DONN LISTON

I am an Independent Journalist and retired teacher. I have resided over 60 consecutive winters socially, academically and politically as an active Alaska participant. I write on the wondrous people, scoundrals and events I have witnessed since statehood in 1959. The theme is: How did we get here and where we are going as a state? I invite your respectful participation in the discussion.

Eaglexit’s New Validation: Financial Study by Northern Economics

(2020©donnliston.co) The latest financial study is in. It brings good news to the communities of Chugiak, Birchwood, Eagle River, Eklutna and Hiland Road in the goal to form their own local government. The study, conducted by Northern Economics, shows there is more than adequate tax base for a new city to be born.  Old timers

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Alaska Reflections on The Plague: The Contagious Disease of some Elected Officials

Alaskans in confinement due to the Corona virus may take this chance to reflect on more than day-to-day minutia of chores related to winter becoming spring, perhaps even considering the reality of Henry David Thoreau’s (1817-1862) statement that the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation.1 Another classic American author, Albert Camus (1913-1960) expanded

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#AncVotes by Mail

Muni Election Hopes and Fears (2020©donnliston.com) The Municipality of Anchorage is going to have another election on April 7, 2020 which will be determined by a mail-in ballot. This is depressing on many levels; 1) the low caliber of people currently holding a majority of Muni Assembly seats, 2) the need to again hold the

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Recall for Dummies:

Alaska Recall Madness (2020©donnliston.com) Mike Dunleavy spoke to Alaskans in Eagle River during his campaign for governor. Children often must be taught the disgrace of a sore loser. I have done it on the playground, helping the crying child know that losing is part of the fun of playing competitive sports. In most games somebody

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Old Time Alaska Corruption

The Failed Impeachment of Gov. Bill Sheffield (2019©donnliston.co) Governor Bill Sheffield grins as he walks back to the Capitol building in Juneau flanked by his attorneys John Conway and Philip Lacovara in 1985. (MICHAEL PENN / Anchorage Daily News) William Jefferson Sheffield was another father figure governor of Alaska. Elected in 1982, he was the

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An Alaskan Way to Repay Service

Battle Dawgs take Combat Veteran Care to the Next Level (2019©donnliston.co) The Battle Dawgs base camp near Talkeetna. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.                                                        –William T. Sherman In 1836 the Pilgrims

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Alaska’s Government School Failure: What will it take to fix them?

First Published January, 2016;  A story from Gov. Dunleavy’s former Mat-Su Senate District. A new student in my Wasilla, Alaska, Adult Basic Education (ABE) class recently expressed wonder in how much he had progressed in just a few days of math study here, and, further expressing himself told of the public high school he had

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2019 EaglExit Overview: Can Local Government be better for Us?

  (2019©donnliston.co) The yard signs and billboards are all over Eagle River and Chugiak urging area voters to consider detaching from the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA). As a community we are having a discussion about the meaning of local government. Another informational meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 3 at the ER

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