2022: The Year in Review

January

The headlines of the first Nome Nugget edition in 2022 detailed the outfall of a massive windstorm at the end of 2021. Wind speeds of 70 mph were recorded in Nome, with home weather stations in the area measuring gusts up to 83 mph. Temperatures dropped rapidly from 32°F to 0°F and iced up power lines caused widespread power outages in Nome. Regionwide, the wind caused some damage but no injuries, and blew the sea ice out from Norton Sound.

Council supports Housing First project

In its first meeting in 2022, the Nome Common Council voted to support the Nome Community Center’s $10 million housing project with a contribution of $200,000. The Housing First project, later in the year renamed “HomePlate” aims to give unhoused people a roof over their head to make them more successful on the journey to end homelessness and substance or alcohol abuse. The project is a 15-apartment complex that will be financially selfsustaining in operation and maintenance.

Nome Common Council continues liquor license debate

In a contentious five-hour debate the Nome Common Council heard heart-wrenching public testimony and debated the question how to curb alcohol-fueled misbehavior on Front Street. The catalyst for the debate was the annual notice for liquor license renewal of Quick Stop’s liquor license, as the state’s Alcohol and Marijuana Control Board sought the city’s comment. This sparked a debate that nearly lasted a whole year on what the city can do to limit public inebriation and curb alcohol consumption on Front Street.

COVID-19 cases spiked to 407 in the region

The highly transmissible Omicron variant was responsible for a spike in COVID-19 cases in the region. NSHC reported 407 cases in 14 villages.

Record ship traffic through the Bering Strait

An unprecedented amount of ships traversed the Bering Strait on the Russian side of the dateline in the dead of winter in January 2022. On January 23, a marine traffic tracking website showed a 1,000-ft. long LNG tanker named Vladimir Vize, the nuclear icebreaker Arktika, Kapitan Dranitsyn, a diesel icebreaker, a 370-ft. long cargo vessel named Lev Yashin in the Chukchi Sea; a 675-ft. long heavy lift vessel, the Audax, and the Yamal, a 500-ft. nuclear icebreaker, just southwest of the Diomede islands in the middle of the Bering Strait; and a 853-ft. long nuclear powered cargo vessel, the Sevmorput, west of St. Lawrence Island.

February Man perishes in trailer fire

On February 1, a trailer fire on the Dexter Bypass Road claimed the life of Darryl Williams Sr. His trailer home caught fire and burned to the ground, just as another strong windstorm pummeled Nome and the region, making it even harder for responding Nome Fire Dept. volunteers to fight the blaze. At the time, the body of an adult person was found in the rubble and was sent to the state medical examiner for identification. Not until later in the year did Troopers identify the victim as Darryl Williams.

SAR rescues man at Topkok

During a three-day windstorm that pummeled the region, an adventurer trying to walk the Iditarod Trail from Nome to Anchorage was rescued from Topkok and safely returned to Nome. The man, Tim Hewitt, set off his inReach device and called for help when winds up to 50mph blew him repeatedly off trail and a windchill at -52°F caused severe frost bite to his face, with one eye swollen shut from frostbite.

Iron Doggers brave blizzard coming into Nome

Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad led the Iron Dog 2022 field to the halfway point in Nome as a proper windstorm with low visibility was raging through the region. Aklestad/Olstad ended up winning the race, with Nome’s Mike Morgan and team mate Chris Olds placing second, Jarvis and Jordan Miller placing seventh, and father-son team of Evan and Steffen Booth placing 11th; 16 teams finished the grueling race, with 12 scratches over the course of 2,475 miles from Wasilla to Nome, up to Kotzebue and back to Wasilla.

Alaska Delegation mum on ramifications of Russian invasion of Ukraine

On February 24, 2022 Russia invaded the independent nation of Ukraine, escalating a conflict that in 2014 started with Russia annexing Crimea. Given that the Bering Strait directly borders to Russia and Chukotka, regional residents showed a range of sentiments from not being concerned to asking where the nearest bomb shelters are. The Nome Nugget reached out to members of state and federal government asking how they plan to address the situation of heightened tension between the U.S. and Russia, with Alaska being the direct neighbor. There was little to no response. The Alaska delegation denounced the invasion and the governor pointed to resource development. The Alaska delegation did not respond to questions about the safety of this region and instead sent out press releases focusing on promoting natural resource extraction.

Alaska National Guard conducts major exercise in Nome

About 150 participants from across the country and a variety of government agencies were in Nome as part of the Alaska National Guard’s Arctic Eagle/Patriot 2022 exercise.

AK Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Eric Marcellus explained that the purpose of the exercise is to strengthen National Guard partnerships with civil emergency response entities and local communities in the event of disaster or “homeland defense challenges.”

March Iditarod comes back to Nome

The 50th running of the Iditarod saw 49 teams leave the starting line in Willow. Brent Sass, in his seventh running of the Iditarod, won the 2022 race, arriving under the burled arch on Tuesday morning at 5:38 a.m. with 11 dogs in harness, clocking a time of eight days, 14 hours, 38 minutes and 43 seconds. In a race filled with normal trail challenges, the last stretch on the Bering Sea coast lived up to its infamous reputation. In the last 77 miles from White Mountain to Nome, mother nature dished out a proper ground storm in the hills with winds gusting up to 62 mph as Sass and Dallas Seavey went through. High winds continued as mushers came through the Topkok Hills and saw their race end as they had to be rescued by snowmachines and scratched. Two mushers broke bones and suffered from hypothermia. The 50th running of the Iditarod came to a close on Saturday, March 19 at 11:39 p.m. when Apayqauq Reitan crossed the finish line as the last and 37th musher to finish the race. A large crowd gathered on Front Street, to welcome Reitan as she drove her seven dogs under the burled arch, after having spent 13 days, 8 hours and 39 minutes on the trail.

City settles lawsuit

The City of Nome settled a civil lawsuit with Clarice Bun Hardy in the amount of $750,000 and a public apology.

Hardy filed a lawsuit in May 2020 against the City of Nome, former Nome Police Chief John Papasodora and former NPD Lt. Nicholas Harvey. The lawsuit alleged that NPD repeatedly ignored her report of a sexual assault she suffered.The settlement resulted in a dismissal of the lawsuit and payment to Hardy. According

to the settlement document and Nome City Manager Glen Steckman, the AMLJIA (Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Association) paid the $750,000, which included legal costs.

Nome Nannoks win state basketball championship

The Nome-Beltz High School Boys Basketball Team won their first 3A state championship, beating Grace Christian 49-47. Nome ended its season with a 20-7 record, the Western Conference Championship and the Class 3A State Championship.

Don Young dies at 88

On March 18, Alaska’s Congressman Don Young died as he was returning to Alaska from Washington. Young, a Republican and the longest-serving member of Congress, lost consciousness on a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle and couldn’t be resuscitated.

April Murkowski visits Nome

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (RAK) visited Nome in mid-April to talk about the work she has been doing in Washington D.C. and to hear from Nome about the work going on here. Following an appearance at the Nome Common Council meeting, Murkowski and staff got a tour from NJUS of the Banner Ridge Wind Farm.

May Avian flu detected in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation reported that the first case of a highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in Alaska. State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Gerlach said in a press release that “With this confirmed case, it’s clear that migrating birds have brought avian influenza to Alaska this spring.”

Nome man charged with 31 counts of sex abuse of minors

Nome Police arrested and charged Isaac Ozenna Sr., 74, of Nome with 31 counts of sexual abuse of minors and coercion, for alleged sexual assaults children, going back more than 30 years, involving six victims.

A grand jury indicted Ozenna on 11 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the first degree, an unclassified crime; on 18 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the second degree, a class B felony offense, and two counts of coercion, a class C felony offense.

According to the indictment, six different victims were identified, ranging in age between four-yearsold and 12-years-old at the time of the abuse. Ozenna was arrested on May 4.

Port gets state funding

The Alaska Legislature passed an operating and capital budget that included $175 million for the Nome port expansion, officially titled Port of Nome Modifications Project. The governor signed the bill with the port funds intact. The $175 million would satisfy the non-federal fund share for phase one that the City is obligated to pay as the non-federal sponsor of the project.

Thirty-one students graduate from Nome-Beltz High School

The class of 2022 paraded through the streets of Nome in the back of pickup trucks under clear skies last Wednesday, May 25, to celebrate their high school commencement. When the ceremony at the Nome-Beltz gym began later that evening, the school’s band played “Pomp and Circumstance” as the 31 graduates emerged through blue and white streamers. To the right of the stage, a seal oil lamp burned. With COVID-19 infection rates still low in the region, the ceremony took place inside for the first time since 2019. “It’s really great to be back in the gym and to once again see so many smiling faces,” said Nome Public Schools Superintendent Jamie Burgess. Salutatorian was Cathy Nguyen, Valedictorians were Jenae Matson and Lizzy Hahn.

Stebbins man sentenced to ten years in jail

John Aluska, 45, of Stebbins was sentenced to 10 years of jailtime for crimes committed at fish camp two summers ago.

The Nome Court heard witness testimony detailing the harm and destruction Aluska caused over six hours on July 29, 2020. Aluska repeatedly said he should kill his thenpregnant wife, dousing her in gasoline and firing gunshots near her. He lined up his four young children, threatening to shoot them as well. He also burned down a century-old fish camp that was shared by multiple families and, at the time, filled with dozens of fish and many gallons of berries. According to court documents, alcohol was not a factor in the crimes.

NSSP buys king crab again

For the first time since 2019, Norton Sound Seafood Products bought red king crab from local fishermen as the stock seemed to recovered. The season opened on June 15, and the first delivery was made to the plant in Nome on Wednesday, June 22. The summer dock price was set at a whopping $12.00 per pound.

July Smoke chokes Nome

Nomeites woke up to the stinging smell of freshly burned wood and the sight of dense fog that actually was smoke from two wildfires burning 430 miles south of Nome, near Lake Illiamna.

Snow in July

An unusually frigid ball of air spun through the Bering Strait region, bringing rare July snowfall, high surf advisories in the Norton Sound and wind gusts up to 48 mph in Nome. The airmass was the coldest one seen during the month of July in the past 70 years. As the low-pressure area spun near Diomede Monday afternoon, wind at the Nome Airport reached 48 mph. Such a speed might be expected for a November storm, but Rick Thoman said gusts of that force have not been seen in the month of July since the start of regular wind gust records in the area, in the mid-1980s. Pictures posted to social media showed snowfall on the Diomede islands, Ear Mountain near Shishmaref and mountains near Dexter and Banner Creek. In Nome proper snow did not fall, but hail came down on Monday. Thoman could not find a record of July snow, excluding hail from thunderstorms, in Nome’s whole climate record, which stretches back more than a century.

August Murkowski introduces sweeping Arctic bill, calling for yearround military presence at Port of Nome, Port Clarence

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski last week introduced to the Senate the Arctic Commitment Act, addressing Arctic security, shipping, and research, among other topics she deemed national priorities. The legislation aims “to enhance the United States’ standing as an Arctic nation by facilitating greater maritime accessibility, strong trading partners and reliable infrastructure.”

The Port of Nome features heavily in the bill and is mentioned in connection with the U.S. military in ways that it hadn’t been before, such as exploring the feasibility of a permanent, year-round presence of the Navy and U.S. Coast Guard in Nome.

Governor visits Nome, listens to report on energy

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy was in Nome last Friday for talks with the City of Nome, a listening session about energy with selected community members, a short meeting with Graphite One, and an interview with The Nome Nugget. The governor was originally scheduled to visit Nome at the end of June, but his flight was unable to land due to bad weather and wildfire smoke.

Researchers find high concentrations of harmful algae in regional waters

Researchers stepping off the research vessel Norseman II in Nome, brought significant news of having found very high concentrations of a phytoplankton called Alexandrium catenella in regional waters.

HomePlate project is started

On Tuesday, August 30, a groundbreaking ceremony for Homeplate, a permanent supportive housing project, took place at the corner of G Street and Greg Kruschek Avenue.

Peltola wins special election

Democrat Mary Peltola will become the first woman to represent Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Alaska Native ever to serve in Congress.

The former state legislator is the first Democrat to win a U.S. House race in 50 years and will serve the remaining four months of the term left unfinished by the death of Congressman Don Young in March.

September IPOP is done

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied regulatory permits for IPOP LLC, effectively nixing IPOP’s plans to mine for gold and dispose of material in the wetlands and waterways of Bonanza Channel and Safety Sound.

Merbok hits western Alaska

A gigantic weather system swirl spanning an area south of the Aleutian Island chain to the Beaufort Sea battered everything caught in the middle, about 1,000 miles of western Alaskan coastline, which was in the path of gale and even hurricane force winds, pushing the ocean to cause extensive erosion. The worst part of the storm hit Nome Sept. 16, lasted into the following day and night. After the worst was over, the City, the Dept. of Transportation and residents are clearing debris left behind by one of the biggest storms in recorded history descending on western Alaska. By Sunday, the sea level at Norton Sound has dropped, the wind subsided, and only occasional rain showers fell. The destruction left by the remnants of tropical typhoon Merbok are mindboggling: piles of driftwood, rocks, and hundreds of red cap bottles and debris lined the streets. A house was dislodged from Belmont Point and floated in the coastal Nome-Council Highway was buried under sand and ocean debris. Aerial video footage posted on social media showed sand covering the road like snowdrifts in the winter and only a few camp sites still standing. The Nome-Council Road was impassable past mile 24 and the ocean had chewed a huge breach between Norton Sound and Safety Sound. East Front Street was torn apart and driftwood logs, sand and gravel was deposited in driveways. The asphalt of one of the few paved roads in Nome was peeled off and the boulders of the seawall were rearranged as if a giant had played with marbles.

Bering Sea Restaurant burns down during storm

During the onslaught of ex-typhoon Merbok on Saturday, Sept. 17, a fire broke out at the Bering Sea Restaurant, consuming the entire building. No injuries were reported, but a dog perished in the fire. The adjacent Nugget Inn hotel was shuttered after the fire.

October Voters elect Piscoya to Council, seasonal sales tax repealed

Nome voters have repealed the seasonal sales tax and elected Cameron Piscoya as a new member of the Nome Common Council. The only contested race in the municipal election was for seat E on the Nome Common Council, previously held for nearly 17 years by Jerald Brown. Brown did not run for re-election. Candidates for the seat were Derek McLarty and Cameron Piscoya, with Piscoya getting the majority of the votes.

Proposition 1, a measure that asked the voters if the two percent sales tax increase in the summer months should be repealed, was passed by voters. Marjorie Kunaq Tahbone, also a sole candidate, was elected to seat E on the School Board, previously held by Dr. Barb Amarok, who didn’t run for re-election.

Saxitoxin found in SLI clam

A six-inch butter clam harvested on August 28 three miles north of Savoonga tested positive for saxitoxins, or paralytic shellfish poison.The clam was sent to the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research Laboratory, or SEATOR, in Sitka for testing after researchers have alerted the region about very high levels of Alexandrium catenella phytoplankton cells in regional waters this summer. The clam itself showed high levels of saxitoxin present: it had 450 micrograms of toxin per 100 gram of body tissue.

Two Russians seek asylum at SLI

Two Russian men arrived by boat on St. Lawrence Island in the evening on Monday, October 3, seeking asylum in the US as they fled their country to not be conscripted to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. claims processed.

Help didn’t come in time to rescue overdue boater

A Nome man who was reported overdue as he was traveling by boat from Koyuk to Nome on Monday, October 10, was found dead by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter search crew two days later. Alaska State Troopers say that Bo Adams, 38, of Nome was found dead on October 12, with “evidence at the scene indicating that he likely succumbed to the elements.”

Nome-Beltz staffing shortage reaches ‘crisis point’

At Nome-Beltz Middle and High School, teachers report low morale and worries for students’ wellbeing as they struggle to cover for critical staff vacancies. The understaffing crisis was the focus of conversation at a regular school board meeting, held on Tuesday, Oct. 11. “Our staffing situation has kind of reached a crisis point,” said Superintendent

Jamie Burgess. “I think it’s important for our community to be aware that it is going to start impacting the education of their children and potential school closures are going to have an impact on families as well.”

November Nome woman indicted on tax evasion

A grand jury in Anchorage indicted businesswoman Tina Yi on five counts for tax evasion and five counts for filing false tax returns that underreported income from the business she owned in Nome, SJ Investment LLC.

Stebbins store burns

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 28, a Stebbins building housing the ANICA store and the Tapraq Fuel Company office burned to the ground. According to Stebbins Mayor Marian Mike, the fire started around 4 a.m. and quickly consumed the half-century old building.

December Warm weather woes wreak havoc in Nome

A week of several freeze and thaw cycles left Nome and the region with puddles on ice and scenes that look more like breakup in spring rather than the customary snowy landscape

of December. The rain on ice interrupted normal life in Nome.wind entered the equation and slapping power lines, heavy under the builtup ice, caused temporary power outages.

Council ok’s MOU with liquor stores to curb alcohol use

Nome Common Council last week passed a resolution that allows the City to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Nome’s liquor package stores with the stated goal to curb excessive consumption of hard liquor in Nome and thus to cut down alcohol-triggered crimes, assaultsand sexual abuse. Earlier this year, in March, an ordinance with the same goal failed to pass. Some elements made it into the memorandum, which is a voluntary commitment by the package stores, operated by AC and Hanson’s, to cooperate in restricting hard liquor sales.

Nome man dies after musk ox attack

Curtis Worland was killed by a musk ox on Tuesday afternoon as he was trying to haze a herd of musk oxen away from his sled dog kennel. He was found injured by another individual, who then notified the troopers, around 12:30 p.m. When first responders arrived on scene, Worland was already deceased. West noted a significant wound to the femoral artery. Worland was not in the dog yard but was found in the snow across the property, on the northside of the Nome-Teller Highway. West estimates that Worland’s body was about 100 to 150 yards away from the road and separated from his snowmachine. An empty sidearm was found near the body. Days after Worland succumbed to injuries inflicted by a musk ox, several dog mushers and other Nome residents pleaded with the Northern Norton Sound Fish and Game Advisory Committee to consider changes to the management of an ever-growing number of musk oxen in Nome.