.34 lbs.

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

Makayla Songer and Carl Gressel welcomed Lucas Jay Songer to the world on July 14th, 2018 at 7:35pm.

He weighed 6 lbs 8.5 oz and was 19 inches long.

Congratulations!

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) 2018-19 is now available. Reservations can be made at FerryAlaska.com, by calling 1-800-642-0066, or visiting ferry terminal staff throughout the system.

The AMHS winter schedule covers ferry travel from October 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019. Fare information is available at FerryAlaska.com or from reservations agents.

Release of the 2018-19 winter schedule followed a public comment period held in July. The comment period was an opportunity for communities and individuals to review and comment on the proposed schedule, and to alert AMHS to significant community events. AMHS customized the schedule to meet community needs as much as possible with limited budget and maintenance requirements for the aging ferry fleet.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 239 airports, 10 ferries serving 35 communities, more than 5,600 miles of highway and 731 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

Paul and Jesse Lloyd welcomed Thatcher James Lloyd to the world on July 4th, 2018 at 9:01pm. 

He weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz and was 20.25  inches long.

Congratulations!

VALDEZ, Alaska – Pink salmon are jumping in Port Valdez and young anglers will have a chance to catch them and win prizes this Saturday, July 21^st in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby.

Doug Cranor of Valdez is still leading the Valdez Halibut Derby with the 239.0 pound fish he caught June 23^rd aboard the Redhead. Russell Young of Fairbanks is currently holding onto 2^nd place in the overall standings with a 226.0 pound halibut he caught June 23^rd aboard the Dan Orion and Tim Ingraham of North Pole is currently in 3^rd place overall with a 214.2 pound halibut he caught July 7^th aboard the Jaime Lynn.

In addition to the Valdez Halibut Derby Grand prize of $10,000 cash, a 2^nd place prize of $3,000 and 3^rd place prize of $1,500 cash, there are weekly 1^st and 2^ndplace prizes. Some of the prize packages include charters, overnight stays, glacier tours and Valdez Fish Derbies apparel in addition to gift certificates.

The Chitina dip net fishery had been closed but Alaska Department of Fish and Game held an 84 hour opener last Thursday at noon through Sunday at midnight. ADF&G said the 2018 Copper River sockeye salmon run had improved, allowing the opening. The 2018 Copper River sockeye salmon run has required the department to modify management strategies to compensate for low sockeye salmon wild stock abundance, a stronger than projected hatchery stock run, and management of Copper River Delta sockeye salmon wild stock escapement in order to provide harvest opportunity and still achieve the wild sockeye salmon sustainable escapement goal. The personal use fishery will continue to be managed weekly through the end of August with any potential fishing opportunity dependent upon sonar passage and further adjustments needed to ensure wild sockeye salmon escapement.

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby starts this Saturday and anglers are already bringing silvers to Port. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is also this Saturday, July 21^st. The Kids Derby is open to children age 5 to 16 and there is no fee to enter. Kids just need to weigh-in a pink salmon at the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station Saturday, July 21^st to get a t-shirt and have a chance of winning one of the top three spots in their age division. A free family barbeque and awards will follow the day of fishing. The first 300 kids to stop by the weigh-in will get a free t-shirt. Valdez Fish Derbies dates, prizes, rules, winners, pictures and more can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1st       Doug Cranor               Valdez, AK                 239.0 lbs.         June 23            Redhead

2nd      Russel Young              Fairbanks, AK             226.0 lbs.         June 23            Dan Orion

3rd       Tim Ingraham              North Pole, AK           214.2 lbs.         July 7               Jaime Lynn

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – July 9^th through July 15^th

1^st        Bernie Gregory           Kimball, MN               165.0 lbs.         July 13             Bold Eagle

2^nd        Stephon Thompson     Bingham Farms, MI    140.4lbs.          July 9               Jaime Lynn

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

SCHOOL BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED

IN ALL THREE SCHOOLS

COST PER STUDENT$1.50

SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES

Elementary Lunches

$2.50 per day, Includes fresh 1/2 pint milk,

Fresh Milk Only – $.75

GMS & High School Lunches

$3.25 per day, Includes fresh 1/2 pint milk

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

Valdez City Schools is pleased to announce our participation in the National School Lunch Program.  Meals will be available to all children at our following schools:  Valdez High School, George Gilson Middle School and Hermon Hutchens Elementary. Meals meet nutritional standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our schools will participate in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

If your income is less than or equal to the following guidelines you are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Valdez City Schools is pleased to announce our participation in the National School Lunch Program. Meals will be available to all children at our following schools: Valdez High School, George Gilson Middle School and Hermon Hutchens Elementary School. Meals meet nutritional standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our schools will participate in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

If your income is less than or equal to the following guidelines you are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. These guidelines are effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. If you have children who are approved for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Native Family Assistance Program (NFAP), they are automatically able to receive free meals by filing an application that includes their assistance number from one of those programs. Students who are migrant, homeless, or runaways are automatically eligible and do not need to fill out an application. Foster children receive free meals regardless of the income of the household with which they reside. Note: Medicaid and Denali Kid Care case numbers do not qualify for eligibility. For more information, or to get an application for free or reduced-price school meals, contact us at: Amber Cockerham, at 907-834-4700 or acockerham@valdezcityschools.org. Applications may also be picked up at each school.

We can’t approve your application unless it’s complete. The information you give us on your application may be checked at any time. You may apply for free or reduced price meals at any time during the school year if your situation changes. If you become unemployed, your child(ren) may be able to have free or reduced priced meals based on your unemployment income. If we deny your free or reduced price meals application, we will give you a chance to appeal the decision.

Non-Discrimination Statement: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or This institution is an equal opportunity provider.