Alaska Man Monday – a Sad Thing, a Bad Thing, and a Happy Thing

We’re still sorting out the results of Alaska’s elections. It looks like ranked-choice voting (RCV) is narrowly going down. It looks like Nick Begich III is going to replace Mary Peltola in Alaska’s at-large House of Representatives chair. But nothing is finally decided yet, some of the outlying communities are still outstanding – so we’re crossing our fingers.

This week, we start with a sad item, but it’s something that happens in the Great Land – a fatal bear mauling.

This is sad.

Alaska State Troopers were notified of an overdue deer hunter in the Sitka area on Oct. 29. Alaska Wildlife Troopers, USCG, and Sitka SAR, conducted land-based searches on Wednesday, with three search teams combing in the remote wooded area that they reached with the help of a state trooper vessel and Sitka search-and-rescue vessel.

By 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the remains 50-year-old Tad Fujioka of Sitka were found near a deer carcass. Investigation revealed he was the likely victim of a fatal bear mauling. 

There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that Mr. Fujioka did anything wrong, but it’s not uncommon for a bear to take over the carcass of a game animal killed by a human — and then the bear will guard that carcass jealously. If Mr. Fujioka came across the bear unexpectedly, that may have promoted the mauling — at this point, we just don’t know. It’s a sad thing all the way around.

See Related: Alaska Man Monday – Dumb Crook, Garbage Bear, and Funny Stuff at the Museum

No score on this one — just our deepest condolences to the Fujioka family.

Also, on Election Day, this happened.

The Alaska State Troopers and Wasilla Police Department are actively searching for a person they believe is armed and dangerous in the area of Millers Reach Road and Parks Highway in the Houston area. Residents are encouraged to lock their doors, stay inside, and contact the Alaska State Troopers if they notice anything suspicious at (907) 352-5401. 

The Parks Highway is closed in both directions between West King Arthur Drive and West Cheri Lake Drive. The length of the closure is unknown at this time. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

The situation, thankfully, was resolved without anyone getting hurt.

The Parks Highway is now open in both directions in the Houston area. Law enforcement officers have detained the two individuals who fled from officers earlier this morning in the Houston area. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has assumed case responsibility, and additional information will be released when it becomes available.

True story: We had gone down to Wasilla that morning to run a couple of errands and got caught down there when the road closed. Notably, there are no other continuous north-south roads in this part of Alaska; it’s the Parks Highway, or you stay put. We went back to Wasilla, had a nice sit-down breakfast, and waited for the road to open. Good that no one was hurt.

See Related: Mayor Focuses on Gun Control Instead of Real Solutions After Tragic Mass Shooting

Alaska Man Score: Nothing for the idiot crooks, but 5 moose nuggets for the brave and on-the-spot Alaska State Police and the Wasilla cops who responded.

And now, some happy news: A young girl from Kenai was chosen to light the national Christmas tree.

A nine-year-old Kenai student will be getting the special honor of lighting up the Capitol Christmas Tree next month in Washington D.C. after winning an essay competition.

On Oct. 25, Rose Burke’s essay, “Alaska’s Christmas Tree,” was chosen as the winner of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Essay Contest.

The Burke family told Alaska‘s News Source they were surprised when they got a call from Murkowski’s office announcing the Connections Homeschool Program student had won.

And:

On Dec. 1, Burke — along with her mom and two of her siblings — will travel to Washington, D.C., where Burke will stand on Dec. 3 with the Speaker of the House as she lights up the Capitol Christmas Tree.

“I was so proud of her. She did a good job,” Laura said. “I think she likes that she can put down things on paper that can make people laugh or make people get mad or make people cry.”

In Burke’s essay, in less than 250 words, she focuses on Alaska’s wildlife and the beauty that makes the state her home, writing in her essay, “when they see this majestic Christmas tree they will be reminded of our farthest north state. Though far away, we are united in love for our country.”

We’re proud to be Alaskans in any case, but it makes us especially proud when one of our kids does good like this. Rose, you’ve done us proud — you’ve made Alaska proud, and in Washington, you’ll make America proud.

Alaska Man score: 5 moose nuggets. Good for you, Rose.

Finally, here are my thoughts on the aftermath of the election – not like you haven’t already read those, but what the heck.

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