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Invasion 2024: Illegal immigrants in first half of fiscal year equal more than twice the population of Alaska

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Invasion 2024: Illegal immigrants in first half of fiscal year equal more than twice the population of Alaska

By BETHANY BLANKLEY | THE CENTER SQUARE

More than 1.7 million foreign nationals have illegally entered the U.S. in the first six months of fiscal 2024, the greatest number for this time period in U.S. history. It’s far beyond twice the population of Alaska, which is 733,000.

The 1,733,496 who illegally entered in the first six months of the fiscal year outnumber the 1,547,866 who illegally entered in the first six months of fiscal 2023 by more than 185,000.

In March alone, there were 246,432 illegal entries reported nationwide, with 189,372 illegally entering through the southwest border alone, according to the latest Customs and Border Patrol data. That’s over 6,100 per day illegally crossing the southern border.

CBP also processed 44,000 foreign nationals who arrived at ports of entry using its CBP One phone app last month. Since January 2023 through the end of March 2024, more than 547,000 foreign nationals successfully scheduled appointments to present at ports of entry using the app, according to CBP data.

Through a new program created by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, from Jan. 5, 2023, through the end of March 2024, 404,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans were granted parole and released into the U.S. Among them were 86,000 Cubans, 168,000 Haitians, 77,000 Nicaraguans and 102,000 Venezuelans who CBP claims “were vetted and authorized for travel.”

Mayorkas was sued over the app and the parole program by more than 20 state attorneys general. House Republicans identified the app and parole programs as illegal and cited them in their charges used to impeach him.

As was the case in March and every month, the majority of foreign nationals illegally entering were single adults.

In the first six months of fiscal 2024, more than one million single adults – 1,040,553 – illegally entered the U.S., according to CBP data. They totaled more than the individual populations of Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota and nearly as much as the population of Delaware.

In March, CBP agents seized 16% more fentanyl and 19.6% more heroin than they did in February.

In the first six months of fiscal 2024, CBP agents seized 10,026 pounds of fentanyl.

Two milligrams of fentanyl, the weight of a mosquito, is considered a lethal dose. One pound of fentanyl, or 453,592 milligrams, is enough to kill 226,796 people.

This fiscal year through April 4, CBP agents seized enough fentanyl to kill more than 2.2 billion people.

This is after CBP Tuscon Sector agents have been seizing record amounts, more recently enough to kill nearly 4 billion people, The Center Square reported.

While much attention has focused on the southwest border, the number of illegal border crossers has skyrocketed at the northern border, where the greatest number of terrorists are also being apprehended. In the first six months of fiscal 2024, 91,408 illegal border crossers were apprehended, the greatest number in U.S. history.

In fiscal 2021, only 27,180 illegal crossers were apprehended at the northern border. The number increased dramatically to 109,535 in fiscal 2022, and to 189,402 in fiscal 2023.

Nationally, if the numbers continue on the same trajectory, fiscal 2024 illegal entries and fentanyl seizures are on track to surpass all other previous fiscal year records. CBP’s fiscal year is from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

Under the Biden administration, record number of apprehensions of illegal border crossers were broken every year. In fiscal 2021, a record 1.9 million illegal border crossers were apprehended, the highest number in U.S. history at the time. The number excluded those who evaded capture known as gotaways.

That record was broken in fiscal 2022 creating a new record of more than 2.7 million, and was again broken in fiscal 2023, surpassing 3.2 million, excluding gotaways.

Since fiscal 2021, a record 11 million foreign nationals reportedly illegally entered the U.S., including two million gotaways, The Center Square has reported.

Another break in the Quintillion fiber optic line leaves North Slope communities with weak internet

Suzanne Downing
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Another break in the Quintillion fiber optic line leaves North Slope communities with weak internet

Internet is down in portions of the North Slope after the fiber optic cable owned by Quintillion had some type of break.

Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative has said the communities impacted are Atqasuk, Point Hope, Utqiagvik, and Wainwright.

“Currently these communities are experiencing an all services Quintillion network outage. Quintillion’s teams have been deployed to investigate a possible fiber cut. A restoral to all services is underway. We will share updates as they become available. Credits will be applied following the restoral, for all customers affected in all communities,” ASTAC said on its Facebook page.

GCI said, “Our connectivity partner, Quintillion Networks, is experiencing a network outage that is impacting some of our services in Nome, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik and Wainwright. Slower internet service will be experienced. Voice and text are not impacted at this time. Quintillion teams are working to restore service as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience.”

Maniilaq Association said the 911 line is down in Kotzebue for ATT phones due to the break. The land line is still working.

Each community provider has its own communities and own networks. Each community is impacted to a different degree. For instance, ASTAC has some satellite backup in place for its communities but there is no statewide backup network to make these situations avoidable.

Less than a year ago, there was a break in the Quintillion fiber optic cable on the ocean floor, leaving communities without internet for several weeks. This break is not thought to be a subsea problem.

The problem with fiber optic breaks in the Arctic include remote areas, weather, challenging ice conditions. The federal government has been making awards for fiber optic, with satellite companies receiving no such subsidies for providing satellite service to these communities as a redundant system to ensure reliability and uninterrupted service.

Quintillion just received an $89 million grant to extend fiber optic to more communities along Alaska’s coastline.

Quintillion wins $89 million federal grant to extend fiber optic cable
Quintillion provides update on repairs to Arctic undersea fiber optic cable
Cell service out in northern part of Alaska due to subsea fiber break

Breaking: Douglas DC-4 crashes near Fairbanks

Suzanne Downing
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Breaking: Douglas DC-4 crashes near Fairbanks

A Douglas DC-4 airplane has crashed near Fairbanks, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The report to the Alaska State Troopers came in at 10:03 am of the crash about seven miles south of the Fairbanks International Airport on the Tanana River.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a Douglas DC-4 crashed into the Tanana River after taking off from Fairbanks International Airport at 9:55 a.m. with two people on board.

The aircraft slid into a steep hill on the bank of the river where it caught fire. No survivors have been located as of Tuesday afternoon. A helicopter was circling the crash site, which was in terrain that was difficult to reach.

The DC-4 is used to deliver fuel to villages in the Interior. The aircraft is an American-buillt, four-engined, propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Military versions of the plane were used in World War II during the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s. Since 1945, the plane has been used for civilian purposes.

There is a recording of an aircraft attempting to declare an emergency and attempting to return to the field. A minute later, it loses radar contact with Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACON).

The NTSB is responding to conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, DPS HELO 2, University of Alaska Police, Fairbanks Airport Police and Fire, Fairbanks Police Department, Ester Volunteer Fire Department, Chena Goldstream Volunteer Fire Department, and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center responded to the scene.

Bronson campaign fundraisers are bringing out hundreds, as the public begins to wake up

Suzanne Downing
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Bronson campaign fundraisers are bringing out hundreds, as the public begins to wake up

Mayor Dave Bronson is on a roll. Over the past week, he has had five fundraisers, each one packed shoulder to shoulder, with more than 350 people having attended events to support Bronson’s bid for reelection.

Last night’s event at Gallo’s had more than 120 people in attendance. It was standing room only in the upstairs event space on Old Seward Highway.

The funds raised at these events will be used to reach voters ahead of the election runoff ballots going in the mail next week.

A comment repeatedly heard at all these events is that “we cannot risk one-party rule in Anchorage.” Another comment heard is that Suzanne LaFrance, the Democrats’ candidate in the runoff, is “a bridge too far in radicalism.” People at the Gallo’s event told Must Read Alaska that they are scared of what could happen if LaFrance becomes mayor. She was, after all, the head of the Assembly during the Covid lockdowns, mask mandates, and business closures.

Penny Johnson wrote on Facebook the concerns the public has with LaFrance and one-party rule in Anchorage, in light of what the Democrat-led Assembly has done over the past few years:

“In memory of Russell Biggs, who originally came up with this list of what the assembly, including Suzanne LaFrance and her votes, did to this city. If you vote for LaFrance for mayor, this is what you will get:

It’s a long, now updated list but you need to know the facts: [Keep in mind, due to term limits, Rivera and Constant terms end in 2026. They will be hired in top Muni positions by LaFrance to complete the transformation of Anchorage.]

Do you remember when Felix Rivera and Meg Zaletel testified multiple times that the Golden Lion would never be used as a homeless shelter (2020), and less than 2 years later are voting to use it as homeless shelter (2022)? I do. 

Do you remember this summer (2020) when the Assembly ignored the five days of public testimony in opposition to their plan to use CARES act money to buy homeless hotels and did it anyway? I do.

Do you remember this summer (2020) when the Assembly was told by the Inspector General what they were doing with the CARES act money was illegal, but the Muni said they would wait till after the election so they could get a different answer and are now getting audited because of it? I do. 

Do you remember when the Assembly used the CARES act money to pay for grants to badminton clubs and groups promoting “interstellar space travel”(2020)? I do. 

Do you remember when the city used even more CARES act money to pay $127,000 for six 86” flat screen displays (2020) while people were losing their jobs and couldn’t buy groceries because the $200 gift card program the Assembly was offering had ran out? I do. 

Do you remember the private emails revealed (2021) that Forrest Dunbar and Chris Constant engaged in a behind the scenes shaming campaign in order to get church leaders to give favorable testimony towards using CARES act funds for building purchases? I do. 

Do you remember when Chris Constant harassed a rabbi (2020) who was giving testimony in opposition to the homeless hotel purchase, and it made national news? I do.

Do you remember when the Assembly closed the chambers (2020) to the public except for the people giving testimony that favored their diversion of the CARES act money? I do. 

Do you remember when the Assembly hired code enforcers (2020) to police local businesses for mandate violations but couldn’t be bothered to police the people openly using drugs and exposing themselves to children at the ice rinks? I do. 

Do you remember when private emails revealed Chris Constant and Forrest Dunbar tried to dox a DOD employee that was giving testimony in opposition to the diversion of the CARES act money? I do.

Do you remember when the public showed up for 4 solid days (2021) to testify about the mask mandate, and the assembly shut down testimony by promising to continue it later, and then immediately passed it anyway? I do. 

Do you remember when the Assembly doled out CARES act money for bike trails while longtime local restaurants that employed dozens of people closed forever? I do. 

Do you remember when Felix Rivera accused the people that were trying to protect their neighborhoods from the Muni’s plan to bypass the zoning board as being racists? I do. 

Do you remember when members of the public were told they weren’t allowed to point at or address assembly members by name during testimony? I do.

Do you remember when the Assembly would not let members of the public read another person’s testimony and then walked out of the meeting when those people asked why? I do.

Do you remember when Felix Rivera let two transgender protestors roll around on the floor of the chambers for hours (2020) but then kicked out people for raising their voice during public testimony? I do. 

Do you remember when 5000 midtown residents gathered signatures for a recall and then had to defend the recall in court because the entire Democratic leadership of midtown helped sue to block it? Twice? I do.

Do you remember when the Assembly refused to proceed with a special election to replace the mayor because it would be “too expensive”, and left district 3 voters without representation for almost 9 months? I do. 

Do you remember when the wealthy downtown property developers got a 12 year exemption from paying property tax but your property taxes went up? I do. 

Do you remember when the Muni shut down the homeless services at the transit center so a 60 million dollar hotel could be built there, but then claimed there wasn’t enough property for shelters available near bus routes as justification to change the zoning laws? I do. 

Do you remember when the AFL-CIO, Alaska Center, and activist groups spent almost $180,000 of Union and Outside money to run ads for opposing recalls, right after they were supporting the Dunleavy Recall? I do. 

Do you remember when the Assembly gifted the Alaska Black Caucus, a partisan political organization, millions of dollars to buy and renovate a building (2021 & 2022) while everyone else was just getting $200 relief checks? I do. 

Every one of the points above is an example of why we are where we are, because citizens are not getting involved and instead spend their time screaming at the sky – which is ok if that’s what you want, otherwise nothing will change unless you do.”

LaFrance’s team has been busy door-knocking this past weekend and phone-banking, with dozens of Democrat and union volunteers. On April 24, LaFrance is holding a Democrat fundraising event. The push is on for turnout as the Anchorage Assembly is set to certify the results of the April 2 election, in which neither Bronson nor LaFrance received more than 45% of the vote, thus forcing a runoff. That mail-in runoff election will have ballots in the mail April 30, and ends May 14.

Tim Barto: SB 240 excludes parents further, as government takes full control of kids, per Sen. Giessel rewrite

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Tim Barto: SB 240 excludes parents further, as government takes full control of kids, per Sen. Giessel rewrite

By TIM BARTO

The assault on parental rights continues, this time from Sen. Cathy Giessel, a registered Republican and someone who just a few years ago presented herself as something of a conservative.

That presentation should most certainly no longer fool anyone as the Anchorage senator’s journey to the dark side is now complete; her latest tactic puts on full display her alignment with those who feel parents are secondary to public school officials.

Senate Bill 240 was a simple, straightforward bill presented by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to allow Medicaid-eligible students with disabilities to access medical services through their schools. Sen. David Wilson of Wasilla helped carry the bill on behalf of the governor, but Sen. Giessel then amended the bill into something it was not meant to be, causing Sen. Wilson to pull his support. 

The amended bill allows for 16-year-old students to authorize for themselves counseling services without notification being made to their parents, continuing a trend that excludes parents from not only making important health decisions in their children’s lives but from even knowing about those decisions. This is a dangerous path of subjugating parental rights and responsibilities to government entities. 

Today’s youth are, for various reasons, a fragile lot. Mental health issues are ubiquitous, and counseling and therapy sessions are as normal as routine physicals used to be, if not more so.

But there are other elements at play. The explosion of gender-related interests among young people – including the exploration and encouragement of non-traditional sex roles, as well as transition therapy – has made it trendy for young people to identify on an ever expanding spectrum of sexual identities.

And now, the substituted language in SB240 kicks open the door to allow minors (teenagers, but still minors) to obtain mental health counseling without parental consent, and that open door reveals all those gender-bending issues so popular among today’s youth.

This rewritten bill has almost no resemblance to the governor’s intent, and it is a glaring example of how easily good intentions can be misused by a politician determined to further an agenda of bad intentions. It’s also a great example of why people are frustrated by political process and why that frustration has led to disinterest and disengagement from the process. The problem is that there are elected officials who fully understand that apathy and use it to their advantage.

Children’s health decisions should not be kept from parents, even – especially – when those health decisions are mental health related. This trend that gives government institutions, such as public schools, more rights over children than the children’s parents must stop. Families should make these important decisions, not public school officials or mental health counselors. 

The initial vote on the version being adopted as the substitute bill was opposed by the microcaucus of Sen. Shelley Hughes, Sen. Robb Myers, and Sen. Mike Shower, but also Senators Jesse Bjorkman, James Kaufman, Kelly Merrick, and David Wilson. The final vote is on the Senate floor tomorrow, Wednesday, April 24. 

Tim Barto is a regular contributor to Must Read Alaska and vice president of Alaska Family Council, which is committed to preserving parents’ rights in an age of ever encroaching government control.

Senate bill warped by Sen. Giessel into allowing transition counseling for students without parents’ knowledge

Republican governors’ statement to Joe Biden: Current LNG policy is punishing U.S. allies

Suzanne Downing
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Republican governors’ statement to Joe Biden: Current LNG policy is punishing U.S. allies

On Tuesday, 25 Republican governors issued a statement calling on President Joe Biden to lift his obstruction against liquified natural gas (LNG) export approvals, as it is creating uncertainty and hurting U.S. allies.

All but two of the 27 Republican governors signed the statement. None of the 23 Democrats holding the office of governor signed on.

The governors stated:

“As governors, we are very concerned by the Biden Administration’s move to pause approvals of new liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects, especially after Iran’s attack on Israel last week. The U.S. is the world’s leading exporter of LNG, and the decision to pause new approvals undermines our economic and national security, and the security of our allies.

“It creates instability and threatens future energy security throughout the world at a time when our allies need us the most. It sends a message that the U.S. is not a reliable energy partner.

“We call on the Biden Administration to reverse course and lift the pause, allowing America to retain its global energy advantage ensuring Americans and our allies abroad have access to a steady supply of affordable energy.”

The signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Mike DeWine (OH), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).

Republican Governors Joe Lombardo (NV) and Phil Scott (VT) did not sign the statement.

Read the statement here.

Senate bill warped by Sen. Giessel into allowing transition counseling for students without parents’ knowledge

Suzanne Downing
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Senate bill warped by Sen. Giessel into allowing transition counseling for students without parents’ knowledge

Senate Bill 240 started out as a legislative way to ensure that disabled students can get the help they need at school, and that Medicaid will be able to pay for some of the services. It was Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s bill to clean up some processes in the technical world of federal reimbursements.

But by the time Sen. Cathy Giessel of South Anchorage finished with the bill, it had been completely rewritten. Now, the committee substitute for the bill makes it into a law saying that 16-year-olds can get counseling and clinical services at school without their parents’ knowledge. In other words, counselors can do traditional counseling work or even gender-transition counseling within the high school framework, and hide that work from parents.

The completely rewritten bill passed out of committee on a vote of 3-2, with its Senate Sponsor, Sen. David Wilson firmly against the changes.

The committee substitute passed the Senate floor, again with Wilson opposed to the amendments to the bill, and with Sen. Shelley Hughes arguing against the changes on the Senate floor. But the committee substitute, as authored by Giessel and passed by her committee, was adopted by the Senate, 13-7.

The vote to accept the complete rewrite of the governor’s health billing bill passed and will be voted on during the Senate floor session on April 24.

On Wednesday, the rewrite will be up for a final vote in the Senate.

The original version said that school-based services for students with disabilities could be paid for by Medicaid, with or without an individualized education program, also known as IEP. It is explained in the governor’s sponsor statement:

SB-240-Sponsor-Statement-Version-ADownload

The new version of the bill eclipses the original intent. Sen. Giessel wants school personnel to be able to recommend behavioral health or mental health services to a child who is 16 or older, and that child would be considered adult enough to consent to those services without their parents’ knowledge. For example:

“Insert ‘allowing minors 16 years of age or older to consent to behavioral health and mental health services; authorizing school personnel to recommend a behavioral health or mental health professional to a child 16 years of age or older;'” the bill reads now.

It also says, “Notwithstanding AS 14.30.l7l (a)(3) and (S), a behavioral or mental health professional working within a public school system may, in compliance with federal health professional … (1) recommend, but not require, a psychiatric or behavioral health evaluation of a child; AND recommend, but not require, psychiatric, psychological, or behavioral treatment for a child; and obtain informed consent from and provide behavioral or mental health services to a child who is 16 years of age or older.”

The bill goes on to say that minors can give consent for medical or dental services if the parent or legal guardian cannot be contacted or if the parent or legal guardian is unwilling to grant consent.

The bill says the medical provider at the school shall counsel the minor “keeping in mind not only the valid interests of the minor but also the valid interests of the parent or guardian and the family unit as best the provider presumes them.”

It continues to say that the minor can give consent to receive outpatient behavioral or mental health services, but that such services to not include the prescribing of medication to the minor without a parent or guardian’s consent. The bill says the mental health provider shall contact the parents and offer to provide services to the family unless there “are clear clinical indications that doing so would be harmful to the minor receiving such services.”

The entire amendment that has transformed the bill now allows not only counseling but, although not explicitly saying so, allows gender transition counseling.

SB-240-Amdmt-1-Adopted-1Download

The original bill had the support of those in the health field. They offered letters explaining why.

The Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association wrote, “AHHA is pleased to offer our support for SB 240 and its removal of the requirement that Medicaid can only reimburse for school-based services if the student has a disability and the services are included in the student’s Individualized Education Plan.”

The association continued, “We view this change as a means of increasing flexibility for schools to seek Medicaid reimbursement for eligible students and extending this coverage to all Medicaid eligible students. This bill matters to Alaskans because it will increase healthcare access and improve child health outcomes. Additionally, schools will be able to fund health-related services like school nurses. AHHA urges the passage of SB 240 to better align with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and support access to services within schools for Medicaid eligible children.”

The new Senate bill, however, has AHHA on record supporting the counseling and possible gender transition of high school students without their parents consent — something that AHHA might not have wanted to sign onto.

The Alaska Behavioral Health Association also signed on to support the original version of the bill, but is now on record supporting what is an entirely different bill.

The ABHA wrote, “Alaska Behavioral Health is pleased to offer support for SB 240 and HB 343. These bills align with our organization’s priorities to increase access to health care services for children and will increase flexibility for schools to seek Medicaid reimbursement for eligible children.

“Currently, for Medicaid to cover services provided in schools, the child must have a disability and the services must be included in the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Currently, some children lose supportive services when they age out of infant learning programs because they do not meet the requirements for an IEP, though they still have needs that can be met in a school setting. These bills remove those current requirements. In doing so, they present an opportunity for schools to seek Medicaid reimbursement for services provided on site. They will promote early intervention and prevention, and they will promote more convenient choices for parents seeking the care their children need.”

The original bill supported parent-directed services provided in the school setting, maintained the current scope of school-based services, preserved parent choice in children’s care, including what services they receive and where they receive them. Read the original bill explanation and summary here.

But with the radical changes to the bill, parents are cut out of the equation.

The ABHA is now on record as supporting a bill that has gone from being a technical fix to a permission slip for school counselors, who may or may not share the values of the family, to have extraordinary influence over the decisions of youth during a time of their lives when they are most impressionable.

Dan Sullivan: Biden helps Iran, hits Alaska

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Dan Sullivan: Biden helps Iran, hits Alaska

By SEN. DAN SULLIVAN

Editor’s note: This opinion column first ran in the Wall Street Journal.

We are living in one of the most dangerous times since World War II, as Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran attempt to undermine the free world. Yet rather than maximize our nation’s strengths and weaken our adversaries, the Biden administration is doing the opposite.

Consider its policy on Iran. Under sanctions pressure from the Trump administration, Iranian oil exports in 2020 were at about 200,000 barrels a day, leaving Tehran with about $4 billion in foreign reserves, a small pool relative to the country’s size.

In an effort to appease the mullahs, however, the Biden administration hasn’t enforced comprehensive sanctions since 2021. As a result, Iranian oil exports today are at nearly 1.6 million barrels a day and its regime has been enriched by more than $70 billion. Iran uses this windfall in part to fund its terrorist proxies, including the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah. Iranian oil development also allows the regime to deepen its ties with China, which buys about 80% of Iran’s oil exports.

Meantime the Biden administration is doing the reverse at home—weakening America’s domestic energy production by restricting development on two important sites, the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and Alaska’s Ambler Mining District.

These measures are suicidal—and lawless. In 1980 Congress directed the interior secretary to “conduct an expeditious program of competitive leasing” in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The Biden administration is dramatically reinterpreting this law so it can treat those 13 million acres it is locking up as de facto federal wilderness.

The decision, ironically, ignores the desires of many in the Alaska Native community. Elected indigenous leaders from the North Slope of Alaska eight times have requested a meeting with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to express their opposition to the administration’s new rule. Each time, they’ve been denied. It seems that the Biden administration listens to people of color and indigenous communities only if they align with the administration’s extreme antidevelopment policies.

Click here to read Sen. Sullivan’s full op-ed.

Passing: Legendary aviator Orin Seybert

Suzanne Downing
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5
Passing: Legendary aviator Orin Seybert

Orin Seybert, founder, owner, and operator of Peninsula Airways took “his final flight west,” on Friday. He was 87 when he passed.

Seybert was a pioneer in developing the infrastructure and modern aviation transportation framework in Alaska today.

In 1955, Seybert started Pen Air in his home at Pilot Point, beginning with a 1946 Taylorcraft. Penair grew into the largest regional air carrier in the state and was in operation for 65 years. Penair began as a means for transporting local residents to hospitals for care that was unavailable in their communities.

“Orin was a true public servant in his service to his fellow Alaskans,” his family wrote.

Orin was a recipient of the Wright Brothers’ Master Pilot award as well as an inductee of the Alaska Aviation Hall of Fame, among many other accolades.

“He was a respected pilot and businessman who was lucky enough to find his true passion in aviation. He was known as the finest Grumman pilot in the world, and flew his widgeon to all parts of Alaska often times being the only airplane to fly into some of the most remote parts of Alaska. He truly was a legend,” his family said in a statement this weekend.

Later in life, Seybert had a personal passion for the Alaska Aviation Museum to succeed and took pride in helping it achieve growth. The museum showcases an important and unique side of Alaska’s history and development as a state.

“Orin left a tremendous impact on it. Orin was a great historian, who shared many stories, pieces of history, and aviation lore with the museum for preservation,” the family wrote.

“Orin was first and foremost a proud husband, father, brother, and grandfather to over 66 direct family members. He often laughingly joked at family events, ‘I am responsible for this mess.'”

He is preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Jennie; and his children Andrew, Cecilia; brother Darryl, and mother Clarice. 

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