Internet Weather Report: August 19th, 2026
Aug 20, 2026
Join host Mike Chmielewski with Peter House from Deep Tree as they discuss current cybersecurity threats and how much AI is a current threat in the cyber world
Page 2 Thu. Aug. 20: It’s Fair Time!
Aug 20, 2026
School has started, the weather has headed downhill, and the Fling has Flung. Unless you live under a rock, you know what happens next… Here’s a hint. There’s been a lot of activity on the Alaska State Fair Grounds.
That’s right, it’s Fair time. The Fair opens tomorrow. It runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Labor Day. Today is the last day to purchase discounted admission tickets. Head over to alaskastatefair.org to get some.
There are plenty of contests, events, and concerts to behold at the Fair. And don’t forget the food.
Tomorrow’s events include a hot-dog eating contest and a scarecrow building contest. Safari Sam and Oscar the Ostrich return to stroll around the Fair grounds and tickle your funny bone every day. Robbie the Magician will roam the grounds and amaze you with his magic. There are still tickets for the AJR concert tomorrow night. They take the Borealis stage at 7 p.m.
The 4H Horse Show happens all weekend. Events are on Friday at 6 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m at the France Equestrian Center. The show includes live arena riding, showmanship, and educational components like horse judging and hippology. Stop by and encourage our outstanding 4H youth.
Stepping away from the Fair for a moment, NOLS is holding its Outdoor Equipment Gear Tag Sale on Saturday. The sale returns after a three-year hiatus. It features used expedition gear and new merchandise with discounts up to 50%. The sale is at the NOLS campus at 5805 North Farm Loop Road. It runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Scroll down on the NOLS Alaska Facebook page for information. NOLS stands for National Outdoor Leadership School.
The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation is looking for volunteers to work on the Gold Cord Lake trail in Hatcher Pass on Saturday. The goal is to improve trail tread and drainage. Work will involve completing a rock causeway. Hiking is moderate with no more than one and a half miles total hiked. Volunteers meet at the Independence Mine State Historical Park parking lot in Hatcher Pass at 9:30 a.m. and finish at 3:30 p.m. Visit alaska-trails.org for more information.
Heading back to the Fair, Megadeth takes the stage at the Borealis Theater on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Megadeth has been a major force in heavy music for more than four decades. They are considered a pioneering band of thrash metal. Get tickets at alaskastatefair.org.
Come meet Twiggy on Sunday at the Fair. She is the most famous aquatic squirrel in the world This pint-sized performer delights audiences as she zips across the water on tiny skis. Come see her balance, speed, and charm. She performs this unforgettable act at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. starting on Sunday at the Alaska’s News Source Corral.
Ziggy Marley plays at the Borealis Theater Sunday night. He is a nine-time Grammy Award winner, Emmy Award winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian. Ziggy built a legendary career that spans nearly four decades. He is the eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley. He continues a musical legacy rooted in reggae history while forging his own creative path. He takes the stage at 6 p.m. Buy your tickets in advance and plan to arrive at the fair early for this show.
The food, the fun, Twiggy and Ziggy! The Fair! Another great weekend in the Greater Palmer Metroplex.
Big Cabbage Radio will be broadcasting from the Fair every day. We are in the back right corner of Raven Hall from noon to 5 p.m. drop by say hi and meet some of your favorite Cabbagers.
Have a great day and a better tomorrow.
Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.
Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.
Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.
Keith Peticolas reported this Page Two article and yours truly, Lee Henrikson produced it. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Page 2 Wed. Aug. 19: Palmer Municipal Golf Course
Aug 19, 2026
John Schirack became manager of the Palmer Municipal Golf Course in April. He had managed the course at Settlers Bay for 15 years. He manages the Palmer course as a city employee unlike previous arrangements. He built a new staff and got operations established after a late start this season.
Schirack says the course is in excellent condition despite the difficult spring. He credits Superintendent Mark Troutman and the grounds crew for bringing the course around after an unusually cold winter and spring.
The irrigation system needs five to seven repairs in a typical year. It needed about 45 repairs this season. And some irrigation lines were still frozen in mid-June.
Nevertheless, golfers now tell Schirack that the Palmer Municipal Golf Course is among the best-conditioned courses in Southcentral Alaska.
The course has hosted several tournaments and group events this season. These included Granite Construction, ENSTAR, the Palmer Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, and a Parkinson’s disease fundraiser. The Palmer course championship was last weekend. Regular golf continues as the season moves toward fall.
One improvement this year is a variable-frequency drive for the irrigation pump. The new system adjusts the pumping according to the number of sprinklers operating. It can allow as many as 10 to 12 sprinklers to run at once. The old system maxed out at about five. Schirack expects the upgrade to reduce operating time, labor, and long-term costs.
Looking ahead, he would also like to replace the course’s used golf-cart fleet with new carts over time.
Schirack says the greens are the strongest feature on the course right now. The rough can be challenging. He says it’s more important to hit balls straight rather than far. This rewards golfers by keeping them on the fairway.
The regular greens fee at the course is $50. Cart rental is $24 per person. Palmer is not considering dynamic pricing unlike some nearby courses.
As winter approaches, Schirack’s priority will be protecting the irrigation system. Large compressors will blow water from the lines to prevent another difficult startup next spring.
Schirack also noted that Palmer has generally experienced less wind than Settlers Bay, although weather systems can still produce strong gusts.
He invites golfers to come out and see the course. The Palmer Municipal Golf Course is green, playing well, and in good condition after a challenging start.
This Page 2 article was based on an interview with Schirack last Friday. The interview is on bigcabbbageradio.org in Inside the City under podcasts.
Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.
Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.
Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.
Mike Chmielewski reported this Page Two article and yours truly, Lee Henrikson produced it. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Wednesday August 19, 2026.
photo credit: Palmer Municipal Golf Course Facebook page
Ag Matters: Al Poindexter, Anchor Point Greenhouse and 2026 Alaskan Farm Family of the Year
Aug 19, 2026
Join host Ken Hoffman and his guest, Al Poindexter, owner of Anchor Point Greenhouse and winner of the 2026 Alaska Farm Family of the Year award
Al and Grace Poindexter, Alaska 2026 Farm Family of the Year
The Farm Family of the Year award was established in 2000 by the Alaska Division of Agriculture and the Alaska State Fair, with sponsorship provided by Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, to honor an Alaska farm family that best epitomizes the spirit of the industry and to show appreciation for the hard-working Alaskans committed to agriculture.
photo/text credit: akbizmag.com
A Conversation with Mary Anne Carter, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts
Aug 18, 2026
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Mary Anne Carter, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and Benjamin Brown with the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Listen as they discuss how art can be used as a healing therapy and hear about Chairmans Carter trip to Alaska.
Mary Anne Carter
Mary Anne Carter was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18, 2025, to serve as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), leading the agency with a strong, steady vision to bring the arts to every corner of the nation. Guided by the belief that the arts belong to all Americans, she works to expand opportunity and support the creative spirit that helps the nation grow. Carter also served as chairman of the NEA during President Donald J. Trump’s first term. During that time, she advanced the expansion of Creative Forces, a creative arts therapy initiative supporting service members and veterans recovering from post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and other psychological health conditions. She also strengthened major national programs such as Shakespeare in American Communities, NEA Big Read, and Poetry Out Loud, ensuring agency activities engage audiences of all ages.
Photo/text credit: National Endowment for the Arts
Page 2 Tue. Aug. 18: Save the Eagles: Use Copper Bullets
Aug 18, 2026
Lead poisoning can leave wildlife and birds blind. They may get so weak they can’t stand. They may have trouble breathing. This is a death sentence for them. How does the poisoning happen?
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game trapped golden eagles as part of a national study. About 16% of the Alaska birds had lead in them. Nearly four dozen of the eagles were from the Gunsight Mountain area near Glacier View. The national study found nearly half of eagles in many states had high levels of lead in their blood.
Lead stays in the blood for about thirty days. This means that the eagles had consumed it recently. It didn’t take long to see that blood levels of lead in the eagles in Alaska went up around hunting season. The eagles were not being shot. They were scavenging on carcasses and gut piles left by hunters.
Even hunters that meticulously clean the meat off a harvested animal will leave gut piles behind. These are rich sources of food for scavengers like eagles and foxes. But when an animal is shot with a lead bullet, the bullet splinters into a toxic cloud of lead fragments that embed in meat and organs. That’s how the lead gets into the gut area.
Birds die every year during hunting season from lead poisoning. It only takes a sliver as small as a grain of rice to kill a hawk or an eagle.
No one can tweeze out the all the tiny fragments of lead from a gut pile. Instead, hunters can change the bullets they use. Copper ammunition is accurate and effective for killing large game. It is available at Sportsman’s Warehouse, Bass Pro Shops, and 907 Ammo. And now hunters can try copper ammunition for free.
Hunting organizations created the Alaska Copper Challenge. They make it easy and inexpensive for Alaska residents to try copper bullets. They offer rebates on boxes of copper rifle ammunition or bullets for reloading. They provide a list of qualifying ammunition and where to find it. And they are showing up at Sportsman’s Shows around Alaska to get the word out.
Chickaloon resident Ron Clarke used to hunt with falcons. Falconers were concerned that lead would make its way into their birds. Falconers are one of the partners in the Alaska Copper Challenge.
“People that try the copper really like it,” says Ron. “Some say it is all they ever use any more.” He asked hunters how they started using copper bullets. Some said that they tried it because they got a $40 rebate on the bullets at the booth at the Sportsman’s Show.
If you are getting ready for hunting season, consider taking the Alaska Copper Challenge. Go to akcopperchallenge.com for info.
In other news:
It’s primary election day. Polls are open until 8 pm. If you’re not sure where to vote, go to myvoterportal.alaska.gov.
The borough assembly meets tonight at 6 p.m.
The Alaska State Fair opens on Friday at 11 a.m. You have until Thursday to buy discount tickets in advance at alaskastatefair.org.
Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.
Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.
Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.
Kendra Zamzow reported this Page Two article and yours truly, Lee Henrikson produced it. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org. That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Tuesday August 17, 2026.
National study article (2022): https://www.wafwa.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=librarypublications.wildlifepublicationsdetails&pubidentifier=10925
A conversation with Debbie Contini-Braun
Aug 17, 2026
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest Debbie Contini-Braun. Debbie is a long-time Palmer resident and a descendant of original Palmer colonists.
Debbie Contini Braun
Photo credit: Aspentimes.com
Your Health: Bone Health #3
Aug 17, 2026
Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they continue a 4-part discussion on keeping healthy bones.
Proper exercise is integral to maintaining good health. Particularly for osteoporosis prevention, the right type of exercise matters. Exercise that includes weight bearing and resistance helps to load the axial spine, or the cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas of the spine, to increase bone mineral density. This can be accomplished by weight lifting, walking with a weighted vest or small backpack and using resistance bands.
Image/Text Credit: Aspen Integrative Medical Center
Page 2 Mon. Aug 17: All the Deets on Borough Elections
Aug 17, 2026
The filing period for running for borough offices opens today and closes on August 28 at 5 p.m. There are open positions in six of the seven districts. Assembly positions are open for districts 1, 2, 4 and 5. These are four-year terms.
School board seats are open for districts 3 and 6. Depending on legislation from the assembly and the state, the school board seats could change from three to two year terms.
There are three elections in the next few months if you live in the cities of Palmer, Houston or Wasilla. Two elections if you live outside city limits. The first election is the state-wide primary tomorrow. Today is the last day for early voting for that election. If you haven’t yet voted, please vote!
The next elections are the October 6 municipal elections for residents of Palmer, Wasilla, and Houston.
November 3 is the big day. Voters will vote for state and federal candidates, state-wide ballot proportions as well as Mat-Su Borough candidates and ballot propositions. October 4, 2026 is the last day to register to vote or update your registration for the election.
The State and the borough manage their elections separately, even though the elections are on the same day. If you are going to vote absentee by mail, you must request a ballot from both the state and the borough.
Early voting and absentee in-person voting for the November election begin on October 19 and continue through November 2. Voting will be open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the borough building. The Menard Center will also offer early absentee voting for borough voters. Weekday hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday hours from noon to 4 p.m. The Talkeetna and Trapper Creek libraries and the City of Houston will offer absentee-in-person voting.
Early voting is essentially voting at a polling location before Election Day. Absentee voting can be done either in person or by mail. All absentee ballots are verified and counted after Election Day.
Preliminary results for the borough are expected after 9 p.m. on election day. Hand counters must complete their work. Final certification of the borough election is scheduled for November 17.
The borough expects to need 140 to 150 hand counters along with other election workers. Hand counters must be registered voters in the Mat-Su Borough. Training is provided. New workers are generally paired with experienced election officials.
Three ballot propositions have been approved for the borough ballot in November. They are a 5% tax on alcohol, a 1% area-wide sales tax with a $75,000 exemption for owner-occupied property, and a measure giving the borough area-wide authority to acquire rights-of-way and design and construct streets, sidewalks and drainage.
A fourth proposition would change school board terms from three years to four years. That proposal awaits state and assembly approval. The outcome could change the length of terms for candidates running for School Board seats 3 and 6 to two years.
Borough elections held alongside state and federal races draw higher turnout than borough-only elections. In a previous election involving state races, turnout approached 50%, while an off-year borough election had turnout below 20%.
The borough needs people to help administer elections. See matsu.gov/elections for information.
Voters, please get out and vote tomorrow and in the later elections.
Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.
Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.
Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.
Yours truly, Lee Henrikson reported and produced this Page Two article. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday August 17, 2026.
image from matsu.gov
Home To Roost #67
Aug 15, 2026
In this episode, Rachel wonders whether $272 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program money might fail to fully land in Alaska, while John looks into the billions of dollars some Native corporations are getting in ICE contracts. We also see who has called Trump a mere temporary tenant of the White House, and we discuss what George Washington might have thought about our war with Iran.
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