Cooper Landing News

By Susanna LaRock
Turnagain Times
Cooper Landing Correspondent

Wildman Wrecks in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge

Jerry “Wildman” James started out the 7,000-mile Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge from Key West, Florida to Homer, Alaska in good spirits. But that quickly changed on the first day of the race, June 20, when he and some other riders were rounding a corner on a stretch of new road with sand on it and then three riders in front of the James, and the James, himself, wrecked. One of the riders involved in the wreck lost a leg. James sustained a laceration on the back of his left leg and some serious road rash. He was hoping to pick up where he left off, after a quick trip to the hospital. Unfortunately, the laceration on his left leg was too serious and the damage to his motorcycle too severe and he had to leave the challenge unfinished.

James flew back to Alaska on Friday, June 25. He is healing at his home in Cooper Landing. Fortunately he will live to ride his Harleys again.

First Run of Salmon in the Russian River Trickles in

A few thousand sockeye salmon at a time have been trickling through the confluence and up the Russian River in the last week. Friday, June 25, was reported to be a good day for fishermen on the Russian river, with many catching their limits. Then the report after Friday was that fishing on the Russian is slow. Combat fishermen are lining the banks at the confluence and fishing on the Russian. Fish are being caught, but it is slower than usual for this time of year.

Cooper Landing's Community Garden Gets off the Ground

Local RAVEN Americorps member, Susanna LaRock, started planning the community garden in February. Over 35 community volunteers, from school kids to seniors, worked hard to build beds, shovel dirt, and put up a fence. Keith Freeman donated his time and use of his truck to deliver the soil from Northrop's Pete in Sterling. Tommy Gossard the schoolteacher has donated much of his time building beds and getting the fence up.

The grand opening was June1, and since that day community members have been learning to compost, planting seeds and starts, sharing gardening tips, and watching their garden grow. The new Community Garden, located at Snug Harbor Senior Haven Raven's View off Snug Harbor Road, has nine raised beds and one compost bin. Three of the raised beds are waist height to accommodate seniors who may not be able to garden on the ground. Tom Jahns from the University Cooperative Extension came to the garden June 3 to teach a one day Hot Compost Class.

The community gathered 400 pounds of materials, and Tom Jahns donated a bin and the use of his chipper/shredder. The results are that many community members learned how to build a hot compost pile, and the Community Garden has a compost pile that will be ready to add to the beds in the fall.

Various community members plant all nine beds. One of the beds was planted by the school children and is being used to teach about gardening and eating healthy foods. The children's summer club, Protectors of the Planet, met at the garden June 18. They learned about the compost pile and watered the school's bed. Virginia Morgan, local BIRCH Americorps member, is planning a garden tour in the end of July, and the Community Garden will be an exciting stop on the tour. The work of many has created a Community Garden that we all can be proud of.

Historical Society to Hold Annual Fundraiser

Cooper Landing Historical Society is having their annual garage sale Saturday and Sunday July 10 and 11 at the museum, Mile 48.7; from noon until 5 p.m. Shoppers will be treated to coffee or punch and cake. Thanks to Al and Pat Fleetwood, the museum has a new display of almost 100-year old artifacts from the bank in Iditarod during the mining boom. Free copies of the June edition of True West magazine are still available.

New Fly Fishing Shop in Town

If you have driven through Cooper Landing recently, you may have noticed a brand new log building at mile 48.5 on the Sterling Highway. Butch Reger of Ridge Top Construction built the beautiful log building this spring, and Dusty Byrd and Billy Coulliette of Alaska Trout Fitters opened their Fly Fishing Shop this summer. The shop offers rentals of fishing rods and waders. They sell locally tested Alaska Trout and Salmon flies and tackle. Whether you are an avid fly fisher or someone who would like to learn, stop by Alaska Trout Fitters new Fly Fishing Shop and let their knowledgeable staff help you.