JUNEAU DAILY NEWS MINUTE

By Kathy Phillips - kiny@ptialaska.net


Monday, January 6, 1997 (c) Alaska Juneau Communications

*Juneau Police responded to a three car accident at the Hospital Drive intersection of Egan Drive at 7:40 this morning. All three involved cars were inbound at the time of the accident. Vehicle number 2 slowed for a car that was off the road, but car number 1 couldn't stop in time and rear ended vehicle number 2. This caused car number 1 to spin and hit car number 3. Damage was minor to all three cars, and there were no injuries. As a result of this accident, JPD received a report from a lady who had slid and bumped into another car while trying to avoid the accident scene. The other involved vehicle did not stop, no injuries were reported.
*Sitka Community Hospital has stopped performing elective abortions. It had been the only hospital in Southeast that performed abortions. The last elective abortion was performed last Friday. The decision was made to continue to offer the procedure for therapeutic purposes, or if a woman's life is at risk. The only doctor who performs abortions in Southeast, Dr. Robert Klem, says he was surprised and disappointed with the decision. He estimates that about 60 elective abortions were performed in Sitka last year, with about 70 percent of the patients from outside Sitka.
*No criminal charges will be filed against two Juneau Police officers who were accused of assault in two separate incidents. Police Chief Richard Gummow says Officers George Gozelski and Skip Lakeman are still under department review. A complaint was filed in July that Gozelski had assaulted a juvenile. And another complaint was filed last month against Lakeman which alleges he assaulted his wife. That complaint has been withdrawn.
*A barge that had been headed to Seattle from Whittier is half way there. Make that, the front half is half way there. The barge broke apart in the Gulf of Alaska last week, when the barge was en route to Seattle from Whittier. The front half of the barge made it to Ketchikan before the damage was noticed. The back half has been recovered, and taken back to Whittier. None of the 30 rail cars, owned by the Alaska Railroad, that were on board were lost. There is no word on what caused the barge to break up.
*QVC is coming back to Alaska, and businesses and entrepreneurs who are interested in getting their product some nationwide exposure will be able to compete during a trade show February 3 and 4 for the Alaska spots on the nationwide broadcast this summer. Interested businesses must fill out a four page application with a picture for each product they want considered. Applications are available by calling the state Division of Trade and Development at 465-2017. The trade show will be held in Anchorage, at the Egan Center.