The Nome Nugget

Out with the old, in with the new. Fireworks held at Nome's Middle Beach rang in the New Year 2026.

2025- The Year In Review

January

Members of the Diomede Dateliners cheerleading squad pose for a photo during practice inside the school gym.

At the ‘Edge of Tomorrow,’ Diomede School fights its way back

More than a century ago, the United States embarked on an ambitious project to educate Alaska Natives in some of the most remote places. That goal has been met with challenges ever since.

SUNNY VIEW—Breakfast customers finish their meal as late-morning sunshine floods the Polar Cub Café on the morning of Sunday, November 23. The restaurant will close for meal service on Friday, November 28.

Polar Cub Café to close after 50 years of operation

The Polar Cub Café’s 50-year run has come to an end. On Friday, November 28, the storied restaurant will close for meal service.

STATE OF THE SCHOOLS— Nome School District Superintendent Jamie Burgess delivered the state of the schools address at the Nome Common Council on Monday, Nov. 10.

Budget cuts will impact Nome schools

Nome Public Schools Superintendent Jamie Burgess delivered the annual State of the Schools address to the Nome Common Council’s work session on Monday, November 10.

GRAPPLING— Nanook Kive Shannon and Qyren Jones of Galena compete for the 126-lbs championship title at the Dudley Homelvig Scramble on Friday, November 7, 2025. Shannon ended up winning the bout.

Nome hosts second annual Dudley Homelvig Scramble

Fifteen wrestling teams descended on the Nome-Beltz High School gymnasium last week for the second annual Dudley Homelvig Scramble competing in a three-day tournament that stretched from Thursday to Saturday afternoon.

UNALAKLEET— Unalakleet’s Post Office was missing part of the roof. It has been repaired as of Tuesday.

Ex-typhoon Halong spares Nome, Norton Sound and Bering Strait from worst

One woman was recovered dead, and two persons are still missing in Kwigillingok after ex-typhoon Halong ravaged villages along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta last weekend.

SPEAKING UP – Peggy Simpson, a special education educator in the district, speaks out in support of the district retaining Mary Donaldson, the Director of Special Education, at the January 13 school board meeting.

Public comments are front and center at school board meeting

Parents showed up in force at last week’s school board meeting to voice their concerns regarding the school district’s response when a student showed up at the Nome-Beltz campus with an unloaded gun, and —addressing a separate issue— expressed...

Man charged with attempted murder

A Nome man was charged with four counts of attempted murder in the first degree , several counts of assault, coercion, domestic violence assault and assault in the presence of children after Nome Police officers responded to a domestic violence call...

PORT COMMISSION— The panel discussed the addition of a bathhouse and laundry facility at the small boat harbor.

Port Commission discuss building of a bathhouse and laundry facility at small boat harbor

The Nome Port Commission in last week’s meeting focused mainly on the one action item on the docket: a proposal for a bathhouse and laundry facility located at the Small Boat Harbor. Port Director Joy Baker introduced the proposal to the...

ON THE CAUSEWAY— Nome Port Director Joy Baker speaks to Busan Mayor Heong-Joon Park and Head Consul Joongsuk Park of the Korean consulate in Anchorage at the end of the port causeway on Tuesday, January 6.

Korean delegation visits Nome, meets with city officials

Representatives from the South Korean city of Busan, the country’s largest port, visited Nome on January 6 to tour port facilities and discuss opportunities for economic, shipping and academic exchanges. The delegation was led by Heong-Joon Park,...

Student charged after bringing firearm onto Nome-Beltz campus

A male student at Nome-Beltz Middle High School has been charged with Terroristic Threatening in the second degree and Misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree after being taken into custody the morning of January 6 after bringing a...

MATCHUP – Cohen Booth and Peyton Weyiouanna go for the ball during the Nanooks’ game against the Valdez Buccaneers at the Subway Showdown on Saturday, January 10.

Nome-Beltz boys win big at Subway Showdown

Basketball fans from near and far packed the Den of the Nanooks last weekend as the annual Subway Showdown basketball tournament was underway. Teams from Unalakleet, Valdez and Soldotna traveled to Nome to duke it out with the Nanooks in a round...

PUBLIC COMMENT— Taxi driver Steven Longley provides comments during last Monday’s city council meeting.

For now, Council leaves cab ordinance intact

Since January 1, no legal taxi cabs were running on Nome’s roads as the only taxi company Checker Cab has chosen to suspend their operations and to not reapply for their six cab licenses that they held until the end of 2025. This became a problem...

Shareholders ask BSNC to divest from ICE contracts

Bering Straits Native Corporation faces criticism from shareholders regarding the corporation’s involvement in federal contracts to aid in the detention and removal of asylum seekers, illegal immigrants and migrants. BSNC has in the past ten years...

2025- The Year In Review

January No snow! January started out with ice glazed roads, brown tundra and no snow to be seen. Winter trails were non-existent and thoughts of skiing, dog mushing and traveling by snow mobile remained wishful thinking. This is particularly...

NO DAIRY— Freight problems caused low inventory in Nome stores.

Alaska Airlines embargoes Nome-bound freight ‘til further notice

Empty shelves at Nome’s grocery stores last week bore witness to a severe backlog of freight that didn’t make it to Nome for the holidays. Starting last week, Alaska Air Cargo has stopped accepting new freight in Anchorage until their cargo backlog...

Did Christmas get more expensive?

In a speech last week, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. economy is doing well. “Tonight, after 11 months, our border is secure inflation has stopped, wages are up, prices are down, our nation is strong, America is respected, and our country...

CHORUS – The Nome-Beltz Middle High School Chorus performs at the Winter Concert at the Nome Elementary School on Tuesday, December 16.

Nome-Beltz ushers in the holidays with Winter Concert

Community members gathered in the Nome Elementary School gymnasium on Tuesday, December 16 evening for the Nome-Beltz Middle High School Winter Concert. As the room slowly filled with parents and families, the middle and high school bands occupied...