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Boom Box ordinance up for Assembly action tonight
The object of an ordinance up for action at tonight's Assembly meeting is to lower the volume on vehicle stereos and loud parties. Police would be able to cite violators if there vehicle stereos could be heard at a distance of more than 30 feet. The citation would be similar to a parking citation or passing a stopped school bus. Mayor Sally Smith said on KINY's Capital Chat this morning that the measure contains a $100 fine for second and subsequent offenses. She believes the ordinance has sufficient support for passage. Another ordinance up for action authorizes the sale of four lots in the S'It'Tuwan Subdivision for the High School Home Building Project.
Two appropriation ordinances are on tonight's Assembly agenda. One earmarks $175,000 for construction of a chilled water system at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The project will complete work that was partially constructed last summer during the surgery expansion project. It will provide air conditioning to critical areas of the hospital. The other measure authorizes $430,000 for reconstruction of the Valley Court Wastewater Lift Station. The station receives all of the wastewater from the hospital through the Lemon Creek industrial area. The Public Works Department plans to reconstruct all lift stations along Glacier. The Valley Court station is located near the intersection of Glacier and Anka Street. State DOT plans to signalize that intersection so the state will reimburse CBJ over $112,500 of the project costs. Work is scheduled for completion by the end of next summer.
A resolution on the Assembly agenda tonight authorizes the renewal of a lease of 21 and a half acres to the Juneau Gun Club for its trap shooting facility on Montana Creek Road. The club is requesting a 25 year lease. The authorization also includes a provision allowing the state Fish and Game Department to construct an indoor shooting facility on the property at no cost.
Juneau Mayor Sally Smith attended the meeting in Haines over the weekend between the Chambers of Commerce in Juneau, Haines and Skagway. She said on Capital Chat this morning that there was an agreement not to talk about the road proposal up the east side of Lynn Canal. That proposal is opposed by Haines and Skagway, Issues that were discussed by members of the three business organizations were the retention of the state capital in Juneau and the need for improved transportation in the form of enhanced ferry service. Smith says that concern went beyond northern Lynn Canal to include the entire region. She said it was suggested that representatives from Sitka, Wrangell and Petersburg be invited to the next meeting. Its anticipated that will occur in Juneau sometime in April. Juneau Chamber Executive Director George Davidson says a resolution will be considered by all three chambers requesting that the state expand its fast ferry construction program The resolution asks the state to finance four fast ferries rather than the two currently planned. Another issue brought up in the chamber discussions was the proposed gas line route down the Alaska Highway. He says chamber members in the Northern Lynn Canal communities were interested in possible spurs from the line to either Haines or Skagway. Davidson says the next meeting is scheduled for March 17th in Juneau.
A downward trend in Juneau's School District enrollment could lead to less state funds and budget cuts. The decline in enrollment could translate into about 250-thousand dollars in red ink for next school year, according to district officials. There were about 120 fewer full time students attending school this year. School officials are projecting a loss of about 76 students next year. Reducing the number of teachers to help balance next years budget is a possibility, according to School Board President Mary Becker, Becker says current student -teacher ratios could be maintained with ten fewer teachers next year. Meanwhile, Mary Becker says there are many areas where parents are asking for increased school district spending. She says the district's greatest need is for the Legislature to come up with additional funding.
The Coast Guard flew over the area yesterday where the fishing vessel Lady L sank Saturday morning. The four crewmembers were hoisted aboard a Coast Guard helicopter near the Barren Islands south of the Kenai Peninsula, after the vessel started taking on water uncontrollably. No sign was found of the Cordova based vessel. The crewmembers were airlifted to Kodiak following their rescue Saturday.
The Coast Guard ended its mission Saturday with the Alam Selaris. It was towed safety into Dutch Harbor. The engine of the 595 foot vessel conked out on Tuesday. The cutter Alex Haley was diverted to its location 120 miles northwest of Dutch Harbor to assist. The vessel was transporting a load of grain from Vancouver to Japan at the time.
The Coast Guard rescued two people Saturday night in an area near the Dupont Dock south of town. Chief Paul Webb says they lost their way when it became dark. Station Juneau's 47 foot boat responded. The hikers used a cell phone to direct the boat to their location. They were identified as 60 year old Janice Ivy and 53 year old Ed Nutall.
State Troopers says two people were killed in separate car crashes over the weekend. Troopers say 71-year-old John Kubanyi of Fairbanks, died Saturday evening from injuries suffered in a collision at Mile 328 of the Parks Highway. Troopers say Kubanyi was headed northbound when his car skidded into oncoming traffic, striking another vehicle. In an unrelated accident yesterday, 32-year-old Teresa Bandy-Trone, of Wasilla, suffered fatal injuries in a single-vehicle rollover at Mile 3-point-6 of Bogard Road. Troopers say her car apparently hit a guard rail and rolled into a nearby gravel pit. Troopers say she was thrown from the vehicle.
Bail for a teenager charged with shooting to death a father and his baby has been set at 250-thousand dollars. Authorities say 19-year-old Norman Lolnitz, of Koyukuk, is being held at the Fairbanks Correctional Center on two counts of first-degree murder. Lolnitz was arraigned yesterday. State Troopers say he's accused of shooting 36-year-old Fabian Pilot and two-month-old Stephan James Pilot. Investigators say Lolnitz and Pilot were drunk when Lolnitz fired two shots from a .223-caliber rifle in the direction of Pilot, who was holding the baby. Troopers say each slug struck both victims.
State Troopers say two Juneau residents were cited last week for failing to register as sex offenders. Brian Felipe, 24, and 47 year old Charles Joseph were issued a summons to appear in court.
One of last year's most bitterly contested bills is back in the Legislature. The measure that would bring cruise ships and other large vessels under the state's oil-spill response laws is up before the Senate Resources Committee today. An almost identical measure sponsored by Senator Drue Pearce passed the Senate last year but ran into trouble in the House. The House eventually passed a watered-down version of the bill and established a task force to study the issue. After months of meetings, the task force recommended a bill essentially identical to Pearce's original measure
The cruise ship industry is growing in southeast Alaska. A study by McDowell Group found that passenger traffic in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Haines increased 154 percent in the past decade. That pumped about 181 (M) million dollars into the four communities.
Governor Knowles highlighted the needs of the state's veterans during a press conference this morning to outline two pieces of legislation he's introducing. One is the establishment of a "Pioneers' and Veterans Home system that he announced earlier. The legislation provides a priority for veterans for admission to the state's Pioneers' Homes. The other measure creates the Alaska Veterans' Advisory Council.
The State Senate today approved Senate Resolution 1 which creates a committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations. A like committee was organized in the House several years ago. Today's vote was unanimous with all 20 members supporting the measure.
The Alaska Supreme Court has issued an opinion about who should be considered the legal provider of electricity to Klawock, on Prince of Wales Island. The ruling reaffirms a 1993 judgment by the then-Alaska Public Utilities Commission favoring the Alaska Power Company over the Tlingit and Haida Regional Electrical Authority.
A former employee of Alaska's court system has been sentenced for hacking into a New York computer system. Scott Dennis was sentenced Friday to three months in jail for interfering with a government-owned communication system. Dennis was the former computer security officer and system administrator for the U-S District Court in Alaska. Dennis was indicted in April on charges of hacking into the U-S District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Prosecutors say he was miffed at plans to allow more users into a restricted e-mail service.
A new report from the Employment Policy Foundation says the largest percentage of all computer owners live in Alaska, or 67 percent of all households, while the lowest percentage is in Arkansas with 39 percent. The Foundation says computers will be joining the ranks of common U-S household appliances by the year 2010 -- regardless of household income.
A meeting is scheduled this evening at the University of Alaska Southeast Auke Lake Campus for those interested in becoming a teacher. Students can complete the school's Masters of Arts in Teaching degree program in a year. Dr. Dave Marvel, who heads up the secondary program, and Dr. Mary-Claire Tarlow, who directs the elementary MAT program, will describe the courses and answer questions during the informational meeting. It starts at 5:30 this evening in the Mourant Building.
University of Alaska Southeast Freshman Laykeia Thurmond really wants to be in Juneau. The 18 year old from Greenville, North Carolina, spent four and a half days traveling by bus to Seattle, to save money, and then flew to Juneau. She says she wanted to study marine biology at UAS. She considered coming here for a year and a half before making the move. After graduation from UAS Thurmond plans to continue her education at a veterinarian school. She graduated from high school at 16 by taking the GED so she could enter college earlier. She spent one year at a community college taking basic required classes before enrolling at UAS.
University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor John Pugh used part of his weekly report on KINY Radio this morning to highlight an educational opportunity for local high school students. He says they still have slots for the Heavy Duty Mechanics class. The class meets during the high school's fifth period at the UAS Marine Technology Building. Pugh says a number of high school students who have taken the class in the past have pursued a career in that field. He calls it a great, cooperative effort between UAS and the high school. Additional information is available from the tech center.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has lowered interest rates to 2-point-5 percent from 4-point-4 percent for loans to communities to build water and sewer projects. The agency says the funds that supply the loan money have fared well, allowing interest rates to fall. Officials say the Alaska Clean Water Fund and the Alaska Drinking Water Fund have suffered no (no) loan defaults or late payments from communities. They say investments also have earned more profits than expected.
Three-time Iditarod champion Jeff King of Denali Park won the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race Sunday. He was in good company. Five-time Iditarod champion Rick Swenson of Two Rivers came in second, crossing the finish line just eight minutes behind King. King, who last won the race in 1997, finished at 7-06 a-m morning with seven dogs. Swenson came in at 7-14 with six dogs. Ed Iten was third, John Baker was fourth and Ramy Brooks was fifth. Last year's winner, Charlie Boulding, was sixth.All the top finishers have raced in the Iditarod. Nineteen teams entered the 300-mile race to Aniak and back. Two teams scratched.
A familiar sight that dominated Ketchikan's waterfront for 72 years is now history. Part of McKay Marine Ways was demolished last week. The facility was built by Scottish shipwrights in 1929. The yard was a center for ship repair. When it opened, McKay was the largest covered marine ways in the state. It was fully operational until 1984. But owner Dick Hamlin ways rot had gotten the best of the wooden building. Part of the building was destroyed in 1931 when an overturned tarpot ignited a fire. In the 1980s, the community made an unsuccessful effort to turn the shipyard into a museum. But that plan was abandoned when it was determined it would cost millions of dollars.
The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears took two from the Sitka Wolves in men's basketball action over the weekend. Saturday's final was 76 to 53. The Bears outpaced the Wolves Friday night 68 to 53.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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