JUNEAU DAILY NEWS MINUTE
Monday, January 27, 1997 (c) Alaska Juneau Communications
*Tax breaks for fishermen and processors who hire welfare
recipients, and incentives for new ideas in marketing salmon were
two proposals put forward by Governor Knowles this morning as he
addressed the opening session of a three day Salmon Strategy
Forum here in Juneau. Knowles is pushing for cooperation between
legislators and industry participants to help put Alaska wild
salmon ahead of farmed fish in the market. The ideas were first
brought up in a speech before the Legislature earlier this month,
but those bills will not be filed until after the Forum
participants have a chance to work on the ideas.
*Republican Representative Jerry Sanders of Anchorage will be
answering questions from the House Rules Committee regarding
ethics charges that were filed against him last year. The ethics
panel says Sanders used state funds and resources for mailing a
letter to constituents, which they say amounts to a publicly
funded campaign mailing. Sanders says he did no wrong, and that
the panel was trying to hurt his re-election campaign.
*Current restrictions on departures at the Juneau International
Airport could be in effect for up to three years, in spite of
cutting edge technology that has put the airport in exclusive
company. Juneau is one of only three airports to experiment with
wind profilers and anemometers. Airport manager Dave Miller says
with more data being gathered, the scientific community wants to
analyze it before making a recommendation to the FAA to drop the
current restrictions.
*Sitka Community Hospital and the Chatham School District are big
winners when it comes to energy conservation. Thanks to a
matching funds grant from the state Department of Community and
Regional Affairs, equipment has been installed that has cut
energy costs by $3,000 a month at the hospital, and similar
savings are expected from the School District that serves
Gustavus and Angoon.
*Cellulink Cellular and Cellular One both have received Public
Service Commendations from the Coast Guard for programming Star
C-G into their systems for use from Haines to Dixon Entrance.
The emergency service was implemented voluntarily by both
companies. Boaters in trouble need only dial Star C-G to be
connected to the Coast Guard Command Center here in Juneau.
*Four Juneau Douglas High School students received top honors in
the 1997 All Alaska High School Art Show that is being hosted
this year at the Alaska State Museum. Senior Tom Pegues won the
Congressional Award for a kayak he made, and it will be displayed
in the office of a member of our Congressional Delegation in
Washington D.C. Mia Logger won first place in the drawing
category, while Jackie Manning took first in painting, and Ryan
Anderson took top honors in sculpture.