Alaska Answers

Q. What towns in Alaska don’t have churches? I would like to come and start a church. Would like a building donated by the town and an apartment provided. -Lance

A. Well, Lance, I don’t think it’s gonna happen! Don’t mean to sound negative, but I really don’t think there is any town in Alaska without a church. I mean that. Even the small villages have their mission stations. Missionaries have been active and sowing churches in Alaska for many, many years. I believe that any town big enough to be able to donate a building and provide an apartment, is going to have about a couple dozen churches! Our town of Wasilla, which isn’t considered a big city, although nice sized, has about 58 churches. And I was just counting the ones listed in the phone book! I’m sure there are several that are not listed.

I am not saying that people in Alaska don’t need God. Of course they do, but if they don’t know God, it isn’t for lack of opportunities to do so. If you want to come to Alaska to work for God, you need to come knowing that you will probably have to work at a job to provide for your living and then be open to ideas and opportunities to do more of what you are thinking about. God bless, BJ

Q. What is the job market like for manufacturing and production workers? What does it cost to relocate to Alaska? -Gay

A. You know, I don’t believe that Alaska is just a hotbed for manufacturing and production. We don’t have factories, for instance, like you would find on the east coast and other parts of the country. The thing that comes closest to ‘production’ work that I can think of would be the fish canneries, but of course that is very seasonal. I believe there are a few small companies who make camper shells for on the back of pickups. You can look at the state jobsite at www.jobs.state.ak.us and perhaps get an idea of what is available.

As to the cost of moving to Alaska, that really depends on so many things. Where are you coming from? What are you bringing with you? That type of thing. With the price of gas these days, it can be a bit pricey as we are about 2,400 miles from Seattle. There is a good website at www.uhaul.com where you can actually find costs to bring a U Haul truck or van from anywhere in the U. S. That should get you started. We have found that an average of $50-$60. a nite for motels is about right on the Alcan. Of course, we look for the lower priced, yet clean ones. We usually do things to cut our costs of travel a bit. Like carry cereal and paper bowls and milk with us for ‘breakfast’….then make sandwiches in the car for lunch. In the evening we stop in a real restaurant and have ‘real’ food! Ahhhhh…that tastes good! Take care, Bonnie J.

Q. I’m thinking of moving to Alaska, with my long time boyfriend and our small child. Someone who used to live up there told me if you are a permanent resident you receive funds from the state. How much do you receive and how often? -Christina

A. They were referring to our Permanent Fund Divident, or PFD. It is monies from the oil revenues of which a portion is returned to the people. It is a yearly dividend, paid in October, and you have to be here one full year before you apply in January. It is always somewhere between maybe $800. and $1800; usually around a thousand. This amount could change of course. It just depends on what the return is on the oil monies invested. For more information you can look at their website which is www.pfd.state.ak.us Hope this helps.

Q. Richard says: “I’d like to know about the legal system. Do they adhere to the laws of the court system concerning child support and legal documents? Or do they do what they want anytime they want, like in Arizona?”

A. Wow! I’d not heard that about Arizona. Sounds like you have had a hard time with something there. For that, I’m sorry! ‘Life’ can rather ball up on a guy at times, eh?

As to Alaska, I believe they follow the book in legal matters. I know it is possible, for instance, for a mother or a father, needing child support from the opposing spouse, to get help readily. I’ve known of a couple cases where the persons involved were pleased at the prompt response. I’m not sure how much this helps you, but I wish you well, Richard.

Q. What is the minimum wage? -Rosanny

A. The minimum wage is currently $7.15 an hour. How does that compare to where y ou are? I guess it can be different in different parts of the country, so is apparently a state’s rights issue. Generally speaking, the cost of living is higher here, but most jobs provide higher wages than the lower 48 also, so you have to factor that in. Plus, don’t forget the allure of living in such a uniquely different place!

Q. I’m interested in a sailing cruise in Alaska. What companies provide such an experience? -Mike

A. Mike, I don’t have any personal experience with sailing cruises, but I did find a couple websites which might be of help to you. Take a look at www.sailinginc.com and www.soundsailing.com I think you might find what you are looking for there.

I am assuming that you mean a ’sail’ boat and not a cruise ship experience? I believe in the cruise ship world, most folks come up on a Princess or a Carnival ship as you can catch them in Seattle or Vancouver, BC and come up the inside passage all the way to Seward or Whittier, which are close to Anchorage. These are one way cruises and then you fly home after seeing what you want of Alaska’s interior via public transportation. Come on up, Mike!

Q. How is the hunting and the fishing? -Dose

A. Hi Dose! Well, what is one degree up from wonderful? That is how it is. Although I did hear one horror story this summer.

My pastor took a month off to guide some hunts and the outfitter he worked for, who shall be nameless (actually I don’t even know his name) – anyway, he had the bush pilot set them down in this area, where they never should have been, and left them. He would fly back in and pick them up when the hunt was over. Well, first of all, he set them down in an area that was having smoke from some wild fires. They weren’t in any personal danger there, but animals don’t like smoky areas, and quickly flee. So there were practically no animals. Did get a bear I think. Then, the weather turned ugly, and the plane couldn’t return until about a week late and they were virtually out of food!

On a brighter note though, most hunts go well. You just need to use a reputable, guide and outfitter and they can put you right where the animals are. Most hunts are successful.

The fishing is good. You will be jealous to know we live right on a trout stream. The salmon also come up to spawn each fall and that is fun to watch. In fact, I can easily see Cottonwood Creek right from where I am sitting since it bisects our two acres, and flows very close to my kitchen door. Incredibly, though, we are not ‘fishermen’ really. We do fish at times, but we’d rather watch them, but if someone else catches them, I’m happy to cook them up! I have some wonderful recipes. The best fishing trip (in quantity) was when we were first up here. We decided to go ice fishing. Went to Strelna Lake out by Chitina. We used an ice auger to make a hole in the ice. Put our lines down and immediately began catching fish. We got to laughing and wondering if they would bite on marshmallows we had with us? They did. Then we took it further and wondered if they would bite on bare hooks? They did! We caught 38 nice trout in 45 minutes! Returned home so triumphantly and began bragging to a neighbor, who was familiar with the ‘rules’. Turned out we were only allowed 15 a day! Oops! Well, we couldn’t put them back, could we? So we did the only sensible thing – had one whale of a fish fry!

Just be sure you pick up a book of regulations and you’ll have a wonderful time.