Fishing is Good in Valdez
Courtesy Valdez Fisheries Development Assoc., Christine Auble

ALASKA FISHERMAN SURVIVES FRIGID FOUR-MILE FLOAT DOWN COPPER RIVER AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES
ADN- After a successful day of dip netting on Alaska's Copper River, Chitna resident David Bruss was hauling his catch of red salmon across the turbulent water on Wednesday in a motorized kayak. In an instant, his load shifted, the boat flipped and Bruss was neck-deep in the 40-degree water.  While Bruss' life jacket probably saved his life, the Chitina man's knowledge of the river helped, too. The Chitina resident's journey downriver lasted more than 20 minutes and, according to the charter that eventually spotted him, covered four miles. 
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PINK SALMON, SILVER SALMON, LING COD AND HALIBUT IN VALDEZ

Another 200 pound plus halibut made its way to Valdez and the Halibut Derby leader board. Kim Steiger of Westchester, PA pulled in a 211 pound halibut July 5^th aboard the Halibut Grove. According to Alaska Department of Fish and Game, anglers should keep an eye out for silver salmon as reports are trickling in of a few early catches further out in the Sound. Pink salmon are definitely in. Pink salmon fishing has been very productive at Allison Point with anglers catching their limit in a matter of hours.  READ PRESS RELEASE

FIVE ATHLETES WITH ALASKA TIES COMPETE IN OLYMPIC TRIALS
Janay DeLoach- Eielson AFB, made the Olympic team by finishing third in the women's long jump.  She won a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics. Allie Ostrander of Soldotna finished eighth in Sunday's final. She won't get to compete in Rio but made the final by posting the fourth-fastest time (15:27.13) in Thursday's preliminary rounds. Former Bartlett High shot putter Jordan Clarke finished ninth in the men's shot put and Ketchikan's Isaac Updike closed a breakthrough season by finishing 12^th in the men's steeplechase. Also, Paige Blackburn of Soldotna finished 21^st in the women's discus.
READ MORE about track and field. 
Corey Cogdell-Unrein, the Eagle River trapshooter who already owns an Olympic medal, will also gun for more Olympic glory this summer in Rio de Janiero. READ MORE

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

The next meeting will be Monday, July 25th.

MELTING ARCTIC ICE MEANS BETTER INTERNET FOR ALASKA
weather.com- While the loss of Arctic ice is a daunting reality, residents in the more remote areas of Alaska have a silver lining in the form of an extensive fiber optic cable that would bring them better internet access.
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LYNX TRAPPING AND HUNTING REDUCED BY EMERGENCY ORDER
Trapping and hunting seasons for lynx in game management units 14A, 14B and 16 have been reduced by emergency order for 2016-2017. For more information, contact Todd Rinaldi in Palmer at (907) 746-6325.

KIDS' PINK SALMON DERBY
PAST WINNERS
With the Kid’s Pink Salmon Derby just around the corner (July 23^rd), let’s take a look back and previous years’ winners.
2015 WINNERS

Age 5-7 – Jace Branshaw of Valdez, AK- 6.22 lbs.

Age 8-10 – Calvin Todd of Fairbanks, AK- 5.40 lbs.

Age 11-13 – Aaron Williams of Fairbanks, AK – 5.46 lbs.

Age 14-16 – Logan Heckathorn of Valdez, AK – 5.28 lbs.
TOP TEN WINNERS

Place	Name	Year	Age Group	Weight	Hometown
1	Theron Lee	2012	14-16	7.92 lbs.	Winfield, AL
2	Janaea Kock	2010	8-10	7.78 lbs.	Valdez, AK
3	Janissa Arzie	2010	14-16	7.60 lbs.	Chugiak, AK
4	Kailey Fowlkes	2012	11-13	7.53 lbs.	North Pole, AK
5	Aaron Williams	2014	11-13	7.50 lbs.	Fairbanks, AK
6	Jonathan Dupee	2012	5-7	7.46 lbs.	Fairbanks, AK
7	Riley King	2012	8-10	7.36 lbs.	Valdez, AK
8	Brynn Illingworth	2012	8-10	7.32 lbs.	North Pole, AK
9	Clayton Hill	2012	8-10	7.00 lbs.	Palmer, AK
10	Canyon McAllister	2010	11-13	6.92 lbs.	Valdez, AK

CLICK HERE for more information on this year’s derby.

ALASKA PRIMARY ELECTION APPROACHING, DEADLINE TO REGISTER THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, July 17th is the deadline to register to vote or to update your name, residence address or party affiliation for the August 16th Alaska primary election.  CLICK HERE for online forms.
 
SUMMER ART CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Parks & Rec announced the winners of their Summer Art Contest.

Division 13+: Ryan McCune

Division 0-12: Amelia Alex
The Silent Auction for the donated halibuts will begin on Thursday, July 7th. All proceeds will benefit the Valdez Gold Rush Days Scholarship Fund.

 

	Name	Hometown	Weight	Date	Boat
1st	David Jamison	Fairbanks, AK	253 lbs	May 29	Nanatuk
2nd	Kim Steiger	Westchester, PA	211.0 lbs	July 5	Halibut Grove
3rd	Jeff Leaverton	Madisonville, LA	174.4 lbs	June 16	Dan Orion

CLICK HERE to read weekly press release.

EARTH FROM SPACE:
MALASPINA GLACIER, ALASKA
The Sentinel-2A satellite takes us over southeastern Alaska to the Malaspina Glacier. The climate and topography of this area over the last 12.5 million years have been favourable for glaciers. During the Ice Age, a vast ice sheet covered this spot. When temperatures rose, an interglacial period began.
SEE VIDEO & READ MORE

LIVE STREAMING
ALASKAN WILDLIFE CAMS
KATMAI BEAR CAM- BROOK FALLS
CLICK HERE to watch bears in Katmai as they fish for Salmon. 
WALRUS CAM AT ROUND ISLAND
See what the walruses are doing HERE.
MENDENHALL BEAVER DEN CAM
Live streaming of a beaver den at the Mendenhall Glacier using an infrared camera.  CLICK HERE to view.
CLIFF CAM- ROUND ISLAND
CLICK HERE to see current activity

VALDEZ COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICER HANDLES MISCELLANEOUS ANIMAL REPORTS
7/5 - While on patrol the Community Service Officer was on standby to make sure a brown bear went back into the woods.
7/10 - A caller reported a baby bird had fallen out of its nest.  The Community Safety Officer responded to the residence to investigate.