By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
2008, as every year, had its good and bad news. And at the end of 2008, two bad vehicle collisions took the lives of two people, one Girdwood woman. Both crashes took place on the Seward Highway between Girdwood and Bird where another fatality occurred within that stretch of highway in the summer, claiming another life. The story to be continued is what to do with that stretch of highway. Should changes in design be made or is it simply a matter of people needing to slow down?
In other unusually bad news in 2008, a skier was killed during the Freeskiing Championships held at Alyeska Resort April 11, and in December a man was nearly killed after being shot multiple times in Girdwood. Since the publication of the Turnagain Times, now in its 12th year, there has never been a public shooting reported, and it’s hard to find anybody who can recount such an incident in Glacier Valley.
But there were some positive news stories to close out the year. Forest Fair is returning this summer after being cancelled in 2008 due to security concerns at the temporary campground set up at Glacier Creek during the fair. And Girdwood staged its first theatrical performance when Girdwood Community Theater and Four Valley Community Schools Dec. 11 and Dec. 13 performed the Music Man. Perhaps this is the beginning of more cultural events in the valley.
And there was some positive news on the road improvement side of things, when pavement of a portion of Crow Creek Road was finally completed at the end of October. The city put in a paved road to downtown Girdwood, and Arlberg got some pavement as well.
The GBOS also managed to come to an agreement absent any controversy to renew the roads contract with McKenna Bros for 2009.
Alyeska Resort invested millions of dollars for some major renovations to the mountain and hotel. What lies ahead in 2009 for resort development? Perhaps a new Sitzmark?
And Girdwood got a new community center and library when the doors opened to the public May 30.
Not to be forgotten is Election 2008, when Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich unseated Girdwood resident and elder statesman Ted Stevens. There was also a little historical happening in the presidential election, but this is a local top stories recap.
Now let’s take a look at the top stories of 2008 on Turnagain Arm and Whittier.
Forest Fair was cancelled last year, the first time in its 32-year history. But the good news, Forest Fair committee members and community leaders put their heads together and developed a strategy to obtain the funds necessary to beef up security, especially to oversee the campground on Glacier Creek where more than 2,000 campers made it their private party during the 2007 Forest Fair.
What’s going on in the streets of Girdwood? A shooting on Arlberg Road down the street from the Sitzmark Bar and Grill, resulted in one man in serious condition but recovering and another facing multiple felony charges.
David Yannello, a 29-year-old Girdwood resident, is facing charges of Attempted Murder as well as Assault In The First Degree and other charges for shooting another Girdwood man, Brad Phelps, 31, four times.
The shooting occurred just after midnight on Sunday, Nov. 23, after Phelps left the Sitzmark and encountered Yannello.
The Turnagain Times will follow this case closely as further public information is available.
Skiing accidents take life of one competitor, another man seriously injured in second event
Competitive skiing came to Alyeska with two major events; however, the championships were marred by two tragic accidents.
During the Telepalooza World Telemark Freeskiing Championships March 29, Ben Johnson was nearly paralyzed when he fell in a steep chute called “Waterfall” on Max’s Mountain.
Then during the Freeskiing Championships held April 11, John Nicoletta, 27, of Aspen, CO, suffered a fatal fall during the competition.
Texas’ top ten fugitive and wanted sex offender captured in Girdwood
It’s not everyday a top ten fugitive is found in Girdwood, but that was the case for Christopher Lloyd Vineyard, when he was arrested Jan. 10 at a local bakery in Girdwood. The fugitive was on the run from the law in Texas where there was a warrant out for him for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Woman dies in Glacier Creek rafting trip
On Sept. 3, a helicopter supported rescue was carried out on Glacier Creek when a guided whitewater raft trip turned deadly when
Ronnee Zoffer, 73, of Laguna Hills, Calif., was declared dead on the scene from unknown causes. Her husband, Charles Zoffer, 75, was critically injured and flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center where he was treated and eventually released.
Alaska Backcountry Access guide Lance Terry and Daniel Paz, a guide for Anchorage-based Salmon Berry Tours, were unharmed and able to call for help.
Crew of Chenega ferry rescue three in Prince William Sound
When boaters capsize in Prince William Sound, the frigid waters can quickly lead to death. But, thanks to the crew of the Chenega Ferry of the Alaska Marine Highway, three boaters were rescued from the chilly waters of Prince William Sound on June 8.
Whittier Tunnel hours extended in winter
As of October 2008, Whittier residents were given there first chance to live a normal life of commuting like the rest of the state when the Whittier Tunnel extended its hours of operation to 16 hours for the winter months. It’s the first time that’s happened since the tunnel opened in 2000. Now the question is will the legislature appropriate another $500,000 plus dollars to keep the extended hours in 2009?
Girdwood’s newest museum the Roundhouse at Alyeska opens
Girdwoodians conceived of a museum to occupy the old Roundhouse building at the top of Mt. Alyeska. It would be a museum focusing on Girdwood Valley and the history of skiing in the area. Their dream and the dream of many other hard working community members was realized Dec. 23 when the Roundhouse at Alyeska opened its doors for the first time.
Chair 5 turns 25
It’s the local hangout and fair to say an icon in Girdwood. On Jan. 23, owners Spike and Suzanne Farley invited a host of friends, family and loyal patrons to a party celebrating Chair 5’s 25th Anniversary. In the restaurant business that’s like 250 years.
Avalanche in Turnagain Pass claims lives of two snowmachiners, one skier saved in another avalanche
Turnagain Pass is infamous for its avalanches. And it’s seems there’s somebody either killed or injured in one every year. Such was the case on Feb. 15 when two snowmachiners were killed in an avalanche in the Pass. Christoph Vonalvensleben, 25, of Anchorage and Jeremy Stark, 27 of Anchorage both died. A third snowmachiner, Andrew Baugh, 38, of Girdwood was also buried in the avalanche debris, but was recovered and evacuated by helicopter, treated by EMS staged at the Turnagain Pass parking lot and released.
On Feb. 23, Girdwood resident, Matt Murphy, was part of a search and rescue team that saved the life of Ian Wilson, a 24-year-old skier from Oregon who was caught in an avalanche in Turnagain Pass. Murphy works for the U.S. Forest Service as a snow ranger.
Top honors for local athletes:
Girdwood freeskier claims first place overall for world ski title
Girdwood’s Elyse Saugstad took first place at the Verbier Xtreme Championship in Verbier, Switzerland on Saturday, March 15. The win gave her the overall title of World Champion on the Nissan Freeride World Tour. Her win in Verbier was her fourth straight win in four events.
Girdwood snowboarder claims overall title
Girdwood’s Callan Chythlook-Sifsof captured the women’s title at the snowboard cross finals of the Jeep King of the Mountain Championship in Sun Valley, Idaho, March 14.
With the win, 19-year-old Chythlook-Sifsof clinched the women’s overall season standings. She edged out the favorite in the competition, defending champion Lindsey Jacobellis, an Olympic silver medalist with four world cup championships this season.
Alyeska Ski Club Members head to Junior Olympics, National and Junior Championships
Jacob Dahl, 14 of Anchorage, a second year J3 skier on the Alyeska Ski Club, finishes up his final training run of the day at Alyeska Resort. Dahl will be going to the Jr. Olympics in Bogus Basin, Idaho. 24 members of the club will be participating at National or Junior Championships this year. Alyeska Ski Club has been a training ground for junior skiers for the past 42 years.