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Juneau Daily News Online

Monday, January 4, 1999  © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Temblor rumbles through Southeast
   Quake felt locally, no known damage or injuries
A light earthquake measuring 4 point 2 was recorded 85 miles west of Haines and 115 miles west of Juneau near Lituya Bay this afternoon. The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer said the quake, which was recorded at 1:41, was felt in Juneau. Several listeners called News of the North to report the tremor.

Goldbelt gets USFS approval for road north of town
The Forest Service today re-issued its original decision allowing Goldbelt to build the Cascade Point Access Road. The decision was initially issued last March, but withdrawn in July after the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council filed an appeal. The Juneau Ranger District realized then that there was some documentation supporting the decision that needed further work. Dave Goade, Vice President of Lands for Goldbelt, says they must now obtain an Army Corps of Engineers' permit for a road and a marine terminal at Cascade Point. He's hopeful that construction can begin this fall. Tim Bristol of SEACC says they're disappointed and will review the decision first before deciding on a appeal. Appeals must be filed by February 23.

Native corp celebrates silver anniversary
Goldbelt marked the 25th anniversary of Juneau's urban native corporation today with acquisition of Ketchikan based Alaska Cruises. Alaska Cruises operates six boats for tours along Ketchikan's waterfront and Misty Fjords. One of those boats, the Majestic Fjord (left), was leased from Allen Marine in Sitka. The signing ceremony was conducted aboard the Majestic Fjord today with Juneau community leaders and corporation officials on board.

Resolution would allow GCI to compete with PTI
A resolution on tonight's Assembly agenda calls for increased telephone competition. G-C-I is pushing the local governing body to send such an expression to the Alaska Public Utilities Commission. An ordinance up for action increases sewer rates. The rate per unit would increase a dollar right away and another buck effective July First and on July First of 2000. The commercial rate will increase 25 cents for each one thousand gallons.

Lumber yard, air carrier to receive awards
The Juneau Economic Development Council Business Excellence Awards will be presented to Valley Lumber and Alaska Airlines at the beginning of tonight's Assembly meeting. Alaska Airline President William Ayer is traveling to company headquarters in Seattle to accept the honor. The airline is being recognized for implementing the new GPS navigation system and constituent airfares which will allow Alaskans to travel less expensively to the capital during the upcoming legislative session. Valley Lumber is recognized for rebuilding following the arson-caused fire that destroyed its store in 1996.

Northrip elected chair of Y2K committee The Mayor's Y2K Task Force conducted an organizational meeting today and elected Charles Northrip, the executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, as its chair. Chris Burns of KINY Radio was selected vice-chair. The panel is charged with ensuring the community is prepared to deal with the computer glitch when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2000.

New mining director named
Governor Knowles has picked a new director for the state Division of Mining and Water Management. Robert Loeffler has been acting director of mining since November. Loeffler has worked in Alaska as a hydrologist, planner and project economist. He joined the Department of Natural Resources in 1985 as a regional planner. He later served as director of planning for the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council before returning to the department. He worked as the large mine project director, coordinating the permitting and regulation of major gold and coal mines.

Wehnes promoted to sergeant Juneau Police Chief Richard Gummow (left in photo) presented Tom Wehnes (right in photo) with his Sergeant's badge during a ceremony this morning in the Assembly Chambers at City Hall. The new Sergeant's wife Evonne pinned the badge on her husband as their four children looked on.

First '99 baby born at home
Juneau's first baby of 1999 greeted the New Year at 3:50 Saturday morning. Reed Alexander Coon, who was born at home, weighed in at nine pounds, nine ounces. Members of the Juneau Family Birth Center helped Elke Coon through twelve hours of labor. The first babies at Bartlett Regional Hospital were twins born Sunday morning. Two other births were recorded yesterday.

Soul of the past Retired Coast Guardsman Rick Currier (left), one-time commander of the cutter Liberty in Auke Bay, brought some high-seas adventure to listeners of KINY's Capital Chat this morning. Currier recently returned from delivering one of the new "W-Class" racing-sailboats (right) on the East Coast. The newly designed vessels are based on the lines of "New York 50" sailboats which were raced extensively in the early part of the century, but are built from a combination of high-tech and traditional materials.

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