Click here for the best computer you can buy
Juneau Daily News Online

Tuesday, January 26, 1999  © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

CBJ truck crashes into utility pole
   Driver loses control on snowy road
A city dump truck had an exciting trip down Ross Way onto Glacier Avenue this morning. It slid down the hill there and was only stopped from going over the embankment overlooking Egan Drive when it wedged in between a power pole and electric circuit box (left). City Public Works Director Ernie Mueller estimated damage at $15,000. The driver did not need medical attention. Mueller says its his understanding that the driver had backed up on Ross Way to sand it. He then went around on Behrends Avenue and was coming down Ross Way, but lost control and was unable to make the turn. It took a grader and a front end loader a couple of hours to unwedge the truck. Alaska Electric, Light and Power crews (right) were called to the scene prior to moving the truck to allow them to reroute circuits and avoid a possible outage. Police closed off Ross Way following the accident.

More snow, more problems for commuters, air travelers
The slippery roads are caused by yet another dump of snow in Juneau. A snow advisory in effect for Juneau calls for 3 to 5 inches with it turning to mixed rain and snow late today and continuing tonight. Several vehicles were reported in the median along Egan Drive after spinning out of control this morning. Today's weather is hindering Alaska Airline flights. Flight 73 over headed and proceeded to Anchorage. Flight 60 which was suppose to depart southbound before seven this morning finally took off at eleven. Flight 62, which is G-P-S equipped got in before ten and out again southbound. Flight 61, which is not G-P-S equipped, over headed and proceeded northbound.

Group calls for EIS on airport improvements
A full blown Environmental Impact Statement is needed as part of the revised Airport Master Plan for Juneau. That according to a member of the Mendenhall State Game Refuge Citizen's Advisory Group on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. The panel on which Joe Geldhof (left) serves reports to the State Fish and Game Department and makes recommendations on the refuge and associated wetlands. He said there's a need for a longer view approach than the more limited environmental assessment called for in the draft plan. Public comment may be made to the Airport Board which meets next on February 10th. A meeting totally devoted to the revised master plan is set for February 24th.

JRD looks at new helicopter, fixed-wing-plane combo tour
The Juneau Ranger District is reviewing a proposal for joint flightseeing tours by Coastal Helicopters and Ward Air to the lake just below Antler Glacier. Acting Ranger John Favro says the proposal is not part of the ice field study since its outside of that area and the latest proposal has not been examined in the past. It's fate will depend on the tone of the public comments which are due by January 31st. Favro says if there a lot of negative comments then the proposal will probably be rolled into the revised ice field study which is due out by the end of the year 2000.

No decision yet on more icefield dogs led tours
The Juneau Ranger District is weeding through the public comments received on proposals for guided dog sled tours on the Juneau icefield. Acting Ranger John Favro says the recurring theme is that people don't want to see additional helicopter flights on the ice field. He says that may lead to a decision to keep the level of landings at the same level as they are now. He expects a formal decision with in the next month.

Public to review taxi ordinance
The Assembly's Commercial Vehicle Transportation Task Force plans to take a fifth draft of its work out for public review the middle of next month. That after going over a fourth draft during last night's meeting, according to Assembly Member Tom Garrett who chairs the panel. The panel is working to come up with definitions for the various forms of transportation. Garrett says they have a handle on taxis and shuttle services, but courtesy vans are proving to be the most challenging. The examination of current code was commenced after taxi cab drivers complained that shuttle and courtesy vans were picking up passengers outside of designated loading zones and the city was not enforcing the code. The Assembly appointed the Task Force last month after tabling an ordinance that proposed various changes to the municipal code.

Clammers sentenced for illegal sales
Two Petersburg geoduck (right) harvesters have been sentenced in Juneau Federal Court after they failed to test the claims for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning prior to selling the product. Michael Bangs and Harley Ethelbah were placed on 18 months probation after pleading guilty to the one misdemeanor count and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service work related to the shellfish industry during their probation. They harvested geoducks from Symonds Bay south of Sitka which was closed at the time and then shipped the clams to New York without the required PSP testing.

Pot, paraphernalia grabbed in drug raid
SEANET officers have seized 35 marijuana plants, growing equipment, drug paraphernalia and money in a Juneau drug bust. The officers found the stuff in a search late last week of a unit at Lakeside Condos on Mendenhall Loop Road. Officer David Campbell of the Southeast Alaska Narcotics Enforcement Team says no arrests were made at the time of the search, but that criminal charges will be filed at the end of the investigation.

TAC meets to form action plan
The main order of business during this evening's Tourism Advisory Committee is an annual action plan. Committee Chair Susan Favro says the full panel will review a draft plan prepared by the planning subcommittee. The draft includes emerging issues that need to be addressed, according to Favro. The meeting begins at 5:15 at the downtown fire station.

(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)

Photographers/Public Information Officers:
We are actively soliciting photos of timely local news events. Please email us for details.