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DNR chief,
Game Board members and university regents picked
Former Fairbanks Gold Mining official Tom Irwin was named to head the
state Department of Natural Resources.
Irwin was a vice president of Fairbanks Gold and more recently was
president of the Alaska Council of Producers.
Murkowski wants a new approach to predator control measures that are based
on science and not politics. He wouldn't elaborate on what that means for
wolf control measures blocked under the previous administration.
But Murkowski appointed six people to the board of game, which oversees
wolf kill programs.
They include Ron Somerville of Juneau who is a former. executive director
of the Alaska Outdoor Council. He was a 28 year employee of the Fish and
Game Department and once served as Deputy Commissioner.
Sharon McLeod-Everette and Peter Buist, are from Fairbanks. Everette is a
registered big game guide and outdoor educator. Buist is a licensed master
hunting guide.
The other appointees are Mike Fleagle, Ted Spraker, and Cliff Judkins
Fleagle is from McGrath and is a former Game Board member. Spraker is a
former department employee from Soldotna. Judkins is a hunting activist
from Wasilla
Their were three appointments to the University's Board of Regents,
including former City of Fairbanks Mayor Jim Hayes, Sitka businessman Mike
Snowden and Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly member Cynthia Henry.
The Governor said all three are University of Alaska graduates.
Andrews among Fish Board appointees
Governor Murkowski appointed four people to the state Fish Board
yesterday, including Rupe Andrews of Juneau.
The four will take seats on the seven-member board when it meets January
21st in Sitka.
Murkowski appointed Anchorage fish processing consultant Art Nelson along
with Petersburg fisherman John Jensen and seafood consultant Melvan Morris
Junior of Kodiak.
Andrews is a former head of the state division of sport fishing.
Three of the appointees replace board members picked by former Governor
Knowles, who left office in December. Knowles had to make interim
appointments last year after the GOP-controlled Legislature rejected in
mass a list of appointees for various boards.
House Speaker Pete Kott says he expects the appointees to be confirmed by
the Legislature.
Unemployment increases in Alaska and
Juneau
The number of people unemployed in Alaska rose again last month.
Statewide in December, the unemployment rate went up nine-tenths of a
percentage point--from 6.7 to 7.6.
That's quite a bit higher than last year's 6.2 percent, according to State
Labor economist Dan Robinson
He says several factors contributed to the increase. Employment
continues to show over-the-year growth, but an analysis indicates that
fewer numbers of unemployed people are leaving the state.
And, he says, it's possible that people that are self employed and
supported themselves on what they made part of the year, like fishermen,
are entering the labor force as unemployed.
Total number unemployed in December was 24,737. That's about 3000 more
than in November.
Juneau's unemployment rate last month was 5.4, up from November's 4.9
percent. Just under 900 people in Juneau were unemployed in December, up
about 80 from November.
The Skagway, Hoonah and Angoon rate decreased slightly from 11.5 to 11.3
percent. 234 people were unemployed in December down 8 from November.
Haines rate increased from 12.3 to 13.9 percent In December. The number of
unemployed increased from 151 to 172.
Prince of Wales rate went from 8.4 to 10.9 in December. The number of
unemployed Increased from 247 to 325.
The high for the state was again the Wade-Hampton census area in Southwest
Alaska at 20.6 percent and the low was Anchorage at 5.1 percent.
Stevens moves to negate court challenges
of Tongass development
Senator Ted Stevens has introduced a measure that would prevent
environmentalists from appealing a pending Forest Service decision about
development in the Tongass National Forest.
After the Forest Service issued its Tongass Land Management Plan five
years ago, environmentalists sued the agency saying it ignored the
possibility of creating more wilderness areas in the forest.
A judge agreed and ordered the agency to reconsider the plan.
The Forest Service issued a draft decision last year saying there would be
no new wilderness areas. A final decision is expected early this year.
Senator Stevens included a measure barring another lawsuit in a federal
spending bill. Stevens says he included the measure make sure the agency's
decision stands.
Small pox vaccine planned at Army posts
in Alaska
Some 120 Army medical personnel in Alaska will soon be vaccinated against
smallpox.
The vaccinations of army personnel from Fort Wainwright and Fort
Richardson are in response to an executive order issued by President Bush
on December 13th.
The vaccination order applies only to selected people who may respond if
there's an outbreak of the smallpox virus.
Colonel Matt Raymond, chief of preventive medicine at Fort Wainwright, and
Colonel Bryan Gamble, commander of Bassett Army hospital at Fort
Wainwright, were among a handful of people inoculated yesterday.
Vaccinations for others will begin January 23rd.
New charter school authorized in the
Gateway City
The Ketchikan School Board has approved a new charter school for the
community. Board members have approved the Tongass School of Art and
Science with the stipulation that it enroll at least 155 students.
Little league registration now available
on-line
Gastineau Channel Little in Juneau is offering on-line registration for
the first time.
League President J. Allan MacKinnon says its available for all players and
parents who would like to sign up using a charge card.
He says they were the first league in the nation to use on-line
registration for the conference of western states that it hosted in
September.
He says to go to the Juneau web address and choose the registration link.
The address is www [dot] juneau [dot]com/littleleague
Early registration started this week and is available through February
10th. Regular registration continues through March 10th when late
registration is available, according to MacKinnon..
Returning and new players can sign up at the league's spaghetti feed this
Sunday. It begins at 4 p.m. at DZ Middle School.
MacKinnon says new players must provide a copy of their birth certificate.
Coaches and managers are also still needed, and may sign up at the same
time.
Registration will also be available the next three weekends at the Nugget
Mall.
Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News) |
