Episodes

Last Wednesday, a boulder fell from a ledge near Worthington Glacier and fatally struck a 5-year old who was hiking with family and friends. On Friday, local counselors made themselves available for grief counseling for adults and children and a canine comfort team was brought in from Anchorage. The family and community held a service and celebration of life on Saturday. A “Go Fund Me” site has been set up and an Online Facebook Auction is underway.

CLICK HERE for Go Fund Me or HERE for the Online Auction.

Here is the excerpt from the Valdez Police Report

A caller reported that a male was attempting to take advantage of a female friend who was highly intoxicated near Dock Point.  The male suspect was making lewd remarks and attempting to go into the women’s restroom where other friends were trying to help her. The caller advised that after repeated attempts by the male suspect to enter the women’s restroom, that he had to use physical force to keep him out and detain him until Officers arrived.  The suspect had some minor injuries and was extremely intoxicated.  Investigation revealed that no crime was found to have been committed; however VPD would like to commend this citizen for taking action to prevent a possible sexual assault.   Officers determined the male suspect too intoxicated to be on his own and was unwilling to go back to his residence at a local fish processor. The individual was detained at the Valdez jail under Title 47 protective custody until he was sober. These events were relayed to the man’s employer and his employment was terminated upon release from protective custody and he was trespassed from company property.

Angie and Caleb Weaver welcomed Lunabelle Irene Weaver to the world on July 7^th, 2018 at 12:34pm.

She weighed 8 lbs 11.2 oz and was 20.75 inches long.

Congratulations!

Doug Cranor of Valdez, Alaska reeled in a 239.0 pound halibut aboard the Redhead to take the lead in the Valdez Halibut Derby on June 23^rdand, despite some close competition, is still in the lead. Cranor said his fish got hooked 15 feet under the boat as he was reeling up. “That’s how I got him”, Cranor said. “My friend caught a big king salmon the same day one boat over so it was a good day of fishing”. Indeed it was a good day fishing, as Russell Young of Fairbanks also reeled in his 226.0 pound halibut on June 23^rd aboard the Dan Orion. Eric Johnson of North Pole is hanging onto 3^rd place with a 149 pound halibut he caught June 22^nd. The top three overall leaders in the Valdez derby have held their spots, but the competition for 1^st and 2^nd place weekly prizes has been intense.

Brian Tkacs of Chugiak, Alaska went fishing with family on June 28^th and reeled in a 116.6 pound halibut that put him in 2^nd place on the weekly leader board. Tkacs was fishing with a family from Colorado. The wife, Kristin Smith reeled in an 80 pound halibut, her husband Thomas Smith caught a halibut about 100 pounds and 15 year-old Jackson Smith reeled in an 80 pounder. By the next day Tkacs had lost his spot in the weekly standings, but he said he was happy to be on the leader board for at least one moment of fame. Tkacs said he buys a derby ticket and definitely is a gambler but said he was glad there wasn’t a bet on board for who would have gotten sick first. “I would have won that too!” he chuckled.

Anglers are having success in Prince William Sound, catching halibut and rockfish and are excited to add Lingcod to the list of fish they can catch as the season opened July 1^st. Lingcod bag and possession limit is one per day and one in possession. Valdez Charter Captain Josh Hughes reported seeing a few pink salmon jumping in the Sound.

According to a release on the Valdez Fisheries Development Association website, the anticipated return of pink salmon to Port Valdez is 16.9 million this summer. Typically the pink salmon are available the month of July and into August. There are a couple weeks in late July and early August in Valdez where anglers enjoy catching both pink salmon and silver salmon. More and more families are finding their way to Valdez to fish for pink salmon, halibut and silver salmon and Valdez Fish Derbies is hosting a free Kids Pink Salmon Derby on Saturday, July 21^st. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby starts July 21^st so there will be a few weeks where anglers can catch both pink and silver salmon in Valdez.

The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is slated for August 11^th with an opening ceremony Friday night. The theme of this year’s Women’s Derby is “Circus” and there will be a group costume contest Friday night as well as live music and awards for the top 50 on Saturday night. CLICK HERE for details on the Women’s Derby.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

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

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

3^rd        Eric Johnson                North Pole, AK           149.0 lbs.         June 22            Sea Walker

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – June 24^th through 30^th

1^st        Tommy Early              Romeland, CA            129.2 lbs.         June 29            Blueshewes

2^nd        David Swigart             North Pole, AK           129.0 lbs.         June 30            Lena Claire

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

VALDEZ, Alaska – Local Angler Doug Cranor hooked into a derby-leading 239.0 pound halibut on June 23^rd, 2018 aboard the vessel Redhead. This Halibut earned him a winning spot on the Week Five weekly leaderboard and put him in first place overall in the 2018 halibut derby. Clayson Wiley’s 148.8 pound halibut lead has finally been broken after four weeks of topping the overall standings. Also caught on the same day, Russel Young of Fairbanks reeled in a 226.0 pound halibut aboard the Dan Orion landing him in second place overall as well as second place in the Week Five standings. Within the past four weeks, not one derby angler has broken the 200 pound mark. The first and second place halibut are well over 200 pounds and were brought in on the same day.

Pink Salmon are expected to be available by the 4^th of July weekend and should be in the Port of Valdez for the Annual Kids Pink Salmon Derby. While pinks can likely be caught July 4^th weekend, there’s a Kids Pink Salmon Derby in Valdez Saturday, July 21^st when the fish are thick in the Port. The Kids Pink Salmon Derby is free and the first 300 kids to weigh in a fish get a free t-shirt. The top three fish in four different age divisions will win a prize. There’s a free family BBQ at the end of the Derby. More information about the Kids Pink Salmon Derby and other Valdez fishing events can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com.

The silver salmon will be right on their tails, arriving in mid to late July. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby starts July 21^st..

The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is slated for August 11^th with an opening ceremony Friday night August 10^th.  The theme of this year’s Women’s Derby is “Circus” and there will be  a group costume contest Friday night as well as live music by singer songwriter Emily Anderson of Fairbanks. The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby will crown the 1^st place winner and award the title of “Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood. Valdez Fish Derbies also awards prizes for the top 50 on Saturday night. CLICK HERE for details on the Women’s Derby. Last year’s Silver Salmon Derby 1^st place winner was Chinda Heston of Valdez with a 14.88 pound silver salmon.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

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

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

3^rd           Eric Johnson       North Pole, AK                  149.0 lbs.             June 22 Sea Walker

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – June 17^th through 23^rd

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

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

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