The Associated Press caught up to Miriam Mathers in 1943 and took this photo when she was trying to move overland to Alaska with her goats and other animals.

Tragedy and triumph of the Goat Woman — Part 3

Her quest for Alaska had begun, but another date with tragedy lay just around the corner

The Associated Press caught up to Miriam Mathers in 1943 and took this photo when she was trying to move overland to Alaska with her goats and other animals.
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: The quiet serenity of spring. Not even.

It’s tough to teach a teenage female pup that everything that goes on around her is not all about her

Nick Varney
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: It’s in the news

There really is more going on in the world than the action in Ukraine

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
In about 1904, the full family of Arthur and Ellen Davidson (front row) posed for this family portrait. Miriam Davidson, the third born, is in the dark blouse on the right end of the back row; she is standing next to her older siblings, Cora and William. (Photo courtesy of the David Family Collection)
In about 1904, the full family of Arthur and Ellen Davidson (front row) posed for this family portrait. Miriam Davidson, the third born, is in the dark blouse on the right end of the back row; she is standing next to her older siblings, Cora and William. (Photo courtesy of the David Family Collection)
Better Homes & Gardens article photo, 1955 
Rusty Lancashire, who befriended her neighbor, Miriam Mathers, climbs into her vehicle in front of the Kenai Commercial Company store in Kenai.

Tragedy and triumph of the Goat Woman — Part 1

Florence Lorraine “Rusty” Lancashire first met her neighbor, the old Goat Woman, in the fall of 1948

Better Homes & Gardens article photo, 1955 
Rusty Lancashire, who befriended her neighbor, Miriam Mathers, climbs into her vehicle in front of the Kenai Commercial Company store in Kenai.
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Minister’s Message: Trophies of grace on display

The greatest “trophy” my life can live out, is to be a testimony of God’s grace working to bless Him and other

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Will Morrow (courtesy)

Stay loose

As it turns out, muscles really do work better when they’re warm and loose

Will Morrow (courtesy)
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Minister’s Message: Becoming stewards of attention

Maybe stewardship is a good way to think about our attention?

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Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Here we go again …

If memory serves, the years leading up to 2008 inflation had quite a run

Nick Varney
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: I love Western movies

Watching them now reminds me of when I was a kid going to movies and cheering on the good guys …

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
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Minister’s Message: Face change with Grace

All of us must deal with change in this ever-changing world. It is inescapable.

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Chester LeRoy Oughton was in his mid-60s and still serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Alaska when these photos were taken at McNeil Island federal penitentiary in Washington in 1972. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)

The Seward jailbreak of 1952 — Part 2

Prisoners Frank Charles Oliver and Chester LeRoy Oughton had been foiled in their attempt to reach the central Kenai Peninsula

Chester LeRoy Oughton was in his mid-60s and still serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Alaska when these photos were taken at McNeil Island federal penitentiary in Washington in 1972. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)
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Minister’s Message: Overcoming impossible odds in Ukraine

From the Bible, we know that it is God who fights for us and wins battles

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Will Morrow (courtesy)

If the shoe fits

Alaska is a footwear-intensive place to live

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Chester LeRoy Oughton’s entry photos at the Alcatraz Island federal penitentiary in 1953. Oughton was convicted of first-degree murder in Alaska. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)

The Seward Jailbreak of 1952 — Part 1

The fugitives were Franklin Charles Oliver and Chester LeRoy Oughton.

Chester LeRoy Oughton’s entry photos at the Alcatraz Island federal penitentiary in 1953. Oughton was convicted of first-degree murder in Alaska. (Image courtesy of the National Archives in San Francisco)
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Minister’s Message: Judge with an eye toward oneself

To avoid judgmentalism and hypocrisy, we must look to a standard above our own.

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Meredith Harber (courtesy)

Minister’s Message: Cleaning house — for the spirit

Winter is a great time to think about the “bushel” of stuff that we have in our lives

Meredith Harber (courtesy)
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Not quite the Olympics … but

This unhinged winter and its obnoxious attitude has been an eye-opener

Nick Varney
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Lost in Space

I grew up in a big old two-storied farmhouse. It was pretty much the same as the houses of most of my friends. We lived… Continue reading

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
This is the memorial plaque that since 2001 has adorned the grave of James William Johnson, also known as “The Screaming Swede.” Photo courtesy of Peggy Arness.

The heroic rise and tragic fall of ‘The Screaming Swede’ — Part 1

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I would like to thank Peggy Arness for access to her history files and the Resurrection Bay Historical Society for access to its… Continue reading

This is the memorial plaque that since 2001 has adorned the grave of James William Johnson, also known as “The Screaming Swede.” Photo courtesy of Peggy Arness.