Letter to the Editor
Nenana cares
Published Saturday, September 6, 2008
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Stumble It!Sept. 4, 2008
To the editor:
As most, but not all people know, Nenana, along with other areas around Fairbanks, recently suffered severe flooding. Initially, nobody even knew we were having trouble.
Mayor Mayrand and Adam White took some aerial shots of our area, and after the governor saw the photos, it was only then that the real impact that high waters had caused became evident.
The reason being, Nenana takes care of its own. People opened up their homes to those who had to be evacuated, and everyone checked on their neighbors and if someone was missing, people found out where they were and if they were safe. When the water got to my home, I had more help than anyone could wish for to move my possessions to higher ground. Thank you friends — no thank you, family.
The city employees and the Nenana Native Council stepped right up and started doing what they could to protect Nenana and its residents. It is noteworthy that although there was much damage to property and possessions, no one was seriously injured and no life was lost. As it is in every disaster, there are many unknown “heroes” — those who rise to the occasion and give more than 100 percent, and to all of them I want to say thank you and that all your efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated and that Nenana is a better place for having people like you living here.
I want to thank Ray Fox and Pat Phillips who put in a lot of extra hours with no pay along with all the city employees and the Native Council for all they did and continue to do every day to make Nenana a great place to live. Thank you.
Community Discussion
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The Nenana people are happy people. Even as the floods were in their yards they still hosted the Shirley Demientieff Bridge! Many great leaders prayed for these grateful weather we been having. Through these caring events may we have more great native models for our youth!
The flood came and went much the same way the fire a few years ago did. The town stayed, the positive upbeat spirit stayed, the water and fire left. Drove down the highway past Nenana after the fire and just like this letter, there where signs ( hand painted) that said Thank You to the firefighters that stopped the fire just outside the town. To see this kind of letter doesnt surprise me, a lot of the people I know from down that way are just like that. It must be something in the water.
Wisechief, I think you are onto something there.
I have heard good things about how Nenana helps themselves. They have always had a sales tax as well as a property tax. They support themselves and I would be willing to bet that only those in desperate need applied for disaster assistance. They are NOT a town of whinners always looking for a handout.
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