Juneau Daily News Online

Monday, January 24, 2000  ©  Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Fast ferries chosen for Juneau access
 Road not in Capital City's immediate future
 Plan announced for three new high-speed vessels
Governor Knowles says a fast ferry rather than a road is the best way to improve access to Juneau for now. Knowles says he will submit a request for a high-speed car ferry to legislators and voters as part of a $350-million statewide transportation construction bond package. Two other fast ferries will serve Sitka and the corridor between Wrangell and Ketchikan. The road up the east side of Lynn Canal to Skagway was the preferred alternative of state transportation planners, but the Governor said he didn't believe Alaska could afford the road right now. He added that his decision doesn't preclude a road in the future. The fast ferry aimed at improving access in Northern Lynn Canal will operate out of Auke Bay. Goldbelt, Juneau's urban native corporation, was hoping the Governor would decide to base it from its planned facility at Cascade Point. Alaska Marine Highway System General Manager Bob Doll says Cascade Point is always a potential departure point, but that such an option is based on future events. Goldbelt President and CEO Joe Beedle believes those events will come to fruition within 3 to 5 years. He considers the Governor's proposal an interim solution. Murray Walsh of Alaskans For Better Access, which preferred the road option, says fast ferries leaving from Cascade Point would have been a real improvement. (In photo, left to right, Governor Tony Knowles, Alaska Marine Highway System General Manager Bob Doll, and DOT Commissioner Joe Perkins at this morning's news conference)

Teen puts out fire, saves home
A 13 year old boy who was home alone is credited with dousing a chimney stack fire at his Lynn Canal area home yesterday afternoon. After the smoke detector went off, he called 9-1-1 first and then put it out with an extinguisher, according to Lynn Canal District Fire Chief Shelly Owens. He was identified only as Cedar which is his first name. Chief Owens says there was no apparent structural damage. The alarm was sounded at 3:19pm and Chief Owens says four units and 15 volunteers were on scene at the Williwaw Way home by 3:30pm.

USCG seeks charter boat safety rating system
Tourists in Alaska may soon be able to choose a charter boat operator based on their level of safety. The Coast Guard has proposed a rating system that would inform consumers on the safety of charter boats commonly hired for fishing or pleasure trips. There are more than 2,000 vessels that can carry up to 6 passengers for hire in Alaska. They are not required to be inspected by the Coast Guard. And Coast Guard officials say this lack of control is the cause of accidents. The rating system would award stars to charter boat operators based on the number of safety systems they have, including life rafts, secondary communications systems, emergency locator beacons and emergency training certification for the crew. Coast Guard officials say they're still working out the details of the program.

North Douglas sewer system closer to reality
A resolution up for action at tonight's Assembly meeting authorizes the Manager to submit an application for a loan of $580,000 from the state's Alaska Clean Water Fund for the North Douglas Sewer Project. The project will begin just south of Falls Creek and terminate north of the Bonnie Brae Subdivision. The design will include sewer mains on both the highway and beach which will be tied together and directed across Gastineau Channel near Salmon Creek. From there the sewage will be pumped to the Juneau-Douglas Wastewater Treatment plant through the existing system.

"Head tax" issues on CBJ agenda
Two tourism-related ordinances are up for public hearing and action during tonight's meeting of the Juneau Assembly. The first amends the revenue and taxation code to impose the $5 cruise ship passenger fee approved in last October's election. It also provides language for administrative support and collection, according to Mayor Dennis Egan. The second is an ordinance that appropriates $25,000 to the city and borough's auditor, Elgee, Rehfeld and Funk, to conduct a financial analysis of CBJ services impacted by cruise ship traffic. Read the ordinance, a memo on the passenger fee by City Attorney John Corso (right), and other documents related to tonight's issues here.

CCAJ asks for equipment, cable time
The newly formed Community Cable Access Juneau group will make a request at tonight's Assembly meeting for $600 to purchase equipment. It will also request the use of Cable Channel 4 for 90 minutes on Saturdays when there's no conflict with Gavel to Gavel. This evening's meeting will be broadcast on Cable Channel 2.

GOP tosses Governor's operating budget
Republican budget leaders in the Legislature are throwing out Governor Knowles' proposed operating budget for next year in a largely symbolic gesture. The Democratic governor has proposed a $100-million budget increase. The GOP majorities in the House and Senate want to cut $30-million. Senator Sean Parnell (left) and Representative Eldon Mulder, told reporters during a press conference this morning that the the starting point will be the budget for this fiscal year. Legislation was introduced in both bodies today specifying that beginning point. The Republican-controlled Legislature is in its fifth of five years of budget cuts.

ANS to support Jacobsson
The Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2 has voted to support the subsistence fast of Desa Jacobsson. The organization's Dolores Cadiente says some of the members will give up one meal day; others will fast for a day or two to show their support; and some will contribute to Jacobsson's legal defense fund. Jacobsson has said she will fast until the 1992 law that makes urban areas off limits for subsistence fishing, is repealed. Jacobsson and four others were cited last fall for using a net to catch salmon at a stream near Juneau. Their trial is scheduled to begin next month.

Snowmachiners avalanche seminar
An avalanche workshop for snowmachiners is planned this weekend by the Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center. Director Bill Glude (left in photo), who was a guest on KINY's Capital Chat this morning, said a classroom session is planned Friday night followed by a field session Saturday and possibly Sunday depending on turnout and interest. About a dozen snowmachiners were killed in avalanches in Alaska last year. Scott Chehock (right in photo), the Division Chief of Operations for Capital City Fire and Rescue, said most fatalities come during "high-marking," which involves trying to go up a slope as high as possible. For more information on this weekend's workshop call Glude at 586-5606.

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