The Nome Nugget

MALE NORTHERN HARRIER – A male harrier is carrying a redpoll it captured north of Salmon Lake. Males and females are colored and marked differently, and males are smaller. Males are slate gray with a white breast, prominent black wingtips and black bands on the tail. They are sometimes referred to as “the gray ghost.” All harriers have an eye-catching white rump patch. This harrier caught a redpoll, but voles are their main food.

Northern Harrier––An owl-like hawk with a breathtaking courtship display

The Nome Common Council reduced the contribution to Nome Public Schools from $3.4 million to $2.7 million.

Council sets mill rate at 11.5, reduces contribution to Nome schools

By Diana Haecker

SENIOR VP– Mike Schaffner, Senior Vice President of Operations at Graphite One, presents at the community meeting held at Old St. Joe’s Hall.

Graphite One listens to concerns at meeting in Nome

By Diana Haecker

Nome-Beltz students perform ‘I Hate Shakespeare!’

Story and photos by Anna Lionas

AT WORK— William “Lee” Smith III is Nome’s new city manager.

New city manager tackles budget

By Diana Haecker

Nomeites demand justice for missing and murdered relatives

Norton Sound Health Corporation interns (from left) Cash Arrington, Kaitlyn Johnson, Dorothy Callahan, Guadalupe Callahan and Aries Bioff hold their favorite bird cutouts inside the NSHC Operations Building on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after four hours of priming work.

Birds on Parade set to replace Nome’s painted sled dog art

By Sarah Manriquez The sled dogs are coming down, and birds are about to take their place. Norton Sound Health Corporation is launching its 2025 community art contest, Birds on Parade, inviting Nome and regional residents to decorate wooden bird...

Nome celebrates summer solstice

By Sarah Manriquez From costumed heists to icy plunges and paddle-powered raft races, Nome celebrated the summer solstice in style during the annual Midnight Sun Festival, held over the weekend. The festival drew crowds of locals and visitors alike...

The cruise ship Westerdam was the first cruise ship to arrive in Nome for the season.

Westerdam visits Nome

By Laura Robertson Last Thursday, the cruise ship Westerdam returned to Nome after having visited the Gold Rush town last year for the first time. The eleven-deck ship seemed to dwarf town as it lay anchored in Nome’s roadstead. Like last year, the...

Nome School District asks for more money from city

By Anna Lionas Nome Public Schools is facing a deficit of over $1 million for the next school year, following funding reductions at both the local and state level. Now, they’re asking the City of Nome to provide an additional 315,000 in funding to...

ESPECT THE BEAR— Properly skinning and processing a harvested polar bear is an intergenerational act of respect, tradition and shared responsibility. June 23 was day three of fleshing the hide for Kaitlyn Painter, Charles Kokuluk, Frances Muktoyuk, Caroline Brown, Gabrielle Brown, Yvonne Muktoyuk, Jared Wiggins and Jessica Russell.

Hunter harvests summer polar bear at Woolley Lagoon

By Sarah Manriquez When Jared Wiggins saw a polar bear walking toward him near his camp by Woolley Lagoon last week, he knew what was at stake. “It was either him or me,” Wiggins said. “And it wasn’t gonna be me. Not that day, anyways.” Wiggins, 30...