After Pres. Woodrow Wilson commuted his death sentence to life in prison, William Dempsey (inmate #3572) was delivered from Alaska to the federal penitentiary on McNeil Island, Wash. These were his intake photos. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)

A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 7

The opening line of Dempsey’s first letter to Bunnell — dated March 19, 1926 — got right to the point

After Pres. Woodrow Wilson commuted his death sentence to life in prison, William Dempsey (inmate #3572) was delivered from Alaska to the federal penitentiary on McNeil Island, Wash. These were his intake photos. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
In 1914, Pres. Woodrow Wilson appointed Charles Bunnell to be the judge of the Federal District Court for the Third and Fourth divisions of the Alaska Territory. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)

A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 6

Prosecution lawyers were fortunate to have a fallback plan: witnesses to the crime.

In 1914, Pres. Woodrow Wilson appointed Charles Bunnell to be the judge of the Federal District Court for the Third and Fourth divisions of the Alaska Territory. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
The author displays her daily vitamin, three yellowish clear bubbles of Vitamin D, and 20 mg of Paxil. (Photo by Meredith Harber/Minister’s Message)

Minister’s Message: Accepting all parts of your story of growth

I started taking Paxil almost six years ago, after a lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression

The author displays her daily vitamin, three yellowish clear bubbles of Vitamin D, and 20 mg of Paxil. (Photo by Meredith Harber/Minister’s Message)
As a teen-ager convicted of larceny in 1916, William Dempsey was incarcerated at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. (Image from the National Register of Historical Places)

A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 3

The lines of history are most accurately understood in retrospect.

As a teen-ager convicted of larceny in 1916, William Dempsey was incarcerated at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. (Image from the National Register of Historical Places)
This photo postcard, purported showing William Dempsey (L) and an unnamed partner, was one of two such cards that Dempsey sent from Alaska to his parents in Cleveland in late 1918 and early 1920. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)

A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 5

Although William Dempsey didn’t know it as he fled for his life, several things were working against him

This photo postcard, purported showing William Dempsey (L) and an unnamed partner, was one of two such cards that Dempsey sent from Alaska to his parents in Cleveland in late 1918 and early 1920. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
Nick Varney

Vote on National Apathy Week delayed

What are some of these clueless congressional reps trying to prove?

Nick Varney
Marie (sometimes called Margaret) Lavor was buried in the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery in 1919 after she was murdered by William Dempsey. (Image provided by findagrave.com website)

A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 4

AUTHOR’S NOTE: In the first three parts of this story, William Dempsey, who confessed to killing two Alaskans in 1919, escaped from prison in Washington… Continue reading

Marie (sometimes called Margaret) Lavor was buried in the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery in 1919 after she was murdered by William Dempsey. (Image provided by findagrave.com website)
Father Rick Miles applies ashes to Pastor Karen Martin Tichenor’s forehead as they prepare for Ashes to Go! on Wednesday; Feb. 22; 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna; Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drive-thru Ash Wednesday debuts in Soldotna

A new way to participate in Ash Wednesday debuted on the central Kenai Peninsula on Wednesday. The first “Ashes to Go!” drive-thru Ash Wednesday service… Continue reading

Father Rick Miles applies ashes to Pastor Karen Martin Tichenor’s forehead as they prepare for Ashes to Go! on Wednesday; Feb. 22; 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna; Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A brewer from Arkose Brewery fills a tasting cup during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Frozen RiverFest sees ‘perfect’ weather, strong turnout

Hundreds turned out at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday for the 8th Annual Frozen RiverFest, put on by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. In lightly… Continue reading

A brewer from Arkose Brewery fills a tasting cup during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
tease

Central peninsula to celebrate Hockey Week

Hockey is being celebrated with a variety of games and events all this week run by the Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association, the Kenai River Brown… Continue reading

tease
File

Minister’s Message: Choose to love for a better world

Love is hard

File
In 1918, a year before he would be gunned down on the streets of Seward, U.S. Deputy Marshal Isaac Evans posed for this photo on his Port of Seward waterfront pass. (Image courtesy of the Resurrection Bay Historical Society)

A nexus of lives and lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 2

Anchorage authorities believed Dempsey was planning to sail from Seward and flee to the States

In 1918, a year before he would be gunned down on the streets of Seward, U.S. Deputy Marshal Isaac Evans posed for this photo on his Port of Seward waterfront pass. (Image courtesy of the Resurrection Bay Historical Society)
File

Minister’s Message: A miracle in the woods

Many people prayed for Mike to be rescued from freezing to death

File
This artwork, as well as the story that accompanied it in the October 1953 issue of Master Detective magazine, sensationalized and fictionalized an actual murder in Anchorage in 1919. The terrified woman in the image is supposed to represent Marie Lavor.

A nexus of lives and lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 1

William Dempsey and two other men slipped away from the rest of the prison road gang on fog-enshrouded McNeil Island, Washington, on Jan. 30, 1940

This artwork, as well as the story that accompanied it in the October 1953 issue of Master Detective magazine, sensationalized and fictionalized an actual murder in Anchorage in 1919. The terrified woman in the image is supposed to represent Marie Lavor.
File

Minister’s Message: Reorienting yourself to pray throughout the day

No doubt, one of the most remarkable gifts God gives to communicate with his creation is the gift of prayer

File
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Would I do it again?

I ran across some 20-some year-old journal notes rambling on about a 268-foot dive I took

Nick Varney
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Photo 210.029.162, from the Clark Collection, courtesy of Hope and Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum 
Emma Clark feeds the Clark “pet” moose named Spook in 1981. At the urging of state wildlife officials, Carl Clark had agreed to care for this calf at their home in Hope.

Emma Clark: Becoming a Hope pioneer

For 50 years, Emma and Carl had been central to the story of Hope

Photo 210.029.162, from the Clark Collection, courtesy of Hope and Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum 
Emma Clark feeds the Clark “pet” moose named Spook in 1981. At the urging of state wildlife officials, Carl Clark had agreed to care for this calf at their home in Hope.
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: The Weather Witch is sporting a ‘tude

I took the weather condition disparity as personal and figured it was payback for some blistering criticism I shot at the weather witch

Nick Varney
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Happy Holidays

Christmas came to the Central Peninsula with gusto this year

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)