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Tuesday, January 12, 1999 © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News
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Flanagan named Labor Commissioner
Perkins may also get new post
Governor Knowles today announced the appointment of Ed Flanagan (left) as Commissioner of the Department of Labor. Flanagan has served as deputy commissioner since 1995. He replaces Tom Cashen who retired last month. Juneau Assembly Member Dwight Perkins was also in consideration. He was informed by the Governor last night of his choice. The Governor indicated during today's press conference that there will be an announcement in the future concerning Perkins, but refused to divulge further details. Perkins would only say, "We'll see." Flanagan says if he has anything to say about it, Perkins will remain in the department where he has served as special assistant to the commissioner. No word was offered during the press conference on who would replace Flanagan as deputy commissioner.
First it was the wind and rain storms of last fall that generated mudslides. Then the heavy snow of recent days followed by today's rain. Now more rain and a slight chance of a thunder shower is in the forecast issued for Juneau prior to noon today. National Weather Service Forecaster Amy Saviers says thunder showers occurred west of town in Elfin Cove and Pelican this morning. She says wind conditions are right to bring them to Juneau. She adds that thunder showers are actually more common in Southeast during the winter than in summer. That's because the temperature of the water is a lot warmer than the air which contributes to the deep convections needed for such a weather event.
Those who must clear the roads of snow, and those who have to drive on packed snow and ice have received at least a short respite during the next couple of days as rising temperatures and warm rain off the Gulf melt the snow. After several days with the mercury right around the freezing point, the snow turned first to slush and then to water on local highways late this morning (right).
Equipment failure at the Lemon Creek Substation was the reason for last evening's power outage. The valley went dark at about 5:15 when controls to a breaker failed, according to Peter Bibb of Alaska Electric, Light and Power. But heavy snow weighing down tree branches has been playing havoc with power lines out-the-road since the weekend. After a 14-hour outage at Tee Harbor, power was restored about 7:40 last night. It went off at 5:30 yesterday morning leaving more than 200 residents in the dark. Bibb says snow-laden branches may continue to cause problems.
Juneau's new police station will be built by Nuna Contractors of Anchorage. The assembly last night voted to award the contract despite a last-minute appeal from Triplette Construction of Juneau. Nuna's total bid on the project was just over 6-point-3 million dollars, while Triplette's was more. The architect's estimate came in at more than 7 million dollars. That includes preparation of the Lemon Creek site (left), and construction of the 32-thousand square foot police station.
Sewer rates will go up as the result of Assembly action last night. On July 1, residential rates will increase to 34 dollars and 50 cents per month, and the commercial rate will go from 5 dollars for each one-thousand gallons to 5-dollars and 25 cents. Residential rates will go up again on July 1, 2000 to 35 dollars and 50 cents a month. Assembly members say they expect to revisit the ordinance within a year, with the idea of installing meters at duplexes and single-family homes.
The city will donate a lot in the S'it'tuwan Subdivision for a Habitat for Humanity house, but with some strings attached. This is the second lot the city has donated for a Habitat house, but this time, C-B-J may maintain a mortgage on the property and charge interest. The assembly directed city manager Dave Palmer during last night's meeting to negotiate some terms to protect the city. Mayor Dennis Egan says he's concerned someone would buy the house, pay it off, then sell it at a profit that benefits them and not Habitat for Humanity or the city. The lot is located in the valley in a subdivision being developed by the Tlingit-Haida housing authority.
City and school district officials are hosting the first in a series of high school planning forums this evening. The revised plan calls for a new school at Dimond Park and a renovated facility downtown with each holding 12-hundred students. The proposal for one new high school at Dimond Park was soundly defeated by voters last October. The board is now suggesting a special election in May for whatever proposal emerges from the planning meetings. School District Superintendent Mary Rubadeau says the cut off date for that decision is mid-March. The meeting begins at 7 at the high school.
Two plays that open Friday night in Juneau were the topics of discussion on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. The Waiting Room is Perseverance Theatre's third main stage production of the season. Director Anita Maynard-Losh (left) said that the play is about three women who meet in a doctor's waiting room and tells about the price they pay for conforming to the cultural standards of beauty. A "pay as you can" preview is scheduled for tonight and Thursday at 7-30. The play runs through Sunday, February 7. Tickets range from 13 to 22 dollars and are available at book stores and in the
theatre's lobby one hour before show time. The Juneau Douglas High School Drama Department opens "Little Women" at the Palace Theater. Stage Manager Dianne Martin said a public preview to benefit the food bank is this Thursday evening at seven. The audience is asked to bring cans of food as the price of admission. The curtain rises Friday and Saturday nights at seven. A matinee is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 23rd. Performances are scheduled for the high school during the last weekend of the month.
Seattle-based Alaska and Horizon airlines have signed a marketing agreement with Canadian Airlines. Starting April 1st, the airlines will coordinate flights and ticket selling, and will likely participate in each other's frequent flyer programs.
The well-recognized Mapco name will soon disappear in Alaska. Mapco gas stations and convenience stores throughout the state and the oil refinery in North Pole will bear the name ``Williams.'' The Williams Companies bought Mapco last year for 3 (b) billion dollars.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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