CBJ avalanche advisory now on web site, danger is considerable
The first City and Borough of Juneau Urban Avalanche Advisory is now on the local government's web page at HYPERLINK www.juneau.org 

CBJ Avalanche Forecaster Tom Mattice says the avalanche danger now is considerable given the rapid accumulation of snow.

The 24 hour trend is at 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 indicating increasing danger.

Avalanche probability is at four and the avalanche size rating is at two which is between small and medium.

He says the website will be updated each morning at 7 with the latest information on the status of avalanche conditions.

UPDATE- Ptarmigan chair lift problem pinpointed
The Ptarmigan chair lift at Eaglecrest Ski Area will not be operating until January 17th.

General Manager Kirk Duncan says after further inspection today (Friday) it was confirmed that a bearing in the lift's upper bullwheel has  failed.

The ten foot diameter bullwheel sits on top of the terminal tower. The chair lift cable runs up the mountain around the bullwheel and back down the mountain to the lower terminal tower.

Duncan says last Saturday they noticed a very slight wobble in the Ptarmigan lift.

He says after an inspection Thursday they believe that a bearing in the bullwheel has failed and has begun wearing down the other bearings.

Duncan says this past summer when they inspected and re-greased the bearings they looked for metal shavings that would indicate a problem, but did not find any.

He says the chair lift's bearings have been replaced three times during it's 30 years of use.

Duncan says it's fortunate that they have another bullwheel sitting about three hundreds yard away on the new mid-mountain chair lift that has not been installed yet.

He said during the next week they will install the replacement bullwheel and hope to have the Ptarmigan lift running again by Saturday, January 17th.

Duncan says he can not stress enough how badly he, his staff and the Eaglecrest Board Directors feel about closing the Ptarmigan lift, but it would be irresponsible to keep the lift operating.  

UPDATE- Duncan says As long as the snow stays stable, skiers and boarders will be allowed to hike up Williwaw to the Eagle’s Nest.

From there, they can ski the entire mountain with the exception of the Ridge, West Bowl and the East Bowl Chutes. 

If snow conditions change, as determined by the Eaglecrest Ski Patrol, access to the upper mountain may be restricted.

The Platter and Hooter lift will be running as scheduled this weekend.   www.skijuneau.com

Contract ratified for Docks and Harbors staff, but directors register concern
The CBJ Docks and Harbors Board of Directors ratified a contract agreement with its employees who are represented by the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association.

It includes two wage increases over the next three years. There's a five percent hike for 2009 and a three percent increase in 2010.

The contract, which was ratified by the city and borough, required board ratification.

Port Director John Stone says the panel sent a message to city hall communicating a concern.

He says that message says that the personnel inflation the department is experiencing is greater than its capability to raise fees.

Stone says members are concerned that the cost increases are not going to be able to be covered harbor patrons, especially with the current economic climate.

He says hopefully that concern will be taken into account during the next round of negotiations.  

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The board tabled a request from the Alaska Commercial Fisherman's Memorial to take over management of the memorial located at Marine Park.

Stone says it was referred back to the Operations Committee for additional work.

The board authorized the port director to undertake repairs to the Aurora Harbor fuel float.

Stone says he'll now solicit bids for the repairs estimated to cost $125,000.

The float was damaged during last month's extreme low tide which Stone says was the lowest ever recorded in Juneau at 6 point 2 feet.

An amendment calling for a cooperative agreement with the state to fund improvements to the Amalga Harbor Launch ramp facility was approved.

The $135,000 grant coming from the Department of Fish and Game would be used to improve the pathway from the parking lot to the kayak launch ramp.

The agreement now goes to the Assembly for appropriation action.

The panel okayed tideland lease area additions to DIPAC and Channel Construction.

Stone says they will now request the state to convey the tidelands to the local government.

After that's completed, those tideland leases will be amended.

Requests for use of Marine Passenger Fee revenue was approved for forwarding to the Assembly.

One would provide funding to construct a new visitor center and a customs and port worker building located near the Mt. Roberts Tram.

The building would replace the old Marine Highway terminal building.

The board is also requesting operational funding from Marine Passenger Fees so that it can take the lease revenues generated from tideland leases next to the cruise docks.

Stone says the panel is looking at moving those revenues to the Harbors Enterprise Fund to help with harbor rebuilds. 

Assembly scheduled to take up union contract Monday
The Assembly will asked to ratify a new contract for members of the city and borough's general government unit during its meeting Monday night.

City Manager Rod Swope says, like most negotiations, the main issue was money.

The agreement calls for a 3 percent salary increase each year for the next three years.

He wasn't able to provide an exact figure on what the contract will cost the local government, but believes it's already covered in the budget.

The bargaining unit consisting of about 500 employees is represented by the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association.

Troopers identify boy injured in Wasilla fire
WASILLA, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers have released the name of a 12-year-old boy seriously injured in a trailer fire in Wasilla.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters says the injured youth is Noble Cedar "Vincent" Woods of Wasilla, who is at an Anchorage hospital. His condition is not being released at the request of his family, hospital officials said.

Authorities do not yet have the identity of the other youth killed in the fire. Peters said officials have tentatively identified the victim as 9-year-old Bryce "Anthony" Woods.

She says efforts for a positive identification continue.

Two Good Samaritans saw the fire Wednesday, alerted authorities and attempted to assist the two boys, but left before authorities arrived.

Palin says she's been exploited by Couric and Fey
WASHINGTON (AP) - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin says CBS News anchor Katie Couric and comic actress Tina Fey have been "exploiting" her.

Palin also is questioning whether Caroline Kennedy is getting better treatment from the news media in her quest for a Senate seat than Palin herself received as Republican John McCain's running mate.

Palin reflected on her campaign for national office in an interview this week with conservative radio talk-show host and filmmaker John Ziegler. Clips are posted on YouTube.

Palin gave Couric a rare interview at the beginning of her campaign, and Fey frequently impersonated Palin on "Saturday Night Live."

Palin says she thinks there may be a "class issue" involved in the press coverage of Kennedy and her own bid for office.

State says Palin aide travel costs logged as gifts from McCain campaign
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A state aide to Governor Palin on the campaign trail is disclosing as gifts more than $13,000 in airfare and lodging from the John McCain campaign.

The airfare and lodging were logged by Kris Perry while she helped Palin with state business during the governor's bid as the Republican vice presidential candidate.

Linda Perez, state director of administrative services, says the state had planned to pick up the tab for Perry's travel, lodging and expenses.

The state was never billed by the McCain campaign, however, so the costs were calculated from market prices.

Perry spent almost six weeks on the campaign trail helping facilitate communication between the governor -- McCain's running mate -- and her staff back home.

Between Sept. 27 and Nov. 5, estimated costs for airfare and lodging totaled $13,298.50, according to Perry's ethics disclosure reports obtained this week by The Associated Press.

Perry says she declined per diem payments for that period and did not submit any personal expenses.

Perez says Perry would have eligible for at least $2,100 in per diem had she accepted it.

Palin's legislative director resigns
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Gov. Sarah Palin's legislative liaison has resigned.

Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow says Kelly Goode cited family reasons for her departure.

No replacement has been named, but Leighow says Goode has offered to stay through the transition.

The Legislature convenes Jan. 20.

John Bitney and Russell Kelly served in the post before Goode.
(Juneau Empire)

Poe 1st to announce candidacy for Alaska governor
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Democrat Bob Poe says he's not running against a particular candidate as he begins his campaign for governor, but he had some strong criticism today for the incumbent, Republican Sarah Palin.

Poe says Palin has been out of town and out of touch for much of her two years in office and it's time to put Alaska's future ahead of one's own political future.

Poe is a former state commissioner of administration.

The 54-year-old Democrat has also directed the Office of International Trade and has been business development manager for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, the state agency that lends money to promote economic development.

Poe says the state has not taken sufficient steps to weather the economic downturn and Alaska is no further along with a proposed natural gas pipeline that it was three years ago.
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Palin was the Republican nominee for vice president and she spent much of the campaign season on the road.

But Palin spokesman Bill McAllister rejects Poe's criticism that the governor's absences hurt the state. He says other governors have continued to operate their states while on the campaign trail.

On the natural gas pipeline process, McAllister says he wonders if Poe wants a return to closed negotiations and giveaways that Palin campaigned against.

McAllister says that's not what the public wants. 

Elton and Munoz sponsor bills dealing with state retirement system
Juneau Senator Kim Elton and Juneau Valley Representative Cathy Munoz have pre-filed bills dealing with the public employee pension system in advance of the legislative session.

Elton says his bill returns the public employee pension systems back to the defined benefit from a defined contribution.

It would allow new employees to choose between the two alternatives.

He says the market conditions over the last few months have demonstrated how risky a defined compensation package is and how quickly retirement funds can run out after a person retires.

Elton says the workers in the defined benefit package are no more expensive than the new plan.

He says the state has not saved any money under the new plan.

Elton adds his bill's retirement plan would help recruit and retain people.

Munoz is sponsoring a similar bill in the state House.

She says during her recent campaign one of the biggest issues that was brought to her attention from the public employee groups was the need to strengthen the public employee retirement system for new employees.

Munoz says the bill would return the system to defined benefits for new state and public employees.

Munoz say the bill she's co-sponsoring with along with Valdez Representative John Harris is a bit different than Elton's bill.

She says the House bill does not give the option of defined benefits or defined contributions.

The legislative session is scheduled to get underway January 20th.

Arctic policy praised by Murkowski
WASHINGTON, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski is praising President Bush's signing of a new directive on the Arctic.

Murkowski says the directive calls for increased environmental protection, sustainable energy development and international scientific cooperation, as well as greater involvement of indigenous people.

Kenai officials reject wage hike
KENAI, Alaska (AP) - Kenai leaders say this is not the time to give themselves a pay raise given the state of the nation's economy.

For the time being, the mayor and city council members will continue to be compensated for their service at the current $900 and $400 rates respectively.

An ordinance proposed to raise pay rates by $100 for the mayor and members of the city council.

Crimson Bears hockey team hosts Homer this weekend
The Homer Mariners hockey team made it in to town to take on the Juneau Douglas High School Crimson Bears this weekend at Treadwell Arena.

Face off tonight is at eight and Saturday night at 7.

Coach Dave McKenna is asking fans to wear something red Saturday night in order to fill the arena with the Crimson Bear color.

He wants fans to do that since that will be the last home game of the season against 4-A competition.

The Bears wrap up the home season next weekend against Monroe Catholic, a small school from Fairbanks, and the coach says they may dress some junior varsity players for those contests.

Tickets for students Saturday night will be only two dollars. 

Crimson Bears basketball team notches win
The men's basketball team at Juneau Douglas High School defeated the Hutchinson Hawks from Kansas 61 to 46 at the Dimond Tournament in Anchorage Friday.

The Bears are in action again Saturday.

Tip off on KINY is at 3-30 p.m.

Lady Bears drop first contest at Anchorage tourney
The Lady Crimson Bears are in play at the East T-Bird Basketball Tournament in Anchorage.

They lost to Colony Thursday 45 to 38 and take on East at 7:30 tonight.

Door malfunction causes closure of Whittier tunnel
WHITTIER, Alaska (AP) - The Whittier tunnel has been closed after a door malfunction.

The state says there were no injuries or accidents, and no motorists were stranded when the mechanical malfunction occurred.

A repair crew was en route from Anchorage, and state officials expected repairs to be completed later today. Until repairs are made, no vehicular traffic is being allowed through the tunnel. Individuals are being provided shuttle service through the tunnel on an as-needed basis.

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Aurora was scheduled to depart Whittier at 12:30  this afternoon.

Tunnel officials say every reasonable effort is being made to meet the needs of customers.