Cool Alaska Things

Alaska Video Reader Check it Out!
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/newsreader/videoreader/

**********************************************************************************

Alaska Facts: http://tundramedicinedreams.blogspot.com/2007/04/big.html
**********************************************************************************

Barrow Captain Simeon Patkotak's crew landed the seventh whale in Barrow this spring on Monday. The whale was harpooned around 2 a.m. when the whalers broke a hole in the slush ice and it came up to breathe. It was a male measuring 36 feet, 4 inches. Watch the video at
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6499174&nav=menu510_3_1_6
**********************************************************************************

**********************************************************************************

5/21/07 Anchorage Big Wild Life Video http://www.49threel.com/preview12.html
**********************************************************************************

2007 Chugiak HS Fastpitch Sofball Season

Published: June 6, 2007 Last Modified: June 6, 2007 at 04:28 AM
Chugiak catcher named softball Gatorade Player of the Year

Chugiak High softball player Joanna Schultz "Wog"earned Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year honors on Tuesday, making her eligible for the national award. Schultz, a 5-foot-9 senior, was instrumental in helping the 14-1 Mustangs win the Cook Inlet Conference regular-season title.
She batted .526 with six doubles, four triples and three home runs in 15 games. She drove in 17 runs and scored 23. More impressive was her lofty 1.132 slugging percentage. "She's lit a fire with the hitting, and the slugging percentage has gone through the roof," Chugiak coach Jim Iagulli said in a press release. In addition to her offensive prowess, Schultz is one of the top defensive catchers in the state. "No one runs on her," Iagulli added. "She controls runners as soon as they get on. They don't move." Schultz, who graduated with a B average, will attend Humboldt State in Arcata, Calif., next fall. She plans to walk on the softball team. Catch Schultz in action Friday and Saturday at the high school softball state championships at Cartee Fields. Chugiak's opener is noon Friday against Lathrop.

**********************************************************************************

6/01/07: The Cugiak Lady Mustangs completed the season 18-1 this Friday. Now it's off to the State Tourney in Anchorage where they will face stiff competition from East, Bartlett, Juneau, and North Pole. Morg's team is pretty tough and I personally think we are in a good position to bring home a state championship.

**********************************************************************************

ALASKA SOFTBALL TEAMS
COOK INLET CONFERENCE
Chugiak 6, Dimond 2
Published: May 20, 2007 Last Modified: May 20, 2007 at 07:07 AM
HiGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL -- Morgan Payovich knocked out two doubles with an RBI and Chugiak downed Dimond at Albrecht Softball Complex.

*********************************************************************************

School Conference Season as of 5/22/07
Morg's HS Team is Chugiak
**Chugiak 10-1 13-1**
Bartlett 9-3 10-3**
East Anchorage 8-3 10-3**
Eagle River 5-6 6-6**
Service 4-8 4-8**
Dimond 4-7 6-13**
West Anchorage 3-8 3-8**
South Anchorage 2-9 6-11**

**********************************************************************************

05/19/07: It's good to have 'Wog' on your side !
CHUGIAK'S ROCK: Mustangs softball team leans on catcher Schultz.
Mustangs are the top team in the Cook Inlet Conference due in part to their senior catcher. Joanna Schultz, who goes by her childhood nickname, "Wog," is a four-year varsity player who many consider the best all-around catcher in the league, Iagulli said. In 11 games, the right-hander is hitting .528 with 12 RBIs, four doubles two triples and three home runs -- two of which cleared the fence. "She's getting better every year," Iagulli said.

Schultz continued her hitting tear Friday as the first-place Mustangs faced their rivals and the defending state champion Eagle River Wolves at Lions Park in Eagle River.

Chugiak is in a excellent position to win its first state championship since 2003.



*******************************************************************************

Chugiak High School's Morgan Payovich, slides under the intended tag of Eagle River High School second baseman Nicole Galligan during the Mustangs' 8-1 win over the Wolves Saturday on the Delaney Fields on the Anchorage Park Strip. Chugiak is unbeaten through the fist four games of the season, while the defending state champions, Eagle River, is 2-2
PHOTO BY DAN SHEPARD

Goodbye Tanner, We Love You & We Will Miss You. 1993 – 2007

Due to Tanners deteriorating health, we made the agonizing decision to have him put to rest on April 16, 2007. We could not selfishly watch him suffer no more. He went peacefully. Brooke slept with Tanner on the floor of her room with Tanner's head resting on her chest the nght before.

Should the Great Master see fit to deprive me of my health, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest, and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.

Where do you begin when you lose your beloved lab after 14 ½ years? It’s ok, but then again it’s not really – ok.

Tanner was so much more than a pet. He was a best friend, a cherished member of the family, a "listener" if you needed one, and a companion. His unconditional love and devotion was not only a fresh of breath air but such a comfort to this family. There wasn't a family member or immediate neighbor who didn't adore Tanner. He always made you feel good no matter how bad the world around you made you feel at the time.

Dee and I drove out to Palmer, Alaska when Brooke and Morgan were two years old to pick the girls out a registered “birthday lab”. Tanner was the last of a large litter and I wandered “what’s wrong with him?” As it turned out, nothing was wrong with Tanner. We ended up with a huge 110# block head lab that had the disposition of everything you would want for your kids.

He was house broken from day one, didn’t lick, never barked (except at the door bell), and never begged for food. He weathered 80 degrees as well as -30 below. Though we never utilized him as a bird dog, this guy loved the water. He spent endless hours swimming in Fire and Mirror lakes. He was always at our side through our endless walks. Tanner was amazing at opening birthday and Christmas gifts, which amazed everyone who watched. Of course, the last three years he was a constant companion at the foot of our bed, which was an upgrade from the floor beside our bed. The memories of him and the kids playing ball in our front yard, and his love of running up the playground slide stairs and sliding down with our kids comes rushing back now with a rush of emotion. Tanner was such a wonderful addition to our lives.

This is tough. Tough on Dee and I, but especially tough on Brooke, Morgan, and Tyler; who have cherished the “Old Guy” for so many years. This house seems so empty without him. We lost something that was so special.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt and maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

Glacier Bears's U16 Team Wins State Championship In Shootout!!

Athlete of the Week
Ryan Felvarg, 15, was named the McDonald's Athlete of Week after helping the Eagle River Glacier Bears Hockey Association to two state championship games. Felvarg, an Eagle River High School freshman, won a state title for the Bears' U16C team, stopping five attempts in the shootout, during his team's 3-2 win over the Mighty Moose Sunday. He is the son of Larry Felvarg of Eagle River.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, March 22, 2007.

Morgan's Glacier Bear U16C coach Ron Kuczak said that justice was served and karma fulfilled in the Bear's exciting shooting victory over the South Anchorage Mighty Moose in the Alaska State Midget 16 and Under Championship Sunday at the McDonald Recreation Center.
“It has always been a back and forth affair between us and them,” said Kuczak of the match between the two league-leading teams.

Friday, the Moose defeated the Comets 4-1, with the Bears managing a 1-1 tie with Big Lake, good for a point. Two points were allotted for victories. Saturday, the Bears defeated the Comets 3-1 and the Moose 4-3 to yield five tournament points, with the Mighty Moose second with four.
The Glacier Bears asserted themselves quickly in the title game, scoring in the contest's first minute with forward Cody Cousins depositing the puck in the Moose's net off assists from Sam Strobe and Brandon Burmeister.
The Mighty Moose hammered Glacier Bear goalie Ryan Felvarg repeatedly with quality shots, but were denied until in the closing second of the first period, which tied the game.

Kuczak thought the shot was taken after time had expired, but when the buzzer failed to sound immediately and after a lengthy discussion between Kuczak and the officials, the goal was left to stand.

Slightly demoralized, the Bears came out a little flat in the second, with the Moose capitalizing on the opportunity to take a 2-1 lead early in the second period.

Both teams then locked into a defensive battle with the middle ground of neutral ice securely monitored by the Glacier Bears' trio of Chad Bouwens, Cody Kollman and Casey Volk.

Then midway through the third, with both teams short on energy, the Bear's Sam Strobe skated the puck up the middle of the ice to tie the score on a 25-foot shot. The goal was Strobe's only one of the season, noted the coach.

The Glacier Bears then scored less than a minute later, but the goal was waved off when it was ruled that the team had a player in the crease.

“There was no way that he (Cody Cousins) was in the crease. He was screening the goalie from the shot, but he wasn't in the crease,” said Kuczak.

At the end of regulation, with the scored tied 2-2, the two teams played a 10-minute sudden-death overtime with neither scoring, leading to a five-player shootout.

Kuczak said he felt confident in the shootout, familiar with goalie Felvarg's talents.
The Glacier Bear's first shooter, Ian Brown, scored what would be the championship-winning goal with a wrist shot high to the glove side of the Mighty Moose goaltender.

Immediately after the Moose' fifth shooter was denied, the Glacier Bears vacated their bench and stormed Felvarg a couple of strides outside his crease.
Kuczak said he was pleased with the team's accomplishments throughout the season.

Morgan Payovich contributed a goal and an assist in the team's early 2-1 lead over the AHA Comets in route to the Glacier Bears 3-1 win Saturday, the coach said. Payovich was not able to play in the semi or championship game due to a parent protest that she also plays on a nationally bound team - TeamAlaska Selects U-16 Girls Team. Payovich also played on the combined Eagle River-Chugiak team, which were runner-ups in this years girls High School Championships. As it turned out, it was essentially sour grapes, and she should of been allowed to play. Never the less, she took it like a true trooper and the team prevailed anyway despite suiting up only ten players. Three other players were out of state with their parents over spring break. It's amazing, given all of the diversity facing this team in a State Tournament that they prevailed anyway!

Of course, the losing South Anchorage Moose team showed such dis-respect after the game that their coach fumed about the officiating - even though their team only had five penalties while the Glacier Bears had 10, twice as many! The South Anchorage Moose coach also approached the reporter and requested that the game and his players names were not allowed to be printed in the local newspaper. This was all followed by a mother of one of the players for the Moose pushing a Glacier Bear mother following the game! Absolutely the worst display of sportsmanship I have ever witnessed. I guess the ultra-rich South Anchorage team was upset that they could not buy the State Championship. The bottom line is we beat them twice in the tournement and we were the better team on that day!

“It was our turn. Even though we hadn't won a tournament all year. No matter what happened, they couldn't take this one away from us,” said Kuzcak.

The tournament squad included Brandon Burmeister, Chad Bouwens, Logan Broach, Ian Brown, Cody Cousins, Ryan Felvarg, Cody Graham, Cody Kollman, Morgan Payovich, Sam Strobe and Casey Volk. Other team members included Sean Koek, Quentin Martinez, Jordan Schneider, Bill Sonday and Bob Sonday.

Something Besides Hockey? OK?

Eagle River Glacier Bears Boys U16 Presidents Day Tourney

Morgans ERGB Boys U16 hockey team were once again runners up (2nd place) at the Presidents Day Tounement February 9-11, 2007 at the Dempsey Anderson arena in Anchorage.

Redhot Dimond-West bests Chugiak-Eagle River Girls in Alaska High School State Championship Game

Click on Photos to Enlarge. Besure to Hit the "Back"
Button to Return to Blog


Chugiak-Eagle River girls hockey team members and assistant coach Eric Thompson listen in during a timeout in the last two minutes of the team's 2-0 Cook Inlet Conference championship game loss to Dimond-West Friday at the McDonald Recreation Center. The team advanced into the title game with a 4-2 win over South-Bartlett earlier in the week.
PHOTO BY DAN SHEPARD

Despite outshooting Dimond-West 24-14, the combined Chugiak-Eagle River girls hockey team found themselves on the short side of the scoreboard in a 2-0 decision in the Cook Inlet Conference Tournament championship game Friday at the McDonald Recreation Center.
Even the home ice advantage and a large, supportive fan base couldn't help the local squad against West High senior goalie Emi Williams, who elevated her game to an incredible level, helping fourth-ranked Dimond-West to a 2-1 upset win over top-seeded Service-East two days earlier following seven overtimes.

31st Annual Kenai Peninsula Winter Games.

The Eagle River Glacier Bears were runner-ups in the Kenai Peninsula Winter Games January 20 - January 28, 2007. After 5 games the kids got a well deserved shot at the championship. Unfortunately, they came up against a worthy foe and walked away with second place.

Morgan scored a goal in all but the first and championship games.

Connecticut Polar Bears 22nd Annual Holiday Tournament

UPDATE: TeamAlaska played in the U17A division, which had 4 divisions. Each division had 6 teams respectively, 24 teams in all. The squads in TeamAlaska’s division were as follows:

§ Middlesex Islanders, MA
§ Minuteman Lady Flames, MA
§ New Jersey Selects
§ Rhode Island Panthers
§ Team Alaska
§ Troy Albany Ice Cats, NY

Game 1: TeamAlaska 2 New Jersey Selects 0
Game 2: TeamAlaska 0 Troy Albany Ice Cats, NY 1
Game 3: TeamAlaska 8 Rhode Island Panthers Blue 5
Game 4: TeamAlaska 2 Middlesex Islanders, MA 2

TeamAlaska had to win game 4 against the Middlesex Islanders, MA team in order to move on to the quarter finals. Unfortunately it ended in a tie, ending a respectable showing from our girls.

It’s worth mentioning that the Middlesex Islanders, MA team won the U17A division in OT against the Ohio Phantom Flames. If we had beaten them we may have been able to win the title! Awesome job ladies. You proved to yourselves that you can play with the best!

Toni Marie Payovich

Toni Marie Payovich, 52. Our beloved sister Toni died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at her home in Casper, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by family and loved ones. She was born July 11, 1954, in Red Lodge, Montana.

In life, Toni was an independent trucker – an owner operator. By this I mean – Toni did it her way – No Restraints – No Regrets – her Whole Life. The motto “What you see is what you get” was written with Toni in mind. By the way, if you have not already figured it out -“Politically Correct” was not in Toni’s vocabulary. Toni always had an ability to “Call It Like She Seen it.”

To know Toni was to know a fishing buddy, a hunting partner, a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, an acquaintance to share a cocktail with, and mostly to know a friend. And frankly, nobody messed with Toni’s friends.

In life, some folks are takers and some folks are givers. We all know which one Toni was – Toni said “NO” to “NO-ONE.”

Toni didn’t have a lazy bone in her body. She could outwork most men.

Over the years she has provided all of us room, board, transportation, loans, and at times - even bail money.

Nobody will deny that the good Lord broke the mold when he made Toni.

It is undeniable that when the going got tough – Toni got going. Even as Toni battled her illness she always answered “I’m fine” when asked how she was feeling.

Toni’s travels took her from Red Lodge, to Butte, to Oberlin KS with our cousin Wayne, to Cooke City – where she lived year round in a one room log cabin with her dog Nakea, a couple of squirrels and snow blowing through the gaps in the chinking in the logs. It was during this period that Toni met her life companion – Dianne Davis. As you know, Toni & Dianne moved to Casper in 1981 where they have remained for the past 25 years.

Through all her life Toni was always strong, sturdy, robust, durable, fiercely dedicated to her friends and family and always full of humor and laughter. All of us should be lucky enough to enjoy the life-long friendships Toni developed in her lifetime.

Toni had a special relationship with animals ever since she was little girl hanging out on her grandparents’ farm. Toni was as dedicated to her animals as she was her human friends, especially her dogs Nakea, Bear, and Shep.

Nobody knew Toni better or recognizes everything I just said better than the lady who has spent the past 25 years at Toni’s side – her dedicated companion – Dianne Davis. Dianne you ARE family and always will be family. We are so sorry for your loss.

If Toni were here right now, to leave with you some parting words, I know Toni would want all of you to take with you these final thoughts, going forward, which mirror her life.

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their views, and demand that they respect yours.

Love your life, perfect your life, and beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place.

Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.

Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home. Toni was our hero.

The most visible creators I know of – are those artists whose medium is life itself.

The ones who express the inexpressible ~ without brush, hammer, clay or guitar. They neither paint nor sculpt ~ their medium is BEING.

Whatever their presence touches has increased life. They see and don't have to draw. Toni was an artists at being ALIVE ... this was our beloved sister.

How we will miss her, her smile, her enthusiasm, her energy, and her laughter.

We only wish we could have spent more time in her presence.

So now, Toni is back in the Lord’s arms; please take care of Toni, you've got a special one there.

We are all just thankful for the time we had with her.

We all have had so many magic moments in which to share.

We know God was proud of Her work, and He too, didn't want to spend anymore time apart, because beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, and Toni was truly beautiful – One of the Lord’s Masterpieces.

Thank you Toni – for the life you have led.

Thank you for your example and friendship throughout our lives. You will be cherished forever. You will be truly missed by us and by all who have known you.
Toni’s favorite motto that hung in her and Dianne’s house.

Travel Light In Life, Take Only What You Need, A Loving Family, And Friends, And Simple Pleasures, Someone To Love, And Someone To Love You, Enough To Eat, Enough To Wear, And A Little More Than Enough To Drink – For Thirst Is A Dangerous Thing!