On Aug. 8 at approximately 6:00 p.m., Troopers in Girdwood received a report from Jim Patton, age 49 of Girdwood, that Cindy Simmons, age 43, was stranded on the bank of 20 Mile River approximately 15 miles upriver from the Seward Highway. An investigation revealed Patton and Simmons had entered the waters of 20 Mile River following an overnight hike from Girdwood which was originally estimated to take 2.5 hours. Patton stated this was based on information he had read in an Anchorage area publication. Once in the water their “pack raft” was immediately overturned due to rough water. Simmons who was wearing a life preserver was eventually able to make it to shore with the assistance of Patton. Patton left supplies with Simmons and began to float toward the mouth of 20 Mile River to find help while Simmons, who was suffering from the initial signs of hypothermia, stayed on the river bank.
Alaska State Troopers and Girdwood Fire / EMS responded to the area of 20 mile River and the Seward Highway. Providence Life Guard was then summoned to the area. They were able to locate Simmons and transport her back to the Seward Hwy. location where she was evaluated and released.
Two men were found dead aboard their boats on two separate days in Whittier. On Aug. 7 at approximately 7 p.m., the Whittier Police Department received a 911 call requesting an ambulance and the police for a possible “corpse aboard a vessel at the Cliffside Marina. On arrival, officers found 54-year-old Timothy Wetherhorn dead aboard the 57-foot Vessel “Nordic Mistress.” An investigation revealed that Wetherhorn had been doing electrical work on the boat and apparently made contact with one of the hot wires and was electrocuted. He appeared to have been dead for several hours. He last was seen alive at around 4 p.m. that day by marina caretakers.
Then on Aug. 11 at approximately 10:41 a.m., troopers responded to the Whittier Harbor to investigate a death. An investigation revealed that Chris R. Soper, age 60 of Palmer, passed away from natural causes near Naked Island.
On Wednesday, Aug. 8 around noon, troopers responded to a report of a drowning at the Fjord Site on the Crow Creek Trail approximately 13.5 miles from Girdwood. A helicopter was called out and troopers recovered the man’s body. No foul play is suspected. The hiker was identified as Larry Dowling, 38, of Limerick, Ireland. He was in Alaska on vacation.
It’s back to school for many Turnagain Arm students. The Girdwood School (K-8) starts classes Wednesday, Aug. 22 for grades 1-8. Kindergarten begins Tuesday, Aug. 28. In Hope the K-12 school begins Aug. 22. And in Whittier school begins Sept. 6.
The State Department of Transportation is delaying the paving of Crow Creek Road until next spring or summer. The project was suppose to start this summer, but James Amundsmen, the Project Manager, said work can not begin until approval is granted to place an advertisement for the project, which should happen shortly. Now work will not begin until next spring or summer, he said. The road will be paved about two miles from Alyeska Highway to a public bus turnaround point just beyond California Creek. In addition, the California Creek Bridge will be rebuilt. The cost for the project is approximately $3 million.
Work is underway to clear brush and trees add a new paved parking area in Girdwood Townsquare, which includes Girdwood Place road and Holmgren Place Road. The roads are closed from Aug. 15 to Oct.. 31. Vehicular traffic is being detoured to Hightower Road to get in and out of town. This is the first phase of a three-phased project to improve Townsquare. The first phase will include paving Girdwood Place road and constructing a new park and ride public parking lot. There will also be public parking at the corner of Girdwood Place and Holmgren Place by the Mercantile.
A Grant from the Federal Highway Administration of $1 million was awarded to cover the costs. New drainage, a sidewalk and street lighting will also be constructed.
“This is completing one leg of the Townsquare Project,” said Todd Jacobson of the Boutet Company, which is overseeing the project for the municipality. “But there’s also going to be improvements to the Townsquare Park, a pedestrian pathway, park bench and memorial for Girdwood resident Dianne Bahnson (who died in a car accident), and a Labyrinth and pedestrian lighting.”
The goal is to have the current construction completed before the start of winter. The construction for the second phase of the project is expected to be completed next year by the end of the summer with the entire Townsquare area eventually having paved roads, curbs and gutters, pedestrian walkways and lighting.
Tuesday, Aug. 14 during the 10 a.m. opening to Whittier from Bear Valley, rocks fell from the ceiling of the Whittier Tunnel at safehouse five about two-thirds of the way into the tunnel from the Bear Valley side. The rocks fell in between the railroad tracks.
“We had some rocks come down through the mesh and had about a two hour closure from 10 a.m. until a little after noon,” said Gordon Burton, Facilities Manager. “It was a bunch of small rocks that fell during inbound traffic to Whittier.” No injuries or damage to vehicles was reported.
“We’ve had some rocks fall there in the past, it’s just an area that has frequent rock activity,” he said. “Probably due to water or changes in the temperature, there’s multiple factors.” Burton said they will increase the mesh in the area as a precautionary measure.