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Thursday, January 14, 1999 © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News
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Kerttula prepares to take office
Stopping session move bill a priority
Downtown Representative-elect Beth Kerttula addressed a wide variety of issues she'll face during her first legislative session on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. One of those issues is the bill pre-filed by Wasilla Representative Vic Kohring that calls for moving legislative sessions to the new state office building in Anchorage. She doesn't see a lot of support for his idea. On the issue of state spending, Kerttula doesn't see that there's much left to cut. She said the legislature needs to look at all possible sources of revenue was asked about the possible use of the earnings reserve account of the Permanent Fund, re-instituting the income tax, or implementing a state wide sales tax. Kerttula is going through the orientation for new lawmakers this week as she prepares to follow in the footsteps of her father, Jay Kerttula, by becoming a member of the Legislature.
Lawmakers and staff are getting settled in this week in advance of Tuesday's start of the First Session of the 21st Alaska Legislature. The Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau has put out a free
publication that will help them and their constitutions. It's called "The Constituent's Guide to the Capital City" which features an up-to-date map of Juneau with the locations of 22 government agencies, parking areas, copy machines and other pertinent places. Supported by a City and Borough of Juneau grant, it also provides useful telephone numbers, including emergency services. Meanwhile, Juneau welcomes back lawmakers and staff during a community reception scheduled for Wednesday evening at 5:30 prior to the Governor's combined State of the State and Budget address.
David Biddinger is serving time now at a halfway house in Juneau for the armed robbery of the Breakwater Hotel about a year and a half ago. His mother called this morning to correct what a source told us in an earlier report. That report indicated he was lodged in an Arizona prison. His brother and her son, 33 year old Shawn Biddinger, was the suspect arrested by police a week ago today for the burglary at the Merchant's Wharf. Police found him with a box of liquor taken from the Hangar Restaurant. He was released from custody last week over the state's objections and indicted by the grand jury on Friday. An arraignment date was pending at this point, according to Juneau District Attorney Rick Svobodny, who expects the hearing to occur this week.
A two-year reprieve of sales taxes on food and utilities has ended in Wrangell. The Wrangell City Council in 1996 approved a two-year moratorium on its 7 percent sales tax on food and utilities. The tax resumed January 1st. Some Wrangell residents still feeling the effects of the community's saw-mill closure in 1994 aren't happy about paying taxes on groceries again. The saw-mill reopened last year, but only with about 33 employees. Wrangell officials say the tax is necessary to make up for reductions in state aid to communities and federal forest payments.
The Southeast Alaska community of Metlakatla is one of only 20 communities nationwide to be named an enterprise community, giving it a federal grant of 250-thousand dollars each year for the next ten years. The award was announced today by Alaska's congressional delegation. The money is to be used for economic development within the community, according to Senator Frank Murkowski.
A road to a proposed Canadian mine near Juneau could be approved soon despite protests from the United States and Tlingit Natives. The Tulsequah Chief Mine would be about 40 miles northeast of Juneau on the Canadian side of the border. Alaska officials are concerned that the zinc, copper, silver and gold mine could hurt the rich Taku River salmon runs.
A Reform Member of Parliament says one of British Columbia's most majestic wilderness parks should be mined to punish the United States for over fishing Canadian salmon. Mike Scott said the American refusal to settle the Pacific salmon dispute should be answered by ripping up park status granted the Tatshenshini-Alsek Wilderness Park five years ago. He says the decision should be reversed and people put to work. Scott represents towns hit hard by economic slumps in the fishing and forest industry. The park joined neighboring Kluane, Glacier Bay, and Wrangell-St. Elias national parks to form the world's largest international preserve. Some of the territory is in Alaska.
Eaglecrest officials reported this morning that Juneau's ski area had received 24 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. That brings the total snow depth at the top at 107 inches and 37 inches at the base. One skier said he been skiing in spots on the mountain that he hasn't skied since he was a child because they're now filled in. In town forecasters expect the rain to diminish, and a wind advisory issued for Juneau last evening was cancelled before noon today. The top gusts overnight were 48 miles atop the Federal Building, 43 at Mayflower Island on Douglas, and 36 at the airport. No readings were available for the Rock Dump out Thane Road.
Three enlisted men from the Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet are facing sexual abuse charges involving three Ketchikan middle-school girls. Trial is set for February 16th.
A Y2K expert, Doctor Mark Andrews, will be in town to speak Friday evening. As a physician specializing in Family Practice, Doctor Andrews is always on the lookout for anything that might threaten the well being of the family, according to local sponsors of his trip. Dr. Andrews will speak at Valley Chapel on Back Loop Road at seven Friday evening.
A big three day swim meet begins at the Augustus Brown pool in Juneau tomorrow. It's the Winter Games Invitational involving 232 swimmers in all age groups as part of seven teams from around Southeast. Juneau Glacier Swim Club Gary Crowe says its the last chance for the 90 Juneau swimmers to qualify the Southeast Regional Championships in Sitka February 12th to the 14th. This weekend's meet begins at 6 tomorrow evening with start times at nine Saturday and Sunday mornings.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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