Category: Published stories
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Iditarod coverage: Heading to Unalakleet, Sass’ dogs get a jolt of energy to arrive first
UNALAKLEET — For the first time in this Iditarod, Eureka musher Brent Sass voluntarily elected to rest his team at a checkpoint late Saturday night. He stopped his 14-dog team in Unalakleet at 11:43 p.m. Saturday and collected his first Iditarod prize, the Wells Fargo Gold Coast Award. Until now, the longest Sass stayed in any checkpoint where…
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Snow: A Love Letter
With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I’d share my latest sad satire piece. I will admit, I have said or written some of these phrases to past lovers and first husbands. While I truly and dearly love and miss snow, I howled with laughter while writing this because the feelings were so very real.…
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How I’m healing – 10 years after her suicide
NOME — She was wonderful. She loved getting people together for food, laughs and stories. She got a kick out of being around those she loved, and her ebullience, smile and laugh made those around her feel good, valued and relaxed. We lived happy days with that woman. She made a perfect, flaky, tender pie…
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Stomping it out
UNALAKLEET — We were at the playground swings that day. It was fall. School just started. Some kids had new clothes. The air felt fresh and crisp. In the fifth grade, I was becoming aware of power, influence and ego. I don’t remember my thoughts that day, but I remember the feelings. I felt cocky.…
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Coming Home
UNALAKLEET — The plan was to earn an English degree, marry, travel to inspiring places, return to Unalakleet and teach high school English. I’d have students read and analyze “Beowulf,” “Hills Like White Elephants” and “Dulce et Decorum Est.” I’d have them write in-class essays and I’d be the cool teacher who played music while they wrote.…
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Who needs a man once an Alaska girl has mastered the chain saw?
NOME — I used to joke and tell my friends that other than for obvious reasons, I only need a man to operate my chain saw. Because really, I’m an Alaska girl, and can bleed the line when I run out of fuel at the house. I thaw my pipes when they freeze. I can…
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Remote? Sistuq Ozenna calls Little Diomede home
NOME — Google Little Diomede and the first article on the list describes it as remote. It is remote. It’s a community on an island with the same name in the middle of the Bering Sea. Of course it’s remote. But talk with Sistuq Ozenna about her home island, and the first word that comes…
laureli ivanoff 