Economy

This year, Orutsararmiut Native Council is broadening its services for Elders and tackling potential elder abuse. 

The Calista Native Regional Corporation’s internal board battle ended up in court when it filed suit against its former board chairman, Col. Wayne Don. The case still has not gone to trial, but the nature of the suit has changed significantly. 

Calista originally filed suit against three people, but is now down to just one defendant: Col. Wayne Don. The pre-trial maneuvers now include a countersuit, and a request for the judge to decide the case.

Calista shareholders got larger dividends in 2018. According to a report released by the Native Regional corporation, payouts to members in Calista’s three dividend programs totaled a little over $9.5 million, up from around $9 million paid out the year before. 

Calista has three different dividend programs, with the largest dividend distribution in the spring. Calista Communications Manager Thom Leonard says that generally, Native corporations like Calista provide much higher dividends than conventional corporations listed on stock exchanges.

The Calista Corporation is calling it a frivolous lawsuit, but for Col. Wayne Don, it’s a way to cover legal expenses and keep shareholders from paying for an ongoing board battle that has ended up in the courts.

Last spring, the Calista Regional Native Corporation filed a lawsuit against its own former board chairman and current board member Col. Wayne Don. It has not yet gone to trial, but a countersuit has now been filed.

The Bethel Planning Commission approved the Blue Sky Estates Subdivision last week. It's a project that Lyman Hoffman has been working for almost a decade to develop.

“There’s been a crying need in Bethel area for new housing,” said Hoffman. “It’s a positive move, I think, for Bethel and the citizens to see the City of Bethel to continue to grow.”