29 May 2013

Alaska Digest 5/29/13

Mental Pygmies Dept:
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — "The bus," as it has become known to many Alaskans, claimed three more victims on Monday.
Three German hikers were rescued by Alaska State Troopers after hiking out to the dilapidated school bus on the Stampede Trail near Healy made famous by the book and film "Into the Wild." The hikers were unable to return due to high water on the Savage River.
Some people simply refuse to learn. "Oh, that only happens to other people; it could never happen to me!"

Oh, really? Here's the money quote from the article:
Since the book and movie came out, troopers have rescued numerous hikers who hiked out to the bus but could not return due to high water in the Teklanika River. A woman from Switzerland drowned in the river three years ago on the trail to the bus, but it was unclear whether she was hiking to the bus or just hiking in the area.

More Pygmies Dept:
A man sustained minor injuries when he tried to escape Anchorage police Monday by crawling through a fourth-story window of the Extended Stay Deluxe Hotel in Downtown Anchorage.

According to APD spokeswoman Dani Myren, the man – later identified as Kevin Fisher, 20 – attempted to flee by dangling a bedsheet out the window and rappelling to the ground. Fisher told police he was trying to distract officers from at least one of three other people who were holed up inside the hotel room, but ended up falling instead.

~ snip ~ 

"He was hoping he could distract officers so Ricky could get away," Myren said.
When police found the hotel room Lokeni was occupying, they also discovered the door was blocked by one of the reclining chairs within the room. Myren said Lokeni – 6-feet-tall, weighing approximately 250 pounds – had found an interesting spot to evade police.

"They found Ricky hiding inside the cabinet underneath a sink," Myren said. In addition to Fisher and Lokeni, two women were discovered in the middle of the hotel room hiding underneath a blanket. Roxanne Manglona, 27, and Lila Analisa Mua'ava, 30, were also arrested.

... sigh ...

Another Pygmy Dept:
An Arizona man who caused an in-flight disturbance during an Alaska Airlines flight Monday appeared in court today.

Alexander Herrera, 23, attempted to open an emergency exit during a flight from Anchorage to Portland.

According to the criminal complaint, Herrera began acting strange during the flight and asked the woman sitting next to him, "What would you do if I open the exit door?"

Passengers managed to stop him and restrained him to a chair with shoelaces and seat belt extenders. Herrera told investigators that he is bipolar and had not been taking his medication.


If at First You Don't Succeed Dept: In this story from KTUU Channel 2 News in Anchorage,
Former Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller has thrown his hat into the ring against Democratic incumbent Senator Mark Begich.

Miller filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month.

In his statement of candidacy, Miller listed "Citizens for Joe Miller" as his principal campaign committee.

Sen. Begich filed for re-election last summer.

Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell has not filed any paperwork to officially run as of May 28, but he has launched an exploratory committee looking into a potential run.

4 comments:

drjim said...

I saw the movie about that guy.

What a dummy!

Going into the wild completely UNprepared.

I think he should have gotten a Darwin Award instead of having a movie made about him....

Rev. Paul said...

drjim, both he & Timothy Treadwell were laughingstocks and objects of derision up here. Idiots, the both of them.

drjim said...

In the movie, the guy that gave him a ride had to give him a pair of boots!

I grew up in semi-rural Illinois, but even *I* know enough to not attempt a trip like that without consulting with a few experienced guides.

And all the kid had was a 22LR....he's lucky he didn't run into a bear on his first day.....

Rev. Paul said...

Yep. Once again, stupidity provided its own reward.