Juneau Daily News Online

Tuesday,  February 5, 2002

Hit and run vehicle causes collision between another car and Capital Transit bus
Several accidents, including one involving a Capital Transit bus, were reported on Egan Drive in the area of the Breakwater Hotel before seven this morning. The accidents had a disruptive effect on morning drive time traffic.

The motorist that caused the accident involving the bus did not stop, according to Police Sergeant Kevin Siska. He said officers found a 1986 Chevrolet Caprice stopped across both outbound lanes of Egan when they arrived on scene.

Investigation revealed that the car, operated by a 50 year old woman, was traveling inbound in the right hand land when a vehicle in the fast lane lost control and struck the driver's side of her vehicle. The woman's car veered to the right hitting the guardrail. At that point, she lost control of the car which careened to the left and hit the bus. Her car continued across the median stopping in the outbound lanes.

The bus was operated by a 51 year old man who was the only occupant. He pulled into the lower parking lot of the Breakwater.

Sergeant Siska says there was very little in the way of identifying information on the offending motorist and his vehicle.

The driver of the Caprice was transported to the hospital where she was expected to be treated for minor injuries and released. Damage to her car was estimated at $2,000. Damage to rear bumper of the bus was approximately $200.

Two other accidents occurred in that area at about the same time One vehicle lost control and collided with a snow berm. In the other case, one vehicle rear ended another. Sergeant Siska says no citations were issued in any of the accidents.

The accidents led police to block the outbound lane of Egan at 12th street Traffic was allowed to resume just before eight after the accident scene was cleared.


Million dollar school district budget gap discussed by School Board committee
Because of increased insurance costs and anticipated overall declines in enrollment, the Juneau School District is facing about a million dollar budget shortfall over the next two school years.

Superintendent Gary Bader outlined recommendations for dealing with the budget gap during a meeting of the School Board's Budget Committee last night.

Bader says the '03 budget should be close to balanced, thanks to cost savings and slightly higher than expected enrollment this year. He says they'll try to build up the undesignated fund balance to about $940,000 this year and use it to balance the '03 budget.

But Bader says the 2004 school year is more problematic, because they are delaying cuts to balance that year's budget. He says they'll have to look at staff reductions in all areas if the district does not get additional funds from the legislature by 2004.

Bader also put other requests on the table for the committee's consideration last night. He's asking the board to approve a new truancy tracking position for next year, and additional funds for vocational educational equipment. Additional funding for kindergarten buses was requested so the early release program can continue next year. He also asked members to look at using new federal funds to help maintain the special education program next year.

Calendar for next year highlights tonight's School Board meeting
The Juneau School Board will be asked to approve a calendar for the 2002-2003 school year during its meeting tonight.

The proposed calendar features a student start date of August 28th with the last day of school scheduled for June 4th. There will be a traditional winter recess and a five day spring break, according to Superintendent Gary Bader.

The board will also accept for first reading an amended policy on relationships with law enforcement agencies.

The new policy would require school personnel, who witness students committing crimes, to report them to the school district administrator and the appropriate law enforcement authority.

Board members will also hear a presentation from school counselors addressing issues related to school climate.

The School Board meets tonight starting at 6 in the district offices on Glacier Avenue.

Gas line meeting reports some progress
Alaska's natural gas producers met yesterday in Washington, D-C with U-S and Canadian pipeline companies to talk about development of North Slope natural gas reserves.

The meeting was hosted by Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski. And while Murkowski declared the meeting a success, it's clear many obstacles to the project remain.

State Senator John Torgerson of Kasilof said many barriers to the project were identified. State Representative Joe Green said the meeting brought out differences among the producers about the economics of the project.

One bit of progress to come out of the meeting was that the Foothills Pipeline Company and its partners said they no longer oppose new federal legislation to speed up permitting for other companies who want to build a pipeline. Foothills already holds the permits to build a gas line along the Alaska Highway.

Halford not sure how Senate will act on tourism funding bill
The measure approved by the House providing $6 Million in emergency marketing money for the Alaska tourism industry is now in the Senate. House Bill 359 was sent to the upper chamber following approval by representatives yesterday.

During his weekly press briefing this morning, Senate President Rick Halford said he doesn't know how the upper chamber will act on the measure. He said there's some support, but also significant opposition. Halford said some senators won't support the tourism money, unless something is done for marketing the state's fishing industry.

When asked if he would be looking for a contribution from the industry, Halford responded in the affirmative, but didn't know if that would be part of any plan. He supports imposing a passenger fee on the cruise ship industry.

Bill proposing state driver's license changes heard by House committee
The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles wants to upgrade driver's licenses and it wants the Legislature to increase the fees to pay for the improvement.

The House State Affairs Committee considered House Bill 344 today. The bill would boost the fee for a license from 15 to 20 dollars. The fees for learner's permits and identification cards would go up ten dollars.

D-M-V Director Mary Marshburn says the additional $900,000 in annual revenue would pay for an update to digital I-D's. Alaska's liquor and tobacco industries are supporting the change, she says, because of plans to make more distinctive licenses for minors.

The committee held the bill for further deliberations.

Subport development subject of public forum
The public has a opportunity to weigh in on the redevelopment of Juneau's Subport area tonight. That's the area stretching from the Goldbelt Hotel and Seadrome Building over to the mouth of Gold Creek

Tonight's meeting will include a Power Point presentation with scenes of what the area could look like in the future, according to community planner Barb Sheinberg. She says the goal of this phase is to have a Subport redevelopment plan adopted as part of the city's comprehensive plan by this July.

Tonight's meeting is from 7 until 9 at Centennial Hall.

Downtown restrooms on Parks and Recreation Committee agenda
Juneau Police will address security and safety concerns for the proposed restrooms at Pocket Park at the Juneau Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting tonight.

The restrooms would be in the park at the corner of Front and South Franklin Streets. Parks and Recreation Director Kim Kiefer says no action is scheduled, although the public can comment.

Centennial Hall Manager Dayle Tennison will update the committee on what's going on at the hall. And Kiefer says the committee will also work on their mission statement.

The meeting begins at six in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.

Mineral funds allocated to state by feds
Alaska share of minerals revenues for last year amounts to six-point-seven million dollars. The money represents Alaska's share of bonuses, rents and royalties. More than 180-thousand dollars came from offshore tracts.

Sexual assault under investigation in Kodiak
State Troopers and the Coast Guard are investigating a sexual assault at Coast Guard housing in Kodiak. Troopers say they were called to the home of the woman shortly before one a-m yesterday. The woman told investigators she was sexually assaulted in her home.

Woman sentence in Anchorage standoff case
An Anchorage woman shot by police snipers after a five-hour standoff last May has been sentenced to four years in prison. Susan Osborne had pleaded no contest last year to a charge of second-degree assault for shooting her friend in the hand while drunk.

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