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Panel
seeks to reduce halibut charter catch
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An international panel voted
Friday to cut Southeast and Southcentral Alaska
charter-boat halibut bag limit to one fish per day per
angler in part of the summer.
The vote takes effect if it is approved by the U.S.
Secretary of Commerce.
The current charter bag limit is two halibut.
Sportfishing groups say they don't think Alaskans or
tourists will buy $200-plus charter-boat trips if they
can catch only one fish a day.
This is the first time in history that the International
Pacific Halibut Commission has used its authority to
reduce bag limits for halibut in Alaska, according to
executive director Bruce Leaman.
Leaman said the commission took the step because U.S.
authorities have been unable to keep the charter fleet
from exceeding its harvest limits, he said. Commercial
fishermen says the growing charter catch is cutting into
their harvest.
If approved, the new bag limit would cut Southcentral
Alaska catches to one fish from June 15 to June 30 and
in Southeast from June 15 to the end of July.
Juneau nets lowest unemployment rate in state, Skagway is highest
Southeast Alaska saw the highest and lowest unemployment rates in the state last month.
Alaska's unemployment rate increased seven-tenths of a percentage point in December to 6 point 8 percent.
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Economist Dan Robinson says it's a bit higher than
usual for this time of year, but not unexpected.
The total number of Alaskans reporting being unemployed last month was 23,707, an increase of 2,713 from November.
There are two noteworthy categories.
Robinson says oil and gas employment has shot through the roof with an increase over 1,700 jobs last year bringing the total to about 10,700, the highest level since 1991.
However, Robinson says construction employment, which has been going strong for several years, appears to have leveled off and may even fall when the numbers are complied for
2006.
The oil and gas industry added 1,700 jobs last year totaling about 10,700.
Juneau had the lowest unemployment rate in the state last month at 4.9 percent.
That was up from 4.6 percent in November. The number of unemployed rose from 823 to 892.
The Skagway, Hoonah Angoon census area had the highest unemployment rate in the state last month at 21.6 percent. That's up from 18.8 in November. The number of unemployed rose from 273 to 327.
The rate in Haines increased from 10 point 3 to 12 point 1 percent. The number
of unemployed increased from 116 to 134.
The Prince of Wales outer Ketchikan census area's rate increased from 13 point 9 to 17 point 9 percent. The number
of unemployed rose from to 314 to 401..
Ketchikan's rate increased from 6 point 3 to 7 point 2 percent. The number
of unemployed rose from to 476 to 547.
The rate in Anchorage increased from 4 point 6 to 5 percent. The number
of unemployed rose from 7,219 to 7,955.
The Mat-Su Borough's rate increased from 6 point 7 to 7 point 7 percent. The number
of unemployed rose from 2,460 to 2,879.
The rate in Fairbanks increased from 5 point 3 to 5 point 8 percent. The number
of unemployed rose from 2,386 to 2,640.
Man convicted for Holy Trinity fire sentenced
The arsonist responsible for the destruction of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and a neighboring home has been sentenced to eight years in jail.
25 year old Robert Huber appeared in Juneau Superior Court Thursday where Judge Patricia Collins suspended 7 years of a 15 year sentence.
He was also ordered to pay restitution to the church and homeowner.
Early on the morning of March 12, Huber set fire to a boat parked between the church and house. He took that action after being thrown out of a party at a nearby home. The boat was not owned by anyone connected to the party.
Eight picked up in Juneau on outstanding warrants
The Alaska Fugitive Task Force arrested
eight Southeast residents this week in Juneau who were wanted on outstanding warrants.
State Trooper dispatches report they were all jailed at the Lemon Creek Correctional Facility.
34 year old Adrian Page of Ketchikan was arrested in Juneau Tuesday for a felony warrant for theft and robbery in the second degree. He was also charged with resisting arrest. Bail was set at $25,000.
Also arrested in connection with this case was 26 year old Francis Demmert of Ketchikan who was accused
of helping to hide Page. She was charged with hindering prosecution.
There were six arrests
involving Juneau residents Wednesday.
38 year John P. Bender was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of criminal mischief. He was jailed on $250 bail.
21 year old Mack Nakamura,
Junior, was arrested for failure to appear for a jury
trial. He was held on no bail.
Joshua A. Coon, 25, was nabbed on a warrant for failure to comply with conditions of his release on the original charge of robbery in the second degree. Coon was held on a $1,000 bail.
The warrant for 20 year old Catherine J. Fredrick said she was wanted for theft in the second degree, five charges of forgery in the second, and drunk driving. She was held on bail of $5,100.
30 year old Christopher J. Davidson was picked up on a warrant on two counts of drunk driving among other charges connected with those
offenses. His bail was set at $5,000.
Tara S. Stuart, 25 of Juneau, was wanted on an outstanding federal felony warrant for
a parole violation. She was held on no bail.
Man
arrested in connection with stabbing in Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Police say an Anchorage man has
been arrested and arraigned in connection with a
stabbing.
Police say the victim, 19-year-old Curtis Pleasant, is
in serious condition.
Police say 22-year-old Richard David Guthrie Junior was
arrested and charged with one count each of first degree
attempted murder and first and third degree assault.
Police say Guthrie and Pleasant were consuming alcohol
and arguing over a woman when the alleged stabbing
occurred.
Thane Road avalanche work completed without a hitch
Avalanche control work on Thane Road was completed this
(Friday) morning.
State DOT official Mike Chambers said the road was reopened prior to noon and everything was back to normal.
He says there was nothing unusual. Crews did bring some snow down, but Chambers said none of it made it to the road.
The Treadwell Trail in Douglas was also closed starting at ten this morning. That's where the 105 millimeter Howitzer cannon was set up to to fire shells across the channel at the west slope of Mt. Roberts.
PENWIR to gather in Anchorage this July
Members of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region are visiting Juneau this week.
The organization is a public - private partnership of governments of which Alaska is a member. Other members include Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and the Canadian provinces of Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta.
Jim Kenyon, the Minister of Economic Development for the Yukon Territory, is the organization's president.
He commented during a press conference today (Friday) that the legislative group is set to meet for the first time in Alaska this summer. Its scheduled in Anchorage from July 21st to the 26th.
Kenyon expects 500 to 600 to attend the meeting.
Alcohol
compliance checks nick Kenai Peninsula vendors
KENAI, Alaska (AP) - Alcohol vendors on the Kenai
Peninsula had a less-than-stellar performance this month
in compliance checks performed by state officials.
Of the 45 establishments checked, 12 sold alcohol to
minors sent in under the eye of Alaska State Troopers.
That's a 26 percent failure rate by restaurants, bars
and liquor stores the first week of January.
Trooper Joe Hamilton says that it would be ideal if no
one was caught selling alcohol to minors but
investigators are pleased if the rate is less than ten
percent during compliance checks.
He says a sell rate of 26 percent is a big
disappointment and indicates a lack of appropriate
vendor education.
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In some of the establishments checked, clerks or server
asked to see an I-D but failed to recognize the date on
the card indicating the buyer was underage.
Hamilton says some places admit that they don't know
what year they're looking for to determine which
customers should be rejected.
Compliance checks are performed using teens age 16 to 19
years. The legal drinking age is 21.
Hamilton says valid IDs for buying alcohol include a
driver's license, passport and military I-D.
He says some clerks and servers get confused when
presented with something other than a driver's license.
He says one person in Kenai said she was told that birth
dates are not listed on a military ID card.
At some establishments, the clerk or server asked minors
if they were 21 but didn't ask to see an ID.
Hamilton says they erroneously believed that the minors
sent in by troopers could not lie about their age if
asked.
Servers convicted of furnishing alcohol to minors may be
sentenced to a year in prison and fined up to five
thousand dollars for their first offense.
For a second offense within five years of the first,
they can be sentenced to up to five years in prison and
fined up to ten-thousand dollars.
Establishments caught selling to minors can be suspended
from selling alcohol for up to 45 days for a first
offense and up to 90 days for a second offense.
Vendors in Cooper Landing, Nikiski, Kenai, Soldotna and
Anchor Point were found out of compliance.
(Peninsula Clarion, Kenai)
Woman killed while walking on Glenn Highway
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Police say a pedestrian was killed on the Glenn Highway last night.
They say a pickup struck the unnamed woman.
Police say they don't know why the woman was on the heavily trafficked highway that runs between Anchorage and the Mat-Su borough.
Traffic headed south on the busy highway came to a standstill for several hours after the incident.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Elderly woman found dead of hypothermia
HOOPER BAY, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say a 71-year-old woman was found dead this week of hypothermia in front of a Hooper Bay home.
Troopers say Magdalene Smith was found without shoes and with her coat unzipped. The National Weather Service says temperatures that night were around zero.
Troopers say Smith had gone to a friend's house Monday night with family members.
Officials say she left after everyone had fallen asleep.
Troopers say she may have been trying to walk back to her house or her son's house.
Hooper Bay is a community of eleven-hundred people, 500 miles west of Anchorage.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Juneau
banking firm announces dividend
Alaska Pacific Bancshares declared its quarterly
dividend Thursday.
It amounts to nine cents per share on the
corporation’s outstanding common stock.
The cash dividend will be payable on February 23, 2007,
to stockholders of record as of the close of business on
February 12, 2007.
Alaska Pacific Bancshares is the holding company for
Alaska Pacific Bank, a federally chartered savings bank
headquartered in Juneau.
Begich to attend annual conference of mayors
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage mayor Mark Begich says he plans to discuss transportation, cracking down on crime and global warming at the conference of mayors next week in Washington, D-C.
The meeting on January 24th through 26th will consist of 250 mayors from across the country, along with several members of Congress and private sector leaders.
Begich says he's focused on relieving traffic congestion and securing funding for crime prevention and public safety.
Begich also has been asked to address forums on the impact of climate change on Alaska and initiatives in Anchorage to reduce energy costs.
The U-S Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30-thousand dollars or more.
High
school basketball features Juneau versus Ketchikan
squads
The men's basketball team at Juneau Douglas High
School hosts Ketchikan this weekend.
Tip off tonight and Saturday on KINY is 8 p.m.
The Lady Crimson Bears, meanwhile, are in Ketchikan
tonight and Saturday. Those games will be web cast at www.kfmj.com
Hockey action
pits Juneau vs. Delta
The JDHS hockey team is back in action this weekend with
games against the Delta Junction Huskies.
The puck drops at 8 tonight and 7 Saturday night at the
Treadwell Arena.
Meanwhile, the second annual contest between the Juneau
hockey team and school district staff is this Sunday
beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Service for "Pete" Crosby is next Monday
A memorial service is planned for long time Juneau resident Hartley "Pete" Crosby next week.
Crosby passed away Monday at the Juneau Pioneers Home. He was 91.
He arrived in Juneau in the Fall of 1941 and went to work for the A. J. Mine as a crane operator.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that December, he joined the Army. Following basic training at Fort Chilkoot in Haines, Crosby was stationed at Moses Point where he operated a bulldozer keeping the airfield clear so planes could land and refuel.
He joined the Juneau Police Department in 1948 and became a Deputy U. S. Marshall in 1952.
After Alaska became a state in 1959, Governor Egan appointed Crosby as a traveling magistrate. He was later appointed a district court judge and served until his retirement in 1974.
Crosby was the exalted ruler of the Juneau Elks Lodge form 1970 to 1971 and served as Alaska State Elks Association president in 1988 and 1989.
His wife of 59 years, Jean, passed away last June.
Monday's memorial service will be conducted by the Elks Lodge beginning at 2 p.m. at the Pioneers Home.
Governor's galas bring a little glitz to Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Governor Sarah Palin will host a series of inaugural balls around the state, starting Saturday in Juneau.
Organizers will try to please those who anticipate some rare Alaska glitz and glamour.
But at the same time they'll try mollify the portion of the population who only wear cummerbunds under duress.
To celebrate Palin's inauguration, Juneau's jet set will be noshing on smoked salmon mousse and swaying to a live big band.
The swanky affair is the first of six governor's galas being held from Nome to Kodiak.
They'll range in style from tuxes and truffles to punch in a high school auditorium.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Upcoming
FASD Conference topic of Capital Chat discussion
A regional conference on FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder, is set for Juneau next week.
K. J. Metcalf is the chair of the steering committee
that organized the conference.
He said on KINY's Capital Chat Thursday morning
that participants are coming from far and wide including
the Lower 48 and from around Alaska.
It's scheduled from Thursday through Saturday of next
week.
There's no cost for the conference.
Registration is available on-line at www.dioceseofjuneau.org
Or Metcalf can be contacted at 586-6738.
Metcalf was joined on the program by Rick Iannolino of
the Juneau FASD Diagnostic Clinic.
Mutations
may cause concern for bird flu researchers
LONDON (AP) - It could mean a change in strategies, for
scientists figuring out how to fight bird flu.
The World Health Organization says mutations in the bird
flu virus have been found in two infected people in
Egypt. And the agency says the virus was found in a form
that might be resistant to the medication that's most
commonly used to treat the disease.
Officials say the mutations in the H-five-N-one strain
weren't drastic enough to make the virus so infectious
that it could cause a pandemic.
But if there are more such mutations, scientists may
need to re-think their current efforts.
The samples were taken from two bird flu patients, a
16-year-old girl and her 26-year-old uncle. Both died in
late December, as did the man's sister -- although it
hasn't yet been confirmed that she had the virus. The
three lived together northwest of Cairo.
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