Auctioneer Seth Pifer with Wild Alaska Auction Company joins host Ken Hoffman on this episode of Ag Matters.

Join host Mike Chmielewski as he interviews actor/author Kirk Fox, as they discuss Kirk’s debut novel “Palmdale: A Dirtbag Noir.

Author Kirk Fox.

Image Credits: Meridia Publishing

One of the treasures of the borough core area is the Matanuska Greenbelt. These trails loop between the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, the Glenn Highway, the Parks Highway, and Trunk Road. However, you’re not alone if you’ve taken a wrong turn on the trails and wondered where you were and how to get back to your car.

That experience is becoming harder to do. The Mat-Su Borough is installing over 300 signs across 33 miles of trails in the Greenbelt. You-Are-Here markers, directional signs pointing toward exits, and boundary markers are going up across the trail system. Many include QR codes linked to online navigation tools.

New trailhead maps are coming, too. Bear-safe trash containers are coming. And every trailhead will get pet waste stations.

The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation provided about $40,000 in grants for the project.

The Greenbelt covers almost 3000 acres. The Mat-Su Borough, Mat-Su College, the UAF Experiment Farm, and the Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area each own a piece of the area.

The rules of the trail change depending on where you’re standing.

For instance, some trails run through active agricultural and research lands. Staying on the designated trails really matters.

Mat-Su Borough Outdoor Recreation Trail Specialist Alan McClain says most people weren’t ignoring the rules. They just didn’t know they existed.

McClain loves seeing people use the Greenbelt. However, if someone gets lost, they’re less likely to go back.

The Greenbelt is outdoor backcountry-style recreation for many Valley residents. McClain knows that when the experience is clear and confidence-building, it becomes a gateway for more exploration. When the experience is confusing, it becomes a barrier.

McClain wants people to have positive experiences on Alaskan trails so they can feel comfortable spreading out to other outdoor adventures.

The signage project has been years in the making. Borough GIS Specialist Heidi Whipple spent several years refining trail data. A public dataset was released last summer. That groundwork made the signage project possible.

Getting the land managers from the four stakeholders on the same page took patience and cooperation. McClain said it was a give and take — this is what we want, this is what they want. It made the whole thing feel cooperative.

Borough Recreation and Library Services Manager Hugh Leslie calls it a legacy project. It is designed to serve trail users for years to come.

Crews began installation when trails dried out.

The Matanuska Greenbelt has always been worth exploring. By the end of summer, it’ll be easier to find your way back to your car.

This story is drawn from the May edition of the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation newsletter. Visit their website at matsutrails.org for more information on the Foundation and their work.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.

Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was reported by Emily Forstner and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

photo credit: Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation

The Susitna River Coalition is kicking off a watershed planning process for the Susitna River basin. Program and Communications Director Margaret Stern said, “This is a community-driven roadmap of what you are seeing, how you are recreating, what you want to protect.”

The watershed contains all the water that flows into the Susitna River. It includes the Chulitna, the Skwentna, and other major rivers, as well as all their tributaries and wetlands. It includes streams like Wasilla Creek and Cottonwood Creek that run through urban areas. Six rivers designated by the state as Recreational Rivers are also in the watershed. These are the Little Susitna, the Deshka, the Talachulitna, and the Talkeetna Rivers, along with Lake and Alexander Creeks.

Information exists about some places, like around Talkeetna. The research that was done for the Su-Watana hydroelectric dam project is valuable, however the Susitna River drainage is huge. It’s over 20,000 square miles of lands that go from bogs to glaciers.

People that use the area have knowledge and a lot to contribute to the watershed plan. One way to contribute is through the survey. What changes have they seen? What are they concerned about? What are they excited about? Maybe they see a bird at a certain place or a certain time, or a fish where they haven’t seen one before. All that information is valuable.

A Citizen Science component begins this month. People who are out on the land can participate and collect new information.

Stern says, “If you are hunting, floating, going on a hike and you come across a body of water you can tell us what is there, what you are seeing because so much of the area hasn’t been characterized. You don’t need to be a scientist. This can be anyone who is just out enjoying the region and wants to provide some of that baseline data. Someone who’s out rafting and wants to collect a little something to benefit the broader picture.”

Citizen Scientists will be provided with kits that contain temperature gauges, fish identification guides, and habitat assessment forms. The kits are small and can be taken along when people go out on the water to work or recreate. People aren’t assigned locations. Part of the process is finding out where people go and what areas are being used.

Citizen Scientists will be asked to log the coordinates at a site, collect water temperature, take photos, and write down what they see about the water, the vegetation, the fish and wildlife. The program goes through September and starts again in the spring.

There are also scheduled field days at core locations. These are opportunities for people to learn how to collect the information, see how it is relevant, and even do some minnow trapping.

Learn more about the Watershed Planning process at susitnarivercoalition.org/watershedplan or contact Margaret Stern at info@susitnarivercoalition.org.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.

Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was reported by Kendra Zamzow and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Tuesday June 30, 2026.

Image credit: susitnarivercoalition.org.

Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they have a discussion on ovarian cancer screening.

Image Credit: Southern Cancer Center

Palmer Fire and Rescue Chief John Prevost will be stepping down from his position this week after 28 years with the department. He began his fire service work as a Fire Department Explorer while in high school.

He started his career with the City of Palmer in the Public Works Department. He became a paid on-call fire department member. Prevost was promoted to Assistant Chief and accepted a full-time position with Palmer Fire & Rescue as the Training Coordinator in 2021. He was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief in 2023. Prevost was promoted to Fire Chief of Palmer Fire & Rescue last August after serving as Interim Chief for about 8 months.

He gave his final interview as Fire Chief on Big Cabbage Radio last Friday.

Prevost talked about the landfill fire that sent a large plume of black smoke across the Mat-Su Valley last Monday. He noted that the fire occurred in the construction and demolition pit. It required a regional response. The fire had grown to approximately 150 by 150 feet by the time firefighters arrived.

Palmer crews supplied personnel and water tenders. Neighboring departments assisted with water shuttle operations throughout the night.

Prevost emphasized that no official cause of the fire has been determined. He declined to speculate on the cause. Many have guessed that a lithium-ion battery may have been responsible.

Prevost explained that fires at the landfill occur about once a year and that this was one of the largest. He reminded residents to dispose of hazardous materials in the hazardous waste collection area. This includes lithium batteries. Never put them in the construction debris pit.

The discussion turned to fire safety. Chief Prevost explained the purpose of Knox Boxes. These secure key boxes are mounted outside many commercial buildings. They allow firefighters quick access during emergencies without forcing entry.

He also described how monitored fire alarm systems work. Signals go to central monitoring companies before local dispatch is notified. These systems don’t just send alerts due to fires. They also alert responders to sprinkler malfunctions that could cause flooding.

Chief Prevost then corrected a misconception about sprinklers. In most sprinkler systems, only the individual sprinkler head exposed to heat is activated, rather than every sprinkler in the building. Only specialized deluge systems are designed to release water from all heads simultaneously.

Chief also urged everyone to remain vigilant about wildfire danger. Although recent rains have helped, grasses and other light vegetation dry quickly. This leaves favorable conditions for fast-moving wildland fires. He pointed to a recent fire near the new visitor center as a reminder that caution remains necessary.

He also covered everyday fire safety. Chief advised residents to transport gasoline and propane outside the passenger compartment of vehicles whenever possible to reduce the risks associated with leaks, fumes, and collisions.

He also encouraged homeowners who heat with wood to have chimneys cleaned and inspected annually. Creosote can build up and ignite. This creates dangerous chimney fires that can spread into walls or attics if hidden structural problems exist.

Chief reflected on his career at the close of the interview. He admitted he never truly wanted to become fire chief. He expressed deep pride in the department and gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community. While stepping down from leadership, he hopes to remain involved as an on-call firefighter.

Thank you, Chief Prevost, for your dedication, years of service, professionalism, and good humor. We wish you the very best in the next chapter of your life.

You can listen to the full interview on bigcabbageradio.org in Inside the City under Podcasts.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.

Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was summarized from last week’s episode of Inside the City by Mike Chielewski and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson.

If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday June 29, 2026.

Image credit: palmerak.org

This week, we take a break from analyzing how the federal government affects Alaska in order to review some relevant American history, especially the Dred Scott decision, the problem of judicial supremacy, and the election shenanigans of 1876 and 1877.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Senator Joe Paskvan, as they discuss the history of the oil pipeline and the future of the planned gas pipeline.

Senator Joe Paskvan

Image Credit: akleg,gov

Photo Credit: Big Cabbage Radio

Join host Judy Gette and her guests as they discuss the novel “Yesteryear”, the debut novel by Caro Claire Burke.

A traditional American woman, a “tradwife” influencer, suddenly awakens in the brutal reality of 1855—where she must unravel whether this living nightmare is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister in this sensational debut novel.

Caro Claire Burke

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, John Prevost, Palmer’s Fire Chief, as they discuss the Palmer Fire and Rescue Department.

Image Credit: City of Palmer