Major Gilbert brings all his troops home
When Major Joel Gilbert left for Iraq he said his goal was to bring everybody back home.

"About 130 went over, and the same number came back." He says it was a team effort.

Major Gilbert commanded the approximately 130 members of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion of the 297th Infantry of the Alaska Army National Guard.

He recalled one close call. Roadside bombs went off two different times on their patrols. In one case one of his soldiers was awarded a purple heart when he was knocked unconscious. The major says the man was unconscious for about ten minutes.

Gilbert thinks a key was befriending Iraqis in their areas of patrol. He says unit members did a lot for the Iraqis and they showed their appreciation by warning them ahead of time of roadside bombs.

The major says the fact that the Iraqi's helped them like that, let them know they were doing the right thing.

Gilbert's wife, Laura and their two children, 10 year old girl and 9 year old son traveled to Anchorage to welcome him there a week ago today. (Friday). He called seeing them again and "outstanding experience."

And Major Gilbert says they appreciated the support that came from Juneau residents.

About 30 members of the unit are from Juneau. The rest are from around the state including other locations in Southeast, Anchorage, Kodiak, Kenai and Valdez.

Twenty-four members of the unit will arrive in Juneau at 9:44 Sunday morning aboard Alaska Airlines flight 62.

Residents are encouraged to come out and help welcome them home. Organizers are asking residents to put out flags and yellow ribbons.

Site work on Home Depot store begins in May...Land sale goes to Assembly
The Home Depot Store planned for construction on city and private land near Costco is on schedule.

That was the word from City Manager Rod Swope on KINY's Capital Chat Friday morning, He talked to a company representative recently.

The representative  indicated to Swope that they plan to start the site work in May and construct the building this summer.

The third week in January of 2007 is the scheduled opening.

Swope says he was told the store will employ 160 people. Ninety-six will be full-time jobs. The company representative told Swope all be available to local residents with the exception of five or six management types who will be brought here by the company.

The Assembly Committee of the Whole will be briefed Monday night on the sale of city land to Home Depot.

The company plans to purchase 9 point 4 acres of city land and 11 point 7 acres of private land in the area.

The city's asking price for its land is ten dollars a square foot or $4 point 1 Million dollars.

An ordinance on the proposed land sale will be introduced at the Assembly's regular meeting of January 30.

During the program Swope was asked about Wal-Mart's plans. He says he hasn't talked to a company representative, it is on track.

He says the company turned in a request to the CBJ Planning Department three weeks ago for improvements inside the former K-mart building.

Swope says millions of dollars of improvements to the inside of the building are planned. Its his understanding that only cosmetic changes are planed on the outside of the building, including a new facade.

He adds the last he's heard Wal-Mart plans to open the store in February 2007.

Heavy snowfall in store for Juneau
Someone must be praying for snow.

There's a heavy snow warning in effect for Juneau, according to Meteorologist Don Drew in the Juneau Forecast Office.

Total accumulation by Saturday morning is now at between 6 to 10 inches.  The forecast earlier in the day said between 9 to 13 inches.

The snow is expected to mix with rain Saturday afternoon.

The forecaster says a low pressure area south of the Alaska Peninsula is expected to move toward the Kenai Peninsula. The frontal system ahead of it has some pretty good moisture with it, according to Drew, and is expected to ride over the cold air over Juneau right now.

The heavy snow warning is in effect for Juneau from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.

Eaglecrest probably a week away from opening
The latest snowfall is slowly accumulating on the slopes of Eaglecrest.

There's seven inches of new snow on top and 5 inches at the base

General Manager Kirk Duncan says the snow that fell is loose and dry so it's great snow, but it's not the best snow for making a base.

He says they need an additional 18 inches of snow before the top half of the mountain is covered up.

Duncan doesn't think they'll get that amount of snow this weekend. He says, realistically, the city-owned ski area might open by next weekend.

He says if they get enough snow on the lower half of the mountain, they'll open the Hooter and Platter, or they'll open up Ptarmigan only, like they did last year.

He says they want to get open as soon as possible, but their key point is making sure there's a safe way down from the top of the mountain

The latest the ski area has opened is February 23rd.

Man unhurt in traffic accident near Point Lena
Police and fire department medics responded to a report of a car off the road shortly after seven this morning (Friday) at 17 mile near Point Lena.

A 1986 Subaru Legacy was found down an embankment off of a private driveway.

A 22 year old man was standing outside the vehicle. He told police he was the driver.

The man, who was not identified, said he was not injured and declined medical attention.

The police investigation determined the car was attempting to back out of the driveway, and due to slippery conditions, lost control and began sliding down the embankment.

It slide down the steep embankment about a hundred feet before coming to rest.

Police say the car, which was totally destroyed,  will be recovered when weather conditions permit.

No citations were issued.

Debate over mixing zones moves to the legislature
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -The debate over mixing zones has moved to the Legislature.

A House Special Committee on Fisheries heard a bill today (Friday) that would prohibit pollution dilution zones in freshwater spawning streams.

Homer Republican Paul Seaton says his bill, unlike regulations recently adopted by the Murkowski administration, prohibits mixing zones in spawning streams even when spawning salmon, eggs or larvae are not present.

Fish and Game Commissioner McKie Campbell says the prohibition on mixing zones has always been based on where and when spawning occurs in the stream.

Both Seaton's bill and the new regulations would allow mixing zones in artificially created areas, like wastewater ditches, even if salmon have begun spawning there.
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Two years ago, the administration's proposal to lift an eight year prohibition on mixing zones in spawning streams set off a storm of controversy. The regulations were rewritten to keep the ban in place but allow for some exemptions.

Unemployment increases in Alaska in December
Alaska's unemployment rate continued it's seasonal increase last month.

It rose two-tenths of a percentage point in December to seven percent.

State Labor Economist Dan Robinson says it's a fairly typical seasonal pattern.

He says the rate will continue to climb, assuming this is a normal year, through February before starting to decline.

Construction and seafood processing has a big drop off in December. There was small increase in retail trade but enough to keep the rate from increasing a little bit.

There were 738 more Alaskans unemployed in December than in November for a total of 23,923.

That compares to 25,266 people unemployed in December of 2004

Juneau's rate increased from 5 point 3 to 5 point 5 percent. The number of unemployed increased from 947 to 988.

Haines rate increased from 11 point 1 in November up to 12 percent in December. The number of unemployed increased from 131 to 137.

The Skagway, Hoonah, Angoon census area had the second highest unemployment rate in the state increasing at 20 point 3 in December. That's up from November's 19 point 9 percent. The number of unemployed went from 311 to 304.

Prince of Wales-outer Ketchikan census area rate increased from 13 point 5 to 16 point 4 percent. The number of unemployed increased from 327 to 395.

Ketchikan's rate increased from 7 to 7.7 percent. The number of unemployed increased from 518 to 558.

Anchorage's had the state's lowest unemployment rate in December at 5 point 2 percent. That was up one -tenth of a percentage point from November. The number of unemployed increased slightly from 7, 919 up to 7,940.

The Aleutians East Borough had December's highest unemployment rate at 20.7 percent.

The rate in Fairbanks increased from 5.6 up to 5.7 percent. The number of unemployed went from 2,572 up to 2,650.

Homer police arrest activists protesting military recruiters
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A protest of U-S Marine recruiters in an Alaska high school has led to the arrest of three activists.

Debby Poore, Hope Finkelstein and Michael LeMay were cited for criminal trespass at Homer High School yesterday (Thursday).

Homer police say they refused to leave the school's commons area during the lunch hour.

Principal Ron Keffer says military recruiters visit Homer High four or five times a year and the school is required by federal law to allow it.

Keffer says the protesters claimed they should be allowed to provide students another point of view.

Keffer says that Kenai Peninsula Borough School District policy forbids other people from using the school for a political forum.
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LeMay is a Vietnam veteran who earlier organized a visit to Homer of Vietnamese war veterans.

He says his group believes legal free-speech precedents guarantee them equal access to students when military recruiters are on campus.

He says they plan to plead NOT guilty and contest the charge in court.

He operates a lodge in Homer and is one of several residents being voted on as the Homer Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.
(Anchorage Daily News) 

Augustine Volcano remains relatively quiet
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Volcano observers say the Augustine Volcano was relatively quiet yesterday (Thursday) -- compared to what it had been doing.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory puts the current level of concern at orange -- meaning that the volcano is in eruption or that an eruption may happen at any time.

Observers say a flight over the Cook Inlet volcano yesterday afternoon showed that the summit continues to steam vigorously. That is consistent with the formation of a new lava dome.

Scientists say based on what is known about previous eruptions, it is likely that more explosive eruptions will occur.

Augustine erupted again on Tuesday after a three-day lull.

ACLU say offering Alaska gay benefits is easier than state contends
DATELINE (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union is challenging the state's request for at least a year to comply with an Alaska Supreme Court decision granting benefits to same-sex partners of public employees.

The Alaska A-C-L-U says the argument for more time is a -- QUOTE -- ``inappropriate attempt to evade'' compliance with the ruling.

The October ruling said same-sex partners of public employees are entitled to the same benefits as their straight married colleagues.

The A-C-L-U said in documents filed late yesterday (Thursday) that it's entirely possible to comply by May tenth.

It says that would give state lawmakers or the administration a chance to provide benefits.

State officials say they haven't seen the eight-page response, but add they stand by their argument.

Craig students place in top ten
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) - Craig's Academic Decathlon team had a strong showing at the second regional meet of the school year.

More than 60 students from five schools in Southeast competed in the event.

The Craig team had four students place in the top ten overall. And it swept the music category.

Academic Decathlon is offered as an elective in grades nine through 12 in Craig.

This year's team has 12 students.
(Ketchikan Daily News)

Man charged with enticing teen
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Federal prosecutors say they have indicted a 32-year-old Anchorage man on two counts of attempting to entice a minor using the Internet.

Jaimey Kent Sapp also is charged with transferring obscene material to a minor and attempting to do so.

Prosecutors say Sapp went by the online name ``local nawty boy'' and tried to entice a 14-year-old girl.

The indictment says Sapp instigated an Internet arrangement that led to an agreement to pick up the girl at a playground for sex.

Prosecutors say e-mail chats started in March and continued until July.

Prosecutors say Sapp canceled an initial rendezvous with the girl, fearing he would be caught.

Police arrested Sapp in July at a second scheduled meeting.

Teachers union says governor's increase falls short
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The state's teachers' union says Governor Murkowski's proposed increase in education funding falls short of meeting the needs of Alaska schools.

Bill Bjork president of the National Education Association-Alaska says the state's projected 1-point-2 billion dollar budget surplus will give lawmakers a historic opportunity to address a chronic shortage of funds for schools.

Bjork says the N-E-A will lobby for a 145 million dollar increase, as opposed to the 90 million dollars being proposed by Murkowski. Sixty-five million dollars will cover pension costs and inflation, leaving 80 million dollars for rising energy bills and student achievement.
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Bjork says a portion of the increase should go toward teacher salaries and reducing class sizes.

He says an extra 80 million dollars a year for the next eight years is needed to reach an adequate level of school funding.

Salmon finds market in Europe
DILLINGHAM, Alaska (AP) - Wild salmon may have finally found the edge in the competition with farmed fish.

The prospects for wild salmon in European markets is picking up. That's according to information gathered by the Alaska Salmon Marketing Institute.

Institute researcher Maggie Beaton says a combination of higher prices and bad press for farmed salmon is increasing consumer demand for wild salmon in countries like Germany, France and Britain.

Beaton says consumer demand in Britain is driven by concerns about sustainability.

In France, the holidays saw increased use of wild salmon for smoked fish: Beaton expects demand for wild salmon in European markets to remain strong this coming year.
(Thanks KLDG, Dillingham)

Japan downgrades Alaska office
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Japan is lowering its diplomatic presence in Alaska.

The Japanese government is giving its Anchorage office a lower designation and cutting the staff.

A spokesman says the Japanese government will continue to maintain its Anchorage office and attempt to maintain the same level of service.

Japan is the top international trade partner for Alaska.

It buys more Alaska exports such as seafood and liquefied natural gas than any other country.

The downgrade means a consul general no longer will be posted in Alaska.

Instead, a consul heads the office, overseen by a consul general in Seattle.
(Anchorage Daily News) 

Crimson Bears' hoop  and hockey action this weekend
Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears basketball teams are back in action this weekend.

The men are on the road in Sitka for games tonight and Saturday.

Those games will be heard on KINY. Tip off both nights is 8 o'clock. Pre-game begins at 7:45.

The Lady Crimson Bears host Ketchikan tonight and tomorrow.

The hockey team plays Houston this weekend at the Treadwell Arena.  The puck drops at 8:15 tonight.   Saturday's game begins at 7 p.m.