Weight restrictions are posted on Kasilof roads as of March 24. A myth has road maintenance men sticking long poles in potholes. When they feel an automobile, weight limits are assigned. Actually, there are 10 probes located in the highway between Anchorage and Homer. A hole was drilled, and the six-foot long probes were installed through the asphalt and wired to pedestals. Some of these are hooked to phone lines, sending information to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the University of Alaska and other agencies. Information from the other probes is obtained by a site visit. The probes record the temperature every three inches for the first foot and every six inches for the next five feet. By this information the DOT knows when to put up the weight restrictions. A DOT worker told me the date for putting up the signs is about typical, maybe a couple days early.

Quite a bit of thought went on at the Borough Assembly over the past couple years regarding roads. Terry Cowart, a Kasilof land developer, was very involved in the process. He attended numerous meetings about “roads” and “material sites” or gravel pits. He developed written analysis and suggestions for changes in borough code and advised against adopting an ordinance requiring the construction of roads in some subdivisions before the Borough approves subdivision plats. Terry’s opinions were respected and that ordinance was not approved.

Mary Toll is another Kasilovian involved in roads. She has been a platting officer for the borough since 1990 and has been the head platting officer for several years. Mary and Terry attended a March 17 meeting of the Borough Roads Service Area Board to offer their expertise on a stream-crossing ordinance. Before the assembly now is the matter of protecting stream habitat at road and trail crossings. Millie Martin of Homer was the only member of the assembly in attendance, but 27 other interested people were sardined in the room. Everyone there seemed sincerely interested in protecting salmon, and a consensus arose that the borough code should require the use of an engineer to design each stream crossing. Several people lamented about the cost but an engineer was present and thought that the simplest engineering job over the smallest anadromous stream might run as high as $3,000 - $5,000. Given the value of salmon to the people of the Borough and the high cost to tax payers for fixing stream crossings run amok, engineering gained favor.

It has been reported that an unknown person planted wooden tulips in Mary Toll’s yard last week. Of curse, this can only be a message from Woden Two Lips, the ancient Viking god. For sure he means to send kisses Kasilof way. Spring will be early and salmon in the river will be standing room only.

Solid rumor has Bob Vanderwege chosen as the new Tustumena School principal. His wife, Carol, has been the Title 1 teacher at Tustumena in the past.

A community Health Fair will be held on April 5, 9 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Soldotna High School. For blood work, don’t forget to fast for 12 hours prior.

Alaska State Parks is planning to invest $300,000 in Johnson Lake State Recreational Area, a site that sees almost 24,000 annual visitors. The money is for deferred maintenance and will be used in 2009 for the following priorities:
1. Replace and relocate the well.
2. Install a toilet between the boat launch and the day use area.
3. Upgrade campground loop to include 15 “back-ins,” each with a gravel campsite, picnic table, fire pit and tent pad.
4. Erect a centrally located entrance station / orientation kiosk.
5. Develop road alignment and parking for efficient circulation and day-use.
6. Repair picnic tables and fire pits as necessary.
Parks continues to invite public comment on the project and recently held two local hearings to gather information. They hope to encourage lakeside vegetation, both to prevent erosion and to beautify the shoreward view from boats. Johnson Lake is for non-motorized boating, fishing and swimming. The Department of Fish and Game stocks the lake with 7” trout. The first stocking is April 29, in conjunction with Salmon Celebration. This is a yearly event that many Peninsula schools and the public participate in. F&G plans to release 5,800 trout at the first stocking and an additional 3,200 in late June. These fish are grown at Elmendorf Hatchery on Ship Creek in Anchorage.

F&G is planning a second project in Kasilof, this one for $3,500,000. Federal funds are earmarked to contribute $750,000 and the remaining $2,750,000 will come from the state. The project would establish a boat launch on the lower Kasilof River and was approved by the legislature in 2007 but vetoed by Governor Palin. On March 18, 2008 it was again approved by the legislature. Two sites are considered for the project: Ed’s Kasilof Seafoods off Satori Way, or Foxhills Estates Subdivision.
In the two years that this project has simmered, promoters have failed to invite Kasilovians to participate in a single, local public hearing. Dissent over this issue has echoed through my e-mail like a cherry bomb in Quiet Canyon. Complaints are based on four things: Satori Way neighbors are terrified about thunderous traffic. Kenai Area Fisherman’s Coalition, a sportfishing group, says the project would provide an outlet for 2-cycle outboards displaced by a recent ban from the Kenai River. They fear the current drift-boat friendly Kasilof could suffer habitat losses and become a motor razed zoo. Commercial fishers fear a motorized influx might change the dynamics of the person-use fishery or impact king salmon. The Kasilof Historical Association wants to be assured that if Ed’s Kasilof Seafoods passes into public hands, the historic values thus inherited will be protected. Ed’s has a long history. In the early 1920s Al Hardy started a fox farm there. Al drowned and his widow married Heine Berger, who built a dock for his shipping business.

Promoters want to get the money and then listen to input. Since their advice hasn’t been sought, locals doubt it will be taken seriously once promoters have the money.

Per Osmar and Jennifer Dulmage are hosting the 7th annual Clam Gulch New Year’s Eve Procrastinator’s Ball at 3 p.m. on March 29 at Clam Gulch Lodge. Remember, Clam Shell Lodge and Clam Gulch Lodge are not the same. The ball is at the one south of the tower.

Happy Birthday 90th birthday on March 28 to Glenn Bush of Coal Creek Estates.

Easter is fast heading our way, like it was coming from the canon of Scripture! Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Good Friday is on the equinox, March 21 this year. In Kasilof, the full moon will rise at 9:07 p.m. that evening and set at 7:43 a.m. March 22. This might be a good night to watch the sky, and think. The cycle of Easter dates supposedly repeats every 5,700,000 years. Lots of zeros there for a skeptic; I say we wait and see.

On the Sterling Highway, Kasilof has three churches holding Easter services: Reflection Lake Chapel, mile 103, at 11:00; Kasilof Community Church next to the Mercantile, at 9:00 and 11:00; Blessed Hope Baptist Church, mile 111.5, at 10:30. New Life Christian Fellowship at Kalifornsky Beach Road mile 1 has Easter services at 8:30 & 10:30. Several of hese churches feature a meal beteen or after the service.

The annual Kasilof Easter Egg hunt is 2 p.m. March 22 at Tustumena School. Better bring boots. Shawna Wolk used to do most of the funding and organization of this event. Tosha Checketts and friends from Kasilof have yoked themselves with this responsibility of late. They are raffling off a DVD player, gift certificates, games, and much more, all in one Easter basket. The basket is on display at Kasilof Mercantile where tickets are also sold, $3 each or 2 for $5. The drawing will be held after the eggs are found, proceeds go to fund future Easter egg hunts.

Good news from Kasilof Public Library! They just purchased a skookum bunch of new books. The library is located in Tustumena School and is open Mon, Tue, and Thu 3-6 p.m. The librarian, Katja Wolfe, is hopeful that people will begin using their local library more. Katja is also asking for a little help in May when she will be out of town. Volunteers can fill in at the library for one day or several.

Some Kasilof and Cohoe students are achieving honors at Skyview High School. Tasha Brown lives off south Cohoe Loop on Powder Keg Ave. She is ranked #1 scholastically with a gpa of 4.084. She participates in Drama-Debate-Forensics, National Honor Society, National Ocean Bowl, Soccer, Track, and UA scholars; Scott Begins, also of south Cohoe Loop has a 3.99 gpa; Thomas Osterman lives between Scott and Tasha and has a gpa of 3.95; Patrick Sheridan of Irish Hills Road in Kasilof has a gpa of 3.878.

Cohoe musher Paul Gephardt won 8th place in the Iditarod and his neighbor, Colleen Robertia, won first place in the Two Rivers 200 sled dog race on March 8. That race finished in a wintry sprint with her edging out the 2nd place finisher by 15 seconds. Colleen won the trophy and $1,800, $500 of which was in gold coins. Her husband, Joseph Robertia, was present to provide moral support and help with logistics. Two Rivers is just northeast of North Pole, which, I suppose, puts it nearer the moon than most places.

Dillon Henry of Irish Hills Road is a Soldotna Middle School 7th grader who took 3rd among 151 contestants at the 2008 state spelling bee. This February 29 event held a crowd spellbound in Anchorage. The top two finishers qualified for the national spelling bee in Washington D.C. Adian Coyle, a 7th grader from Homer took 2nd and a Wasilla boy won first. This was Dillon’s fourth consecutive year to participate in the state bee. During previous years he represented Tustumena Elementary School.

Dillon is not the first Tustumena-taught speller to get a taste of prize honey. 1959 was the first year for the state spelling bee and that same year Tustumena begin hosting an Annual Kenai Peninsula Teacher’s Association spelling contest. Competing with schools from Anchor Point, Homer, Ninilchik, Kenai and Seward, Verda Bice of Tustumena won 1st place in the inaugural year. Tustumena continued to host this spelling bee for several years, but winning the event was not a requisite to participate at state. Winners of individual school contests are invited to “state.” Steve Webb, a 7th grader, qualified for the state bee in 1963, but then spent the contest in Providence hospital in stinging pain from a broken leg. Tustumena runner-up, Suzan Huebsch took 3rd at state that year. The following year Steve took 2nd at state and about 1966 his sister, Shelle Webb won 4th.

Speaking of Tustumena, classes there are collecting box tops and competing with each other to encourage the effort. Competing classrooms have a “flower garden” and students in these classes are awarded “flowers” for turning in box tops. Spelling bees, no doubt, are attracted to the flowers. If you want to help call Parent Teacher Organization vice-chairwoman Tosha Checketts, 252-6930.

A group from Kasilof Community Church left for Ometepec, Mexico on February 28. The church supports missionaries there who are building a school addition. Making the trip were: Bill Davis, John Evanson, Isaac Hutchison, Pastor Paul Kupferschmid, Roxane Mathewson, Darrel Misner, Arnie Nelson, and Perry and Sheryl Neel. Three children accompanied them: Cody Brown, Chloe Nelson, and Hannah Hutchison. They plan to return March 15. John Evanson is a professional building contractor. Arnie Nelson has worked for builders and built homes for the speculation market. Pastor Kupferschmid was once a professional roofer. Darrel Misner is a master craftsman. Bill Davis is an electrician. Cody Brown has been involved in house-building his whole life. I don’t know what the others do, but this is a team with some know-how.

Last week I spoke to Al Besch, a former Tustumena principal. His voice sounded great, the same as ever. He’s in Texas and has had rotator cuff, knee and stomach bypass surgeries. His weight has come down 150 pounds and he’s doing well. He drift fished in Bristol Bay for many years but recently sold his boat. Ken Halverson has been at the helm of Tustumena since 2000, but is planning to retire. Previous Tustumena principals are: Enid McLane (1958-1962) though she didn’t receive the title of “principal” until 1960; Charles Prescott (1962-1968); Tom Overman (1968-1970) he was a shared “administrator,” and came only one day per week; Mike Wiley (1970-71) was “head teacher,” there was still no principal, per se; Frank Dunlap (1971-72), was a “teaching principal;” Al Besch (1972-1990); Carolyn Cannava (1990-92); Mick Wykis (1992-96); Sam Bushon (1996-97); Lisa Stroh (1997-2000).

Right now the powers that be are busy as bees selecting the next principal for Tustumena School. Today, March 10, there will be some interviews for the position at Tustumena School. The event is open to the public.

Some Kasilof ladies have been playing bunco, hosting the game in their homes on rotation. To join the fun call Gloria @ 262-7855.

Scoot over nonagenarians! Make room for Marge Madden. You are invited to a party for her March 8, 3-7 p.m. at the Soldotna Senior Center. She was born Marge McCulloch, March 6, 1918, in South Dakota. As a school girl, Marge rode a horse 3 miles to catch a bus. The horse was left at a neighbor’s house until the bus returned. Last summer Marge and her daughter, Carroll, returned to South Dakota for a multi-class reunion at Marge’s old school. Her graduating class had nine students but Marge was the only one who attended.

After high school, Marge became a registered nurse. When she was 21 she moved to Portland, Oregon where she worked in St. Vincent Hospital for three years. The pay was low there, though, so Marge got a job as a first aid nurse for an insurance company. She later worked as a nurse for Morris Knutson, a firm doing contract work in California for the military. There she met Don Madden, who had worked at a mine near Fairbanks from 1938-1941. They were married in 1942, and had three children, Carroll, Don Jr. and Terry, before moving to Anchorage in 1950.

In July 1952, 5-year-old Terry and other children had an accident involving gasoline and a firecracker. Terry died from severe burns. Casey, Marge’s youngest child, was born the following November. The Maddens filed on a homestead in Kasilof, but had to relinquish it in 1954 when Carroll and Don Jr. got polio.

Madden’s homesteaded at Kasilof in 1958. They bought a 14-foot trailer, but a job opportunity came up in the Interior and Don took it. Marge had 8 x 10 lean-tos built on both sides of the trailer, and battened down the hatches for winter.

Marge was a founding member of the Kasilof Methodist Church and of the Kenai Peninsula Nurses Association. The church was just south of Tustumena School, but the building was moved to Binkly Aveenue, Soldotna. That building was the first one for the Methodist church there. Marge met fellow Methodist, Calvin Fair, and became his dental assistant in 1961. The clinic building had Dr. Isaac upstairs while Dr. Fair and the Soldotna library were downstairs. With her smiling face, Marge assisted Fair until 1980. The building now houses Robinson’s law office. Don Sr. passed away in 1976. Don Jr. and his wife have also both passed away. They have four children living in Montana.

About 1968 Madden’s hired John Martin Sr. to build them a modern house. John and Millie Martin lived just a couple miles closer to Soldotna. Millie had God’s Extended Hand, a Bible book store. Marge still lives in the house John built, at mile 104 of the Sterling Highway, and overlooking a lake. Carroll has three sons but her husband, well-known artist Jim Knutsen, is deceased. Carroll is a live-in caregiver for her mother, and gets help from a Lhasa Apso/Pomeranian named Bailey. Casey and his wife, Vicki, live on the homestead and have a daughter. Casey is an engineer with the firm of Wince-Corthel-Bryson in Kenai. Vicki is a secretary at Skyview High School.

Charles Martin passed away in California on December 23. He and his wife, Judy, homesteaded in Kasilof from 1958-63. They built the log house, which is across the highway from Marge Madden. About a year ago, their son, Daniel, built a new house on the lake. Marge’s house looks over this same lake. Charles Martin was not related to John Martin.

Sadly, Ken Halverson, Tustumena Elementary School’s principal, is planning to retire this spring. Candidates to fill that job are scheduled for interviews on March 10 at 4 p.m. at Tustumena School. The public is welcome to attend. Happy birthday to Doris Williams on March 8.