Radio Free Palmer

Lee Henrickson welcomes Ailis Vann, the Palmer Parks and Facilities Manager, to Inside the City. The Parks and Facilities Department has been very busy this summer. They are responsible for the maintenance of eight parks, all the sports fields, and the MTA Events Center. One major project is saving and rehabilitating the shrubs and trees […]

Host Ken Hoffman is joined by Michelle Pages, President of the Kodiak Chapter of the Alaska Farm Bureau. Michelle wears many hats, including those of a 5th-generation farmer, wife, mother, rancher, chef, gym manager, and owner of a feed store. Listen to how Michelle fits all these jobs into her week.

This month's episode of Voices of the Mat-Su is called “The Storytellers.” It is the story of two friends, a dream, and a grandma. Listen to the story about two cartoon artists who create new stories from the ancient teachings of the Chickaloon Tribe. Stories that grew into the comic book series called Chickaloonies and […]

Rachel Levitt and John Robertson on Home to Roost, in which they review federal policies that impact Alaska. This episode’s weekly headline is the Supreme Court’s decision in the Birthright Citizenship Case. The reading from the Constitution this week is the Public Debt Clause. This clause is covered by the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 4.

Mike Chmielewski and David Shield talk with David Cheezem about his travels. David’s first bike ride was in 2018. This year, he started in Buffalo, New York, and tells us all about what prompted him to make these trips, as well as details about this year’s journey.

Patricia Grayhall is a medical doctor and author of the award-winning memoir, Making the Rounds: Defying Norms in Love and Medicine, and a romance novel, Golden Years and Silver Linings, with her wife, and author, Linda M. Ford. Patrica’s third book is A Place for Us, a story of two women who find each other irresistible but […]

Join Rachel Levitt and John Robertson as they discuss the headlines this week, focusing on “The Big Beautiful Bill Act” and how it will affect Alaska. The plain reading this week is Article I, Section 8, Clause 11, the Declare War Clause of the Constitution of the United States.

Christopher Travis Rice is an American author. Rice made his fiction debut in 2000 with the bestselling A Density of Souls. His mother was the award-winning author Anne Rice. Anne Rice passed in 2021 during COVID-19 restrictions. A belated tribute to her will be held on November 1st. Anne Rice, The All Saints Day Celebration […]

Join host Ken Hoffman as he talks with Tarn Coffey on Ag Matters. The first year, the Coffeys planted 1/4 acre of sweet corn. They then won a bid for Nenena-Totchaket Agricultural Parcels and have received 5 parcels or 225 acres. This year, they planted 10 acres. You can follow Tarn’s story on his YouTube […]

Scott Blair from My Favorite Realty provides an update on the real estate market with Mike Chmielewski. The discussion focused on commercial real estate, on new vs. older commercial buildings. When considering commercial real estate, evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of both new and older buildings is essential. Each offers distinct advantages and disadvantages depending […]

Peter House updates on threats to one and all.

David Cheezem completes his ride in St. Louis.

MatSu District Manager Stuart Leidner talks about all things parks and trails.

Mary Ann and Rebecca from Fireside Books and Taylor from Black Birch Books discuss “Kwaidan” by Lafcadio Hearn, a 1904 book of Japanese ghost stories and insect studies.

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David continues his journey by bike in the Lower 48.

Allison Gaylord talks about her farm in Homer and the Homer peony coop.

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This is the audio recording of the Council meeting. Architect Gary Wolf updates the Council on progress toward designing the new Palmer Library. And Borough attorney Nick Spiropoulis presents a proposition for revenue sharing with the Borough and other Cities. NOTE: The video recording of the meeting had audio problems. We will make the video […]

This week on Home to Roost, John and Rachel discuss Palmer's Job Corps center, the right to peaceful assembly, and announce the latest recipient of the Whiplash Award.

Aundra Jackson with Mat-su Borough Martin Luther King Foundation, and Mike Chmeilewski chat about the Juneteenth celebration. The celebration will take place at the Palmer Pavilion on June 19th from 3 – 7 pm.

Airport Superintendent John Diumenti joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City. Discussion of the airport’s different revenue streams included the rates for keeping your plane at the airport. John and Mike talked about the noise guidelines, how the airpost addresses noise complaints with pilots, and which planes are the loudest.

MSB Development Services Manager Wade Long joins Mike on Valley Edition. Development Services handles permits and code compliance. Permits are needed for driveways or utility work on a property. Code compliance deals with illegal dumping, squatting, or fireworks complaints, among others. To talk to someone at the borough about permits, please call 907-861-7822. For information […]

Arien Sanderson, 15, is a tenth grader from Palmer, Alaska. She got her start running dogs with Alan Eischens at the age of three. Arian takes care of and trains her 30 dogs at Midnight Howlers Racing Kennel.

Dr. Jill Valerius and Lee Henrickson talk about peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the peripheral nervous system, which includes all nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. 

David Cheezem talks with Mike Chmielewski about his bicycle trip in the lower 48. This week, David has been traveling the farm roads through Illinois into Iowa.

David Cheezem talks with Mike Chmielewski about his bicycle trip. David tells stories of this leg of his bicycle trip through Ohio and Indiana.

In this week’s show, Rachel and John discuss how federal changes might effect fisheries and vaccinations and what the Constitution says about Congress’s authority over federal and state armed forces.

Leah Corbin and Kelly Marciales from Spring Creek Farm join host Ken Hoffman on Ag Matters. They discussed some of the programs run at the farm. The Tilth program helps farmers by buying 2nds and “ugly vegetables” that are then distributed to local food banks or food programs. Food Forest takes food that grows and […]

Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington talks about the Palmer City Council Meeting of June 10th. Items discussed were a pathway from S. Chugach Street to behind Spenard Builders, and an update on the library rebuild. The manager updated the status of openings for the chief of police, the director of human resources, and the director of […]

Police Department Dispatch Supervisor Whitney Daw joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City. What happens when you call 911 if you live in Palmer? The call is answered by MAT-COM in Wasilla. If you need the fire department or emergency medical services, they will send the first responders to you. If you need the Palmer […]

Mike Chmeielewski talks with international bestselling author Ava Miles about her new book “The Hockey Experiment”. Dr. Valentina Hargrove is on a mission to prove once and for all that hockey players are modern-day cavemen. Her problem? Brock “The Rock” Thomson, captain of the Alexandria Eagles, who's as infuriatingly charming as he is undeniably intelligent. […]

Jeff Curtis, CEO of the Alaska State Fair, joins Mike Chmielewski on Valley Edition. Jeff Curtis’s first impression of the Alaska State Fair. What he noticed most was that, despite the not-so-perfect weather, the community’s response and love for the fair were overwhelming. This year will be Jeff’s third fair, and he talks to Mike […]

Peter House from Deep Tree talks with Mike Chmielewski about current cybersecurity threats. Peter House just returned from a trip to Chicago. He was there for a “Hacker Mini-Camp,” basically a week of presentations and learning. There were two presentations that he thought were relatable to us here in the valley. One was that three […]

Mike Chmielewski and Emily Forstner are discussing the school board meeting Wednesday, June 4th. The adoption of the budget was discussed at the meeting. Unfortunately, little can be decided until June 19th, when decisions will be made about House Bill 57. The governor has the potential to veto, delete, or reduce the education funding. Durham […]

City Manager, Kolby Hickel Zerkel joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City. Kolby and Mike talked about the timetable for the library. Bids for the demolition of the building must be received by June 11th at 2 pm. The plan is to have the demolition finished by the end of July, and new construction can […]

Nelson Crone gives the monthly update on the UAF Farm and Extension Center, along with his sage advice. Planting at the farm has included various grains, cabbage, and the research plots. The wind has been an issue for the last couple of weeks. Everyone’s hanging plants have taken a beating. Be careful moving your seedlings […]

Dr. Jill shares the fourth and last segment about Muscular/Skeletal issues with Lee Henrickson. Concentrating on lower body issues. That stretching is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Stretch before all exercise or activities.

Rachel Levitt and John Robertson review current Federal actions with an impact on Alaska.

Host Ken Hoffman talks with , Paul Cook, owner of the Northern Lights Elk Ranch on Ag Matters Paul Cook bought the ranch 4 years ago. They have 125 acres for hunting, 11 pastures, for a total of 315 acres.  All hunts are guided, and you won’t need a hunting license.  You are guaranteed an […]

Tom Begich, former Alaska Senator Minority leader, reviews the just-completed session of the Alaska legislature with Mike Chmielewski on the Valley Edition. The session ended one day early this year, Mr. Begich attributed this to a high level of communication and cooperation between both sides of the House. Other topics mentioned include educational funding and […]

Scott Blair from My Favorite Realty gives his opinion of the real estate market while talking to Mike Chmielewski. Scott mentioned that commercial real estate is growing along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. They also discussed the growth in the Fishhook area. Half of the area is considered Wasilla and half is considered Palmer. So be sure […]

Mayor Steve Carrington discusses the City Council, Tuesday, May 27, night meeting with Mike Chmieleski. Votes are collected from three places: Election Day, during Early Voting, and through Absentee Ballots. Once all the ballots are counted, that process is finished, the election is certified. The process of adding to the agenda was explained. The work […]

Sarah Birdsall, an Alaskan writer, lives in Talkeetna. Sarah talked to Mike Chmielewski about the Curry area and how she blends true history with her imagination to create this story. In 1974 young Californians Thomas Findlay and Emily Wells dig post holes for a cabin on that very hill and unearth a human bone. The […]

Judy Gette, Seina Bell, and young readers Wren and Milo will discuss Wings of Fire, the 14th book written in the Dragonet Series by Tui T. Sutherland. Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy is about the five young Dragonets of Destiny: Clay, Glory, Sunny, Tsunami, and Starlight, and how they escaped from the guardians assigned to […]

Rachel Levitt and John Robertson review current Federal actions with an impact on Alaska.

On this month's episode of Voices of the Mat-Su titled“Braver Than We Believe,” we hear from two people who pulled themselves up out of crisis and chaos. Stories of finding strength and hope through belonging and friendship..

This week's episode of Home to Roost features a discussion of the Valley’s Ukrainian refugees, how tariff uncertainly is affecting local businesses, and the origin and importance of habeas corpus.

Fore! Palmer Golf Course Manager George Collum joins Mike Chmielewski on Big Cabbage Radio

Whitney and Tiffany from Ag West Farm Credit talk with host Ken Hoffman on Ag Matters. Ag West is cooperative costumer owned lending institution chartered by the Federal government, Ag West can help farms, fisheries, aquatic, flowers and matter other catagories with loans or insurance.