Nome Weather

Front Page • NSEDC on the hunt again for a new CEO • It ain't over yet • Nome Common Council seeks shorter fuel contract Page 2 - Opinion • Editorial • Letters • Weather Statistics • A Look At The Past Page 3 - Local Page 4 - Local • NSEDC - continued from page 1 • Council - continued from page 1 Page 5 - Local • StoryCorps project wants to hear you tell your tale Page 6 - Sports • Pt. Hope wins mixed-six tourney Page 7 - Regional • Election - continued from page 1 • Students make the grade in physical fitness Page 8 - The Arts in Nome

Page 9 - The Arts in Nome • Nome's musicians Hit all the right notes    at the fall 2008 Open Mike Night at the Mini Page 10 - Regional • All Around the Sound • Saying it Sincerely Page 11- Local • Calling all Alaska bird watchers Page 12 • Employment • Real Estate • Seawall • Trooper Beat • Legals Page 13 •Diomede shooting of 10-year-old boy ruled accidental • more Legals Page 14 • Obituaries • Court Page 15 • Serving the Community of Nome Page 16 • Nome in photos

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NSEDC on the hunt again for a new CEO

Board of directors declines to renew contract for Bob Walsh

By Tyler Rhodes
After only six months on the job, the Norton Sound Economic Development Corp. board of directors voted Nov. 6 to remove Bob Walsh as the organization's chief executive officer.

A short press release issued by NSEDC Nov. 7 simply stated that the board determined during its third quarter meeting in Nome that it would not renew Walsh's contract.

"The NSEDC board sincerely appreciates the work of Bob and wishes him the best in his future endeavors," NSEDC Chairman and President Dan Harrelson said in a press release. "However, the board has determined that as a means to continue the growth and stability of the company that its best option would be to renew its search for new leadership."

In the meantime, the board has named Janis Ivanoff, who was again elected Friday as NSEDC Vice President, as the corporation's interim CEO. Ivanoff has served as interim CEO for NSEDC in the past.

According to Harrelson, starting Nov. 10, NSEDC will conduct a 10- day search for a new CEO from within the corporation's ranks. If that search does not yield a replacement, continued on page 4

It ain't over yet

More than 90,000 ballots could swing Alaska's U.S. Senate race either way

By Tyler Rhodes
After enduring election campaigns that can be measured in years, Nomeites can finally relax knowing it has all been settled … well, almost.

At the close of the polls Nov. 4, Sen. Ted Stevens held a slim lead of fewer than 3,300 votes over Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich for the Senate seat which Stevens has held since 1968. With more than 90,600 absentee, early and questioned ballots left to be tallied as of Nov. 10—and that number is sure to increase—the race is far from over.

The deadline for absentee ballots to arrive at the Division of Elections office is Nov. 14. Ballots sent from overseas have until Nov. 19 to be counted. The division planned to count the majority of absentee and early-vote ballots on Nov. 12 and then tally the remaining on Nov. 14. The division plans to certify the election on Nov. 25.

The 3,300 gap between Begich and Stevens comes after more than 221,700 votes were counted on Election Day. The remaining 90,600 ballots to be counted as of Monday reflects 29 percent of the total vote in the Senate race.

In District 39, of which Nome is a part, 360 absentee ballots were cast and 231 people appeared in the division of elections office in Nome to vote early. As of Nov. 9, 356 ballots in District 39 were labeled as questioned.

Whichever way the chips fall, the result will carry significance. If Stevens wins, it will mark the first time a convicted felon will have won an election to the Senate, a result of an Oct. 27 verdict finding him guilty continued on page 7

Nome Common Council seeks shorter fuel contract

By Tyler Rhodes
The Nome Common Council tabled the awarding of a bid to Bonanza Fuel for heating oil and fuel for equipment and vehicles for the City of Nome and Nome Public Schools at its Nov. 10 meeting. The council was uneasy with the one-year duration of the bid.

Councilman Jon Larsen wondered why the agreement stretched from Nov. 11 all the way to Oct. 31, 2009 when fuel deliveries to Nome would occur again much sooner and, most likely, at a lower price.

The bid prices from Bonanza came in at $5.29 per gallon for heating oil No. 1, equipment fuel (diesel No. 1 and No. 2) and vehicle diesel fuel; and $4.74 per gallon for unleaded gasoline.

Larsen suggested reviewing the bid and shortening the timeframe. The council agreed and voted to table the manner with Councilman Neal Foster abstaining since he is president of Bonanza Fuel.

Councilman Stan Andersen questioned why the bid included heating oil when he believed Nome Joint Utilities provided that product to the school district. Councilmember Mary Knodel said she would check with the schools on the issue.

Whistle while you work
The daily noontime siren will make its return to Nome.

Council members approved a motion allowing City Building Inspector Pat Hahn to sound the sirens for a short blast daily to keep them in working order.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee made the request to the council after Hahn proposed the idea at its October meeting. Hahn said the sirens tend to freeze up and become inoperable if they are not tested on a regular continued on page 4