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Beedle steps down as Goldbelt CEO
Looks to Permanent Fund Corp for new job
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Goldbelt -- Juneau's urban native corporation -- has submitted his resignation. Joe Beedle (right) says he told the corporation's board about 2 months ago that he would not be asking for a new contract in June of 2000 when it came up for renewal. Beedle says he plans to look at other opportunities. The CEO took Goldbelt from a timber-based corporation into tourism, real estate and other ventures making it one of the most successful in Alaska. Last year, Goldbelt served about 400,000 visitors, with a gross revenue of $40-million. Beedle has submitted an application for the position of Executive Director of Alaska's Permanent Fund Corporation.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has agreed to pay the state $3.5-million for dumping toxic chemicals and oily bilge water into Alaska waters (At left, Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas,one of the ships that dumped chemicals into Southeast Alaska waters). The settlement announced today by Attorney General Bruce Botelho is on top of $6.5-million dollars in federal fines the cruise line has already paid for the dumping. Botelho says the settlement sends a clear signal to the cruise ship industry that illegal
activity won't be tolerated in Alaska. Under the settlement, Royal Caribbean has agreed to pay $700,000 to the state's oil and hazardous substance release prevention mitigation account, $25,000 to the oil and hazardous substance release response account, $250,000 for a program to identify and protect environmentally sensitive areas along normal cruise ship routes, and $250,000 for a 5-year program to monitor cruise ship smokestack emissions. The deal, which still must be approved by a court, also calls for the cruise line to donate $2.1-million worth of spill response equipment and materials to a spill response organization. (At right, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines President Jack Williams during a visit to Juneau this summer to apologize to local residents)
BP Amoco today served notice to the Federal Trade Commission that it was starting a 20-day clock during which the FTC must approve or disapprove the proposed takeover of Arco. The Commission can go to court for an injunction to stop the clock. It's expected the agency will do so. BP officials say they gave the agency notice during a meeting in Washington DC. The clock startsrunning tomorrow. Today's 90 minute meeting was among lawyers, primarily to set up a litigation schedule, according to a company official who says no negotiating took place on issues related to the BP-Amoco/Arco deal. The FTC has not publicly stated its position, but it's been widely reported that it is opposed to the deal because it believes a combined BP/Arco would have too much clout in the California gasoline market. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (left) said in Washington today that he thinks the FTC's position is rooted in politics, rather than economics or antitrust concerns.
The State House and Senate conducted brief, uneventful floor sessions this morning and adjourned for a long 3-day weekend. Governor Knowles is using the break in action today to confer with his cabinet on the points he raised in his State of the State Address on Wednesday evening, according to Press Secretary Bob King.
The National Park Service and the state will be collecting public comments on the Glacier Bay compensation program starting Sunday in Juneau. The program compensates individuals, businesses, and communities impacted by the congressionally mandated restrictions on commercial fishing inwilderness waters and some non-wilderness waters in Glacier Bay (right), according to Park Superintendent Tomie Lee. Congress appropriated $23-million to mitigate the impacts of the fishing closure. Lee says the National Park Service and the state are hosting open houses in the coming weeks in Southeast Alaskan communities. The open house in Juneau is this Sunday and Monday in room 204 at the Goldbelt Hotel from 10:0am to 6:00pm on Sunday, and from 9:00am to 1:00pm on Monday. Other open houses are scheduled for Haines on January 21st, Gustavus on the 27th, Pelican the 28th, Hoonah the 29th, Wrangell the 31st, Petersburg on February 1st, and Sitka February 15th and 16th.
The wind advisory for Juneau has been cancelled. Strong winds packing gusts to 60 miles per hour the last couple of days have pushed the wind chill to 30 below. But National Weather Service Forecaster Bob Shontz says warmer times are ahead. He says temperatures will slowly moderate with temperatures climbing to between 20 to 25 degrees by Sunday along with a chance of snow. A wind chill advisory for temperatures to 50 below remains in effect for Lynn Canal and Glacier Bay at last report.
An Anchorage woman was among those injured yesterday in the crash of a van that was carrying the Kenyon College national championship swimming team. The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 18-year-old Jessica Case is in fair condition at a Columbus hospital.
The Juneau "Complete Count Committee" conducted its first meeting last night. Thecommittee was established by Juneau Mayor Dennis Egan to insure that all Juneau residents are included in the count when the census takes place this spring. CBJ Community Development Director Cheryl Easterwood says a complete and accurate count is important for several reasons including the level of funding from the federal government.
National Bancorp of Alaska's year-end profit for 1999 was $62.1-million, or a 12 percent increase from the $55.4-million reported in 1998. NBA has announced plans to sell the banking company to San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Company in a deal that's expected to be worth about $907-million.
There are still a couple of opportunities to register in advance of Tuesday's start of classes at the Juneau campus of the University of Alaska (right). A special registration for computer, vocational and technical classes is scheduled from 10:00am to 2:00pm tomorrow at the Nugget Mall. Faculty will be there to answer questions, according to University official Scott Foster. Registration is also available all day Monday at the Auke Lake Campus.
The Pentagon acknowledged today that a test last October of an anti-missile missile encountered more technical problems than officials initially had revealed. The rockets are to be part of a national missile defense system that could be based in Alaska.
A public seminar on Medicare is scheduled in Juneau tomorrow. It's sponsored by American Association of Retired Persons and the Alaska Medicare Information Project. The project isan arm of the State Division of Senior Services which maintains its office in Anchorage. The project's John Dittman (right in photo) was a guest on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. His three-person office provides information counseling and assistance to Alaskans with Medicare and Medicaid problems. He's looking to recruit volunteers to help provide counseling. He encourages those interested to turn out for tomorrow's seminar which is scheduled from 9:00am until noon tomorrow at the Travelodge on Glacier Highway in the Valley. The toll free number for future reference is 1-800-478-6065, or you can email Dittman at the project here. A local contact is Marie Darlin (left in photo) of AARP at 586-3637.
The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears' swing back into action this weekend with the men taking on Wasilla on their home court. Game time tonight and Saturday is 8:00pm and will be broadcast on Hometown Radio KINY, and live here. The men are ranked 6th in the state going into to tonight's contest. The women host Sitka tonight and tomorrow at 6:15pm. The women are ranked 5th in the state.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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