The Mat-Su View

Welcome to the site for news in the Mat-Su, where we’re surrounded by fantastic scenery – from Denali to Pioneer Peak to Tahneta Pass.

The Mat-Su View is a creation of the Valley staff of the Anchorage Daily News, and is updated frequently from the newsroom in Wasilla.

Check in for breaking news, advance word on upcoming ADN reports from the Mat-Su, for links to Outside stories with a Mat-Su connection and to read or post comments about hot topics in the Valley.

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Scenic photos

Send in your photos of the beautiful Matanuska and Susitna valleys.

Animal Cruelty Charged

One of the dogs seized by Matanuska Susitna Borough Animal Control from Willow Dog breeder Frank Rich in a kennel at the animal care facility on Tuesday January 11, 2011. Rich was charged with 50 counts of animal cruelty at his arraignment in Palmer.

Dogs seized by Matanuska Susitna Borough Animal Control from Willow Dog breeder Frank Rich.

Colony Christmas

Christmas lights and decorations are up in Palmer, AK on Thursday December 9, 2010 as the town gets ready to celebrate Colony Christmas. The festival kicks of Friday and runs through Sunday. Colony Christmas features hay rides, a bon fire, art exhibits, a ball, a lights parade and numerous other activities. Jim Brown created the light rope moose driving the train.

Christmas lights and decorations are up in Palmer, AK for Colony Christmas.

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes at the Matanuska Experiment Station on Saturday August 22, 2009. The cranes have up to a 7 foot wing span and are among the tallest birds in the world. They gather into flocks for the migration south.

PJMS raising funds to visit DC, New York City - 1/27/2010 5:55 pm

Samuels to speak at Lincoln Luncheon - 1/27/2010 4:54 pm

Wasilla teen honored on Tournament of Roses float - 12/31/2009 3:50 pm

Local author signing copies of a Valley-based mystery - 12/18/2009 5:30 pm

Dad's quick decision may have saved son - 12/18/2009 12:49 pm

Request line open - 12/17/2009 3:58 pm

Free H1N1 shots available now - 12/17/2009 11:24 am

Training event in Hatcher Pass this weekend - 12/9/2009 6:30 pm

Sales tax talk prompts protest

More than 50 people turned out Tuesday in Wasilla to speak against putting a sales tax measure on the October Mat-Su Borough election ballot.
The three-percent sales tax proposal would also cap property taxes below where they are now and cut property assessments by $10,000. It’s not on the ballot yet – Mat-Su Assembly members postponed discussion on the measure until a special meeting set for 6 p.m. June 28 in Palmer.
The residents who spoke against the measure said they don’t want two types of tax – either sales tax or property tax, but not both, they said.
“Dr. Frankenborough wants to come along and replace that large leech that is sucking my lifeblood out of my wallet and replace it with two smaller leeches,” said James “Lazy Mountain Jim” Garhart.
Assembly members Cindy Bettine and Pete Houston sponsored the measure. At the meeting, both said they plan to make the measure revenue-neutral, meaning the borough will collect the same amount of money it currently does, and residents won’t be asked to pay more taxes than they currently do.
According to borough estimates, the average homeowner would see about $540 cut from his or her yearly property tax bill. But the same resident would pay about $600 each year in sales taxes, meaning he or she would pay about $60 more in taxes each year. Houston and Bettine said they plan to find a way to make that number even.
Check back here Wednesday to find out if the measure will be on the October ballot.

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