It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Tuesday March 10, 2026.
Do you have a child between three and six years old? It’s a good idea for them to learn about water safety.
19 children drowned in Alaska between 2016 and 2021 according to the State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin. Tragedies like these can be prevented with lessons.
Rob Grogan from the Susitna Rotary Club is leading classes about water safety for parents and kids. They’re called the “Josh the Otter Pool Sessions.” One will be on April 18 at the Palmer Pool. Another will be on May 16 at the Wasilla Pool.
The Josh the Otter sessions teach four basic skills for both parents and kids:
1. Choosing the correct size and type of life vest.
2. How to float on your back, wearing a life vest.
3. How to do a water rescue. Both kids and parents practice using a floating device attached to a rope. Often, it’s the adult who falls out of a boat, and the child needs to know how to get the flotation device to the adult without falling off the boat.
4. What to do if a canoe gets filled with water. Kids learn how to flip it over if they need to.
The Susitna Rotary Club has sponsored Josh the Otter sessions for 12 years, not just in the Valley, but all over the state.
They also make presentations in kindergarten classes. A quarter of all child drownings between 2016 and 2021 involved unsupervised children. The presentations teach kids that they should always have an adult present when near a body of water.
Josh the Otter started in Nebraska. Young Joshua Collingsworth drowned in 2008. His family started the foundation to help reduce child drowning nationwide. According to the Collingsworth website, “the number one cause of death for children 1 to 4 years of age is downing.”
The next Josh the Otter Pool Session will be at the Palmer Pool on April18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m..
There will be another session at the Wasilla Pool on May 16 from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m..
Each child must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required.
The Palmer City Council meets tonight at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Attend a session on elder fraud tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at the Wasilla Senior Center. Jesse Jones with InfraGard will review common scams and give fraud prevention tips.
The Mat-Su Valley Planning for Transit wants to hear from you about public transit. They are hosting a workshop on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Wasilla Senior Center. The virtual workshop will be on March 24 from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. via zoom. More information at mvpmpo.com.
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This Page Two article was written by David Cheezem and read by Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Tuesday March 10, 2026.