Turn back the pages — July 30, 1987
Compiled by Julie Rosier
Council mulls offers on RV translator — The City of Seward is considering transferring ownership of its Mount Wolcott television translator to either the Moose Pass Sportsmen’s Club or to radio station KRXA, it was reported at Monday’s city council meeting. The translator beams Anchorage’s Channel 2 (KTUU) signal to area residents over Channel 9. Due to exposure to liability the city council decided at its July13 meeting not to repair the translator which has been down for at least two months. Council also decided to seek someone to assume the responsibility of maintaining it. At that meeting several local residents urged the city to maintain the service citing KTUU’s statewide news coverage as the reason. The area now receives two channels, one from Chicago and the other is the state funded Rural Alaska Television Project. (RATNET) over Channel 3. Monday evening council heard a proposal from KRXA station manager David Headley who said that Denali Broadcasting, the parent company, is willing to buy the site equipment for $1 and assume all liability His offer states “so long as the city continues to collect and turn over the current $4 volunteer payment.”
Boat harbor project planned — A 2,500 square foot restaurant built out on pilings in Seward’s Small Boat Harbor was proposed to city council Monday night and a public hearing is scheduled for early August. Local residents Ray and Leslie Simutis proposed to build a “First class fine dining waterfront view restaurant and lounge.” According to their letter to council the restaurant would be built just south of the ramp of F-float where the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Mustang is moored. Ms. Simutis, a councilmember, did not participate in the council’s discussions. The Simutis’ are the proprietors of another restaurant called Bubba’s which overlooks the harbor area. City Manager Ron Garzini spoke in favor of the proposal, saying that it would add quality to the harbor scene. The restaurant would have nautical accents with a planned deck and walkway “would tie in very nicely with the existing boardwalk concept.” The letter states “the entire facility will be oriented to take advantage of the unique Seward waterfront view.” Councilmember Robert D. Booher asked whether the city should go out with request for proposals on the property (Block 6 of Oceanview Subdivision) Mr. Garzini was opposed to it because it would be using their idea.
Apparent suicide in care near Forest Acres — A 54-year -ld former Seward resident took her own life in Forest Acres campground Monday afternoon, Seward Police Department reported. “Police investigations revealed suicide,” Lt. Don Earl stated Tuesday. She was identified as Virginia Safre of Anchorage. An out-of-town tourist found her slumped over in the seat of her 1979 Chevrolet compact shortly before 4 p.m. in the campground. A dryer exhaust hose was connected to the car’s exhaust pipe on one end and the other end was stuck through a rear window of her vehicle. The car was running. The witness removed the hose from the window, Lt. Earl said, and attempted to enter the vehicle and remove the woman but all four doors were locked. Seward Police were called, and they and the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps arrived shortly afterwards, removed the woman and tried to revive her. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead at 4:44 p.m. Police investigation revealed she had lived in Seward for four months in 1984. She had an extensive problem-plagued medical and mental history. SPD also reported she had an appointment with a Seward physician Monday that she had not kept. No suicide note was found.
Seward Jackpot Tournament: 249-pound halibut, no ticket — A 249-pound halibut was caught Sunday afternoon by a fisherman who didn’t have a tournament ticket! John Casagranda of Anchorage caught his flatfish near Day Harbor from his 17-foot fiberglass boat and if he had purchased a $5 ticket in the Seward Halibut Tournament he would now be in second place. Mr. Casagranda fought the halibut for an hour and 44 minutes before shooting it with .44 magnum. “We want to let those people know they’re out there. We want to bring those people down to Seward, not to Homer (for halibut fishing)” said his brother Norm, Seward Trading employee. Also in the same tourney Larry Humphreys of Anchorage is in the lead with the biggest ling cod — 24 pounds. At 8 pounds 5 ounces Vince Stuller’s Irish Lord is tops. The month long first annual Seward Halibut Jackpot Tournament ends Friday with the awards ceremony that evening. The first prize is 47 percent of the gross, second prize is 20 percent, and third place gets you 12 percent. As of Monday the pot was estimated to be $3,300.
Pit bull concerns aired at Monday council meeting — Should pitbulls be banned within the Seward city limits? Maybe. The least the city can do is think about doing something about the problem, Willard Dunham told the city council Monday night. What Mr. Dunham would like to see is an ordinance which would control the animals and spell out clearly the liability an owner exposes himself to if the dog attacks. Within the area there have been several reported attacks including an unprovoked attack on a 4-year-old girl who was walking downtown with her mother. The tot was bitten on her stomach. Last year an 80-year-old man was severely bitten on the calf when a pit bull ran out onto the street. The dog was destroyed.
Question of the Week: Do you think we deserve this weather? — “Yes. we’re way overdue. It’s wonderful!” (Cathy Weiford, Seward); “Yes!!!” (Shamara and Marsha Bauder); “You bet we deserve it!” (Gar Wong, Seward); Yes, of course! That’s a silly question.” (Dawn Highsmith, Seward)