Juneau Daily News Online

Friday,  January 25, 2002

Draft tourism plan outline approved by Juneau Assembly 
The draft outline for a tourism plan for Juneau received a warm reception from the public and the Assembly at last night's Committee of the Whole work session.

Bob Harvey, of Egrets Communications, said the major points include resolving flightseeing issues, dealing with congestion, and building a positive environment for business.

He says the completed tourism plan's key is that it should be governed by an independent entity. Since much of what people want in the plan will take years to accomplish, Harvey says the governing board should be separate from city government, so the process and can carry on into the future without changing every election cycle.

Committee of Whole Chair Ken Koelsch says he likes the consultant's community based plan and he's pleased that there's been a lot of community input. Koelsch says he likes the idea of an independent board to take on tourism issues and is optimistic about what will be in the completed draft plan.

Mayor Sally Smith says the consultants have "worked a miracle" in getting people together to work on the plan.  But, Smith says, there are not many specifics in the outline of the tourism plan. She says the proof will be the final product.

The time frame for completing the tourism plan is still being worked out. Meanwhile, the final two installments of the tourism web poll are expected to be on-line in about 30 days.

Local government leaders support fiscal plan with taxes, but not a state sales levy
Alaska local government leaders are asking legislators for a long range fiscal plan to deal with the state's fiscal gap. They're supporting a state income tax among a mix of new taxes. Alaska Conference of Mayors and the Alaska Municipal League wrapped up their meetings this week in Juneau last night.

During yesterday's State of the Municipalities Address, Alaska Municipal League President, Ketchikan Borough Mayor Jack Shay, said the state's projected billion dollar fiscal gap must be addressed by lawmakers this session. Shay said there are always efficiencies that can be found in state and local governments but there is a need for a number of increased expenditures.

The local government leaders support cruise ship, motor vehicle, and alcohol taxes and, if needed, use of some earnings of the Permanent Fund.

However, the group does not support a statewide sales tax. They say a state-wide sales tax would be a burden for local companies requiring them to keep two sets of books, one for local and one for state sales tax.

State Troopers investigate operations of Sitka Police...chief resigns
Sitka's police chief has been placed on leave while Alaska State Troopers investigate allegations of criminal misconduct in the department.

Sitka Police Chief Bill McLendon had already announced last week that he was resigning his post, effective February 22nd. The paid leave will run until then.

McLendon's resignation followed allegations of wrongdoing made from outside the department and from a recently fired police officer.

Among those making the allegations is forensic scientist Brent Turvey who had worked for the department as a consultant in a murder case. Turvey alleges the department ignored cases of domestic violence involving police officers and tampered with public records, among other things.

Retired State Trooper Bob Gorder has been named interim chief of the Sitka police department.

Wrong way takeoff made at Anchorage's airport
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an incident this morning in which a China Airlines plane took off in the wrong direction and on a taxi-way instead of a runway.

Jim LaBelle, who heads the agency's Alaska office, says the China Airlines Airbus A-343 had about 250 passengers and crewmembers on board when the incident occurred shortly before 3 a-m at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

The plane was directed to take off on the north-bound runway. Instead it took off on a west-bound taxiway over.

The plane departed safely, but LaBelle says the landing gear grazed a snow berm at the end of the taxiway as it lifted off.

LaBelle says investigators will listen to tapes of the radio transmissions between the China Airlines cockpit and the control tower to determine what went wrong.

General Oates speaks with President and  Ridge on security concerns
The head of Alaska's National Guard was among those meeting with President George Bush yesterday at the White House. Major General Phil Oates took part in a workshop on homeland defense.

Oates says he was able to speak to the president and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge about security at potential terrorist targets in Alaska, including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the Valdez Terminal.

Fourth quarter losses announced by Alaska Air
Alaska Air Group has posted a fourth-quarter loss of $36 Million. That compares with a loss of $29 Million a year ago.

The loss came despite more than $52 Million in aid from the federal government's airline bailout package. Revenue for the quarter declined to $462 Million dollars from $532 Million a year ago.

Despite the loss, the company says it fared better than many carriers. The company says its traffic was down five-point-six percent for the quarter, compared with 19 percent industry wide.

Alaska Chair and Chief Executive John Kelly says West Coast traffic has been less affected by the September eleventh terrorist attacks than elsewhere. Kelly says the company hopes to have its schedule back to 100 percent by February tenth.

Layoffs planned by Williams
Williams Companies is offering an early retirement program in an effort to cut about 450 jobs or three-and-a-half percent of its worldwide workforce. The company says it wants to eliminate duplication in human resources, finance and other departments.

Williams is an energy trading company and operates the second largest interstate natural gas pipeline in the nation. It also owns a refinery in North Pole and a network of gas stations and convenience stores throughout Alaska.

In addition, it operates a fuel distribution terminal at the Port of Anchorage, an interest in an air cargo transfer facility at Anchorage International Airport and a three percent interest in the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

The company's worldwide workforce totals about 12-thousand five hundred employees.

Cannery put up for sale by Trident
Trident Seafoods has put its Clark's Point cannery on the market. Camp Superintendent Todd Lemay says this is the last summer the company will operate the Clark's Point facility.

The historic cannery is located south of Dillingham on Nushagak Bay. It's been used mainly as a fish camp, storing boats and providing services, bunkhouse rooms, ice, groceries and meal services.

Parts of the cannery were built in 1888. There hasn't been any fish processing there since the early 1950s. Trident bought the plant in 1987. The company would not discuss a selling price because they are in negotiations.

Haines area draft land plans scheduled for release for public comment
Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Pat Pourchot says draft land use plans for state land in the Haines State Forest and the Northern Southeast Area Plan will be distributed for public review next week.

At the same time, the commissioner announced he has decided to delay decisions on the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve until Spring. Pourchot says he's not comfortable issuing a draft plan until additional meetings are conducted with local residents. The delay, he adds, will give the department more time to work on questions raised by residents.

Pourchot toured the areas and met with local groups and individuals this week.

The revised forest plan maintains much of the same management approach as in the 1986 plan, according to the Commissioner. A public hearing will be held next month. Public comment on the plans will be accepted until April 2nd.

Coast Guard comes to aide of fishing vessel
The crew of the fishing vessel Leona has been fighting severe icing overnight in the Gulf of Alaska, about 200 miles south of Kodiak.

But Petty Officer Cory Cichoracki in the Juneau Command Center says the situation has improved this morning for the Bellingham, Washington, based vessel. He says the weather has improved in the area and the temperature has warmed to 32 degrees. He says the four person crew is starting to break the ice that's built up on the ship.

The fish processor, Seattle Enterprise, is on scene and helping with communications. A large wave struck the Leona's wheelhouse, disabling its high-frequency, long-range radio. A Coast Guard C-130 was on scene overnight to provide communication assistance and survival equipment if needed.

The Coast Guard cutters Storis and Mellon are enroute and were scheduled to be on scene this afternoon, according to Cichoracki. He says they will assess the situation when they arrive and plan to escort the Leona to Sand Point.

A large wave struck the Leona's wheelhouse, disabling its high-frequency, long-range radio. A Coast Guard C-130 was on scene overnight to provide communication assistance and survival equipment if needed.

Another vessel, the Windjammer from Blaine, Washington, was also in trouble earlier with severe icing but was able to get out of the bad weather.

Pedestrian hit by vehicles dies of injuries
An Anchorage man has died from injuries he suffered earlier this week when he was struck by a car. Nineteen-year-old Joshua Foster died late Wednesday at Alaska Regional Hospital. Foster was hit by a car as he walked near Beaver Place and DeBarr Road at about two-20 Sunday afternoon.

Denali railroad work underway
Preliminary work on a railroad into the north end of Denali National Park and Preserve could begin as early as this summer. The Legislature passed a law last year that transfers 35-hundred acres of state land to the Denali Borough to build a railroad. The governor vetoed the measure, but last week the Legislature overrode that veto.

Vandalism cases focus of Crime Line
Juneau Crime Line this week is featuring cases of vandalism reported last December 23rd. Several mailboxes and vehicles in an area from Melrose Street to Back Loop and from Riverside to Delta Drives were reported rifled. In some cases mail was torn, thrown about, or stolen.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Juneau Police or call Crime Line. Callers may remain anonymous and still be eligible for a cash reward. The Juneau Crime Line number is 586-4243.

Boozer leads the way in Blue Devils win
Top-ranked Duke spanked Boston College 88-to-78 last night with lots of help from Juneau's Carlos Boozer.
Boozer tied his career high with 28 points.

Duke has won five straight by an average of nearly 20 points since suffering its only loss January sixth at Florida State.

Bears victorious at T-Bird tourney
The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears won their second game at the T-Bird Classic Tournament in Anchorage last night with a 66 to 59 victory over Wasilla. They play again at 6 this evening which will be heard here on KINY.

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