News - Copper River Record

Glennallen Junior High track team, L to R: Caleb Grandlinard, Zane Gerlach, Grace Rogers, Chisana Korth, Kayla Abbott, Coach Kelly Gerlach.

Junior High Runners Persevere in Uncertain Season

By Kelly GerlachJunior High track season began with the district who usually hosts all of our meets announcing that they were not able to compete with out of area athletes. With no meets on the … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/26/21

Students prepped and ready to race in their potato sacks! Photo courtesy of Joshua Daniel O.

Rocketing into Field Day

By Mackenzie DysingerStudents from the rocketry class debuted their creations on Tuesday, May 18th, as the first event of Upstream Learning’s field day. Adults and children both watched in delight … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/26/21

WISE and BLM Summer Hike Schedule

By Robin MayoReady for summer fun? WISE and BLM invite you to join us for summer hikes and science day camps. Practice outdoor skills and explore new places while learning about the … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/26/21

A cruise ship docked in Ketchikan. Photo courtesy of blmiers2/Creative Commons.

Cruise Lines Prepare for Late-Season Return to Alaska

By Amanda SwinehartFollowing the passage of H.R. 1318 by the U.S. Senate and House last week, three major cruise lines have announced they will be setting sail to Alaska later this summer.The bill, … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/26/21

Hybrid between a Eurasian and American wigeon spotted near Gakona.

Links in the Chain: International Migratory Bird Day

International Migratory Bird Day (IMDB) is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of May in Canada and the United States, and the second Saturday of October in Central and South … more

Allison Sayer | 5/21/21

In a classic celebration of graduation, the Glennallen graduates throw their caps in the air.

Graduation Week in the Basin

By Mackenzie Dysinger This past week the Copper River Basin hummed with excitement as graduation rapidly approached. Looked upon with eager anticipation, graduation day for most students marks … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/21/21

Photo courtesy of Jimmiehomeschoolmom/Creative Commons.

Senate Bill 58/House Bill 78 Propose Increase to Correspondence Program Funding

By Ivy CatledgeOn March 3, 2021, previous principal of Glennallen Elementary, Michael Johnson, Ph.D., Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) introduced Senate Bill … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/21/21

Tolsona Lake Lodge Happy Quilters (L-R) Carmen Howser, Jeanne Lematta, Marge Badger, Gayle Flynn, Maria Mendez, Phyllis Johnson, Michelle Heaton, Doreen Hodges, Cynthia Curtis, Cynthia Weaver. Photo courtesy of Tolsona Lake Lodge.

Quilting is a Labor of Love

By Cynthia Curtis“When all those sewing machines are running, it sounds like a sweat shop,” says Bruce Heaton, manager and co-owner of the Tolsona Lake Lodge where his wife Michelle just … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/21/21

Photo courtesy of Evonne/Creative Commons.

The Wish Belly, Part V

A fiction serial by Shane Kimberlin.The scream was hers. Faint. I yelled out her name.We ran to the car and hopped in.“She’s at the cherry tree,” the cat said.I drove fast. The engine … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/13/21

Everyone Brings Something: A Lesson in Building Community

Neighbors gather for a “Fireside Session” in Cheney Lake, Anchorage. Photo by Chantelle Pence. [/caption] By Chantelle Pence“Remember, you are a human being.” I spoke the words to the people … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/13/21

Fire biologist lights controlled burn. Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region.

April Greater Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce Meeting

The Greater Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce held a monthly meeting on April 29 over Zoom. Chamber business and announcements included the visitor center (VIC) opening on May 15, … more

Allison Sayer | 5/13/21

A helicopter from the Mat-Su Area Forestry Station makes a water drop on tires and other hazardous materials that were burning within the fire perimeter.

Wildfire Season has Started

By Amanda SwinehartThe Copper Valley’s 2021 wildfire season was off to a blazing start last week with two fires in less than 24 hours.The first fire was near Copper Center. According to … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/9/21

Community members were encouraged to write the names of people they would look out for and protect on red hands.

Gaann Du’ Nek’enaey: This is Our Sibling

Parental/trigger warning: This article discusses violence. On April 27 2021, the Copper River Native Association (CRNA) hosted runner and activist Rosalie Fish, of the Cowlitz and … more

Allison Sayer | 5/7/21

May in the Garden

By Tenley NelsonA robin, perched on the perennial garden fence, sang a morning song as I walked from the greenhouse to the house with a shovelful of burning coals. We have not been having a fire in … more

Amanda Swinehart | 5/7/21

Tvetene Carlson (seated), pre-COVID, on a tourist excursion to Alcatraz. Photo courtesy of Tvetene Carlson.

Cantwell Kid Researching Airborne Disease

Tvetene Carlson was born and raised in Cantwell. He is now a PhD student at the University of California Berkeley doing cutting edge research related to how diseases including … more

Allison Sayer | 5/7/21

Copper Country Alliance, DEC Hydrologists Weigh in on Proposed Asphalt Plant

Note: This article has been updated since appearing in its print version. Additional comments from Christopher Miller have been added, which were received after press time. By Allison … more

Allison Sayer | 4/29/21

Thanks to the Steck family for letting me try some of their birch sap!

Harvesting Birch Sap in the Copper Valley

Birch sap is a lightly sweet, mineral rich tonic that can be drunk straight out of the tree. It can also be boiled down into syrup. However, with 100 gallons of sap required to make 1 gallon of … more

Allison Sayer | 4/29/21

Swans return to the Wrangells, north of Gakona. Also pictured are cackling geese, similar to Canada geese but the size of ducks.

Scenes of Spring

Pigs on the Speck farm, Kenny Lake. We have created a special baby animal department which will be bringing you more farm animal pictures soon. Photo by Allison Sayer. Pussy willow in the evening … more

Allison Sayer | 4/29/21

Getting More out of Your Raspberries

We are finally getting spring temperatures, but it is hard to believe we’ll ever see our gardens again with so much snow still on the ground. However, if you are looking to get more out of your … more

Allison Sayer | 4/22/21

Updates from the Spring Copper Basin Land Managers Meeting

“Aerial image of land donated by Ruth McHenry and Cliff Eames for conservation and education.” Photo credit: Zak Melms [/caption] The Copper Valley Development Association recently hosted the … more

John Tierney | 4/22/21