Ralph Lake 09-26-09

Village officer presumed drowned in Kuskokwim sinking

By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK ebluemink@adn.com
Published: September 29th, 2009

A Southwest Alaska village police officer known for his Yup'ik dancing and singing is presumed drowned in the Kuskokwim River after his boat sank, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The officer, Ralph Lake, and his wife, Janice Lake, were traveling the short distance by boat from Bethel to Napaskiak on Saturday afternoon when their motor quit and the boat began sinking, according to troopers.

The couple swam for shore, but when Janice Lake got out of the river, she couldn't find her husband, troopers said.

She was found at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and a search-and-rescue effort began that day and is continuing, troopers said.

At least 20 boats dragged the river on Saturday, and there were aerial and ground searches through the weekend, said trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters.

A Napaskiak village public safety officer said Tuesday that several Native corporations, local organizations and families in the region had been donating fuel and food for the searchers.

The officer, Gregory Larson, said more donations are needed to support the search.

Larson and Lake were first cousins, and they were like brothers -- in the Yup'ik tradition and also as fellow law enforcement officers, Larson said.

Lake was reportedly in his 30s. His wife is 22, according to troopers.

Lake was "into Eskimo dancing in his spare time. He loved to go out and teach young people about Eskimo dance. He was a really good singer," Larson said.

"He was a very quiet, respectful person. You never saw him hollering or being mad at anybody," Larson said.

He said people in the village are grateful for all of the donations and the assistance they've received from searchers over the past three days.

Calista Corp. and at least three other organizations have donated drums of fuel, Larson said.

"There are a lot of boats out there. They are going to use up the gas fast," Larson said.

Find Elizabeth Bluemink online at adn.com/contact/ebluemink or call 257-4317.

Body of village police officer found days after boat sinks
MOTOR QUIT: His wife swam to shore but couldn't locate him.

By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK, ebluemink@adn.com

Published: September 29th, 2009

A Southwest Alaska village police officer known for his Yup'ik dancing and singing drowned in the Kuskokwim River after his boat sank, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The officer, Ralph Lake, and his wife, Janice Lake, of Napaskiak were traveling the short distance by boat from Bethel to Napaskiak on Saturday afternoon when their motor quit and the boat began sinking, according to troopers.

The couple swam for shore but when Janice Lake got out of the river, she couldn't find her husband, troopers said.

She was found at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday. A search-and-rescue effort began that day and continued until 4:52 p.m. Tuesday, when his body was found in the Kuskokwim upriver from Napaskiak, troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said. His body was being taken to Anchorage for an autopsy.

At least 20 boats dragged the river on Saturday and there were aerial and ground searches through the weekend, said trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters.

A Napaskiak village public safety officer said Tuesday that several Native corporations, local organizations and families in the region had been donating fuel and food for the searchers.

The officer, Gregory Larson, and Lake were first cousins, and they were like brothers -- in the Yup'ik tradition and also as fellow law enforcement officers, Larson said.

Lake, 36, was "into Eskimo dancing in his spare time," Larson said. "He loved to go out and teach young people about Eskimo dance. He was a really good singer."

"He was a very quiet, respectful person. You never saw him hollering or being mad at anybody," Larson said.

He said people in the village are grateful for all of the donations and the assistance they've received from search-and-rescue personnel.

Calista Corp. and at least three other organizations donated drums of fuel, Larson said.

Find Elizabeth Bluemink online at adn.com/contact/ebluemink or call 257-4317.