Snettisham repair plans emerging, diesel fuel cost will be lower than last year
Some answers are starting to emerge on how to deal with the latest avalanche induced crisis that has choked off Juneau's supply of hydro power from Snettisham.

The same consultant that helped with last year's avalanche caused outage arrived in town from Anchorage yesterday in the wake of Monday's slide which destroyed Tower 35. That tower was also knocked down in the avalanches last April 16th.

Scott Willis of Alaska Electric, Light and Power says they brainstormed how to proceed. One scenario under discussion is not rebuilding the tower, but bypassing it instead.

He says they need to determine if the towers on either side can handle the additional load.

There's also other work to do there. That includes dealing with the wire on the ground that's still attached to the downed tower.

Willis says if another avalanche should come down and move the conductor it could pull down other towers which is what happened last year.

Work will start tomorrow  (Thursday) on removing that wire.

Willis has also got back estimates on the cost of diesel fuel.

The low bid was $2.25 a gallon, far lower than the $4.17 paid last year.

Customers are now paying 11 cents a kilowatt hour. It went to 52 cents for a month last year.

Willis says the other part of the equation is how long the town will be without hydro power. That estimate is pending completion of the repair plan. He says they should know all of that within a day or two.

Meanwhile, a teleconference meeting between Alaska Electric, Light and Power and federal, state and local officials is planned this afternoon to discuss the situation. Willis says that will be a daily event.  

Eaglecrest closed Thursday due to flooding
Eaglecrest will be closed tomorrow. (Thursday)

General Manager Kirk Duncan says the ski area has received over 2 and half inches of rain since Tuesday night.

He says a stream from Mt. Ben Stewart jumped it's banks and went thorough the slope's base area.

Duncan says it was fortunate that they happened to have an excavator already on scene that was used to successfully replace the bullwheel on the top tower of the Ptarmigan chair lift this week.

The excavator was able to open up the stream to get the water flowing again within it's banks.

Duncan says it will take about 24 hours for the water to drain out of the snow.

He says the snow cats will be on the mountain Thursday night and the slopes should be in good condition Friday.

The Platter and Hooter chair lifts will be operating Friday

Duncan says, the Ptarmigan chair lift, which has been out of operation for the past week, will be operating Saturday.
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The Ptarmigan's ten foot diameter bullwheel was swapped with one from the mid-mountain chair lift that had not been installed yet.

A bearing had failed.

The bullwheel will be repaired and used on the mid-mountain lift which is scheduled to be set up on the mountain next summer.

The chair lift cable runs up the mountain around the bullwheel and back down the mountain to the lower terminal tower.

New landfill odor control system discussed at workshop
About 50 people attended last night's (Tuesday) public workshop on Waste Management's planned new gas management system designed to deal with odor emanating from the landfill in Lemon Creek.

Mayor Bruce Botelho says people are obviously very concerned about their way of life in the area because of the odor and want assurances that regulatory agencies as well as Waste Management are doing everything they can to eliminate the odor.

Efforts were begun about four years ago.

In 2004, eleven passive wells were installed. Last year another eleven were drilled bringing the total to 22.

The gas migrates to the wells and a flare burns off the gas at the surface as it come up the pipe.

Mayor Botelho says the landfill operators acknowledge the passive gas collection system has not adequately dealt with the smell.

State officials stepped in late last year.

On November 21st, the state Department of Environmental Conservation issued a letter to Waste Management and, specifically its subsidiary Capital Disposal, giving the company 60 days in which to come up with a viable plan to deal with the nuisance.

The new system will force the gas into the pipes using blowers that create a vacuum in each in well.

A candlestick flare will burn off the gas as it reaches the surface.

Capital Disposal hopes to have a temporary version of the new system operating in eight to ten weeks.

A permanent system will require construction and take about ten months complete.

However, according to Capital Disposal, the temporary system is expected to adequately deal with the gases
and essentially works the same as the permanent system that will be installed at the landfill.

Juneau delegation will once again face challenge of stopping session move bill
Among the measures pre-filed last Friday in advance of the start of the legislative session January 20th, is one that seeks to move legislative sessions elsewhere.

It's a measure resurrected from the last legislature by Mat Su Representative Mark Neuman.

House Bill 48 invites communities to build a new legislative hall. Various versions of such an approach have been around for years.

Mendenhall Valley Representative-elect Cathy Munoz says she'll be keeping a close eye on the legislation. She'll be co-chairing the Community and Regional Affairs Committee. "Obviously, I'll be in a position to prevent any bad legislation."

Munoz doesn't detect a lot of support for Neuman's bill.

Neither does Juneau Downtown Representative Beth Kerttula.

If it should emerge from the House, Juneau Senator Kim Elton is confident he can nix it in the upper chamber.

House Democrats announce organization
Juneau downtown representative Beth Kerttula will again lead the House Democratic Caucus as minority leader in the upcoming legislative session.

The Democrats completed their organizational meeting Tuesday in Anchorage.

Fairbanks Representative David Guttenberg serve as whip.

The three seats on the Finance Committee will be filled by Chalkyitsik Representative Woodie Salmon and Representatives Harry Crawford and Les Gara both of Anchorage.

Kerttula will also serve on the Rules and Fisheries Committees.

The legislative session begins January 20.  

Troopers looking for two local residents connected to passing bad checks
A local man identified as a person of interest in three recent thefts from the State Office Building is also being sought in connection with multiple cases of passing bad checks in Juneau.

Alaska State Troopers have joined in the hunt for 37 year-old Michael Ralph Jacobs as well as 30 year-old Jennifer Jacobs.

                                                          
Michael Jacobs is 5’ 10” tall, about 200 lbs., Blond hair, Blue eyes.      Jennifer Jacobs is 5’ 6” tall, about 140 lbs., Brown hair, Brown eyes.

State Troopers say the two have been identified as having information about the crimes.

Police are asking residents to call authorities if you spot Michael or Jennifer Jacobs.

Jennifer also goes by the last name of Fitka and Prince.

Michael Jacobs has a felony warrant out for his arrest,

The Juneau police department phone number is 586-0600.

Callers can also remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward by calling Juneau Crime Line at 586-4243.

Gottschalks files for Chapter 11 protection
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Retailer Gottschalks Inc. says it put itself up for sale and has filed to reorganize in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The regional department store chain has negotiated a $125 million debtor-in-possession financing from a group of lenders led by GE Capital, it said in a statement Wednesday. The financing, if approved in bankruptcy court, will fund its employee wages and benefits, some vendor payments and other operating expenses while it reorganizes.

"Persistent challenges in the economy and recent unexpected reductions to our borrowing capacity as a result of tightening credit markets have left us with no other recourse," said Jim Famalette, chairman and chief executive, in a statement.

Gottschalks has five stores in Alaska, including Juneau.

Tax exemption for food, swimming pool and utility funding before CBJ budget writers
The Assembly Finance Committee takes up some weighty issues during its meeting this evening.

City Manager Rod Swope says one is a sales tax exemption for food.

He says members will discuss the ramifications of such an exemption including what could be done to offset that loss of revenue.

The loss is estimated $5 Million and amounts to between 12 to 12 percent of total sales tax revenues collected.

Swope will outline his plan for funding ground source heat pumps at the Dimond Park Swimming pool which was the subject of an ordinance introduced at Monday night's regular Assembly meeting.

He'll also present a plan to negate the need for a utility rate increase to cover the cost of replacing sewer systems and updating treatment plants.

It would come from a portion of the remaining balance of the one percent temporary sales tax which amounts to about $1.2 to $1.3 Million.

Otherwise, the city is looking at increasing sewer rates by eight percent and water rates by 3 percent over this and next fiscal year.

The committee is also scheduled to hear various financial reports for Fiscal Year 2008.

The meeting gets underway at 5 p.m. in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.

Plugged culverts causing flooding of residences
As predicted, flooding is occurring from all that rain on top of all that snow in Juneau.

City Manager Rod Swope says that's the word from the Streets Division.

He says it's caused by snow from private residences and driveways that was pushed into ditches where it packed down like concrete plugging culverts.

As a result, water is now backing up into people's homes.

Swope says they received at least a dozen reports of flooding between the Valley and Douglas.

They're doing what they can to try to help the homeowners, but says it's tough when the situation reaches this point.

Acting mayor says Anchorage faces shortfall
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Acting Anchorage Mayor Matt Claman (CLAY'-man) says the city faces a $17 million budget shortfall this year.

The Anchorage Assembly in November approved a budget of $433 million.

Chief fiscal officer Sharon Weddleton says investments that are used to pay for salaries, park maintenance and road work fell an estimated $9 million short of expectations last year.

Money earned from permitting fees also dropped, with less new construction, and the city expects less cash from hotel bed taxes.

More than half of the city budget goes to pay for employees. Claman says the city is not going to be able to address the shortfall without addressing labor issues.

Claman replaced newly elected U.S. Sen. Mark Begich as mayor on January 3.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Police in Anchorage arrest man in beating of lottery winner
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage police have made an arrest in the assault of a recent lottery winner who also is a convicted sex offender.

Twenty-year-old Brandon J. Hughes of Los Angeles was charged in the attack Tuesday afternoon on 53-year-old Alec Ahsoak, according to KTUU-TV in Anchorage. Ahsoak was beat with a tire iron or a metal pipe outside the Fifth Avenue Mall.

Police say Hughes did not know Ahsoak, but asked him before the attack if he was the half million dollar lottery winner. As Ahsoak was leaving the mall later, police say Hughes approached Ahsoak and struck him in the head with a metal object about eight or 10 times.

He was taken to a hospital and later released.
(KTUU-TV - Anchorage)

Wade trial delayed
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The trial for Joshua Wade has been put off until October.

The 28-year-old man has been charged in federal court for his alleged role in the killing of Mindy Schloss of Anchorage.

The nurse practitioner lived next door to Wade. She disappeared in August 2007, and her body was found the following month.

One wireless communications tower permit okayed, another continued by Planning Commission
The Juneau Planning Commission dealt with permits for two AT&T wireless communication towers during its meeting Tuesday night.

The permit for the 150-foot tower at 3921 Mendenhall Loop Road was approved.

The permit for the 180-foot antenna tower at 5580 Montana Creek Road was continued until additional information is provided to the panel.

The panel also approved conditional use permits for the Jordan Creek Rehabilitation Project and continuation of a sand and gravel mine at the existing CBJ Lemon Creek pit.

School Board sets calendar for next school year
The Juneau School Board has adopted a resolution recognizing Elizabeth Peratrovich Day on February 16th which is holiday this year for the school district.

At Tuesday night's meeting, Superintendent Peggy Cowan says the board encouraged the study of Elizabeth Peratrovich who was an advocate for Native citizens and fought injustice, prejudice and discrimination.

The board also adopted the school calendar for next school year.

The first day of school will be August 31st, 2009, and the last day will be June 3rd, 2010.

Members discussed student safety wanting to make sure students can be seen traveling to and from school on stormy days.

The board  received a report on the Montessori program and its student vacancies.

According to the report, the vacancies were filled at the beginning of the school year and diversity has expanded.

Sexually assaulted inmates reach settlement with state
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Two inmates who were sexually assaulted at the Yukon Kuskokwim Correction Center in Bethel have reached a settlement with the state.

The $1.4 million settlement concerns assaults that took place in a prison dorm over three days in September 2006.

Police identify body found in Soldotna
SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) - Soldotna police have released the identity of a woman whose body was found out in the cold last weekend.

Police say the victim was 42-year-old Laura Ann Hatten of Soldotna. She was found Saturday morning in front of a thrift store on the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna.

Police say they do not appear to be any signs of foul play, and suspect hypothermia as the cause of death. Temperatures were 26 below zero during the night.

Police say the investigation will continue as they await autopsy and toxicology reports
(Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska to sue over beluga whale decision
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The state of Alaska says it will sue over a decision to list the beluga whales of Cook Inlet under the Endangered Species Act.

The state announced Wednesday that it will challenge the decision by the federal government to list the whales as threatened, and wants the listing decision withdrawn.

Governor Sarah Palin previously said she was opposed to the listing of the Cook Inlet belugas because of the impact a listing could have on major Alaska development projects.

Palin says that the state has worked cooperatively with the federal government to protect and conserve the whales, and she says the listing decision did not take that into account.

Federal biologists have listed 18 potential threats to the white whales in Cook Inlet, whose numbers have trended downward for years. Scientists say if nothing changes the whales are headed toward extinction.

Anchorage facing budget crunch
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Hard times have hit Anchorage. Acting Mayor Matt Claman says the city is facing a $17 million budget shortfall this year and must find ways to save money, particularly labor costs.

The city had planned to spend $433 million this year, based on a budget approved by the Assembly in November. But now the city has less cash than expected.

Anchorage motorists combat freezing rain
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Freezing rain caused havoc today (Wednesday) in Alaska's largest city.

Schools, universities, some businesses were closed because of the icy road conditions.

Anchorage police reported 46 accidents between midnight and 8 a.m.

Eight of those involved injuries. Another 100 cars were in the ditch.
(Anchorage Daily News

Mat-Su Borough moves ahead on ferry landing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Matanuska-Susitna Borough will pay nearly $1 million to finish design and permit work for a ferry landing at Point MacKenzie.

Officials are expecting delivering of the ferry Susitna in 2010. The military prototype ice breaker will eventually shuttle commuters between Point MacKenzie and Anchorage.

Borough officials say they've waited about two years to see where the ferry dock will be located on the Anchorage side of Cook Inlet, but decided it couldn't wait any longer.

The borough says the ferry landing at Port MacKenzie will cost about $12 million, and the Anchorage ferry landing is an estimated $22 million.

Borough port director Marc Van Dongen says the ferry will dock at Point MacKenzie until the Anchorage landing can be completed.

By the end of October 2010, Van Dongen said the borough hopes to be making regular runs taking commuters across Knik Arm.
(Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman and KTUU - TV Anchorage)

Alaska's "Eagle Lady," dies
By STEVE QUINN - Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A woman known in Alaska for feeding hundreds of eagles at her home in Homer has died. Jean Keene was 85.

Her son, Lonnie, says she died Tuesday of natural causes.

She moved to Alaska in 1977, and gained national acclaim for feeding the hundreds of eagles that call the Homer area home in the winter.

But some residents see the bird as a nuisance, and a city law was passed in 2006 to prevent people from feeding certain birds.

But Keene received a reprieve, and was allowed to continue feeding the birds from her home on the Homer Spit until 2010.

Fisheries trade show gets new time, venue
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - The state's largest fisheries industry trade show is getting a new venue and new time.

The event known as ComFish will be held April 23-25 at the Kodiak Harbor Convention Center.

Debora King, executive director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, says the event's details still are being worked out.

She says moving the event from March to April eases potential conflict for people who tend to travel with their families.

She adds that having the event downtown could be a boost for local businesses and restaurants thanks to added foot traffic.
(Kodiak Daily Mirror)