Brandie Stickler has been accepted to the University of North Dakota’s mechanical engineering program. UND is currently one of only a few schools in the country offering their engineering students the option to do a majority of their course work through distance education, and the remainder on campus during the summer for labs. Stickler will begin classes in the fall.
Family members and pilots wearing their red L.A.B. Flying Service jackets converged at Crest Air Park in Kent, Wash., Monday to share memories of working for Layton A. Bennett, the airline’s founder. The remembrance was held at the hangar of Ron Risman, a retired Alaska Airlines pilot. Captain Devon Joos, an Alaska Airlines pilot who flew for L.A.B. in the early 1990s said, “The buzz in the room was that a person who affected a lot of our lives is gone.” Airlines represented included Alaska, Delta, United, American, and Horizon airlines, Fed Ex, UPS, and Flex Jet. The get-together followed graveside services at nearby Tahoma National Cemetery. The military burial included an Air Force color guard and three-gun salute, with presentation of the flag to Lou Bennett. Layton died in Seattle Jan. 9 at age 96.
Peggy Ormasen is recovering from her Dec. 7 back surgery in Buena Park, Calif. Ormasen said she didn’t initially think the surgery would be difficult, but it turned into a four-hour procedure followed by five days in the hospital and five weeks in a rehabilitation facility. She is undergoing negative-pressure wound therapy. “I never thought it would be such a difficult surgery. However, I am recovering and each day there is progress,” she said. Ormasen is also taking care of her 91-year-old mother Agnes Freed. Write them at 8868 Hoffman Street, Buena Park, CA 90602.
Apollo 14 astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell died on Feb. 4 at the age of 85. Mitchell delivered the keynote address at the 18th Annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival in 2012. On his return to Earth, Mitchell launched the Institute for Noetic Sciences to research human consciousness, a venture inspired by a moment of “ecstasy, unity and oneness” he experienced as his ship hurtled homeward.
Chloe Goodson recently returned from a two-week trip in the Lower 48. Before heading south, she stopped in Juneau to hang out with former Alaska Bald Eagle Foundation intern Felix Thillet and former Haines resident Diana Mallory. Goodson then flew to Missouri, where she stayed with former eagle foundation intern Jessica Holman and presented about the foundation’s internships to the University of Missouri’s Raptor Rehabilitation program. She met up with other raptor enthusiasts and old friends at the university, including Natalie Helms, another former eagle foundation intern.
The Haines Borough Public Library is celebrating Valentine’s Day with its “Blind Dates with a Book” program. Library tech Lizzy Jurgeleit was inspired by a Pinterest post to put together the program, which involves readers selecting a wrapped book based on several general qualities identified on the wrapping paper. Readers take the book home and return it with a rating and comments. “Blind Dates with a Book” are available through Feb. 22, when a winner will be selected from those who have rated a book. Winners will receive a Betsy Van Burgh mug and chocolate.
Diana and Jerry Pyle recently completed a three-month journey through about a half-dozen states. In Las Vegas, they took in a couple of shows and visited with Charlene Tate’s son Leonard Tate. The Pyles then continued on to Palm Springs, Calif., and then Tucson, Ariz., to visit Diana’s sister Suzanne Taylor and brother-in-law Jonathan Taylor. In Portales, N.M., Diana and Jerry picked up some heirlooms they had in a storage shed and transported them to Rogers, Ark., where their daughter Natasha Chandler lives. They also visited other Arkansas towns, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Houston, Texas.
Leo Landau was born Feb. 9 at 11:23 a.m. to parents Abigail and Loren Landau in Portland, Ore. Abigail is resident John Hunt’s daughter. Leo weighed 7 lbs., 6 oz., and measured 21.5 inches.
The Glacier Bards raised more than $700 at their annual fundraiser for the Haines High School’s Drama, Debate and Forensics team. The highest-selling item was chocolate cupcakes made by Jessica Edwards. The DDF team performed pieces they will be taking to the state competition in Anchorage Feb. 18-20. A few of the performances were: Keegan Palmieri and Kay Hays’ duo interpretation of “Bilbo Meeting Smaug,” Tiaya Ruggirello’s humorous interpretation of “Camping: Nature’s Way of Promoting the Hotel Industry,” and Sheeshao White and Ruggirello’s duo interpretation of “Marriage Phobia.” Rachel Haas and Syrena Jackson are also going to the state competition.
Heather and Chip Lende spent two weeks in San Pancho, Mexico, swimming, running and sunning, and generally enjoying small-town life. Heather said the town is similar to Haines, just sunnier. The Lendes bumped into former Haines residents Dr. Charlotte and Robert Cant at a coffee shop one morning, and traveled to Sayulita, Mexico, to visit with Haines residents Darsie Culbeck, Scott Doddridge and their families. Heather said a highlight of the trip was being the lone golfer on a private course built by a San Pancho resident.