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Skagway wants to be a borough
Papers filed with boundary commission
The City of Skagway will file a petition with the Local Boundary Commission this week to become a borough. City Manager Bob Ward (left) says that will pave the way for an election in the fall. But he calls itan uphill battle. Ward says the commission is reluctant to endorse single community boroughs. He adds that situation is particularly true in Skagway's case since it has a fairly small land base and is contiguous with the Haines Borough. The model borough boundary act places Skagway in the Haines Borough. Ward calls it a pre-emptive strike so as not to become part of the Haines Borough. There was a false report circulating that that the Haines Borough had filed paperwork with the Boundary Commission to annex Skagway. But Haines Borough Clerk Karen Harvey says the annexation report grew out of an inquiry and request made by a member of the borough assembly for additional information.
The House Transportation Committee reported out a resolution this afternoon opposing President Clinton's decision to include the Tongass and Chugach National Forests in the administration's roadless policy. The measure sponsored by Wrangell Representative Peggy Wilson now moves to the House Resources Committee.
Substantial progress is reported on the clean up of the Court Plaza Building following last month's oil spill. That according to Administration Commissioner Jim Duncan. He says all of the contaminated materials are scheduled to be removed by the end of the week. The plan calls for contractors to begin restoration work next week. He says its possible workers could be able to move in prior to July 1st, although some offices may want to wait until after the legislative session.
Residents of Ketchikan will be voting on a $5 head tax on cruise ship passengers. Ketchikan Gateway Borough Clerk Sue Bethel certified the petition on the issue Friday. She says the petitions delivered to her office have more than the required 469 valid signatures. That means a special election on the issue will be held within 75 days. Several business groups are organizing to oppose the tax. But petition sponsor John Cote says his group had no problem gathering the required signatures. He says about 70 percent of the people approached agreed to sign the petition. Cote says petition supporters are putting together their own political action committee to educate the public about the proposal. He says Juneau actually had an increase in tourism revenue after imposing its tax. Juneau imposed a similar head tax before last summer's tourist season. The tax won handily after cruise ship companies paid heavy fines for polluting Southeast Alaska waters.
The Coast Guard is coming to the aid of a cargo vessel in an area 125 miles northwest of Dutch Harbor. The 595 foot Alam Selaras is disabled. The Malaysian registered vessel was initially reported dead in the water over the weekend, but was able to bring its engine back on line. It conked out again today. The Coast Guard is organizing various assets to respond and keeping an eye on the situation. The ship is carrying a cargo of grain. It has a crew of 23.
Governor Knowles joined a crew from the CBS news program 60 Minutes in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (left) today. The interview comes as the issue of oil drilling there heats up. Knowles was interviewed by 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl today in Anchorage. The governor and Stahl flew to Kaktovik. Knowles spokesman Bob King said 60 minutes was also planning to interview Deborah Williams., executive director of the Alaska Conservation Foundation. Williams used to work for outgoing Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, a steadfast opponent of ANWR drilling. The governor is scheduled to return tonight. King says the 60 Minutes crew planned tour the North Slope, including Prudhoe Bay. President-elect George W. Bush has pledged to open the coastal plan to oil exploration and development. But that would require approval from a divided Congress and the issue is expected to be a contentious one.
Skagway has donated 3,000 gallons of sludge from its wastewater treatment plant to the Yukon village of Carmacks. Officials say Carmacks needed the sludge import in order to replace the bacteria that break down solid waste. The Carmacks plant has a filtration problem most summers when the Yukon River rises and groundwater washes out the bacteria. A spokesman says Carmacks reseeds its treatment plant with sewage bacteria grown in the Skagway digester. Officials say that helps kick-start the plant back to its full operating efficiency.
A cylinder that may be an old torpedo has been spotted near the southern tip of Annette Island. So a Navy explosives team will be heading for Metlakatla to check it out. Metlakatla diver Bill Staples says he saw the object on the sea floor about a thousand feet off Point Davidson on Sunday. He was diving for sea cucumbers. Staples says the object is 3 or 4 feet long, and it has fins and a propeller. He notified Coast Guard officers, and they called the Navy. Navy Lieutenant Kimberly Marks says specialists think the object is probably a World War Two-vintage torpedo that was used by the Army Air Corps. The Army used to have an airfield on Annette Island.
There's still not enough snow to open up Juneau's Eaglecrest Ski Area (right). Last Saturday had been the latest opening day on record, according to Eaglecrest Ski Area Manager Paul Swanson. The previous record was set in 1996. As of Saturday, Swanson said they needed about double the amount they had on the ground at the lodge in order to open. The lodge, ski shop, and food service was open through the long holiday weekend, although there was no skiing.
The calendar may say January, but a lack of sea ice on the shore at Barrow has residents scratching their heads. By now, normal wind patterns should have blown the Arctic Ocean ice pack onto the shoreline, but a hard wind 6 weeks ago took the ice out to sea. Barrow elders say it's the first time they can recall such a situation in January.
Susan Butcher (left) and one of her sled dog teams will be joining dozens of other Alaskans headed to the nation's capital this weekend to participate in inaugural festivities. Butcher, a four-time winner of the Iditarod, will be part of Saturday's Inaugural Parade.
The Yukon's population has dropped by more than 500 people in the past year. According to figures released by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics, the population of the Canadian territory last month was 30,553. The Yukon's population has been slipping since 1997.
Juneau Sister City Committee Chair Doak Walker (left in photo) announced plans on KINY's Capital Chat this morning for a local contingent of festival goers tomake a trip to Whitehorse, Yukon, early next month for the start of the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race, and the city's annual Frostbite Music Festival. Juneau and Whitehorse have been sister cities for many years. Walker was joined on the program by "Joe Juneau" (right in photo) -- a local man who will be representing the Capital City in Whitehorse during the annual Sourdough Sam competition. The festivities are planned for February 9, 10 and 11 in Whitehorse.
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