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Juneau Kmart among
closures
Kmart's blue light will be turned off in Juneau and at its four other stores in Alaska.
The company announced today that it will close 326 stores and cut up to 35 thousand jobs as it works to emerge from bankruptcy. The company had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nearly a year ago.
The stores targeted for closure this year include those with unprofitable leases, under performing stores and those where competitive pressure is high.
In addition to Juneau the company has one store in Fairbanks, one in Kenai and two in Anchorage.
Clay Sellers is the Store Closing Coordinator in Juneau. He told us they were notified today. He said the Juneau store and others in the state are scheduled to close within 60 days. He confirmed that March 14th is the exact closing date.
He estimated that about 175 employees are impacted in Juneau. He said the company has prepared a data base as its helps those workers find other jobs, including positions at Kmart stores that will remain open.
Juneau Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jamie Parsons says its
"stunning news" given the fact that the company just remodeled the store in Juneau.
He says there were more competitive prices in Juneau with Kmart's presence. He suspects with less shopping opportunities there will be addition spending outside of Juneau in the future. Parsons calls it a terrible loss to the state.
The store closings are subject to bankruptcy court approval.
Today's announcement marks the second round of closings in less than a year. Last March, Kmart closed 283 stores, affecting 22,000 jobs. The closings also include one distribution center in Texas.
Marijuana
initiative rejected
The State Division of Elections has determined that the initiative seeking to decriminalize and regulate marijuana was improperly filed.
The division's Virginia Breeze says the sponsors were over seven thousand signatures short. A total of 28,782 were required, but the division could only verify 21,737 signatures.
She adds that because of record keeping problems, 194 of the 484 petition books could not be verified. So under law, the signatures in those books could not be counted.
She says sponsors would have to start from the beginning if they want to continue to pursue the initiative.
Etheridge wins appointment to Harbor Board
The Assembly appointed former member Don Etheridge to the Harbor Board during its meeting last night.
The Human Resources Committee took up that and other appointments during its meeting prior to the regular Assembly meeting.
The 8 to 1 vote came during the regular meeting. Committee Chair Marc Wheeler was the dissenting vote.
Etheridge was defeated in his bid for re-election by Stan Ridgeway last Fall.
Assembly approves additional funding for wharf project
The Assembly voted unanimously last night to authorize the issuance of $6.165 Million in revenue bonds for the Steamship Wharf - Marine Park Project.
Seventy-five percent of the cost will be paid for with special port development fees with the balance covered by marine passenger fee revenues.
The Assembly also approved another ordinance appropriating $581,400 to the project needed to help pay for higher than expected costs to construct the structural piling and the deck surface. Also included in the appropriation are the bond issue costs of about $110,000
That brings the total project cost to $5,981,400. The project is expected to be completed by July 1st.
Assembly accepts appeal of 10th and Egan
intersection and bridge project
The Assembly voted last night to appoint a special hearing officer to hear an appeal by the Juneau Freewheelers Bicycle Club of a Planning Commission decision on the Juneau - Douglas Bridge, 10th and Egan intersection project designed by the state Department of Transportation.
The most controversial part of the plan calls for adding a reversible third lane on the bridge. That would reduce the amount of the main roadway available for bicycle riders. The pedestrian walkway would increase from 6 to 7 and half feet wide to accommodate more bicycles.
Some cyclists are concerned that riding in the roadway and the walkway would become to dangerous.
The club's Robert Welton urged the Assembly to hear the appeal saying that in his review of applicable state statutes and CBJ codes indicates that the commission's decision violates both. In addition, he says, it violates the city's comprehensive plan.
The DOT's Chris Morrow told the Planning Commission when it approved the project, that they've studied every alternative for over two years and their plan is the best option.
Morrow says they hope to get the 8 million dollar project underway either next year or the year after.
A special hearing officer to hear the appeal will cost the city between 20 and 30 thousand dollars.
Duran site appeal on Planning Commission's agenda
The Juneau Planning Commission takes up the appeal by Duran Construction again during its meeting tonight.
The company is appealing a compliance officer's decision forbidding the storage and processing of material at the Alaway Avenue site. The officer determined the company was operating a storage yard without a conditional use permit.
Public testimony was taken on the appeal at the panel's last meeting. Community Development Director Dale Pernula says attorneys for both sides will present legal arguments at tonight's meeting. After those arguments are completed, Pernula says its hoped the commission will have enough information to make a decision.
The site is near the police station in the Lemon Creek area. Storage of heavy equipment is not allowed in areas zoned general commercial, such as the Duran site, and processing is prohibited, according to Pernula.
The Planning Commission meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.
Several appropriations okayed by Assembly
The Assembly approved an appropriation of $225,000 last night to the Alaska Committee to be transferred to KTOO for funding of Gavel to Gavel coverage of the Legislature.
The panel also approved another $28,000 to the Alaska Committee as a contribution to the fund to help pay for constituent airfares. The committee provides about $265,000 to help pay for airline tickets to Juneau to provide better access to the state capital.
The Assembly approved an appropriation of $25,000 for development of a Nordic ski trail at Eaglecrest.
A resolution urging the FAA to consider a better approach to runway safety areas at Juneau International Airport was approved without objection.
Assembly grants MacKinnon a pay raise
Interim Juneau City Manger John MacKinnon will receive a 10 percent raise in pay effective immediately.
Assembly member Marc Wheeler voted against the saying the raise is high, especially for an interim position.
Wheeler also said the raise doesn't send a good signal as the city prepares to enter into negotiations with the city's largest bargaining unit.
Assembly member Dale Anderson voted for the increase, saying if every city employee did the work of two people he'd be glad to give them a 10 percent raise.
Anderson said MacKinnon has been doing the job of
the city manager and the deputy city manager, and added that he's been doing a fine job.
The Assembly voted 7 to 2 to grant the increase, with Wheeler and Stan Ridgeway voting against the raise.
MacKinnon's pay will go from $91,350 to just over $101,000 a year.
Arctic Games delegation visit on Saturday
A delegation from the Arctic Winter Games visits Juneau Saturday as part of the assessment of the town's bid to host the 2006 games.
Assembly member Jim Powell is spearheading the effort. Among other things, Powell says the delegation will be checking to see if Juneau has the community spirit to host the games.
Powell was asked on KINY's Capital Chat this morning what happens if there's no snow in Juneau for the games. He responded by saying records indicate Eaglecrest has always had snow in March which is the month the games would be held.
The delegation arrives at 1:26 Saturday afternoon. They'll be at Eaglecrest at 2:30 and at the Treadwell Ice Arena in Douglas at 3:45. A meeting is planned at the Baranof after the tour of the proposed venues.
Powell says Juneau is the last town bidding for the 2006 games the delegation will see. Fairbanks and Kenai have also submitted bids. He expects a decision within two weeks after the visit.
Petersburg traffic mishap kills two
A one car accident Friday night claimed the lives of Two Petersburg residents.
The victims are identified as 14 year-old Jessica Peterson and 23 year-old Mike Roe, according to Petersburg Police Chief Dale Stone.
He says their initial investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling south on Singly Alley when it went into skid traveling through the guardrail and into Hammer Slough.
The accident remains under investigation.
Rowe was a friend of Peterson's older sister and he was giving Peterson a ride home after a high school basketball game. Rowe was a 1999 graduate of Petersburg High School and Peterson was a freshman.
The sudden loss of a student and former student has hit hard in the community. The high school has offered grief counseling and a memorial service was held last night in the school gym for Peterson.
A memorial service for Rowe is scheduled for Thursday.
Tent fire out Thane doused
There was a fire call out Thane Road yesterday afternoon.
Captain Lynn Rydell
of Capital City Fire and Rescue says the call came in at 3:15. He says it turned out to be a
nylon tent. It was located in the City and Borough of Juneau operated campground.
There were no injuries. No one was in the tent at the time. Captain Rydell estimated damage at about a hundred dollars.
Permit for veneer mill needed for AIDEA will act
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority says it's waiting for a state log storage permit before it moves ahead with plans for the Ketchikan veneer mill.
The Ketchikan borough purchased the financially troubled veneer plant for about two
million dollars from creditors of Gateway Forest Products last July.
The industrial development authority has expressed interest in buying the mill from the borough and leasing it to Sealaska of Juneau and Timber Products of Medford, Oregon. But AIDEA
officials say any proposal to operate at the site would require a log storage permit from the state.
The veneer mill is on the site of the old Ketchikan Pulp Company mill. When the pulp mill operated, Ketchikan pulp had a permit to store logs in the waters of Ward Cove.
Oil company to report reduced earnings
B-P says it expects to report lower fourth-quarter earnings due to weaker-than-expected results from its refining and marketing division.
B-P is the second-largest oil producer in Alaska, after ConocoPhillips.
B-P also blamed the lower earnings on a poor performance from its chemicals division.
The company is expected to announce its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results on February eleventh.
Fog plays hinders flights trying to land in Juneau
Four flights into Juneau were cancelled last night due to dense fog.
Flight 69 was among those flights. That turns into Flight 60 out of Juneau southbound in morning. The scheduled stop in Ketchikan was cancelled. It finally departed at 9:37, more than two hours behind schedule.
Flight 73, northbound to Anchorage, landed a few minutes before eight this morning after being turned back by the fog initially.
Four teens picked up in Anchorage for 20 or more auto thefts
Four Anchorage youths, including an 18-year-old, a 14-year-old and two 12-year-olds, were taken into custody yesterday morning, charged with stealing three cars. Anchorage police say the group may be responsible for 20 or more similar thefts since January 1st.
Washington Supreme Court balance
swings to women
A first in Washington state. Women now hold a majority on the state Supreme Court.
Justice Mary Fairhurst, who won her seat in a close election in November, has been sworn in to tip the gender balance: Five women, four men.
Chief Justice Gerry Alexander says it's an historic event. Justice Barbara Madsen notes that electing women to high office has become commonplace in Washington state.
The Legislature has one of the highest percentages of women of any state, with 54 female lawmakers out of 147.
Washington and Ohio are the only states with female majorities on the supreme court.
Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News) |
