Palin appoints Alaska Native to Board of Game
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A former director of the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments has been appointed to the Board of Game.

Craig Fleener, an Alaska Native, was selected Friday by Gov. Sarah Palin to replace Teresa Sager-Albaugh.

Sager-Albaugh removed her name from consideration Wednesday because of the perceived controversy surrounding her appointment and those of two others. None was an Alaska Native or from an area off the road system.

The Board of Game sets hunting and trapping regulations statewide. Those decisions are keenly felt by Natives and non-Natives who rely on subsistence for food in rural Alaska.

Harsh winter weather forecast for Juneau
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning early Friday afternoon for Juneau that is in effect from nine Friday evening to midnight Monday morning.

The warning is punctuated by strong winds and lots of snow.

Northeast winds from 50 miles per hour with gusts to 80 are forecast for the downtown area and Douglas. Gusts to 40 miles per hour are expected elsewhere.

Gusts to 75 are in the forecast Saturday morning for the downtown area and Douglas

The winds are expected to continue through the afternoon and then diminish by evening.

The wind chill will be from 25 to 30 below as a result.

The heavy snow starts Saturday with up two feet possible between that day and Sunday.

Meteorologist Bob Shontz in the Juneau Forecast Office calls it a complex situation.

He says there's a lot of cold air coming in from the northwest. He says that system will be anchored in place as a strong low system comes up from the southwest.

Shontz says that will cause the moisture to overrun the very cold air and result in the heavy snow.

When asked if this is what he calls a perfect storm Alaska style, Shontz said, "I suppose so."

LeConte makes trip despite weather, ferry schedule questionable over the weekend
Some state ferry traffic did move out of Juneau this morning (Friday) despite the nasty winter weather.

The LeConte was forced to scrub its voyage to Angoon Thursday morning after encountering strong winds and return to Juneau.

At that time, the Marine Highway announced service would be suspended temporarily, but Roger Wetherell of State DOT said there was a "window of opportunity" for the LeConte to sail to Hoonah and Tenakee  and back to Juneau today. (Friday)

Wetherell says they are seeing a similar situation in Western Alaska which is impacting the sailings of the Tustemena.

In the meantime, its a wait and see on scheduled trips this weekend.

Call 465-3940 for news on schedule changes.  

Palin to sign safe surrender law
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Gov. Sarah Palin is about to sign a law which allows parents to safely surrender a newborn child without the threat of prosecution.

The only caveat of the bill that Palin will sign into law Monday is that there's no evidence the infant has been physically injured.

This will leave Nebraska as the only state that doesn't yet have a safe haven law on the books, although lawmakers there on Thursday gave final round approval to a similar law.

Among those joining Palin at Monday's ceremony in Juneau will be Kodiak Republican state Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, who sponsored the bill.

Zen closed because of fire code violations
Capital City Fire Rescue closed down the kitchen at the Zen Restaurant in the Goldbelt Hotel today (Friday) for continued fire code violations.

Fire Marshal Rich Etheridge says no citations have been issued at this time.

He specifically cited a lack of maintenance on the fire suppression systems and a grease build up around cooking appliances.

Etheridge says his office is working with  the owner to get the violations corrected and the restaurant reopened as soon as possible.

The closure came at 11 this morning.

Police I.D. man found dead near Basin Road
Juneau police have identified the man that was found dead near Basin Road last Sunday.

The body of 67 year-old James Demmert was found about two-tenths of a mile down the closed access road to the right of Basin Road.

Demmert was reported missing by a family member at about 9-06 that Sunday morning.

The a family member reported that Demmert had left his downtown residence the previous night and had not yet returned home.

On Sunday at about 2:58 p.m. police received a report that a body had been located in the snow near Basin Road.

Officers arrived and the deceased person was identified as Demmert.

Police say about 2 inches of undisturbed snow covered his body.

Demmert was lying face up and was dressed appropriately for the weather conditions.

Police say there were no signs of trauma to Demmert's body.

The State Medical Examiner's Office has decided not to do an autopsy.

Police say fluids were drawn for a toxicology screening.

Kidney donation bill ready for governor's signature
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Lawmakers showed rare unanimity in passing a bill that will help one of their own receive an organ transplant.

House Bill 317 passed the Senate on Friday and now heads to the governor's desk. It received nearly unanimous support from House and Senate lawmakers signing on as sponsors.

By lifting a $250 limit placed on compassionate gifts, the bill allows legislative staffer Sue Stancliff to donate a kidney to Nome Democrat Richard Foster.

Though the kidney itself does not have a value under federal law, related medical and travel expenses do.

Compassionate gifts must still be approved and reported to an oversight committee and agency.

UA regents approve three-year ACCFT contract
The University of Alaska Board of Regents wrapped up a two-day meeting in Juneau  Thursday.

The panel approved a three-year contract for 324 members in the Alaska Community Colleges' Federation of Teachers, one of three university unions.

The regents approved an associate of applied science degree in dental hygiene at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and graduate certificates in language education and adult education at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The board approved a schematic design for a roofing and siding project at the Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel.

The board approved funding for the $4 million project last year.

Board members also approved a reorganization of the Cooperative Extension Service, moving it to the provost's office from the College of Rural and Community Development.

The Cooperative Extension Service director will serve in a vice provost position, elevating its status within the campus structure.

The regents' requested budget includes $350,000 in increased funding for the extension service.

Regents also approved the naming of a tract of land at UAF, between the UA Museum of the North and the Paul Reichardt Building, Troth Yeddha' Park.

Troth Yeddha' is the Athabascan name for "the site where the wild potato is gathered." The area is to be considered a tribute to Alaska Native culture and history.

It will serve as a gathering place for Native students and also be used by other diverse groups, such as Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre.

Alaska Native leader and elder Walter Soboleff, 99, personally came to the board meeting at the UAS campus Thursday morning to speak in favor of Troth Yeddha'.

The site historically was where elders held council regarding the state of affairs of Native nations in Alaska's Interior.

When the elders learned that Troth Yeddha' was to become the site of the Agricultural College and School of Mines, the forerunner to the University of Alaska, they placed an eagle feather on a pole to let the Athabascan people know that the ridge would no longer be used for meeting or picking wild potatoes but for a new, formalized type of education.

As the campus evolved over the years to its present-day configuration of UAF, Native students, particularly those from rural Alaska, have remarked on the need for an open space to serve as a gathering place honoring their heritage.

The idea behind Troth Yeddha' is to help bridge the gap between the reality of urban college life and the rural, traditional homes left behind.

Soboleff said dedicating the area sends a powerful message to students and will enhance their academic success.

In other business, board members met with individual legislators regarding the university's budget, met with Governor Palin and toured the University of Alaska Southeast campus.

Regents also approved a $2.3 million supplemental budget to cover the higher than expected costs of heating fuel.

Jarvis released from search for balloonist
The search for Japanese hot air balloonist Michio Kanda will no longer involve the Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis.

Lieutenant Johna Rossetti in the Coast Guard's Juneau Command Center says the Jarvis was released due to poor weather conditions.

But she says the search will continue. A C-130 flight is scheduled to go out again today.

The Jarvis was originally scheduled to arrive in the search area 435 miles south of Adak Island yesterday. But that was pushed back until Monday.

Kanda disappeared on a flight from Japan to Portland, Oregon a week ago Thursday, January 31.

After leaving that day, he was reported missing that night after he failed to respond to communications checks.

Current law does allow a "compassionate gift" exception, but only for gifts worth less than 250 dollars.

Man medevaced from trawler in rough seas
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - A 51-year-old man in need of medical care was medevaced from a trawler in rough seas.

The man, whose name, ailment and condition have not been identified, was hoisted from the Trident Seafoods factory trawler Island Enterprise 115 miles north of Dutch Harbor late Thursday.

He was hoisted from the trawler by a helicopter in weather conditions that included high winds, rough seas and below-zero temperatures.

The man was first taken to St. Paul, then transferred to Anchorage.

A Coast Guard spokesman says the fishing vessel was experienced with helicopter rescue operations, which helped make the hoist go smoothly despite the extreme weather and sea conditions.
(Jay Barrett/KMXT-FM)

Troopers arrest New York City fugitive
BUTTE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say they have arrested a New York City man sought on a robbery warrant.

Twenty-five-year-old Michael Baranovics was arrested Thursday at a home in Butte, an unincorporated community of 3,166 south of Palmer.

Troopers say Baranovics had been hiding out in Alaska to avoid arrest, and that when they contacted him, he tried to evade capture by hiding in a crawl space.

Troopers say he was coaxed out with the use of pepper spray.

Baranovics is being held without bail and troopers say he will be extradited.

Trucks destroyed in Anchorage fire
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Anchorage Fire Department says a fire that destroyed four trucks on the east side of the city was accidental.

The trucks were backed up Wednesday against a Lynden Transport warehouse.

A witness says the fire started in the engine block of one of the trucks and spread to others parked beside it.

Palmer court doused after pipe bursts
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - State court business in Palmer came to a halt Thursday when a pipe burst and flooded one side of the building.

Employees were sent home early and a cleaning crew worked to assess damage and start soaking up water. Deputy Clerk Jennifer Jehn says water flowed from pipes for nearly 20 minutes.

Do-Not-Call registry extended
Congress has approved two pieces of legislation to extend the Do-Not-Call registry.

The Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007 and the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 will allow the Federal Trade Commission to collect fees to maintain the registry and remove the need for consumers to re-register their information on the Do-Not-Call list.

Under the old law, people had to renew their registration every five years.

Under the new, law the registration is permanent.

Senator Ted Stevens is one of the sponsors of the bills. He says he's told there are now 200,000 Alaskans on the list.

He says their names will now stay on the list. However, if you changed your phone number you will have to re-register.

Both bills will now be sent to President Bush to be signed into law.

Lady Bears in action this weekend
The Juneau Douglas High School Lady Bears basketball team hosts Sitka tonight and Saturday.

The junior varsity games start at 5:15 both nights. Tip off for the varsity games is 7 p.m.

The men's basketball team is off this weekend.

They travel to Sitka next weekend.