Unbelievable Mammoth Tusk!

Discovered on May 12 of this year, thirty miles to the northeast of Kotzebue, Alaska, this 8’3” wooly mammoth tusk is the best we have ever seen!

The sweeping beauty is intact from root to tip and weighs a slender 49 pounds. The tusk is about one foot in circumference over much of its length with the widest point being just 12 ¾ inches.

It is being offered on the part of the finder by the Northwest Arctic Borough Economic Development Department. You may contact Lee Stoops at

lstoops@nwabor.org with questions or requests for additional information.

eBay item #: 2178839836

Farewell to a True Friend
Week of June 9, 2003

If the value of a life were to be measured by what a person did for the lasting benefit of others, the life of Frank Ferguson was priceless. Before suffering a debilitating stroke over fifteen years ago, he was a miracle worker in the State Capitol as our legislator for seventeen years.

Ferguson was first elected to the Alaska State House in November of 1970. He served two terms as a representative before being elected to the Senate in 1976, where he served until 1987. For the people of his region and Native people throughout Alaska, Senator Ferguson was the right man, in the right place, at the right time in our state history.

You don't have to look far to find evidence of our Senator's amazing accomplishments - you can look everywhere. Here are just a few examples of his handiwork: the empowerment of regional non-profit Native organizations (like Maniilaq Association) as providers for rural health and social services; Chukchi Campus; village clinics and the Village Health Aide Program; television/telephone communications to rural communities; VPSO Program; extension of village airports to 3,000 feet with lighting and maintenance; state revenue-sharing for villages; school certification for bi-lingual aides for Native language instruction; regional courts in Kotzebue and Barrow; financing for the Red Dog Mine road and port development and accompanying local hire provisions; and on and on.

However, our late Senator will most be remembered for his contribution in the area of funding for rural education. In the years following the Molly Hootch Case, in which regional boarding schools were overturned as a just means of providing rural education, Ferguson and his close ally in the Senate, John Sackett of Ruby, led the effort to fund construction of schools in all villages. They also engineered a state funding formula for education that would ensure fair treatment for the small village schools. The fact that school districts such as ours still receive more than twice the state dollars per student that urban schools receive is lasting testimony to his effectiveness.

Much of his success in politics was attributable to the Inupiaq values instilled within him. Senator Ferguson never stood up on the Senate floor to give a rambling speech or posture for the television cameras; he worked quietly. Like a great hunter, he was always focused on delivering what his "family" back home needed. His method of delivery was careful planning, maintenance of strong alliances and, most of all, hard work. There is a saying that "knowledge is power." Senator Ferguson was proof of that. No other legislator put in more time learning about issues that affected his region. Through all of the ups and downs that are part of political life, he always maintained good humor and the lasting respect of both Republicans and Democrats.

Senator Ferguson's physical ailments over the last fifteen years were cause for sorrow in all of us. Tragedy often befalls those least deserving of it, and that was certainly true in his case. Yet even when he was no longer able to speak or move around well, he always had a cheerful smile for everyone he met. The twinkle in his eye never dimmed and the strength of his handshake never wavered. Last month when I visited Frank and Sophie, his handshake was so firm that I commented to him about his strength.

The final chapter in the great life of Frank Ferguson was a very difficult one for his family, his friends and him. However, when the final stroke came, Frank was doing something he enjoyed, being at camp with his family and friends. Sophie and her family's dedication, love and devotion to Frank during these past fifteen years have been heartwarming. I will always remember and admire the strength that they demonstrated in dealing with adversity for so many years.

While we have now lost Frank Ferguson the man, we can take heart in knowing that few will ever leave such a great legacy of public service behind them. He helped create a better world for each and every one of us.

A Clean Kotzebue
Week of June 2, 2003

Each year at this time, the disappearance of the snow leads to the appearance of all the litter that has accumulated over the past seven months. As the gateway community to the NANA region, it is very important that we do everything possible to make Kotzebue a beautiful place to live and visit.

The local Lions' Club has led us up the right path this spring. Members of that organization, as well as friends and other volunteers, visited our cemeteries over the past weekend to give them an extreme makeover. They not only removed truckloads of windblown garbage, but did some landscaping as well. The result was spiritually uplifting.

To all those who lent their time and effort to the undertaking, I would like to say thank you. And a special thanks goes to May Kenworthy, a Lions' Club board member who reportedly suggested the cemetery beautification project.

The City of Kotzebue has traditionally sponsored a major clean-up day around this time of year, rewarding the pick-up volunteers with a dollar per bag of trash removed from the ground. The result is always impressive, even if temporary.

One way that we might stay on top of the litter problem throughout the summer is to have individuals or organizations "adopt" a block of our city for regular pick-up. Borough staff has already volunteered to maintain the block of property surrounding our building. If we can get a similar commitment from others, like the Lions' Club has willingly made, we will be well on our way to creating a better place to live and visit.

Another way to help accomplish our goal is if some of those who walk to work each day would consider carrying a trash bag with them once a week and gathering the litter they find along the road. Those who regularly jog or walk for exercise might also consider adding pick-up to their routine. A little bit of bending can burn a few extra calories and trim that waistline too!

Parents might have their children gather a bag or two of garbage around the neighborhood or their playground each weekend as a part of their regular chores. I have talked in the past about how important it is to have children perform chores around the home and village as a means of nurturing good mental health and feeling "connected" to their family and community. The only way to insure that we have responsible adults in the future is to build that quality in our children now. It's not going to happen by itself.

Building overall community wellness throughout our region is our prime objective at this time. Clean streets, freshly painted and well-maintained homes and buildings, and litter-free public areas are an important early step in that direction. It's all about pride in who we are and where we live.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The regular election for the Northwest Arctic Borough will be held on October 7, 2003. Nominating petitions may be obtained from and filed with the Borough Clerk's Office during normal business hours from June 10, 2003 through August 22, 2003. No petitions will be accepted after August 22, 2003. Nominating petitions and candidates must comply with Chapter 4.08 of the Borough Code. Nominating petitions are available for the following seats:

NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH MAYOR

Mayor, Borough-wide, 3 year term

QUALIFICATIONS: Resident of the borough for at least three years. Must be a qualified elector (registered voters) within the borough.

NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH ASSEMBLY

District 1, Seat A Kivalina, Noatak, Baird Mountains, 3 year term
District 3, Seat C Kiana, Noorvik, Selawik, Selawik Area, 3 year term
District 5, Seat J Kotzebue, Krusenstern, Igichuk Hills, Hotham Inlet, Cape Blossom, 3 year term
District 5, Seat K Kotzebue, Krusenstern, Igichuk Hills, Hotham Inlet, Cape Blossom, 3 year term

QUALIFICATIONS: Resident of the borough for at least one year. Assembly members shall be qualified electors (registered voters) of the borough and residents within the district they seek to represent.

NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH SCHOOL BOARD

District 1, Seat A Kivalina, Noatak, Baird Mountains, 3 year term
District 2, Seat B Ambler, Kobuk, Kobuk Area, Shungnak, 3 year term
District 3, Seat C Kiana, Noorvik, Selawik, Selawik Area, 3 year term

QUALIFICATIONS: Resident of the borough for at least one year. School Board members shall be qualified electors (registered voters) of the borough and residents within the district they seek to represent.

Please contact the Northwest Arctic Borough Clerks Office at 442-2500 or 1-800-478-1110 if you have any questions. Thank you.

Assembly Regular Meeting

The Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly met and held a Regular meeting on May 28, 2003. Assembly President Walter G. Sampson called the meeting to order at 1:08 P.M. A quorum was present to conduct business.

The Assembly took the following actions:
1. Tabled Ordinance 03-03 an ordinance of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly establishing a Fire Department and for related purposes.

2. Enacted Ordinance 03-06 an ordinance of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly providing for the establishment and adoption of the line item budget for the fiscal year 2004.

3. Passed Resolution 03-12 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly confirming Judith A. Hassinger as the Borough Treasurer and authorizing a contract for services and for related purposes.

4. Passed Resolution 03-13 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly authorizing a contract for legal services and for related purposes.

5. Passed Resolution 03-14 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly adding and authorizing signatories on borough checks.

6. Tabled Resolution 03-15 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly authorizing a professional contract with Wendy Mulder for consulting services to the Mayor's Department.

7. Passed Resolution 03-16 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly approving the ardor work plan for FY04 and accepting the state grant in the amount of $47,220 to develop and implement a regional economic development strategy.

8. Passed Resolution 03-17 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly in support of the Alaska Coastal Management Program.

9. Passed Resolution 03-18 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly authorizing a professional contract with Lori Henry to perform key follow-up to the 2003 Arctic Economic Development Summit, ongoing borough planning and for related purposes.

10. Passed Resolution 03-19 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly authorizing the Assembly Members, Mayor, Special Asst. to Assembly, EDC Director, Planning Director, Public Services Director and the borough clerk to renew the annual credit charge cards for business purposes.

11. Passed Resolution 03-20 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly approving a contract with Alaska Permanent Capital Management Company and for related purposes.

12. Passed Resolution 03-21 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly authorizing approval of a lease of property from the Nana Regional Corporation for use by the Northwest Arctic Borough to provide for the establishment of an artist center and cooperative and for related purposes.

13. Passed Resolution 03-22 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly authorizing the acceptance of funds from Chukchi College for the Kotzebue Elders Illisagvik Cultural Camp.

14. Passed Resolution 03-23 a resolution of the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly supporting a grant proposal by the Bering Sea Fishermens' Association for revitalization of the area commercial salmon fishery.

The next Assembly meeting will be a Regular meeting on July 14 & 15, 2003 at the Borough Assembly Chambers in Kotzebue, Alaska.

Borough Artists

Northwest Arctic Borough Staff Directory

Public Servies
Tom Bolen, Director
Angela Joule, Receptionist/DMV