A 3-year old girl was mauled in the fifth and worst dog attack this year in Marshall, a Yukon Delta village with as many dogs as people.

A young female husky mix mangled Freida Sergie's face and head Friday in Marshall after the child wandered into a neighbor's open yard. As with previous attacks in the village of 350, the chained dog's puppies were nearby and the husky may have felt threatened by a stranger, Mayor Ray Alstrom said in a telephone interview.

Dog attacks, which are a recurring problem in rural Alaska, have become so frequent in Marshall that villagers met Tuesday to explore ways to deal with their 350 dogs. "People are aware of the problem already," Alstrom said. "Now we have to do something about it."

In Friday's attack, the girl entered the yard shortly before 3:30 p.m. and approached the husky, which was about 10 yards from her puppies, village public safety officer Richard Ellis said. The dog bit the child numerous times, tearing her right eyelid and tear duct, face, scalp, neck and shoulders, said Dr. Bill Brundage, who treated the girl at the Alaska Native Medical Center. The injuries required numerous stitches, he said.

The girl's twin sister heard screams and found her father, Vassily Sergie, who ran over and plucked Freida from the dog's reach, local authorities said. Sergie took his daughter to the village clinic before the girl was flown to the Aniak Regional Clinic and then to Anchorage. she was admitted to the medical center early Saturday and released Tuesday.

The dog, which had not been vaccinated, was destroyed. Rabies tests were negative, Ellis said.

All five attacks this year involved dogs that were chained, and four involved children, Ellis said. The least serious attack involved an adult.

A Marshall ordinance allows authorities to shoot any dog on the spot that is found not chained or otherwise restrained, Ellis said. But the law is not enforced in the dog mushing village because there would be a public outrage and no one is willing to do the grim job, Ellis said.

Another factor is that many villages don't have a veterinarian, said Ellis, who administers rabies shots to Marshall dogs. Most dogs in the village aren't spayed or neutered unless owners are willing to pay the expense of flying their pets 70 miles to Bethel. So the dogs keep multiplying, many of them running free and unsupervised.

"Dog attacks are a widespread problem in the bush," he said. "And communities need to come up with innovative ways to deal with it."

Since 1980, at least 20 people in Alaska have died from dog attacks, said state injury specialists Ron Perkins. The vast majority of the victims were toddlers, he said. From 1991 to 1996, dog attacks accounted for 66 serious injuries, according to the state Community Health and Emergency Medical Services.

"The solution all boils down to how people love their pets," Ellis said. "If you love your pet, you II want to keep it contained, take it to the vet and get it spayed or neutered. You'll want to keep it safe."

By Rachel D'oro

Fishing's Great in Marshall

People have been catching a lot of fish around town lately. According to the many fishermen I've interviewed, they've been using three different methods for

fishing for four or five different species of fish.

One of the methods they use to catch fish is the fish trap. Paul Boots, Leo Fitka and Vernon Evan have all set big fish traps. Paul Boots and Leo Fitka have had their fish trap set for a month and are catching about 15-25 lush every other day. Vernon has been catching about five lush every time he goes to check his trap.

The second method is the fish net. Nick Isaac and Mike Fitka have nets set for fish. Nick has been Catching chee fish and white fish. He has a net down near the Pilot Station trail on the Yukon River and when he checks his net every other day he finds about three or four fish. He catches them for himself and his dogs. Mike has his net on Polty's Slough and when he checks it every 2-3 days he finds about 5-10 white fish. He uses his fish for himself and for his dogs.

The last method is ice fishing. Terry Manumik and others have been doing pretty good at their ice fishing. She says she usually catches about 7-20 pike every time she goes. She goes fishing at Kuyukutuq and uses her fish for making akutaq and jerky, and she also dries it.

New Marshall Armory Opens with a Bang

The official opening of the armory was held on the 6th of December. The ceremony started at five o'clock and was held at the new armory which was completed the middle of last month. The community of Marshall participated along with seven members of the National Guard. 1st Sergeant Greg Patsy, Major Nantz and Colonel Glines came over by helicopter from Bethel to be at the opening. And NCOIC Moses Duny from Marshall also mandatorily attended.

The new armory will be used for National Guard drills, moots (annual gatherings), and search and rescue meetings. These will take place throughout the year in the new facility. According to Moses Duny, it could also be used for dances or even a "hang out" if the National Guard is given a month's notice.

Cheryl Hunter

Paul Cochran, S.J., is the new priest here in Marshall. He was born in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1962, and grew up there also. He went to Walla Walla High School (Wa-Hi), and then to college at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where he studied philosophy and computer science. He graduated with a Master of Divinity from Regis College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Paul has been working here since August,1997, and plans to work here for maybe two to three years. He likes his job because he gets to meet people from many different places, travel to new places, and to help in strengthening Catholics in their faith and daily lives. He first became interested in being a priest when he was going to Gonzaga University where priests were his teachers.

He says, "The best thing about my job is the new challenges and opportunities to meet people and go places. The worst thing about it is that I don't get a chance to settle down for a long period of time in one place.

On the fifth of December the Catholic Parish Council held a dedication for the new Catholic church. It started at 6:00 p.m. with mass in the new church

and ended with a potluck dinner at the old church. In addition to Fr. Paul Cochran and Deacon Alvin Owletuck from Marshall, some special people participated at the dedication. These were Bishop Michael J. Kaniecki from Fairbanks, along with visitors Dominic Demitillo and Sean Thompson, Sisters Alata, Ellen, Pat and Kathy, and Fr. Ted Kessler, Fr. Kase and Deacon Pat Edwards. The Bishop blessed the new alter and the four walls of the new church with chrism oil. After that they had communion. Then, they had a farewell potluck dinner at the old church. The whole community was invited to celebrate the dedication, including members of the Russian Orthodox Church. Tom and Theresa Andrew and others from the Russian Orthodox Church sang God Grant You Many Years.

The old church will eventually be torn down and the good lumber will be reused for something else. The traditional council has made a bid on the old priest's house, but what will be done with it is still under discussion.

Clara Shorty would like to thank Fr. Paul, Tom Soolook, Frances Evan, Theresa Kamuck, Kathy Peteroff, Angeline Coffee and the first communion group for all their help in preparing for the ceremony, and also to many other people who helped cook the food and clean up afterwards.

Tatiana Sergie

On Friday, November 28, at 8:30 p.m., the doors of the gym opened. What

was going on inside? A Square Dance Fundraiser. Marshall's Catholic and

Russian Orthodox churches put together a square dance on both November 28 and 29 to raise money for both churches.

The new Catholic church needed new furniture and the Russian Orthodox

The band that played was the famous Marshall Band. Camille Boliver and John Andrew donated their time, but Alan Boliver, Joe Peter and Ben Francis charged the churches $300.00 for both nights.

With the help of volunteers, the two churches made a net profit of close to $3,300.00. The money was made by admission, 1/2 cash raffles and donated items for raffle.

Jack George who attended the dance said, "It was fun but HOT!" and Terri

Clara Shorty of the Catholic Parish Council would like to thank Tom Soolook,

Theresa Kamack, Delores Hunter, Frances Evan, Kathy Peteroff and Father

Paul for all their help in planning and running the event. She would also like to

thank Hunter Sales, Fortuna Ledge Co-op Store and many other people here in

"Marshall is the BEST!" she said. Tom Andrew of the Russian Orthodox church would also like to thank those who helped make it a success.

Rose Lynn Fitka