|
School board to conduct budget public hearing in addition to regular meeting
The Juneau School Board conducts two public meetings today.
The first is a budget public hearing.
Superintendent Peggy Cowan says the purpose of the meeting, which gets underway at 5 this afternoon, is for the board to get feedback from the community on the proposed budget for this coming year.
The regular school board meeting begins at 6 with two action items on the agenda.
A proposed Board policy on employee contact with students and a legislative funding resolution.
Up for first reading, meaning no action or vote will be taken at tonight's meeting, is
the charter school application from Juneau Montessori.
There are two presentations this evening.
The first features the current high school musical and the second is Commissioner of Education and Early Development Roger Sampson.
He'll be explaining the new tiered licensing proposal that he'll be taking to the state Board of Education next month.
The budget public hearing begins tonight at 5 and the regular meeting begins at 6 in the District offices on Glacier Avenue.
January in Juneau snowier than the norm
The amount of snowfall last month was nearly twice the normal amount for a January in Juneau.
That according to Meteorologist Aaron Jacobs in the Juneau Forecast Office who says there
were 46 point 7 inches for the month. He says that's way above the normal value of 28 point nine.
That puts Juneau on track with the norm for total winter snowfall which he says is 63 inches for this time of year. January's snowfall brought the level up to 59 point 5 inches, according to Jacobs.
There were 18 days of measurable precipitation which is one day below the norm. The forecaster says the 5 point 9 inches was above the normal value of four point 81 inches.
Temperatures remained above normal during January with an average of 25 degrees for the month, according to Jacobs.
London elected to Sealaska board
Tate London has been elected to the Sealaska Corporation Board of Directors.
London, an assistant U. S. Attorney with the Western District of Washington
State in Seattle, fills the board term ending in 2006 previously held by Richard
Stitt.
Stitt passed away late last year.
Tulsequah forum format could change to insure Canadian participation
The developer of the Tulsequah Chief Mine project in British Columbia has requested a change in the format of next week's community meeting to outline concerns with the planned reopening of the facility.
Concerns of Juneau residents downstream from the project include the possible pollution of the Taku River and resulting harm to fish stocks.
The B-C government has given the project the go ahead. The Canadian federal government is now reviewing the proposal.
Redfern Resources President Terence Long, in a January 21st letter to CBJ Manager Rod Swope, expresses concern with the panel format of the forum and complains it "...is not conducive to orderly dissemination of project information to the public."
The letter further states, "...we suspect that its make up will be more likely to foment an atmosphere of conflict and minimize public confidence."
In the letter, Long proposed a public information event that discards the panel concept.
He says they would be willing to provide information in that type
of forum and be available to answer questions and explain the project.
Long further suggests that Juneau residents submit written comments prior to the February 18th deadline to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
In addition, the company suggests an open house subsequent to the closure of the process that would involve officials from key Canadian regulatory agencies.
CBJ Special Projects Officer Maria Gladziszewski, who is coordinating the event, says they are gathering the opinions of those they've invited on a good format.
She says they've never been a hundred percent set on what the format would be.
Gladziszewski adds she's hopeful that both representatives from the company and the Canadian federal government will attend the forum which is scheduled next Tuesday night, February 8th.
Its from 7 to 9 p.m. at Centennial Hall.
Library in Haines borough winds Best Small Library in America award
The Haines Borough Public Library is the winner of the first annual award for the Best Small Library in America.
The award is cosponsored by Library Journal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The building housing the library was opened in January of 2003.
Library Director Ann Myren credits the library's success to the support of the entire community.
The library receives a $10,000 cash award from the Gates Foundation; and the cost to send two library representatives to the next Public Library Association meeting.
Options for Lena Point
Subdivision sewage narrowed to two
A couple of options will be pursued for sewer development for the Lena Point
Subdivision and Lena Point area.
The options surfaced during a joint meeting of the Assembly and Planning
Commission Monday night.
CBJ Lands currently has an application pending for subdivision of 52 acres
to create 48 lots. Additionally, a private developer has proposed an
adjacent 22 lot subdivision.
CBJ Manager Rod Swope says one is on-line treatment systems for each home.
The second option is on-lot septic type system with a central collection
point where the sewage would undergo a secondary treatment.
There are about 2,000 on-line septic systems in the area now. Swope says a
large percentage have failed primarily because they weren't installed
correctly and residents don't maintain them or put products in the system
that render them non-functional.
So Swope says if they opt for an on-lot system in the area, they will
probably have to couple an oversight and monitoring enforcement program with
it.
He says the next step is to get additional information, including the costs
involved with the two options, and then move the proposal on to the Planning
Commission for its review and approval of the subdivision.
Crew may have lacked safety training
on crab boat that sank
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Coast Guard investigators say the survivor of a crab boat
that sank last month in the Bering Sea was the only crewman on board who was
able to put his survival suit on properly.
Deckhand Cache Seel of Kodiak made it into a lifeboat and was the only
person rescued from the 92-foot Big Valley, which sank January 15th about 70
miles west of Saint Paul Island.
The bodies of two crewmen were recovered and three others are missing and
presumed dead, including Gary Edwards, owner and captain of the Big Valley.
Coast Guard investigators say Seel is also the only person aboard who
they've been able to confirm had any survival training.
Seel told investigators that the crew members -- some of whom were
inexperienced -- were not put through required emergency drills.
Investigators have not determined the cause of the sinking.
But they say the vessel was carrying more weight than allowed by the boat's
``stability letter,'' a document prepared by a professional maritime
consultant spelling out how to load the boat safely.
Man taken to jail for failure to show up for jury duty
A 21 year old Juneau
resident was arrested and jailed Monday for failure to appear for jury duty.
Marlon A. Lumbab was contacted by State Troopers at his Center Court residence.
He had a $100 warrant for failure to appear
for jury duty on December 27. Troopers say he was able to post the bail.
House Republicans question spending increases
JUNEAU (AP) - House majority leaders say some of the spending increases in the governor's proposed budget may be hard to meet once the state goes through its oil revenue surplus.
Governor Frank Murkowski's proposal for the next fiscal year includes 200
million dollars in spending above what lawmakers approved for this year.
Some are one-time spending items, but Republican Representatives Norm Rokeberg, Mike Hawker and Kevin Meyer say the overall budget base would increase. They say that could mean trouble by 2008, when the state has gone through its oil windfall and once again faces budget deficits.
The Republicans said the need for fiscal discipline remains and additional revenue sources will be needed down the line.
Senate Finance
Chair Gary Wilken of Fairbanks says there are some concerns with Murkowski's budget, and said his committee will be looking at each agency to see where the increases would come.
Murkowski's budget director, Cheryl Frasca, says the budget submitted is prudent, but she welcomes the discussion that will come in the approval process.
IRS: Alaska's working poor don't always claim tax credit
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Alaska has the lowest participation rate in the nation among people eligible for an Internal Revenue Service-administered program for the working poor.
Nationally, about 75 percent of eligible people claim the earned income tax credit.
In Alaska, says program director David Williams, it's less than 56 percent.
The I-R-S is encouraging people who work but don't make a lot of money to find out if they're eligible for the credit.
The earned income tax credit is available to childless workers and workers with children.
The income ceiling is 35-thousand-458 dollars for a married couple filing a tax return jointly with two or more qualifying children.
The maximum available credit is 390 dollars for a childless worker. The maximum credit for a family of four is 43-hundred dollars.
On its Web site, the I-R-S has an E-I-T-C Assistant -- a simple questionnaire to help people and their tax preparers determine if they're eligible.
Anchorage resident charged with arson
ANCHORAGE (AP) - A 22-year-old Anchorage man is in custody, accused of setting his family's house on fire, breaking furniture and smashing the windows of an S-U-V parked in the garage.
Daniel Hirschberg was arrested Monday on charges of arson, criminal mischief, assault and weapons misconduct.
According to police, Hirschberg threatened his family with a gun last night, prompting his parents and 20-year-old brother to leave their Thayer Circle house. The family later told police Hirschberg was upset about personal issues and job stress.
Police say neighbors called 9-1-1 about 11-30 Sunday night to report the house was on fire.
Hirschberg left the scene but was arrested after he returned.
Police spokeswoman Anita Shell says that inside Hirschberg's vehicle, police found an assault rifle, pistol and a bat with nails and razor blades attached with tape.
He is being held on 125-thousand dollars bail.
Shell says damage to the house is estimated at 190-thousand dollars.
Missing Alakanuk snowmachiner found dead
ALAKANUK (AP) - Alaska State Troopers are blaming hypothermia for the death of a 68-year-old Alakanuk man who was reported missing earlier this month.
Troopers say Edward Aloysius traveled by
snow machine to Nunam Iqua on January tenth. He bought groceries there and departed that same evening at dusk.
The temperature was about zero degrees when he set off in fog and blowing snow. Troopers say Aloysius likely became disoriented.
Troopers say Aloysius lived alone, and family members didn't notice he was missing until January 23rd.
The family and others launched a search. Troopers also searched after they were notified the next day.
Last Wednesday, searchers spotted
snow machine tracks heading toward the ocean. Friday evening, searchers found foot prints and Aloysius' glasses.
His body was found Saturday afternoon.
Troopers say Aloysius'
snow machine has not been found.
Rocket launch schedule takes fisheries into account
KODIAK (AP) - Military officials are taking the cod and tanner crab fisheries into account in setting up the timing for an upcoming target missile launch from the Kodiak Launch Complex.
Missile Defense Agency officials recently said a rocket likely would be fired in mid-February.
But now officials say that timing is being adjusted to accommodate the needs of the cod and tanner crab fishermen.
Officials with the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, which runs the launch facility, requested the timing change after meetings with the Kodiak Salmon Fisherman's Association and Alaska Fish and Wildlife biologists.
The area cod season began January 1st and normally closes in mid-February.
The tanner crab fishery opened January 15th and lasts until March 31st or until the quota is reached. No tanner crab have been caught, however, due to a price dispute between fishermen and processors.
Flight 261 remembered
PORT
HUENEME, Calif. (AP) - Tearful families and friends of 88 people killed when Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed into the sea off the California coast five years ago paused on a wind-swept beach to remember their loved ones.
The family members paraded one-by-one to a microphone during the 45-minute service yesterday (Monday) to read poems and describe their losses.
Many people exchanged hugs as they reminisced about their lost loved ones, rekindling friendships forged with other survivors after the tragedy. A bell tolled after each victim's name was read.
Following the reading, mourners gathered silently in a circle, held hands and prayed as the moment of the crash - 4-21 p-m - came.
The Alaska Airlines M-D-80 went down on January 31st, 2000, while en route from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to San Francisco and Seattle.
Troopers charge Selawik residents with manufacturing alcohol
SELAWIK (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say they've arrested two people accused of brewing alcohol in the western Alaska village of Selawik.
Troopers say on Saturday they contacted 63-year-old Wynita Henry at her home and she was found with more than five gallons of alcohol made by her son, 37-year-old Wayne Henry.
Wayne Henry was charged with brewing alcohol without a permit.
Also on Saturday, trooper contacted 39-year-old Riley Knox and found him with alcohol he had manufactured.
He also was charged with manufacturing alcohol without a license.
Selawik is a local option community that bans the sale, importation and manufacturing of alcoholic beverages.
Selawik is a community of more than 800 about 90 miles east of Kotzebue.
Children's fares are cheaper.
(Copyright ©2005 Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio)
|
