September 2026
The September news comes to you from the farm in Minnesota where fall colors are reaching their peak. This photo was taken in September and reveals a vivid red sumac cluster along the farm driveway.
Unfortunately, the color is brief, and the leaves are long gone by October.
A visit from grandkids Ada and Jack has added some entertainment. They are amused by golf cart rides and prefer several a day. They are also learning to drive the cart.
September was colorful in Alaska, too. This video of a moose in mountain scenery shows typical fall colors in the high country.
Instead of colorful trees, Alaska has an abundance of tundra plants that feature many different tones, and the total effect is stunning.
This Alaska shot was taken by Sue on one of the many trails that run through Anchorage. This is Fish Creek, about a mile from downtown Anchorage.
Looking the other way from this spot is a view of Denali and the ocean. It's a wonderful walk.
The "Asshole Defense"
A recent event at Alaska Pacific University created an opportunity to visit with ageless former Bethel woman Vicky Malone. Vicky has a splendid sense of humor and is rarely at a loss for words, so it was an enjoyable evening. One of her stories involved ALO, and Vicky was kind enough to write her account of that event for use here.
Vicky's brother Mike, now deceased, came to Bethel for a while in the early days, and he was a lively fellow, like his sister. One night after partying at Buck Rogers Disco he took a group of passengers for a joyride in a pickup truck around Bethel. He was eventually stopped by the Bethel police and charged with drunk driving. He employed ALO, and the biggest challenge for his attorney was overcoming a video made at the police station where Mike acted like a jackass in front of the camera. The state's case revolved around the theory that no one would act like that unless they were drunk. Here is Vicky's account of what happened next.
In an effort to establish that Mike had ties to the community and was not just an itinerate scumbag, you established his employment with Guinn Lumber and encouraged his sister, Vicki Malone-a long time Bethel resident-to testify on his behalf. Not only did her testimony verify his employment, his relationship to her, and his residence at her house, but you also queried her regarding the reasons for his obnoxious behavior toward the police on the evening of his arrest. During this line of questioning, you established that his obnoxious behavior was not necessarily related to his state of inebriation. You summarized my testimony for the jury as follows. "So, in essence, Mrs. Malone, you are testifying that your brother is frequently an asshole, even when he is not drinking."
Of course, it never hurts to have a popular local person testify on your behalf in a Bethel trial, but it was the content of her testimony that carried the day. The jury found him not guilty of drunk driving.
That story brought to mind another drunk driving case involving a very popular fuel truck delivery man who used to wave at every vehicle he passed on the road in Bethel. He was stopped in his truck after the Bethel cops observed some erratic driving. The fuel truck had a high cab, and the driver chose to lock the doors and sit tight for about 20 minutes after he was stopped. At one point, he was observed through the window with a large bottle of booze. Already a defense was emerging. It can be fairly stated that every member of the jury knew the driver, some were distantly related, most got fuel deliveries from him, and he certainly waved at all of them whenever he saw them. Counsel for the defense suggested the police could not determine when the driver had become intoxicated because the police found a half-consumed bottle of booze in the cab when they finally gained entrance. They had also observed the driver drinking after the stop. The District Attorney was fairly new to Bethel and didn't realize how badly stacked the jury was, and he was baffled when they failed to convict.
There are dozens of such tales from the courtroom, but of course, the passage of time has dimmed the memory of most of them. Suffice it to say that favorable Bethel juries and a willingness to be creative resulted in many unlikely verdicts. Many lawyers fear going to trial and try to settle every case, but they are missing out on the best part of being a lawyer—the excitement of trying to win over a jury in a difficult case.
Mandatory Moose And Other Characters
This month's Mandatory Moose is a display of raw power in the wilderness.
This grizzly bear walked the beach near the Angstman cabin in September at dusk.
This caribou raced a lodge boat for the fun of it.
The old saying says something about keeping your ducks in a row, but maybe they meant turkeys on the farm.
Another Successful Season
Speaking of the lodge, the season closed in late September after a banner year for fishing and attendance. Old-timers believe more guests visited the lodge this year than any year in the past 25. Andy was able to survive last year's fire and a major bump in costs, but those costs will drive up the price for next year. He has a significant waiting list for reservations, along with many returning guests, so next year should fill up quickly. One last note from then lodge. A lodge helper came to the Angstman cabin to help shut it down for the winter. That involves several chores including attaching heavy duty plywood over the doors and windows with long screws. The last location is always the main door, and as soon as the last screw was in place, Jack was missing. A loud call produced no dog, so the plywood was removed to reveal a somewhat unconcerned Cocker Spaniel standing inside the door in the dark. Unfortunately, Jack is not the first Angstman dog to be forgotten.
Seth Kantner has been featured here several times. He is a client and friend, and he cares about rural Alaska. His sentiments are of course supported by this page. This article appeared in the Anchorage newspaper.
Remembering D-Day
There was mention here a while back of the almost unbelievable events of D-Day in France. This famous actor was there, and his account shouldn't be missed. Do you suppose Hegseth would test those guys for testosterone??
Capital Chaos
Speaking of war, America is again at war, but in an entirely different situation. Here is a thoughtful discussion of the current mess.
And here is a slightly different take on some of the same topics.
There is no doubt that Trump favors Putin. This discussion of that topic is a must-see. Many Trump supporters have spent their lives fearing Russia for lots of reasons, but suddenly they don't seem to mind if we do Russia's bidding.
Republicans have campaigned hard on the notion that Democrats support socialism. Vice President Vance was asked to define socialism as he sees it and here was his verbatim answer, which reveals his ignorance.
Here is a smart man talking about the American economy.
But here is the smartest of all.
But don't worry, everyone will soon be better off.
Comic Relief (Because You Earned It)
Finally, humor wins out. This comedian died young, but in his short time on the national circuit, he was one of the funniest ever. Take a listen to Dennis Wolfberg
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