Life

(Photo from a lantern slide courtesy of Gary Titus This 1904 Baughman Collection photo shows two hunters—Dr. John Baughman (left, holding girl) and W.H. Case—with four mountain goats they killed near the summit of White Pass and brought back to their home in Skagway later by train.

Dr. Baughman’s Unusual Second Job, Part One

In the late 1990s, Michael Hankins and two of his pals were treasure hunting near Old Knik when they unearthed a surprise — an intact… Continue reading

(Photo from a lantern slide courtesy of Gary Titus This 1904 Baughman Collection photo shows two hunters—Dr. John Baughman (left, holding girl) and W.H. Case—with four mountain goats they killed near the summit of White Pass and brought back to their home in Skagway later by train.
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Minister’s Message: Be a light in the midst of darkness

Our world is very dark for our children now

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The date is Oct. 19, 1957. The place is an airport in Kokomo, Indiana. The occasion is her departure from the Midwest. Her ultimate destination is Whittier, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Fair Family Collection)

Jane’s Story

I imagine my mother’s inability at this moment to truly understand the change her life is about to undergo.

The date is Oct. 19, 1957. The place is an airport in Kokomo, Indiana. The occasion is her departure from the Midwest. Her ultimate destination is Whittier, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Fair Family Collection)
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Spring Fever

A sure sign it is almost May at our house is the sun has moved out of my eyes when I try to watch the evening news on T.V.

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Bank robber Paul Stavenjord was back in the news in big way in the late 1990s. In this KTUU-television images, he is seen here in law-enforcement custody.

Unfortunate Choices: Three lives and a robbery gone awry, Part 4

Upon his release from prison in Lompoc, California, in March 1975, Stavenjord vowed to turn his life around and go straight.

Bank robber Paul Stavenjord was back in the news in big way in the late 1990s. In this KTUU-television images, he is seen here in law-enforcement custody.
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: A message from Kiwi Land

The headquarters of Unhinged recently received some unexpected correspondence from New Zealand

Nick Varney
A year after the 1971 bank robbery, two of the suspects pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six years in prison, as seen in this Anchorage Daily Times headline from August 1972. The third suspect pleaded guilty a few days later.

Unfortunate Choices: Three lives and a robbery gone awry, Part 3

Even the U.S. attorney himself promoted a sentence shorter than the maximum because of the youth of the three defendants.

A year after the 1971 bank robbery, two of the suspects pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six years in prison, as seen in this Anchorage Daily Times headline from August 1972. The third suspect pleaded guilty a few days later.
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Minister’s Message: Experience Jesus for yourself

Come and see for yourselves the wounds in his hands and in his side

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Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Let’s Eat!

We bit the bullet and drove to Anchorage at the end of March. It was easily a month ahead of our usual first trip north… Continue reading

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Trainer Ted Fields, of Anchorage, stands with his search dog, Hite, in Seward in August 1971. (Original photo from the Seward Phoenix Log)

Unfortunate Choices: 3 lives and a robbery gone awry, Part 2

When this part of the story begins, they have been behind bars for one year.

Trainer Ted Fields, of Anchorage, stands with his search dog, Hite, in Seward in August 1971. (Original photo from the Seward Phoenix Log)
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Minister’s Message: Find mental healing through God

Holy Saturday has always been a strange day to observe

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Seward Police Chief Bill Bagron puts his feet up contentedly after the arrest of all three suspects in the robbery of a Seward bank in August 1971. (Original photo from the Seward Phoenix Log)

Unfortunate Choices: 3 lives and a robbery gone awry, Part 1

Perhaps for the first time they were realizing that they had made a series of questionable decisions

Seward Police Chief Bill Bagron puts his feet up contentedly after the arrest of all three suspects in the robbery of a Seward bank in August 1971. (Original photo from the Seward Phoenix Log)
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Minister’s Message: With the Resurrection, hope rises

There were probably many more but the Gospels tell of three specific resurrections from the dead in the ministry of Jesus.

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Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: The passing of March

I don’t know why her latest weather hysterics maxed me out on the Grouch Scale but it did.

Nick Varney
After 18 years at Leavenworth prison in Kansas, William Dempsey was returned to McNeil Island federal penitentiary in Washington in April 1939. He would escape from McNeil nine months later. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)

A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 9

On Jan. 30, 1940, nearly eight months later, Dempsey, while on a road gang in a heavy fog, slipped away from the work detail.

After 18 years at Leavenworth prison in Kansas, William Dempsey was returned to McNeil Island federal penitentiary in Washington in April 1939. He would escape from McNeil nine months later. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
Owners Suwannasa Piwon and Phatcharin Apaipak sit for a photo at the new location of their Siam Noodles and Food in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo provided by Siam Noodles and Food)

Siam Noodles and Food to hold Grand Opening of new location

Siam Noodles and Food will open in its new location next weekend, starting with a grand opening on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. The… Continue reading

Owners Suwannasa Piwon and Phatcharin Apaipak sit for a photo at the new location of their Siam Noodles and Food in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo provided by Siam Noodles and Food)
The 11th Annual Alaskans Choose Respect Awareness Event proceeds down Frontage Road in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaskans Choose Respect returns, LeeShore Center focuses on prevention

Nearly 40 people gathered and walked together down Frontage Road from Leif Hansen Memorial Park to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on… Continue reading

The 11th Annual Alaskans Choose Respect Awareness Event proceeds down Frontage Road in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A tripod set by the Soldotna and Kenai Rotary Clubs stands over the ice of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Local Rotary Clubs testing new contest for next winter

The Rotary Clubs of Soldotna and Kenai are performing a test in preparation to launch a new local fundraiser next year. Inspired by the Nenana… Continue reading

A tripod set by the Soldotna and Kenai Rotary Clubs stands over the ice of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Will Morrow (courtesy)

Springing ahead

I’m not ready to spring ahead

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Murder suspect William Dempsey is pictured shortly after he was captured on the outskirts of Seward in early September 1919. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)

A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 8

Dempsey spent more than a decade attempting to persuade a judge to recommend him for executive clemency

Murder suspect William Dempsey is pictured shortly after he was captured on the outskirts of Seward in early September 1919. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)