Juneau Daily News Online

Monday,  January 7, 2002

Public comment sought on Juneau's heliport plan
The City and Borough of Juneau's alternative heliport plan is up for two public hearings this month. The city's top recommendation south of town is Dupont. The top location north of town is an area beyond Montana Creek.

Assembly Planning and Policy Committee Chair Dale Anderson says he's looking for some positive input on the solutions to flightseeing impacts and is encouraging people to study the alternative heliport report which can be found on the city's web site. He's looking for broad public participation. Comments on the report's findings will be included in the final version of the Heliport study.

The first public hearing was held over the noon hour today in the Assembly Chambers at City Hall. The second hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m., January 17th in the same location. The Assembly will accept written comments until January 25th.

Assembly to deal with transit plan and police site enhancement
Two ordinances are up for public hearing and action by the Assembly at tonight's meeting.

One appropriates a state grant of just over $61,000 for preparation of a transit development plan. the plan will focus on route changes and commuter service over the next five years. A local match of $6,4000 will be provided from Capital Transit's operating budget.

Two grants amounting to $55,000 from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service are earmarked for enhancement of the Juneau Police Station site.

One part of the project calls for filling a pond on the site and creating small islands on it. The second phase consists of building a trail system around the pond including a bridge to an island and several observation areas.

The Assembly meeting begins at seven this evening in the Assembly Chambers at City Hall.

The Human Resource Committee meets one hour prior to the Assembly meeting to take up a procedure for appointments to city boards, committees, and commissions.

Columbia dispute resolved
The State of Alaska and Alaska Ship and Drydock have agreed to drop their respective claims against one another for delays in the repairs of the state ferry Columbia. Governor Tony Knowles made that announcement on the negotiated settlement in Ketchikan today.

As part of the settlement, the state will pay the Ketchikan shipyard $1.5 Million to complete remaining contract and warranty work on the vessel.

The disputed work included replacement of the ship's switchboard destroyed in a fire during the summer of 2000 and for a major refurbishment of its passenger cabins. Work delays resulted in the Columbia coming on line late last year.

Three people survive one vehicle accident at ferry terminal with only minor injuries
Three people were transported to the hospital Saturday afternoon as the result of a one vehicle accident at the Auke Bay Ferry terminal.

The accident was reported to police at shortly after one by the driver, 18 year old Stephanie Messerschmidt. Police determined that she had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel and drove off the highway into the ferry terminal parking lot after striking a guard rail. The 1995 Ford Pickup came to rest after striking a large trash compactor.

Messerschmidt, her mother Lisa Messerschmidt, age 44, and her ten-year old sister Julian, were taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital and treated for minor injures and released. All were reportedly wearing seatbelts.

The truck was completely destroyed, according to police, who also estimated damage to the guard rail and trash compactor at $8,000. Police determined that alcohol was not a factor and say that no charges are pending.

Drowning claims life of Manokotak man
A Manokotak man is dead after the snowmachine he was riding became submerged in open water on the Weary River, about nine miles east of the village. Alaska State Troopers say 40-year-old John Toyukak was found dead yesterday in three feet of water near his snowmachine.

Another man  had also been riding on the machine when it became submerged Saturday night. He  decided he would wade through the waist deep water and walk back to the village, but Toyukak refused and said he would wait for help.

Toyukak's remains will be sent to the State Medical Examiner's office in Anchorage for autopsy when weather permits. Troopers say alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the accident.

Rabies quarantine extended on North Slope
The North Slope Borough's public health officer has extended a rabies quarantine due to the continuing presence of rabid foxes in half a dozen villages. The quarantine, which began around Thanksgiving, was originally scheduled to be lifted after January second.

ANWR, Tongass, and B-C mine  listed as top issues by conservationist groups
Representatives of conservationist groups and issues they will highlight this year were the focus KINY Capital Chat today.

The Tulsequah Chief Mine in British Columbia near Juneau and its potential impact on the Taku River watershed was one of the big issues identified for 2002.

Sarah Keeney is watching that issue for the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. She said a big concern is a 100 mile access road proposed as part of the project. She says it could have severe impacts to fisheries on the Alaska side of the border. 

The British Columbia government is now in the process of re-certifying the project after the initial plan was blocked by a court order.

Another big issue was identified as the Tongass National Forest by Matthew Davidson of SEACC.  He said the Forest Service is now conducting a court ordered review of areas that should be presented to Congress for possible designation as wilderness areas.

Tim Bristol of the Alaska Coalition was also a guest on the program. A big focus for him will be opposing drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife refuge.

Such a provision was included in the energy bill approved by the House. That debate will continue in the U. S Senate when it reconvenes later this month. He said they're expected a vote before the President's Day recess.

Bristol said one of their goals is to work with organized labor to come up with ways on how to put people to work and weaning the country away from dependence on fossil fuels.

On the other hand, Bristol sees support for construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope within the conservationist community. He added that construction of a gas line would create far more jobs than opening ANWR.

Tremors detected near Adak
Two earthquakes were recorded Sunday near Adak in the Aleutian chain. The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer says the stronger of the two quakes had a preliminary magnitude of five-point-two, and was located 200 miles southeast of Adak. The other quake had a magnitude of five-point-oh. There were no immediate reports of damage of injury.

Protest of reapportionment plan by Fairbanks borough fizzles
The Fairbanks North Star Borough stands to lose some clout under a new legislative reapportionment map.

Borough Assembly member Bonnie Williams wanted to do something about that. But her attempt to get the Fairbanks North Star Borough to weigh in on a lawsuit over the new map withered last week.

Williams' proposal said the borough supported a lawsuit over the map. However, the borough's legal counsel told her there wasn't enough time to research and file a brief. Williams' move, even if successful, would have had no legal clout. The assembly in July looked at joining the lawsuit as a plaintiff, but decided to stay out.

A hearing in Anchorage Superior Court on the plan commenced today.  Its being challenged by the Republican Party of Alaska and a half dozen local governments.

Students to name new ferries
Alaskan students in grades two through six have an opportunity to name two new state ferries. 

State law requires that ferries be named after an Alaskan glacier.

Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer is promoting the statewide name the ferry essay competition as a way to get students involved in the process. She says the essay should explain why a particular glacier should be should be chosen.

Ulmer oversaw a similar contest when the Kennicott was named. One ferry is scheduled to be completed in 2003 and will run between Metlakatla and Ketchikan. The second, the state's first fast ferry, is scheduled to go into service in 2004 running between Sitka and Juneau.

The ten finalists will be judged by Senate President Rick Halford, House Speaker Brian Porter and Lieutenant Governor Ulmer.

The winner and his or her parents will receive an all expenses paid six day ferry trip and the winning essay will be framed and displayed on the new ferry when it goes into service. The contest deadline is January 30th.

Special UAS registration available all this week
Registration continues in advance of the start of the Spring Semester at the University of Alaska Southeast next Monday.

The school's Scott Foster says there are 375 different classes being offered next semester . There are also special programs like a theater minor in conjunction with Perseverance Theatre and the Outdoor Leadership minor.

Registration is available by phone or in person at Auke Lake campus. Extended registration hours are planned this week from Monday through Thursday on campus from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A special registration is scheduled Friday at the Bill Ray Center downtown from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Foster says registration details are described in the class schedule mailed to every Juneau household.

Creation of a commission to oversee capital projects proposed
Alaska's engineers say it may be time for a statewide commission to oversee infrastructure improvements.

The commission would be similar to the AMATS system which ranks priorities for road projects in the Anchorage area.

The Denali Commission's Jeff Staser says such a system could remove politics from the capital improvement system. He adds that there a need for continuity in the planning and execution of highway projects. Such a system is used in other states, according to Staser. A statewide conference of engineers took up the proposal in Anchorage last week.

Veterans history project launched by Library of Congress
The Library of Congress wants to hear from veterans. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is urging Alaskans to participate in a veterans history project as part of the library's "Folk Life Center".

Stevens says its an ongoing project, encouraging individuals and local organizations to interview veterans and gather historical materials. The project will serve as a central collection point for audio and video recordings of oral histories, as well as diaries, letters and photographs.

The Folk Life Center web site at the Library of Congress has guidelines and instructions on how to contribute to the veterans history project.

Clinic opens on Kenai Peninsula to serve those with little or no insurance
A new medical clinic that opened today in Soldotna aims to provide better health care for those who are under-insured, uninsured or lack primary care doctors.

The Cottonwood Health Center is funded by a 650-thousand dollar federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Ted Stevens helped secure the grant.

The grant was awarded to the Bridges Community Resources Network, a nonprofit umbrella group that supports charitable services and community projects. Organizers say the clinic is open to anyone. Patients pay on a sliding scale, based on their income.

Totem Pole construction can be viewed on the Web
The Alaska Native Heritage Center has commissioned a 30-foot totem pole by artist Nathan Jackson. The pole is intended to tell the story of the Heritage Center.

The completed totem pole is expected to be erected at the center in the fall. Jackson will begin work on the pole this month in his studio in Saxman. A Web cam is being installed so that progress on the pole can be monitored from the Heritage Center's Web site.

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