Tuesday
August 21, 2001
Web posted: 12:40 pm

It's been great being home again. I spent time with long-time friends, had the opportunity to meet with people I don't often get to see, and even got in some fishing.

After a weekend at Tikchik Lake and being detained by weather in Dillingham, I arrived in Kodiak just in time to attend the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge's 60th Birthday Celebration. Many say the Pelican National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, established in 1903, is the oldest refuge in the country; however, a preserve was established by Presidential Proclamation on Afognak in 1892. So, in actuality, the Kodiak refuge could lay claim to being our nation's first Wildlife Refuge.

The Refuge and tourism play an important role in Kodiak's economy. To ensure that this refuge and the city are well-equipped to host visitors, I have included funds for a new refuge center in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill, and plan to fight for this funding in conference with the House. The event was a great time, with over 200 people joining the barbeque and festivities. Refuge Manager Leslie Kerr and Fish & Wildlife Service Regional Director David Allen presented me with a cast of a footprint of one the bears that lives on the island. The plaque was made by Fish & Wildlife staff member Jeff Lewis. While there, I ran into Mary Tobin Fiorentino ­ my staff and I recently worked to help secure the release of Mary's 24-year-old nephew who was imprisoned in Russia under questionable circumstances. It was good to see a smile on her face.

While in Kodiak, Jim Jansen and Tom Walters took me to the rocket launch site and Bernie Karl gave me a tour of the adjacent lodging facilities. I then stopped by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, where Commander Jim Poetter and local members talked with me about access for the disabled to the lodge and the possibility of naming the Navy Seal facility in Kodiak after life-long Kodiak resident Kevin Lundberg who lost his life in Grenada. Lodge members also presented me with a beautiful print of their lodge, identical to the one displayed in the lobby of the VFW Hall. I look forward to displaying both this print and my new bear footprint in my office.

From Kodiak it was on to Anchorage, where I got to play the role of proud father, as my son, Ben, was sworn in as an Alaska State Senator. Following the ceremony, we attended the final celebration of the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics World Winter Games ­ Alaska. I enjoyed having some time to catch up with all those involved in the Games. The staff and volunteers did an outstanding job putting on a world-class event we can all be proud of.

While in Anchorage I visited with many Alaskans. Pat Beattie came by my office with Bering Straits Native Corporation members Henry Ivanoff, Tim Towarak, and Gail Shubert to discuss a continuing problem they are having with the IRS. Japanese Consul General Kazuo Obinata dropped by for a courtesy visit. Seward Mayor Edgar Blatchford and City Manager Scott Janke came in to talk about the Lowell Creek Tunnel.

A group from Shishmaref and Nome, as well as members of the State and Federal governments met with me regarding funding for a National Shoreline Demonstration Project for Shishmaref. Attending were Shishmaref Mayor Daniel Iyatungak, Shishmaref Community Planning Coordinator Robert Iyatungak, IRA President Tommy Obruk, and Shishmaref Erosion Coalition Chair Karen Sinnok and Vice Chair Luci Eningowuk. From Nome were Bering Straits Regional Housing Authority Executive Director Wayne Mundy, Kawerak President Loretta Bullard and Julianne Salmon with Kawerak. Also attending were Bob Stewart, Ed Holden and Michael Bird with the Alaska Division of Emergency Services, Marie Becker with Alaska Village Electric, Mike McKinnon and Jane Sanches with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Merlaine Kruse with the Department of Agriculture, Robert Sanders and Elaine Pflugh with the Corps of Engineers, Chuck Bell with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Christy Miller with the Alaska Department of Commerce & Economic Development.

I joined the Anchorage Board of Realtors at their Realtor of the Year Luncheon, where I addressed the group on issues of importance to the real estate industry, including the implementation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Appraiser Handbook. It wasn't until the appraisers, lenders, and realtors in Alaska began to review these regulations that someone noticed there were significant problems. Were it not for the diligence of the Alaska real estate community, those regulations could have been implemented without addressing the unique circumstances of our State. Following lunch I returned to my Anchorage office, where I was interviewed by local newspaper, television, and radio reporters on several issues.

After trying my luck again at some weekend fishing at Lake Clark, I returned to Anchorage Sunday evening, where my niece Angie Marquez and I joined Health & Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson for dinner. Also joining us were Federal Co-Chair of the Denali Commission Jeff Staser, Alaska Federation of Natives President Julie Kitka, Executive President of the Alaska State AFL-CIO Mano Frey, and Alaska Department of Health & Social Services Commissioner Karen Perdue. We discussed Alaska's need for health care and social service infrastructure, and the role of the Denali Commission and how it leverages federal appropriations with public and private funds. Secretary Thompson made a commitment to return to our great State next summer and bring with him his key management team, so that senior Health & Human Services staff can spend a week familiarizing themselves with our unique health and social service needs.

I joined CTIA and AT&T at their Wireless Demonstration Project at Loussac Library. CTIA's wireless foundation donated 10 Compaq computers to Loussac Library and AT&T fixed wireless donated high-speed fixed wireless service for two years. Loussac received this donation at my request. Service will be at speeds 15-25 times faster than the typical dial-up modem. It represents the cutting edge of technology that we hope to bring as quickly as possible to all areas of our State. If we had this capability in every village in Alaska, it would make an enormous difference in terms of economic diversity for our people. It is my hope that one day this type of high-speed center will be available to all Alaskans, no matter where they live.

Cook Inlet Tribal Council Director Gloria O'Neill and the Council's Director of the Alaska Native Youth Opportunities Program, M.J. Longley, came by my Anchorage office to give me some smoked salmon canned by Alaska Native youth at the Ninilchik summer camp. They updated me on the youths' accomplishments, including the planting of 101,000 trees. State Senator Dave Donley and Bruce Pozzi dropped by to talk about ANWR. Sharon and Sam French of Anchorage, Sereneti Franklin and Ken, Craig and Aral Loken of Juneau, Barbara Waters of Kenai, and Denise Ogle and Jill Wright of Anchor Point visited with me about funding for the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation.

Chairman of the Board of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Oliver Leavitt, NANA Regional Corporation President Charlie Curtis, Cook Inlet Region, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Mark Kroloff, and Sealaska Corporation President and CEO Chris McNeil dropped by to discuss the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Tony Vaska with the Association of Alaska Housing Authorities, Dawn Lorie and Steve Dick with First National Bank of Anchorage, and Marlin Knight with the Department of Housing and Urban Development stopped by to discuss a new lending program for Native tribes.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Knowles David Ramseur and Northern Forum Executive Director John Doyle came in to update me on the current funding levels and future plans for the Forum. Vic Fisher with the University of Alaska and I met to discuss funding for projects to improve and strengthen our relationship with Chukotka. Alaska Federation of Natives President Julie Kitka and Vice President Nelson Angapak, Sr. came by my office with Jimmy Smith and Matthew Nicolai of Calista Corporation, Felix Hess of Anchorage, Michelle Sparck of Alaska Village Council Presidents, and Greg Roczicka to share their thoughts on subsistence.

While in town, Catherine and I were guests at a dinner hosted by Ed and Cathy Rasmuson. The dinner introduced visiting grantmakers participating in an educational tour of Alaska to community leaders. The purpose of the grantmakers' tour was to learn more about opportunities to invest in worthwhile Alaskan organizations. Among those attending were Mr. Peter Berliner, Program Officer, Paul G. Allen Foundations; Ms. Susan Berresford, President, The Ford Foundation; Mr. Michael Finley, President, Turner Foundation; Mr. Thomas C. Layton, President, The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation; Mr. Jose Oromi, Community Programs Director, U.S. Programs SAVE The Children; Dr. Steven Schroeder, President, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and Ms. Miriam Shark, Senior Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation. The following morning I addressed this group at the Alaska Heritage Library about Alaska's need for infrastructure improvements, for development of health and social services, and for assistance for our cultural institutions. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the unique needs of our State with leading members of the philanthropic community.

Catherine and I also spent an enjoyable evening in Anchorage listening to pianist Juliana Osinchuk at the Anchorage Festival of Music's Young Alaska Artist Scholarship Recital, where Soprano Jennifer Bacon was featured.

From Anchorage, I traveled to Fairbanks which I'll fill you in on in my next report.

Senator Ted Stevens' Web Site