Kootznoowoo shareholders receive dividend
Shareholders of Angoon’s village corporation, Kootznoowoo, were issued a dividend of $3.27 per share today in the first distribution of 2008 from the shareholders’ settlement trust.

With most shareholders holding 100 shares in the trust, that's works out to $327 dollars.

Chairman of the Kootznoowoo Permanent Fund Settlement Trust, Carlton Smith, says two more distributions will be made this year, with the per share total expected near $10 for 2008, nearly $1,000 for the year.

Smith says that the ending balance for 2007 of Settlement Trust was nearly $14 million, an increase of nearly $1 million over the previous year.

He says the trust averages returns over a 5-year period to provide more predictable dividends throughout the year.

The trust was created by Kootznoowoo Inc. in 1991 and funded in 1994 with $9.5 million.

The trust was authorized by an amendment to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

The shareholders of Kootznoowoo each hold equity interest in the trust equal to their shares in the corporation.

The trust and the village corporation are separate and are presided over by separate boards.

Since its inception, the trust has distributed over $8 million to shareholders.

Juneau police bust check theft and forging scheme
A payroll check theft and forging scheme involving a half dozen people has been broken up by Juneau police.

Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the crime.  An arrest warrant is out for another.

The scheme began to unravel on November 13th of last year when Juneau police received a report that 45 payroll checks were missing from a downtown business. Police have not named the business.

At the time of the report, nine of the checks, totaling $8,935.61 had been forged and cleared through various banks.

That same afternoon police were notified that Cindy Hotch was attempting to cash one of the checks at a downtown bank.

When police arrived Hotch fled the bank on foot.  After a short foot pursuit she was caught and arrested.

Hotch was lodged at the Lemon Creek Correctional  Center on no bail for forgery and theft in the second degree, both C felonies.

The subsequent police investigation revealed that the theft of the checks involved Heather Schimanski and Nicole Richert.

Police say Richert was a former employee of the business and provided Schimanski with the keys to the business which she used to gain access and steal the payroll checks.

According to police, the checks were forged and cashed by Hotch, Schimanski, Joycelyn White, and Mark Nash under the direction of Vonnie Williams.

The total amount of the cashed checks was $18,257.60.

On January 3rd, Schimanski was arrested for forgery in the second  degree while attempting to cash a check taken during another burglary.

After further investigation she was also charged with burglary and theft  in the second degree.

On Saturday, January 19th, Nicole Richert was arrested for aiding and abetting burglary in the second degree

On Monday, January 28th, Mark Nash was arrested for forgery in the second degree.

Williams was arrested Saturday, January 26 on 14 counts of theft in the second degree.

White remains at large. A warrant for her arrest on a charge of forgery in the second degree has been issued.

-----

One point of clarification.  The Nicole Richert mentioned in this story is not the school teacher Nikki Richert.    

Young challengers report fundraising totals
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Congressman Don Young's campaign is spending nine times more than its taking in and most of the expense is for lawyers, according to campaign finance reports filed today. (Thursday)

Young, who is facing an FBI investigation, spent nearly $595,000 for a three-month period that ended December 31st.

About $400,000 was on legal feels. He took in just over $62,000 in donations and other income.

Also the campaign for Republican Senator Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican, reported receiving $207,206, which includes donations and interest income. Details of his campaigns spending and income were not available.

Ethan Berkowitz and Jake Metcalfe, two Democratic candidates looking to unseat Republican incumbent also announced campaign fundraising efforts.

Candidates for federal offices had until just before midnight tonight to file 2007 year-end reports with the Federal Elections Commission.

Berkowitz, a former Alaska House minority leader, announced raising nearly $125,000 in the final quarter of 2007.

Berkowitz said he collected money from 577 contributors.

Metcalfe, a former head of the state's Democratic Party, said he raised $92,000 last year and another $33,000 this year from more than 500 donors.

Criminal charges won't be filed in airport shootout
HOMER, Alaska (AP) - Federal attorneys say they're not filing criminal charges against law enforcement officers involved in a fatal shootout nearly two years ago at the Homer airport.

Authorities say Jason Karlo Jacob Anderson of Duluth, Minnesota, killed himself after badly injuring his two-year-old son by shooting the child in the face.

Authorities were trying to serve a federal arrest warrant on the 31-year-old Anderson just before the incident in March 2006.

United States Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan says there's no reason to believe that any law enforcement officer acted willfully to violate the civil rights of Anderson or his son.

Witnesses say Anderson started shooting first.

Authorities say Anderson was hit nine times by bullets before shooting himself in the head.

Police say Anchorage man kills brother
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Police say an Anchorage man killed his brother during an argument.

Thirty-seven-year-old Vincent Wilkerson has been charged with first-degree murder in the death late Wednesday of his brother, Gregory.
Police say the brothers were with other people at an East Anchorage mobile home when the Wilkersons began arguing.

Officials say Vincent Wilkerson produced a gun and shot his 34-year-old brother several times. Gregory Wilkerson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Vincent Wilkerson initially fled, but returned to the mobile home early Thursday morning, when police interviewed him.

Besides murder, he also faces charges of weapons misconduct and tampering with evidence. He was being held at the Anchorage Jail with bail set at $650,000 plus a third party custodian.  

Former VECO execs have sentencings postponed
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Federal prosecutors want to continue postponing the sentencing dates for two former VECO Corporation executives whose testimony has helped convict two former lawmakers of bribery.

In a status report filed Thursday, federal prosecutors say both former CEO Bill Allen and Rick Smith, a vice president, continue to cooperate with investigators.

They say the "current investigation is exceedingly complex due to a variety of issues and is ongoing." They also say a substantial amount of work remains in the government's investigation, and say the next status report on sentencing is expected by April 30th.

Both Allen and Smith have pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska lawmakers and were star witnesses in the government's successful bribery trials against former state Representatives Vic Kohring and Pete Kott.

Kodiak death now investigated as homicide
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - A Kodiak man who was severely beaten over a week ago has died.

Forty-one-year Darrell Cavaness was assaulted on January 22nd at a home.

The Kodiak Police Department says Cavaness died from his injuries at an Anchorage hospital Wednesday night.

In a Thursday news release, police say they have interviewed "subjects of interest" and are continuing the investigation now as a homicide.

Police Chief T.C. Kamai would not release any further information.

The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy Friday. An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank to help Cavaness' family with expenses.
---
Information from: Jay Barrett/KMXT-FM

Commercial loading facility bid before Docks and Harbors Board
The CBJ Docks and Harbors Board tonight (Thursday) is expected to award the bid for final construction of the Auke Bay commercial loading facility.

Port Director John Stone says they received two bids.

Trucano Construction was the low bidder at $7.08 million dollars.

The engineer's estimate was $7.4 million

Swalling Construction submitted a bid of $8.9 million.

The board is also scheduled to award a bid for construction of eleven new booths for the waterfront venders.

Stone say they received nine bids.

Tom Matheson Carpentry was the low bidder at $23,851.30.

Stone says the architect's estimate was $30,000, so the low bid is significantly below that amount.

The board will also be awarding a survey services contract for a piece of CBJ owned tidelands. Stone says two proposals were submitted. He's recommending that it be awarded to R and M Engineering of Juneau.

The budget for  fiscal years 2009 and 2010 budgets is before the panel tonight. If adopted, the spending plan will be forwarded to the Assembly.

Stone says, in general, it's a status quo budget very similar to last year.

The Docks and Harbors Board meets at 7 tonight in the Assembly Chambers

Measure allowing legislative aide to donate kidney to lawmaker clears House
The State House of Representatives today (Thursday) approved a measure that allows a legislative aide to donate a kidney to Nome Representative Richard Foster without running afoul of new ethics rules.

It was fast-tracked through the process and passed on a unanimous 35 to 0 vote.

Sue Stancliff was barred from donating the kidney because of the expense surrounding the donation.

The change in law will allow her to make a donation.

Her boss, Fairbanks Representative Mike Kelly, asked members to recognized her during the floor session. Everyone rose and offered a round of applause.

The ethics law approved last year put a $250 limit on compassionate gifts.

The kidney itself has no monetary value under federal law but the bill lifts the limit on donations of expenses such as travel and medical costs.

All members of the House co-sponsored by the bill.

House Bill 317 now moves to the Senate.

Environmental, Native Alaska groups sue to block lease sale
By DAN JOLING
Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Fourteen conservation and Alaska Native groups sued the federal government Thursday seeking to stop a petroleum lease sale off Alaska's northwest shore.

The sale would make available for drilling an area nearly the size of Pennsylvania on the outer continental shelf of the Chukchi Sea.

The groups say the Minerals Management Service did not fairly evaluate potential effects on wildlife and the subsistence foods used by Native Alaskans in the region.

Earthjustice attorney Eric Jorgensen says the lawsuit does not seek an injunction to block the sale, scheduled for Wednesday in Anchorage.

The groups hope the agency will postpone the sale in the face of the lawsuit and opposition expressed in Congress.

Palin denies Port Authority's pipeline reconsideration request
By STEVE QUINN
Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The state has turned down the Alaska Gasline Port Authority's request to reconsider its gas pipeline proposal.

The administration announced its decision Wednesday. The authority's plan was officially rejected by Governor Sarah Palin last month.

The authority asked for reconsideration, saying it could not get project cost and other data from industry partners who pulled out of the bid.

The administration reconsidered the port authority's request, but stuck by its original ruling that the group failed to submit a complete proposal by the November 30th deadline.

Earlier this month, Palin said that TransCanada had the only conforming application.   

OPEC oil ministers likely to opt for maintaining present output levels
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Oil ministers are saying there's no need to step up oil production, despite high prices.

Their comments suggest OPEC is content with oil hovering around $90 a barrel.

OPEC members, who meet Friday in Austria, argue opening the spigots would be counterproductive, since there's enough crude to meet world needs.

The sputtering U.S. economy also means demand may slow.

The U.S. released a report saying crude and gasoline stocks jumped by 3.6 million barrels each last week -- adding fuel to OPEC's status quo argument.

OPEC's president says he doubts increasing the supply of oil "can help on the price issue." But, he assures that "production cuts are not in the cards."

-----
On the Net:  www.opec.org 

Sergeant Christensen retiring, JPD promotes Officer Burke
A personnel change is coming at the Juneau Police Department.

Sergeant Steve Christensen has announced his retirement.

Sergeant Dave Campbell said on Capital Chat Wednesday that Sergeant Christensen will be replaced by School Resources Officer Chris Burke.

The promotion is effective April 1.

Burke is one of the department's two school resources officers.

A replacement for Burke in that role is pending.

Deadline approaches for early direct PFD deposits
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Time is winding down for Alaskans to apply for an early direct deposit of their Alaska Permanent Fund dividends.

Applicants who want to get in on the first distribution of dividends must apply by midnight tonight. (Thursday)

Those who qualify will get their money October 2nd.

Dividend director Deborah Richter says that as of Monday, more than 315,000 Alaskans had applied online. That's up 40,000 applications from the same time period last year.

Public computers are available for filing online in the PFD Information Offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.

Applicants who file for direct deposits after today will get their money October 16th.  They can apply on-line or on paper.

The balance start going out in the mail November 14th.

The 2008 PFD application period closes March 31st.

The 2008 dividend amount will be announced in mid-September.

Lawmakers take up first of many conflict of interest measures
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - An Anchorage Republican expressed conflicting feelings about his own measure to revamp the Legislature's conflict of interest laws.

Representative Kevin Meyer said the more he studies the issue, the more he believes the current system is the best.

Under the current rules, lawmakers may request to be excused from voting on the House or Senate Floor but their request may only be granted by the consent of the entire body.

Under Meyer's resolution, a member may abstain if a majority of members votes in favor.

The measure is one of at least five proposals in the House and Senate.

The House State Affairs Committee heard Meyer's bill Thursday. It plans to form a subcommittee that will review all the proposals together.

Lawmakers take up Palin's predator control bill
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Lawmakers got an earful from Alaskans opposing Governor Sarah Palin's proposal to streamline the state's predator control laws.

House Bill 256 had its first hearing Wednesday in the House Resources Committee.

State fish and game officials say the bill is simply a housekeeping measure to merge and simplify two confusing and sometimes conflicting wildlife management laws.

Opponents say it will eliminate most scientific standards and leave predator control decisions in the hands of an ideologically-driven Board of Game.

Public testimony on the measure will continue Monday. Committee members also plan a roundtable with the department and groups opposing the bill.

Juneau residents charged with illegal brown bear hunts in Southeast Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A father and son from Juneau have been charged for illegally hunting practices of brown bears in southeast Alaska.

The U.S. Attorneys Office says Larry Hooton and his son Shawn Hooton were charged with felony violations of the Lacey Act for illegally taking brown bear on Admiralty Island National Monument.

The information alleges that in 2004, the Hootons illegally guided out-of-state hunters on the island.

Officials say an arraignment date hasn't been set.

Young boy perishes in Anchorage trailer fire
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Anchorage Fire Department says a four-year-old boy died last night (Wednesday) in a mobile home fire.

Department official Tom Kempton says the fire apparently started on a mattress in the back bedroom of the home west of Lake Otis Parkway and south of Dowling Road.

Kempton says at least a dozen people from an extended family lived at the home.

Anchorage school official fired
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An assistant middle school principal accused of using cocaine on school grounds has been fired.

Mario Toro Junior was fired Wednesday.

Toro, a 43-year-old assistant principal at Gruening Middle School, is facing three felony drug charges.

Toro has been on paid administrative leave since January 15th.

(Anchorage Daily News)

Sex offender charged with 50 counts of child porn possession
A registered sex offender on the Kenai Peninsula has been indicted on 50 counts of possession of child pornography.

Investigators from the Alaska State Trooper Computer and Financial Crime Unit received a tip last December 21st that Samuel Dempsy Adams, Jr. of Nikiski had purchased videos of child pornography on the Internet.

A search warrant was served at his residence January 18th.

Several computers and related media were seized. Several images of child pornography were found.

Adams was initially charged with five counts of possession of child pornography.

A subsequent forensic examination of the computers found many more images and videos.

On January 25, a grand jury in Kenai indicted Adams on fifty counts of that crime.

Police in Anchorage charge man with sending indecent material to minor
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Anchorage police say a two-week investigation led to the arrest of a 21-year-old man on a charge of electronically distributing indecent materials to a minor.

Bradley Wilson is charged with the felony.

Police say he transmitted an indecent video to a 14-year-old girl.

According to police, the video showed Wilson performing a sex act.

Police served a search warrant of Wilson's home and seized a computer and items they say were used in the video production.

Wilson was scheduled to be arraigned  today. (Thursday)

Bill would provide safe haven for children of any age
By ANNA JO BRATTON
Associated Press Writer
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - State senators in Nebraska have widely broadened a bill intended to let mothers leave newborn babies at a hospital, suggesting that anyone be able to drop off children of any age and not be prosecuted for leaving them.

That doesn't mean people couldn't face other charges - for example, if the children had been abused.

Nebraska and Alaska are the only states without so-called safe haven laws, intended to save the life of children whose mothers may panic and leave them uncared for.

An amendment approved Thursday makes changes so the law would apply to all people, not just mothers, and all ages of children. It also removes fire stations as safe havens.

Senators gave second-round approval to the measure (LB157) today. (Thursday)
---
On the Net:
Nebraska Legislature: www.nebraskalegislature.gov 

Statewide coalition forms to fight initiatives
KENAI, Alaska (AP) - Kenai Borough Mayor John Williams has joined a statewide coalition that is fighting a pair of initiatives.

Alaskans Against the Mining Shutdown say the initiatives, if passed, would shut down mining in the state, cut jobs and damage community economies.

The two initiatives would ban discharges from mining operations into human water supplies and salmon habitat.

Supporters say new rules are necessary to protect human health and the environment.

Opponents see them as a broad and direct threat to mining everywhere in the state.
(Peninsula Clarion)