JUNEAU DAILY NEWS MINUTE
By Chris Burns - kiny@ptialaska.net
Monday, January 22, 1996 (c) Alaska Juneau Communications
*A 130-foot barge broke loose from its anchor shortly after 3:00
this morning and went adrift in Gastineau Channel. It floated
under the Douglas Bridge apparently without incident before being
recovered by the tug 'Racona II' about 4:00 a.m. Yesterday, a
50-foot sailboat caught fire, burned to the waterline and sank
about 11 miles north of Sitka. The 4-person crew of the 'Lost
Otter' made it safely to shore in a skiff.
*Juneau teachers and the school district are 8-percent apart in
contract talks which began last Friday. The district wants the
teachers to accept a 6-percent salary cut, while teachers are
asking for a 2-percent raise. The district says it's facing a
$675,000 budget shortfall and cannot afford the raise. The
teachers say the district's offer is an insult.
*The first bill to pass the 1996 session of the Legislature is
aimed at helping school districts produce their annual budgets.
Currently, districts and municipal governments have to formulate
their school budget plans before the Legislature approves funding
for the year. The new law sets the deadline date back until after
the Legislature adjourns.
*City Manager Dave Palmer will report to the Assembly tonight on
the status of the West Douglas Golf Course and Housing Project
proposed by Waterfront Park Corporation. Palmer says the company
has yet to show that it has funding for the venture, and that a
deadline of February 29th has been placed on them to come up with
it. The developer also now wants to increase the size of the golf
course from 18 holes to 27, and more than double the number of
housing units.
*Several Juneau businesses will soon begin accepting Canadian
currency. The 'Fair Exchange' program provides participating
merchants with weekly exchange rates, a special window decal and
a laminated conversion table. Many Canadian cities -- including
Whitehorse -- already take part in the program which started
several years ago in Ontario.
*The Alaska Forest Association has announced the hiring of a new
executive director. Jack Phelps, an aide to state representative
Bill Williams of Saxman, will take the reins about February 1st.
He replaces Chris Gates who left the post after 15 months.
*Colonel John Fleming of the Alaska National Guard Youth Corps
will be in Juneau this Wednesday and Thursday recruiting at-risk
youth. The Youth Corps operates a resident school at Fort
Richardson which combines education with military discipline.