Shrinking Sea Ice
![An aerial view of near-shore ocean ice near the village of Shaktoolik, Alaska.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2016-01-08-static-misc-001-2432px-1200x800.jpg)
KNOM airs three daily reports of sea ice location in Western Alaska. This information has been especially important lately, as local sea ice cover has continued to decline, year over year, bringing severe impacts to our listeners.
Norway’s Ulsom Wins Iditarod
![At Iditarod finish line, musher interacts with race officials and smiles for press photos.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-03-16-joar-ulsom-finish-lia-nydes-005-1200x800.jpg)
Last month marked another running of Alaska’s epic, 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. 2018 brought a fresh face to the roster of race champions — and saw KNOM volunteer alumni on the trail, both as reporters and even as a competitor.
At 2018 Finisher’s Banquet, Tales from a Difficult Iditarod
![A trophy of Joe Redington, Sr. — known as the father of the Iditarod — awaits the 2017 champion at the finisher's banquet in Nome on Sunday afternoon.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-03-19-Iditarod-Banquet-Joe-Redington-Sr-Trophy-iPad-1200x800.jpg)
During the 2018 Nome banquet, each Iditarod finisher collected their winnings and took time to express gratitude. Although he didn’t finish this year’s Iditarod, veteran musher Scott Janssen was given the sportsmanship award for helping to rescue fellow musher Jim Lanier near the notoriously unpredictable stretch of Iditarod Trail known as the “blowhole.”
Several Western Alaska Teams Competing in State Basketball Tournament, On to Semi-Finals
![](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MG_5458-DA-Basket-Ball-2432px-1200x800.jpg)
Out of all the qualifying single A teams from the region, only Aniak and Scammon Bay girls’ teams are moving on. In the boys’ bracket, the Shishmaref Northern Lights fell to Newhalen by three points in the quarter final round on Thursday. The Unalakleet boys emerged triumphant from their bracket after downing Cordova 53 to 36.
Western Alaska Basketball Teams Battle It Out In Regional Championships
![The Nome Nanooks, in white, take on the Barrow Whalers, in purple, on the basketball court at Nome-Beltz Junior-Senior High School](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3G7A3640-2-1200x800.jpg)
Shaktoolik, Shishmaref and Unalakleet come out on top of regional 1A and 2A tournaments. The Nome Nanooks head to Anchorage for their 3A Western Conference championship, while two Nanook cross-country skiiers have success in Anchorage.
Unalakleet, Shishmaref Compete At State Volleyball Tournament
![Shishmaref, in black and white uniforms, takes on Gustavus, across the net, in red and black](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171130_163515-1200x900.jpg)
The Unalakleet Wolfpack and Shishmaref Northern Lights volleyball teams headed to Anchorage last weekend to compete in the State Mixed-Six Tournament. Shishmaref made it to the quarterfinals.
UAF Storm Surge Research Project Underway in Coastal Communities Facing Erosion
![UAF's storm surge sensor set up in Shaktoolik to gather data on wave levels and more for NOAA weather forecasts. Photo Credit: Davis Hovey, KNOM (2017)](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Storm-Surge-Sensor-900x1200.jpg)
With the future probability of winter storms and the threat of flooding and erosion in coastal communities like Shaktoolik, UAF’s Jeremy Kasper hopes that the storm surge sensors will contribute to more accurate weather and storm forecasts, which could help community preparedness.
Troopers Notified Of Deceased Minor in Shaktoolik; Cause of Death Unknown
![An Alaska State Trooper cruiser. Photo: Matthew F. Smith, KNOM file.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Nome-Troopers-2432px-1200x800.jpg)
Early Saturday morning, Troopers were informed of the death of an 11-year-old boy. Troopers say no foul play is suspected in the boy’s death, although the cause of death is unknown at this time.
Elder Voices: Dina Sagoonick
![](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016-01-08-winter-010-2432px-1200x900.jpg)
In Shaktoolik, Dina grew up traveling by dog sled, praising God, and supporting her family.
An (Ancient) Race Against Time
![An archaeologist holds a large slate point in a grassy field](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016-11-01-static-misc-003.jpg)
Rural Alaska is an exceptional place for archaeologists to make new discoveries. But in Shaktoolik, as KNOM’s Story49 recently chronicled, researchers are scrambling to uncover the past — before it’s lost forever.