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Salmon Creek flood plain alarm siren still working
The alarm siren for the Salmon Creek flood plain that
malfunctioned and sounded last Friday at 6-15 in the
morning is temporarily out of commission until later
this week.
It's located at the base of Hospital Drive uphill side
of Egan Drive at the Salmon Creek intersection
A second siren located on the Gastineau Channel side of
Egan Drive is still operational in the event of the
imminent failure of the Salmon Creek Dam.
Gayle Wood of Alaska Electric, Light and Power says
problem with the malfunctioning siren has been traced to
a controller board that might have been damaged by
condensation within the cabinet.
The controller board has been sent back to the
manufacturer and a new board has been ordered.
The alarm is set up to warn people in the event the
Salmon Creek Dam fails.
Minimum bid still not met for state jet
A second round of bidding on
eBay has failed to net the minimum bid requested for the state jet.
The top bid of the 28 bids submitted is $2,075,100.
The Governor's Office says the state needs to get about two-and-a-half million dollars in order to break even.
The bidding was extended after the initial ten days of bidding failed to reach the minimum. The biggest bid after that period of time was one-point-nine million dollars.
A Governor's Office official said then the state may have to turn to an aircraft broker to sell the 22-year-old plane.
Former Governor Frank Murkowski acquired the plane over the objections of the Legislature and the public.
Proposed ordinances
cover impound lot, playground and voting by mail
Three ordinances of interest that will be introduced at
tonight's [Monday] Assembly meeting include money for a
new impound lot, a covered playground, and voting by
mail.
The measures will be scheduled for public hearing and
action at the Assembly's meeting three weeks from
tonight.
One would appropriate $15,000 in state money as partial
funding for a covered playground at Dzantik’i Heeni
Middle School.
City Manager Rod Swope says the money falls well short
of being able to fully fund the project but will get it
started.
The grant will partially fund completion of a Corps of
Engineers' determination of wetland boundaries in the
vicinity of the proposed covered playground and well as
a survey of the site.
Another ordinance would appropriate $470,000 for a new
CBJ impound lot.
The current lot is located on airport property that's
fenced, well lighted and has security.
The airport wants to use the property for other
purposes.
Swope says new property is owned by the city and is
immediately adjacent to the Lemon Creek Correctional
Facility.
A bridge has to built over Lemon Creek to get to the
property that is next to the Lemon Creek Correctional
Facility.
Swope says it a prefect location for a new impound lot
because of the security that's already on site near the
prison.
The CBJ clerk would be authorized to conduct elections
by mail under terms of another measure.
Other communities in Alaska and the State of Alaska have
used the by-mail election method with success, according
to CBJ officials.
More snow on the way
The snow advisory issued for Juneau Sunday remains in effect until six this evening.
Meteorologist Nathan Foster says they're expecting another 3 to 5 inches today. One to two inches is forecast for tonight.
Foster says there
were 4 point 2 inches recorded at the airport Sunday. He says there
was more than that in other areas of town.
Its predicted to be clear Tuesday night with the temperature plummeting to around 13 above.
Young bruin remains at
large on Douglas
The young black bear that refuses to hibernate for the
winter is still at large.
According to a police blotter entry, it was spotted
Saturday night along the Douglas Highway.
A trap was set out for it last week.
Resolutions
and ordinances up for action at Juneau Assembly meeting
There are several resolutions and ordinances up for
public hearing and action at tonight's [Monday] Assembly
meeting.
The first is a resolution establishing the Juneau
Affordable Housing Commission.
Mayor Botelho and the Assembly are appointing nine
member commission to address the lack of affordable
housing in Juneau.
City Manager Rod Swope says the commission will advise
the Assembly on various aspects of affordable housing.
Those include identifying funding, changes or revisions
of regulations, and procedural and legal issues that
might come up in order to address the affordable housing
problem.
The second resolution relates to a federal program
called the the Preserve America Historic Preservation
Initiative.
Last August, the CBJ submitted an application to
designate Juneau as a Preserve America community to be
eligible for federal funds.
The Preserve America program is a federal initiative
that allows designated communities to apply for federal
grant money for preservation, planning, tourism and
marketing projects.
If accepted, the designation will be able to be used by
the CBJ, the Chamber of Commerce, the Arts and
Humanities Council, and the Juneau Convention and
Visitors’ Bureau in marketing and tourism related projects.
An ordinance up for action tonight would appropriate
$72,000 from the Downtown Parking Fund for repairs to
the parking garage.
The project will include removing existing striping,
cleaning and resealing the concrete deck and restriping
the parking spaces in a new configuration.
An increase in the emergency 9-1-1 charge sought by the
Juneau Police Department will be before the Assembly
tonight.
The measure calls for hiking the charge from the current
75 cents per-line, per-month to $1.90.
The increase will fund equipment upgrades, operation,
and future replacement of the enhanced 9-1-1 service,
according to Police Chief Greg Browning.
A big problem is with cell phones, according to Erann
Kalwara, who is the department's Public Safety Systems
Coordinator.
She says they have no idea where cell phones are calling
from. She figures they account for anywhere from 40 to
55 percent of their 9-1-1 calls.
Another ordinance, recommended by the Planning
Commission, would amend the zoning map.
It would revise the boundary between General Commercial
and Industrial zoning districts to the southeast of Egan
Drive and Old Dairy Road, and north of the intersection
of Old Dairy Road and Airport Boulevard, so that several
lots in the Valley Center Subdivision and Field Meadows
Subdivision are within the General Commercial zoning
district.
These properties are currently zoned Industrial, but are
used for commercial purposes which predate the
industrial zoning designation.
The Assembly meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Cook Inlet belugas at
'considerable' risk of going extinct
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The beluga whales swimming off
Alaska's largest city are at considerable risk of going
extinct unless something changes.
That's according to a federal study. It says if the Cook
Inlet belugas go extinct, the white whales probably
won't be seen again swimming the silty waters off
Anchorage.
The Cook Inlet belugas are considered genetically
distinct from other groups.
The study -- conducted by the National Marine Mammal
Laboratory in Seattle -- says there is a 26 percent
chance the Cook Inlet belugas will be extinct in 100
years and a 68 percent chance they'll be gone in 300
years.
To make matters worse, it finds that the whales are
becoming increasingly vulnerable to a catastrophic event
because they are tending to gather in a restricted area
in the upper Cook Inlet.
There are now an estimated 302 beluga whales in Cook
Inlet, slightly higher than the 2005 estimate of 278
animals, according to annual surveys conducted by NOAA
Fisheries Service biologists.
Alaska has five populations of beluga whales. Apart from
the Cook Inlet belugas, other groups are doing well with
a total population estimate of between 35-thousand and
40-thousand animals.
Pesticide initiative doesn't qualify for 2008 ballot
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A proposed ballot measure to
protect school children from pesticide exposure will not
make the 2008 primary election ballot.
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell said today (Monday) that the
initiative fell almost 7 thousand signatures short of
the required number. Sponsors needed more than 31
thousand signatures from registered voters to qualify.
Pam Miller with Alaska Community Action on Toxics said
sponsors may ask the Division of Elections for a
recount. She said they thought they had well over 3
thousand more signatures than required.
Miller said if the measure does not qualify for the
ballot, sponsors will ask state lawmakers to consider
passing similar legislation this year.
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The initiative would require school districts use
pesticides only as a last resort and then use only the
smallest amount of the least toxic pesticide for the
job.
The measure mirrors a policy in that has been in place
in the Anchorage School District since 2001.
Stevens' bill boosts
fuel efficiency
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Alaska U-S Senator Ted Stevens
has introduced legislation to increase fuel efficiency
standards to ``40 miles per gallon by 2017, if not
sooner.''
He says, ``The savings achieved by increasing fuel
economy standards for the entire U-S passenger vehicle
fleet is essential if we are to become independent of
foreign oil.''
While this may sound like a proposal from environmental
groups or even some Democrats, the bill from the Alaska
Republican doesn't mandate specific increases in vehicle
efficiency.
Rather, he would direct the administration to develop
the standards under a number of conditions.
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The new rules would have to pass a cost-benefit test.
The government also would have to consider the effects
of fuel standards on safety and emissions.
The bill also would block the government from requiring
a manufacturer to achieve an overall percentage increase
in the efficiency of their vehicles. That responds for
concerns long expressed by automakers.
School
buses involved in minor accident
Juneau Police investigated an incident involving two school buses in front of the high school before eight this morning.
Police
say one bus was parked when another pulled out and
barely scrapped the parked bus.
Damage was
minimal and estimated at $100.
There were no injuries.
There were no students on either bus at the time.
No
citations were issued.
Man picked up by Juneau
Police on outstanding warrants
Juneau Police arrested a 24 year old man just after
midnight Sunday morning in the downtown area on outstanding warrants, one of which deals with drugs.
Michael Bryan Peeler was arrested on the $1,000 Alaska
State Trooper felony warrant for failure to appear for
arraignment on the original charge of misconduct
involving a controlled substance in the fourth degree.
There as also a $100 Juneau Police Department warrant for failing
to appear on a charge of concealing of merchandise.
At the time of his arrest, he was also charged with misconduct involving a
controlled substance and promoting of contraband after
drugs were found on him after he was taken to the Lemon
Creek Correctional Center.
Four rescued from sinking fishing boat off Kodiak
The Coast Guard rescued four fishermen in Shelikof Strait off Kodiak Island Sunday afternoon.
The North Pacific Search and Rescue Coordination Center in Juneau received an electronic distress beacon alert at1:38 p.m. and diverted a Coast Guard aircraft to investigate and launched rescue helicopter from Air Station Kodiak.
Shortly after diverting, the
aircraft located the remains of the fishing vessel Hunter and a life raft with four crewmen near the location of the distress beacon.
At 3:50 p.m., within a couple of hours of launching, the crew was hoisted to safety by Coast Guard helicopter.
All four crew members were taken to Kodiak where they received medical attention for mild hypothermia.
The cause of the sinking of the Cordova based vessel is under investigation.
The
crewmembers are identified as 37 year old Ron Blake, the
skipper and owner; 21 year old Charles Anthony Nippell,
50 year old John Quinlin; and 50 year old John Mahalich.
Children playing with matches apparent cause of fatal fire
Investigators believe children playing with matches may have caused a fire in the Eagle River area of Anchorage that left one boy dead.
Four year old Matthew Leighton was killed Saturday in the fire at his grandfather's house on Eagle River Road.
Three other children are in critical condition at a burn center in Seattle.
Anchorage Fire Department spokesman Tom Kempton says investigators found fireplace matches on the floor in the living room. but he says there's no way to be certain what started the fire.
The children's 14-year old aunt called 9-1-1 from a neighbor's home when she noticed the fire.
A 13-year old escaped by jumping from a second-story window.
The other children were trapped until firefighters were able to enter the house.
(KENI - Anchorage)
Firefighters recognized by Capital City Fire Rescue for prevention efforts
Volunteer Firefighters Lola Foss and Harold White are being recognized by Capital City Fire Rescue.
Fire Marshal Rich Etheridge says the firefighters went door to door Saturday in the Spruce Wood Trailer Court providing homeowners with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
He says they took the extra time to install smoke detectors with a 10-year battery and show the homeowners how to use the fire extinguishers. He call their efforts a great example of people giving something back to their community.
Extinguishers and detectors were provided by a grant from the Department of Home Land Security.
Etheridge says Capital City Fire Rescue will continue programs such as this as funds are available.
The fire marshal says smoke detectors are required by law to be placed in every bedroom and in the hall out side the bedrooms. He says they still respond to many “close calls” where people have had a fire in their home and did not have a smoke detector.
Anyone with any questions on any fire safety issue is invited by the fire marshal to call Capital City Fire Rescue at 586-5322.
Fort
Lewis soldier from Alaska killed in Iraq
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army says a Fort Lewis soldier
from Alaska has died in Baghdad of injuries suffered by
small arms fire in combat.
Twenty-eight-year-old Staff Sergeant Charles D. Allen of
Wasilla was assigned to a support group for a Stryker
brigade (the 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division).
Allen died Thursday.
Fort
Richardson soldier dies of injuries
The family of a Fort Richardson soldier says he has died of injuries suffered in Iraq.
Army Specialist Jeremiah Johnson died Friday.
He had been on life support at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, for more than a week.
Johnson was part of a crew on a Humvee on December 26th that rolled into a canal filled with water.
Private First Class Joseph Strong and Specialist Logan Tinsley died in the crash.
Binkley and Menard appointed by railroad board by Palin
A former opponent and a borough mayor are two new members of the Alaska Railroad Corporation Board of Directors appointed by Governor Sarah Palin.
John Binkley was a Republican candidate for Governor in the August Primary Election. Former state lawmaker Curt Menard is the mayor of the Matanuska - Susitna Borough.
Binkley served as the board's chair from 1997 to 2006.
He replaces retired General Joseph Ralston who is currently vice chair of a Washington, D. C. based consulting group.
Menard replaces Leon Van
Whye, former Governor Murkowski’s son-in-law, who was appointed just as
Murkowski left office last December.
U. S. Supreme Court declines challenge to airport identification policy
SUPREME COURT (AP) - The Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the federal rules requiring airline passengers to show identification before boarding planes.
The requirement had been challenged by Libertarian activist and
millionaire John Gilmore. He wanted the government to make its policies public because people can't determine if those rules allow illegal searches.
The Justice Department argued that demanding I-D protects passengers' safety.
The high court ruled without comment.
Bears
men and women basketball teams sweep Sitka
The Crimson Bears men were victorious on the road this
weekend and the Lady Bears were also successful at home.
The Bears men defeated the Sitka Wolves Saturday 75 to
49 following Friday night's 76
to 53 victory.
JDHS is on
the road for its next game against Bartlett
Wednesday. That game will be aired on KINY.
The Crimson Bears' women basketball team defeated Sitka
Saturday night 61 to 21 and. Friday's score
was 57 to 25. The
Lady Bears next play Wednesday night in Wasilla.
Randall takes sprint gold in national ski championship
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage skier Kikkan Randall Saturday grabbed her first gold medal of the U-S Cross Country Championships at Houghton, Michigan.
Randall won the classic technique one-kilometer sprint.
She won silver medals in races earlier week, the 5-K classic and 10-K freestyle technique title races.
It's the seventh gold medal of Randall's career.
She held off Minnesota skiers Laura Valaas and Linsey Weier for the victory.
Andy Newell of Shaftsbury, Vermont won on the men's side.
Torin Koos of Leavenworth, Washington was second and Chris Cook of Rhinelander, Wisconsin was third.
Jeff
King wins Knik 200 Sled Dog Race
WILLOW, Alaska (AP) - Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff
King successfully defended his title and won the Knik
200 Joe Redington Senior Memorial Sled Dog Race.
King crossed the finish line yesterday at 10-57 a-m.
Jon Little finished just three minutes behind King,
followed by Sebastian Schenulle, Melanie Gould and Ray
Redington Junior.
Ryan Redington, another of Joe Redington Senior's
grandsons to run this year's race, finished ninth.
The race is a qualifier for the 1,100-mile Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race held in March. It allows mushers the
opportunity to run part of the Iditarod Trail and see
how their dogs perform. The trail goes from Knik Lake to
the Skwentna Roadhouse and back to Knik Lake.
King won last year's Iditarod.
Counterfeiters distribute wares north of Homer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Law enforcement officers say the two counterfeit 20-dollar bills found last week on the southern Kenai Peninsula are just the latest in a string of funny-money episodes.
Alaska State Troopers say one bill went into the register of the only stand-alone grocery store in Anchor Point.
Someone spent the other at a shop in the Russian Old Believer village of Nikolaevsk
(NICK'-oh-lyvsk).
Homer police say there has been a rash of bad bills printed from computers and passed in the area since last winter.
Sergeant Lary Kuhns says the activity appears to drop off during the summer tourist season and restart when the snow flies.
Police have collected 15 fake bills. All but a single 100-dollar bill were 20s.
Kuhns says they're thicker than a standard bill and on the back there is printing that is black or blue instead of green.
He says the most convincing bills are best detected through their texture or by using a special marker whose ink only shows up on the real thing.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Hundreds honor Athabascan leader
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - Hundreds of people turned out yesterday (Sunday) to honor Athabascan leader Shirley Demientieff
(Deh-ment-iff) at a Fairbanks memorial service.
Demientieff was a well-known community activist.
She died last Wednesday after a year-long struggle with lung cancer that spread to her liver and bones. She was 56.
Yesterday's service was held at the Chief David Salmon Tribal Hall.
After the service, a caravan headed out to Nenana for potlatch.
Another service and potlatch are scheduled to begin at 2 p-m today (Monday) in Nenana.
New version of inhalable flu vaccine wins federal approval
WASHINGTON (AP) - The government has cleared a new version of the inhalable flu vaccine that can be refrigerated instead of being stored frozen. That should make it easier for some schools, stores and pharmacies to handle.
The new version on FluMist is expected to be available in August, in time for the 2007-2008 flu season.
The nasal spray delivers weakened live viruses to patients. It's approved for healthy people ages five to 49.
Study finds Alaskans more successful quitters
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A study finds that Alaskans who use the quit-smoking line are having more success.
The quit-smoking line allows people trying to quit tobacco to get in touch with a nurse 24 hours a day.
It found that those who used the quit-smoking line in Alaska were successful 41 percent of the time. That compares to 34 percent in Oregon and 30 percent in Washington.
The quit-line in Alaska also has regular callbacks to check on progress being made by quitters.
Quitters are also provided with an information kit and nicotine replacement patches.
The state says quitting on your own only works 3 to 4 percent of the time.
The quit line number is 1-888-842-7848.
(Anchorage Daily News)
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