JUNEAU DAILY NEWS MINUTE
Thursday, February 6, 1997 (c) Alaska Juneau Communications
*A restriction on who sells pull-tabs in Alaska is the aim of a
bill that has been filed by Republican Representative Terry
Martin of Anchorage. Martin wants to restrict licensed vendors
to those organizations recognized by the I-R-S as nonpolitical,
tax-exempt charities, or military service organizations. Current
law allows fraternal groups, chambers of commerce, and political
groups to sell pull-tabs. Martin's bill would leave political
groups, labor unions and many other non-profits out of the pull-tab
business.
*The House Labor and Commerce Committee passed a bill yesterday
that would exempt the Fort Knox gold mine in Fairbanks from
paying overtime for twelve hour work days. The miners want the
change made, but the House Democrats say that labor laws in the
state are under attack. Valdez Representative Gene Kubina says
the legislation threatens the ability of all Alaskans to earn a
good standard of living.
*Plans for a golf course on Douglas Island have undergone quite a
change now that the environmental assessment is complete. Randy
Bayliss, project manager for Totem Creek Corporation, the
developers of the course, says that current plans are for a
clubhouse to be located 9,000 feet past the end of the road on
North Douglas Highway, with a two mile road leading to it.
Original plans had the clubhouse right at the end of the road,
but the discovery of several salmon streams changed that.
Bayliss says that approximately 250 acres of land will be needed
to build the course.
*Voters in Sitka have voted down an initiative that called for a
city policy against clear cutting old-growth forest near town.
About 55 percent of the voters opposed the initiative, sponsored
by a group called Friends of Southeast's Future. But 54 percent
of the voters did vote for a measure that supports the federal
Forest Service's logging policies.
*The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission is holding a public
hearing tonight at 5 to discuss proposed regulations to limit
entry in the Southeastern Alaska shrimp beam-trawl fishery. The
hearing will be at the Commission's office in the Jordan Creek
Mall, and public comments are encouraged. Comments will be
accepted until February 14.
*Bacardi, best known for their rum, will now be known as the
sponsor of the Juneau Sailing Club's Rum Cup Challenge. The
nationwide distributer is also very interested in marine
conservation, and sponsors sail boat and wind surfing races
nationwide. Other local sponsors of the 1997 Bacardi Rum Cup
Challenge are G.W. Teals, the Breakwater, Mike's Place, Mt.
Roberts Tram, local artist Richard Austerman, Northwest Germaine,
Wings of Alaska and the Taku Glacier Lodge.