Polaris Bar Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion Charges
Tina H. Yi of Anchorage pleaded guilty on July 3 to evading taxes on income earned from her Nome-based business, SJ Investment LLC. Yi was the sole owner and operator of SJ Investment LLC, which did business as Polaris HBL, a hotel, bar, and liquor store in Nome. Yi established the business in April 2007 […]
Inside the Effort to Get Stebbins Students Back in School
It’s day two of Stebbins’ response to a fire that destroyed the village’s only school. N95 respirators are being handed out to residents to prevent illness from toxic fumes emanating from the ruins. The city office buzzed as people came and went like worker bees in a busy hive. Daisy Katcheak, City Administrator of Stebbins, […]
Aftermath of Stebbins School Fire: Leaders Plan Recovery and Rebuild
Stebbins School seen from a Bering Air flight. Ben Townsend photo. Red rubber mulch pokes out of berms created by the Tapraq Rock crew. Ben Townsend photo. A can of tomato sauce sits in the space between the school and the shops. Witnesses reported hearing canned goods exploding as temperatures inside the school rose. Ben […]
Fire at Stebbins School: Several Buildings Destroyed
A fire at Stebbins School causes a large plume of dark grey smoke to rise into the air. Pamela Pete photo from Facebook. The Latest Last updated 6:02 a.m. 06/27/2024 A fire has broken out at Tukurngailnguq School in Stebbins. According to eyewitnesses the fire started in a shop next to the school around 7:00 […]
Goldbug Fire Grows to Over 4,500 Acres
Update 06/19/2024: The size estimate of the fire has been expanded to 7,421 acres. Six smokejumpers worked on the Goldbug Fire (#130) for two days to keep it north of the Kugruk River. After it stalled due to natural barriers, the smokejumpers demobilized Sunday and were redeployed to the Alagnak River (#144) fire in Katmai National […]
Fire In Little Diomede Destroys One Home
The fire that erupted in a home late Friday night was mostly put out within two hours, and no one was seriously injured. It’s the second major emergency for the community in less than a month.
Remains of Polaris Hotel Demolished, Being Removed; Report on Cause of Fire Still Unreleased
According to the City, Q Trucking was awarded the contract to demolish, remove, and haul away the Polaris wreckage by December 26th. In terms of what originally caused the Polaris Hotel to burn down, the investigation into the fire has essentially concluded, but Papasadora says the report is still being put together by the various entities involved.
Hotspots Contained At Polaris Hotel Site; State Investigators Examine Building Fire Remains
Nome Fire Chief Jim West, Jr., says firefighter crews were spraying down more hotspots yesterday at the site of the Polaris building. West explained that when winds shift and embers covered by metal within the building remains are sparked, then hot spots happen. Currently all hot spots have been sprayed down and taken care of.
Some Western Alaska Fires Contained, Including Blaze Near Anvik
Thanks to rain near Anvik in recent days, remaining personnel fighting the Deadman’s Slough fire should be able to relocate elsewhere sometime today, says Beth Ipsen with the Alaska Fire Service.
Nineteen New Wildfires Appear in Western Alaska Within a Day
Less than three miles away from Anvik, the Deadman’s Slough fire has spread to around 420 acres since Monday. Ipsen says the crew fighting this fire has increased in number and has contained 30% of the fire.