JUNEAU DAILY NEWS MINUTE
Friday, January 17,1997 (c) Alaska Juneau Communications
*Residents at a Glennallen memorial for Alaska State Trooper Bruce Heck -- a former
Juneau resident -- recalled him as a gentle, professional officer who had helped make
the Glenn Highway town safe. Heck -- a 16-year veteran with the troopers -- died
January tenth after he was strangled by a man investigators say was trying to get away
in a stolen cab. The 42-year-old Heck began his career with the troopers at the Juneau
detachment.
*Governor Tony Knowles has proposed the creation of an education endowment fund
dedicated to public schools. In his budget address, Knowles included the endowment in
his fiscal plan for the state. Knowles wants the endowment presented to Alaska voters
on the 1988 general election ballot. It was introduced to the Legislature last year, and
again this year, by Sen. Jim Duncan. Duncan feels that the endowment is a good way
to get education off of the political table.
*The Republican leadership has proposed that Alaska high school students should be
required to pass a statewide proficiency test in reading, writing and math as a
requirement for graduation. Senator Duncan says that statewide education standards
need to be evaluated, but the real problem remains one of adequate funding.
*Lawmakers and Governor Knowles may have found some common ground this week in
dealing with maintenance problems at Alaska's schools, roads and other public facilities.
One potential answer may come out of bills that would allow the state to sell millions of
dollars in bonds to finance the repairs. Those bills were filed by Senators Jim Duncan of
Juneau and Jerry Mackie of Craig.
*Environmental activists say they expect to have a hard time with the Republican-
controlled 20th Alaska Legislature. Susan Schrader -- who heads the Alaska
Environmental Lobby -- says the 22 organizations that make up her coalition are taking
a realistic attitude about what they can accomplish. Instead of lobbying lawmakers -- the
environmental group plans to make its case to the public in hopes that individuals will
take heed and contact their legislators about certain bills.
*The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska has been picked by the White House
to provide the 60 Christmas trees and decorations for the capital's 19-98 holiday
celebration. Included in the request for trees is a call for one 75 feet tall to grace the U-S
Capitol building as well as smaller trees for other public buildings. U-S Forest Service
spokeswoman Merrily Jones says the trees likely will come from the Stikine, Chatham
and Ketchikan areas of the forest.
*Alaska and Hawaii will be the first states in the nation to take advantage of new aviation
techniques that will allow pilots to use satellites to help them pick their routes. Vice
President Al Gore announced Wednesday that the F-A-A will start equipping all
commercial and general aviation planes in Alaska and Hawaii with advanced avionics.
That could save time for travelers.