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Aircraft wreckage spotted near Dutch Harbor
Officials uncertain if it's missing Majestic Air Cargo DC-3
Weather is hindering a mission to reach the site of an airplane crash north of Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians. Lieutenant Christopher Ahearn of the Coast Guard Command Center in Juneau says a Coast Guard crew is standing by aboard a helicopter in Dutch Harbor along with members of a mountain rescue team. He says the National Weather Service has issued a storm warning for the area that calls for hurricane force winds through tonight. At this point, the rescue group will not be able to reach the scene until noon tomorrow at the earliest. The Coast Guard picked up a distress beacon in the Dutch Harbor area late Tuesday night. The signal led to the discovery of aircraft wreckage (left) yesterday. Strong winds and failing light prevented the helicopter from landing. The Coast Guard Command Center received a report from Majestic Air Cargo yesterday reporting a DC-3 cargo plane overdue or missing with two people on board. However, the missing plane has not been identified as the aircraft involved in the crash at this time. According to the FAA, the DC-3 took off from Unalakleet. The Flight Duty Officer says it is his understanding the plane was bound for Dutch Harbor and then Anchorage.
A Big Lake man was killed last night in a snowmachine accident. State Troopers say 48-year-old David Cooper was traveling on a trail that parallels South Big Lake Road when he apparently struck a moose and suffered fatal injuries. Cooper was found by a passing motorist shortly after midnight. He was unconscious and lying in a ditch beside the road. Emergency medical technicians were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at a hospital in Palmer shortly before 2:00am. Troopers say alcohol and excessive speed were believed to be factors in the accident. It's the 15th snowmachine-related fatality in Alaska this winter season.
The Assembly Finance Committee continued its deliberations on the crafting of a budget for next fiscal year during a meeting last night. Committee Chair Cathy Munoz says the panel was briefed on theannual audit from the independent auditor. She says the city's financial statements look good. As a matter of fact, she says the city received a national award for financial reporting which is the highest award given to a municipal government for excellence in financial matters. Munoz says the committee decided to hold off on making the city's Rainy Day Account a classic endowment. The plan now calls for strengthening the fund with annual investments. She says they also want to look at restructuring the fund so the interest it earns goes back to the corpus of the account. The panel is working on the second year spending plan for the current two year budget cycle. The budget work must be wrapped up by June 15th.
The Mayor's Ad Hoc Bear Committee conducts a meeting beginning at 5:00pm today to set the dates for a series of public hearings. The panel wants public input prior to forwarding recommendations to the Assembly on what should be done to solve the town's black bear problem. Among those recommendations is one calling for mandatory garbage pickup. (The KINY Weekly Poll concerns this issue -- cast your vote here.) The meeting takes place on the second floor of City Hall.
British Columbia officials are reconsidering the province's annual grizzly bear hunt. The Canadian government hired scientists to review the hunt and one of those scientists said this week that trophy hunting by foreign tourists is threatening the survival of grizzly bears in the province.
The original sponsor of the 1997 legislation establishing the high school exit exam does not want the effective date changed. That reaction from Anchorage Representative Con Bunde to legislation introduced by Governor Knowles that calls for pushing back the effective date from next year to 2006. Bunde points out that it was the Department of Education and Early Development that designed the test. Bunde says if the Department officials think the test is to difficult they can change the test without legislative approval.
The US Senate has approved former Democratic Congressman and former Clinton Administration cabinet secretary, Norman Mineta (left) as Transportation Secretary. During yesterday's confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on which Alaska Senator Ted Stevens serves, Mineta said he wants to allocate financial resources fairly and cited the added responsibilities of the Coast Guard burdened with an aging fleet. Stevens told Mineta that he'd like to see a streamlined review process to clear airport expansion projects for construction and called for improvements in Alaska's airports, The senator welcomed Mineta's cabinet appointment and said if there is any one place in the Bush Administration that should be bi-partisan it should be the Transportation Department.
Interior Secretary nominee Gale Norton says that, if confirmed, she will not make any decisions about the Katie John subsistence case. Norton worked on the case as a private attorney for the Alaska Legislature last year. She opposed the federal court decision that gave the federal government broad authority over Alaska waters to ensure rural subsistence rights. If she is confirmed for the top Interior post Norton would be in a position to help reshape the government's official position. But, Norton says that, given ethical considerations, she would not have any involvement in subsistence decisions for at least a year and possibly longer. The Alaska Legislature hired a Washington, DC attorney to file a brief in the case last year. That attorney hired Norton to help him. She earned about $60,000 for her work.
The US Department of Education has awarded grants to two organizations in Southeast Alaska, according to the state's congressional delegation. The Southeast Island School District is receiving nearly $197,000 to develop 21st Century Community Learning Centers. It's explained that the centers enable rural schools to expand projects with an aim at benefiting community needs. The other grant is earmarked for the Skagway City School District. It totals nearly $118,000 and will be used for its Educational Excellence and Community Enhanced Learning Program. That program is designed to help the community through after school, summer and weekend programs.
Exiled Chinese democracy advocate Wei Jingsheng (right) told members of the Legislature's Economic Development, Trade and Tourism Committee yesterday that Alaska should use the economic leverage of trade to help encourage human rights reform in his homeland. He said trade should not be separate from human relations in talks aimed at establishing business relations. Wei spent 18 years in prison for speaking out in favor of democracy and against the Chinese Communist government before being exiled to the United States in 1997. He is the first of several international dignitaries to meet with the committee during its first year of operation.
A British Columbia company is facing charges for failing to prevent the escape of farmed salmon last summer. The charges stem from an incident last July when 4,500 Atlantic Salmon escaped as Orca Shipping was transporting them to a processing plant. Orca Shipping Incorporated is the first company to face charges under the new provincial law.
The Internal Revenue Service is investigating the embezzlement of funds at Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks. Company officials alerted police late last year when a routine audit revealed missing money.
Governor Knowles is offering help from Alaska for cleanup of the oil spill in the fragile marine environment of the Galapagos Islands, where a ship has run aground (left). Knowles says Alaska's experience with the Exxon Valdez oil spill has left it with the technical experts and other resources to help in the Galapagos cleanup operation currently underway.
A newly-perceived health threat to some long-distance airline passengers is prompting a number of governments to take action. The problem is called "economy class syndrome" -- and is said to involve clots in blood vessels that are formed after a person sits idle in a cramped condition for a long period. Reports of passengers dying from clots right after long flights have prompted Australia's two biggest airlines and Singapore Airlines to issue warnings along with their tickets. And now, Thailand says it will offer free treatment to passengers flying in and out of the country, if they people participate in a government study beginning next month. Experts say no one really knows the true incidence of deep vein clots on airplanes or how long people have to remain still to get them. Alaskans routinely spend long hours on airliners due to the great distances between communities and the Lower 48.
The Perseverance Theatre production of "Fry Tales! - All New Adventures" opens tomorrow evening at Centennial Hall. Director Roblin Davis made a guarantee on KINY's Capital Chat this morning that no matter what age, everyone will enjoy the show. Among other things, there are 8 masked and 8 mini-masked characters; 11 clowns; 1 puppet; and a tea party. He was joined on the program by John Leo and Emily Windover. Leo plays one of the masked characters named Lawrence William Oliver. Windover portrays a "Clown Commander." Shows this weekend and next are at 7:00pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 4:00pm matinees Saturday and Sunday. There are also shows next Wednesday and Thursday evening beginning at 7:00pm. Tickets are $11. For senior citizens and those under 18, they're $9 . Tickets are available at local bookstores and at the door at Centennial Hall. (In photo, left to right, "Fry Tales" Director Roblin Davis, and cast members John Leo & Emily Windover)
Real estate agents in Whitehorse are pushing a Yukon Territory town as a perfect community for adventuresome retirees. Since its lead and zinc mine closed, Faro's population has been dropping steadily. Now homes in the community can be had at cut-rate prices and sellers hope the combination of cheap prices and great views will attract buyers.
A University of Alaska Southeast student is the recipient of the Soroptimist International of Juneau's Women's Achievement Award. Angeline Edge will use the $500 to complete her associate's degree in early childhood education at the Juneau campus of UAS. Edge will now advance to the Soroptimist Northwest Regional level competition where two $3,000 and one $5,000 winner will be selected. Participants in the national competition will vie for three $10,000 awards.
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