Letters to the editor

Dear Editor,

On August 7 at about 8 p.m. I was bringing meals with a couple of my friends to our houseless community members. Many of our houseless community members are people I have known most of my life including friends, classmates and family. We provided meals to four individuals in front of City Hall and continued driving. As we drove back by City Hall, I noticed a person down with their eyes rolling back and shaking involuntarily. I knew based on caring for another loved one with a seizure disorder that they were having a seizure. I jumped out of the truck and held their head. [NPD} Officer Nguyen was speaking to a small group of individuals nearby and called for an ambulance for the individual. I waited with them, after about thirty minutes and three additional seizures I called the police dispatch again to inquire about the ambulance. The dispatcher explained that they toned out the ambulance thirty minutes ago and that they didn’t know if anyone was coming. I was at a complete and utter loss. This person could have been me; it could have been my loved one, it could have been you or your loved one. This individual was laying on the sidewalk having multiple seizures and no ambulance was expected to come. We had no one to rely on but ourselves in that moment. My friends and I loaded this individual in need of an ambulance and immediate medical care into the bed of my truck where I held them and a friend drove to the Emergency Room. My child and her friend ran into the ER to let them know we needed a wheelchair and immediately three medical staff came running out the door to provide care for the patient.

I am beyond thankful for our volunteer ambulance service, however, it is apparent that the demand for ambulance services cannot be met under our City operated volunteer ambulance service. I understand that NSHC has provided a letter to the City to take over providing the ambulatory services on October 7, 2019. There was further discussion on page 2 of the minutes dated October 30, 2019 that stated the following on the issue “3) Tom Vaden explained that the Nome Volunteer Ambulance Department voted unanimously to oppose the NSHC letter proposing to assume ambulance services in Nome. He explained efforts to train new EMT’s, the average time a volunteer serves and that most volunteers do so to help people.”

I believe those on the volunteer team have the best intentions, however, if volunteer staffing is insufficient to provide 24/7 rapid response to emergencies, then other options must be pursued. I think it is imperative that for the wellbeing of our community and everyone of us that the city transitions this service ASAP before another ambulatory call goes unanswered.

Kirsten Timbers

P.O. Box 1696

Nome, AK 99762

Someone out there is dancing with the Devil, not knowing the dance may last them forever; so if the Devil asks you to dance, you better say never, because a dance with the Devil may last you forever.

Growing up in my village, there was Heavy Equipment Operators, Carpenters, Plumbers, Roofers and Jack Of All Trades guys everywhere it seemed. These men I grew up watching work their positions year after year became my role models. I remember getting in trouble by them because I used to be “too close” to the projects at hand, watching, wishing. Learning, impatiently waiting till’ I can have my turn at working the tools or operating the heavy equipment. The joysticks, and all the little buttons and the pedals. Those things amused me so bad because the operators worked them all fluently, simultaneously as needed. My two favorites were Heavy Equipment Operators and Carpenters. All the tools, buttons, switches, gadgets and pedals still amaze me to this day even as a grown man. They build buildings and move gravel and dirt, creating God given talent, finely finished products like runways, highways, bridges and water ways.

The coolest ever to me was seeing that these machines can move mountains. Literally. It may take years, but I guarantee it can be done. Red Dog Mine for a great example, with safety as number one concern for all, moved mountains with just a few Bad Dude Triple 777’s; 100-ton haul trucks and some awesome dedicated Geologists and Operators, moved mountains and created roads, runways and built buildings out in the middle of nowhere above the Arctic Circle. Cool, huh?

Yeah, I know, I’ve done all that

and some at the age of 33. For the first decade of my life after graduating high school. Leaving the nest, I lived life to the fullest. I had two beautiful children, was married, worked when and where I can seasonally as an operator, or carpenter, laborer, fisherman, substitute teacher, wrestling coach, and volunteered my time helping with community events, reffing basketball tournaments, helped with some Search and Rescue efforts; but the next best thing to being a Dad is hunting!

Man, is it ever so peaceful to the soul when you’re out with Mother Nature and get to see and experience her beauty. I believe God made our lands so beautiful because he wants us to be there. Especially here in Alaska (sorry Lower 48, ya’ll just have too many buildings down there). I was living life the way it was meant to be lived.

Growing up, Sunday school wasn’t own the question at all. Sunday school was required. I’d go home after to watch NFL Football and eat sourdough hotcakes with cooked fruit for syrup with my Papa Fran (Rest Easy Papa). Doing homework and helping elders and neighbors was also required, no questions asked. These things listed here are just a few of the experiences I had in life. These are just. few family morals I was taught and lived through, but they are important ones. They molded me into living the righteous life I once lived.

Then I met alcohol.

The Devil’s drink. There are those who can tolerate it and there are those who tolerate it and abuse it for many different reasons. Some, maybe most, never are responsible with decision making while abusing it. Growing up, I seen first-hand what it does to people who abuse it. My current incarceration is alcohol induced. Every single one of my incarceration is due to alcohol. So guess what? Yup…I wasn’t responsible about it. I wasn’t responsible by choosing it as a way of pass time, or a way to not face life and what it was throwing my way. Even after witnessing first-hand the bad company alcohol provides, I was still choosing to drink it, thinking I knew my limit and that I can handle it like

the joysticks, buttons, gadgets, pedals and tools of the two trades I mentioned. Alcohol has/had become a tool to self-destruction. Both mentally and physically, I lost all motivation to want to function and live a normal healthy life. Like many others, I have become an Alcoholic, dependent on it for all the wrong reasons. It’s grip on my soul was powerful. Since this current incarceration has been my longest stretch, I have had many days, many nights, many lockdowns to contemplate what is important to me.

Though I admit it has been a tool to self-destruction, I want to use the reflection of it’s doing to myself as a tool to work towards being the Honest True Man I once was before it tore me apart.

It has been one heck of a Dance With The Devil; but with God, prayer, prayers, surrounding myself with the right company, and influence from others with the struggle, trust me, I won’t let it last forever. I’m a wrestler, you’ll never catch me on my back long enough to count lights in the ceiling. Never give up!

Thanks,

Farrel Soxie, #520601

A.M.C.C.

P.O. Box 730

Nome, AK 99762