Juneau Daily News Online

Tuesday, January 25, 2000  ©  Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Two men beaten severely during robbery
  One victim critical, two suspects are in custody
Juneau Police are investigating the beating and robbery of two men before 5:00 this morning at the Indian Village off Willoughby Avenue. Two suspects are in custody, according to Lieutenant Ron Forneris, who says eyewitnesses described a vehicle observed leaving the scene. That vehicle was stopped later and the occupants arrested. They're identified as 33 year old Ronald Edward Smith and 22 year old Rye Joel Soto. An official for Bartlett Regional Hospital said the victims were brought to the emergency room shortly after 5:00 this morning. A 37 year old man was transported to the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage with significant head trauma. A 27 year old man suffered a dislocated shoulder and multiple head lacerations and was admitted to the hospital here. The suspects, armed with a baseball bat and shotgun, knocked on the door of the residence as the people inside were watching television. When one answered the door, he was reportedly pulled outside and beaten with the bat. The second man was beaten when he tried to come to his aide. The suspects demanded money from people inside and then fled the scene. The suspects, who were jailed at Lemon Creek, are charged with two counts of Assault in the First Degree and two counts of Robbery each. Charges could be upgraded depending on the fate of their victims. The man transported to Anchorage is reported to be in critical condition.

Restaurant manager killed in Anchorage
Anchorage police say the night manager of a mid-town fast-food restaurant was fatally shot during a robbery early today. Police identified the shooting victim as 31-year-old Dianne Rostron. The search continues for the two men who robbed the Wendy's store and killed her.

Doll named SE-DOT chief
The Operations Manager of the Alaska Marine Highway System is the new Southeast Regional Director for the state Department of Transportation. Governor Knowles today picked Bob Doll for the job. Doll succeeds Bob Martin, who resigned in December to take a job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. George Cappaci will replace Doll as the ferry system's Operations Manager. The Coast Guard veteran is now the Marine Highway's Port Captain. Knowles made the announcement this morning during a meeting of the Alaska Conference of Mayors in Juneau. (In photo at left, new SE-DOT Director Bob Doll speaking to Alaska Conference of Mayors in the Juneau Assembly Chambers this morning shortly before his appointment by Governor Knowles)

Sica will replace Miller as city clerk
The former city clerk in Skagway will become Juneau's next municipal clerk. Laurie Sica moves into the position effective February 1st replacing Marion Miller who resigned earlier this year. Sica has worked for the City and Borough of Juneau since June of 1996 as the Environmental-Zoning Inspector. She was appointed city clerk in Skagway in January of 1994 and also served as Assistant City Clerk and Tourism Director there.

Head tax officially on the books
The $5 cruise ship passenger fee approved by voters last fall is now in effect. The ordinance was approved by the Assembly last night. The portion of the measure pertaining to the committee that will study and recommend a list of projects funded by the fee was amended. One slot reserved for a representative of the cruise ship industry was dropped and replaced with a member of the Docks and Harbor Board. The 5 member committee will now be made up of 2 members of the general public, 1 industry representative and 2 board members. Another measure that would appropriate $25,000 to the city and borough's auditor, to conduct a financial analysis of city services impacted by cruise ship traffic was debated at length before being defeated on a 5 to 4 vote. City Attorney John Corso said the study would be helpful in any legal challenge the fee may face, but Assembly Member Cathy Munoz said the focus of the study is too broad and would take to long.

Douglas land swap proposal to be rewritten
The introduction of an ordinance authorizing the city manager to convey 134 acres of municipal property located above Douglas to the Alaska Mental Health Trust in exchange for property located near Sunny Point was pulled from last night's consent agenda. Mayor Dennis Egan says once the concepts for the modified exchange have been negotiated with the trust, the Assembly will direct staff to prepare a new ordinance for introduction. Assembly members want staff to explore options for recovering 30 acres of property at Sunny Point, valued at $612,000, back to the Trust and also conveying 64 acres in Douglas, as needed, to cover the balance owed to the Trust. (In photo at left, a packed house for last night's Assembly meeting)

USCG vessel open for tours tomorrow
The Coast Guard buoy tender Anthony Petit (right) is visiting Juneau through the end of the week. The 175 foot cutter based in Ketchikan has a crew of 23. It replaced the Planetree last November. Public tours are planned from 9:00am to 3:00pm tomorrow. It's docked at Station Juneau across from the National Guard Armory.

Searchers give up on meteorite
Canadian authorities have given up the search for fragments of the meteor that was spied by many as it passed below the clouds in Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory a week ago today. It's believed the object crashed into Caribou Mountain near Carcross. No luck in finding any remnants, according to Eric Magnuson of the Emergency Measures Organization in Whitehorse.

Bush wins state straw poll
Just 5 votes separated first and second place in yesterday's Republican straw poll in Alaska. Texas Governor George W. Bush (left) netted 1,571 votes, or 36.3 percent, in the statewide contest. Conservative publisher Forbes captured 1,566 votes, or 36.2 percent. Arizona Senator John McCain was third with 412 votes, 1 ahead of commentator Alan Keyes. Farther back were pro-family advocate Gary Bauer with 207 votes and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch with 163 votes. Local party official Paulette Simpson says Bush claimed a more decisive victory in Juneau with 132 votes. Forbes garnered 76 votes, Allen Keys received 27 votes, John McCain 26, Gary Bauer 15 and Orrin Hatch 3 votes.

Property tax limitation bill will be on ballot
The state Division of Elections reports there are enough signatures to place the property tax cap initiative on November's General Election ballot. That according to Division official Virginia Breeze. Breeze says the Division will now start verifying signatures on the other two initiative petitions submitted. The Hemp initiative would protect adults from civil and criminal sanctions for use of marijuana and other hemp products. The other prospective initiative would raise the minimum wage to $6.50 an hour if approved by voters.

Seminar scheduled on drugs in the workplace
A workshop on substance abuse entitled "Hidden Villain in Lost Productivity" is scheduled in Juneau tomorrow. J. Wayne LeBlanc (left in photo), the executive director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, was a guest on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. He says substance abuse is a widespread problem throughout the nation. The workshop is scheduled from 8:00am until noon tomorrow at Centennial Hall. Leblanc was joined on this morning's program by JEDC Business Counselor Jim Weiland (center in photo), and State Personnel Manager for the Division of Personnel, Dave Stewart (right in photo)

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