Thursday, January 15, 1998
Handgun
veto overridden
Legislators yesterday overturned a veto of a bill which makes some changes to the state's
concealed handgun laws. Minority lawmakers say the bill will allow concealed weapons
into privately-funded domestic violence shelters, but will prevent some police officers
from carrying such a weapon. Majority Republicans say current laws already cover
concerns of the Democrats, and that a bill is moving through the legislature now to
correct the police loophole. The veto override vote was 45 to 13, with some Minority
Democrats voting with the Majority.
Kerttula
says spend now to save later
Former Assistant Attorney General, and candidate for State Representative, Beth Kerttula,
says that she believes the Legislature should figure in money to cover maintenance costs
when budgeting for new construction projects. The current deferred maintenance bill
is $1.42 billion, a figure that could have been reduced if maintenance costs had been
figured in in the first place. Kerttula says spending more now on new and existing
projects will equal substantial savings down the road.
Valley
watershed project about to begin
An action-oriented project to get citizens involved in improving the environmental health
of streams, wetlands and rivers in the Mendenhall Valley has been started. According
to Jan Caulfield of Sheinberg Associates, facilitators of the project, a healthy watershed
promotes a healthy economy and community. Participants in the program will work to
reduce pollution, restore waterways and work on ways to accommodate new growth in an
environmentally sensitive manner. A kickoff meeting of the Mendenhall Valley
Watershed Project will be held Wednesday, from 7 to 9 at the Floyd Dryden Middle School
Library.
Goldbelt
road extension to get public review
Focusing on a proposal to extend Glacier Highway at Cascade Point is the topic of a public
meeting today at the Juneau Ranger District office. Jeanette deLeeuw (de-LOO) says
the meeting will allow residents a chance to hear more about the proposal by Goldbelt
Incorporated, and to talk with the team that put together the draft environmental impact
statement. The meeting begins at 2 and will run until 7 tonight.
DOT
spreads new pavement de-icer
Preliminary tests of a new anti-icing agent applied yesterday to area roads by the state
Department of Transportation have yielded successful results. Jim Merrill with DOT
says the magnesium chloride solution is one-third less corrosive than other chemicals, and
DOT crews won't have to sweep it up come spring, unlike sand. The chemical breaks
the bond between the road surface and ice, and works effectively in lower temperatures,
unlike other chemicals.
BRH offers
help to new parents
Bartlett Beginnings Family Birth Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital is offering weekly
classes and support groups for new parents, along with offering breast-feeding and
childbirth classes. Call 586-8424 for more information.
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