Kuskokwim 300 plans to stay in the running

MATT NEVALA

May 29, 2008 at 11:26AM AKST

Acting Kuskokwim 300 race manager Myron Angstman remains confident the famed sled dog race will survive, despite a flurry of financial problems that included allegations of theft last week against a former race manager.

“Assuming the public is forgiving and we get the support, we’re going to go forward,” Angstman said.

The 30th edition of the annual mid-distance race and Iditarod qualifier is scheduled to start in Bethel on Jan. 16, according to Angstman.

Staci J. Gillilan, the race manager the last two years, was arrested May 20 and charged with stealing money from the race committee.

The Bethel Police Department released a statement saying its investigation indicated Gillilan embezzled a “significant amount of money” between March 2, 2007, and March 1 of this year.

Police charged Gillilan with one count each of second-degree and third-degree theft.

Police Chief Larry Elarton said Gillilan was to be arraigned either May 21 or 22. He estimated the amount of the embezzled funds at “five figures.”

Angstman, a Bethel attorney who said he’s been part of the race since its inception, is running the race out of his law office as a volunteer. He said race officials terminated Gillilan in late February when he and others discovered Gillilan failed to pay the city of Bethel upwards of $20,000 in gaming taxes.

“It’s kind of a sad day all around, but now we can talk more openly about what the situation is because people were wondering,” Angstman said.

Angstman said his own investigation showed an instance when Gillilan accepted more than $2,000 from the K300’s pull-tab operation and recorded the funds, but the money never found its way to the bank.

The state gaming board instructed the K300 to go to the police.

“There are numerous other incidents we allege are theft that the state will be made aware of,” he said. “The problem we’re having is we turn something over and find something new underneath.”

When all costs are included — purse, employee wages and other essentials like insurance — Angstman estimates the annual K300 budget at something more than $200,000.

After word of the race’s financial woes spread, some K300 enthusiasts questioned whether the race would shut down.

Angstman said the K300 has made great strides in recovering financially.

“Well, we’re not paying the race manager anymore, we’re saving that money,” Angstman said. “We sold (the race’s) truck, turned off the phone and Internet and run the race office out of my law office.

“We were also able to talk a couple of sponsors in making good on pledges in terms of money. We scrambled and also paid off the city.”

In April, the K300 launched a fundraising drive that involved selling miles along the trail — 300 individual miles for $100 each. The purchase of a mile includes a membership in the race as well as a discount on race merchandise.

Angstman said the K300 had already sold about 40 of the miles.

“That’s a good step in the right direction,” he said.

Matt Nevala can be reached at (907) 348-2480 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 480.