Monday, February 5, 2001 © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News
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Snowmachine accident claims two lives
Men killed in avalanche on Saturday near Eureka
Alaska State Troopers say the body of an Anchorage man killed in an avalanche near Eureka over the weekend has been recovered. Troopers identified the man as 31-year-old Scott Boland of Anchorage. His body was found at about 11:30 Sunday morning. The body of the second victim was recoveredSaturday. He was identified as 32-year-old Danny T. Hunka, also of Anchorage. A third member of the group was caught in the avalanche, but dug himself out. Troopers say seven snowmachiners from Anchorage were traveling in a line up a 35- to 45-degree slope when the snow slide began. The five surviving snowmachiners immediately began searching for the missing two. After two hours, they located one of the missing snowmachiners under about nine feet of snow. They administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 30 minutes but were not able to revive him. Troopers say about 70 volunteers helped in today's search. An Army helicopter was used used to ferry volunteers from the lodge to the search area. The helicopter hit a rotor in the snow and rolled over. Substantial damage was done, but the three people on board were not injured.
Eaglecrest conducted its first full weekend of operation yesterday, and is open again today. The ski area's Pauline Higdon says they're hoping additional snow will allow them to open the Hooter chairlift and beginners' area. Only the Ptarmigan Lift is open now. In the meantime, she recommends that only advanced and upper intermediate skiers venture to the slopes since there are a lot of obstacles. She says skiers have to pick their way down the run outs and the lower trails to the chair lift. There was an injury on the mountain yesterday. A 12 year old boy was snowboarding when he was pitched forward and thrown off. Capital City Fire and Rescue responded to provide aid. He was complaining of a headache so he was transported to the hospital as a rule out.
The University of Alaska's president says the Legislature's financial commitment has reenergized the school in the past year. Mark Hamilton (right) made his annual presentation to the House and Senate Finance Committees today. As in past years, he's demanding a $17-million budget increase. And he's asking lawmakers to hold him accountable for how the money is spent. Hamilton says last year's budget increase has inspired confidence in the university after some bad years. He says it boosted enrollment and giving from private citizens and corporations and allowed the university to leverage more money from the federal government. Senate Finance Co-Chairman Pete Kelly says Hamilton's approach goes over well with the Legislature. The Fairbanks Republican says lawmakers like to know the state's getting a return on its investment in the university.
A resolution on tonight's agenda of the Juneau Assembly urges state lawmakers to improve the state's pull tab regulation system. The measure calls on the Legislature to share the system with local governments via a protest procedure similar to the one used for alcohol licenses. The purchase of Southeast Alaska salmon products is encouraged in another resolution while denouncing farmed salmon. And another resolution extends the life of the Youth Activities Board from June 30 of 2002 until 2007.
President Bush is meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien today. And among the topics they're expected to discuss are oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the proposed missile defense system. US and Canadian officials described the meeting as an informal chat, rather than negotiations and no formal agreements are expected from the talks. Canada has criticized development of ANWR on environmental grounds, saying it would hurt the Porcupine caribou herd. On the security front, Canada has declined to support Bush's call for a national missile defense system. Russia, China and most NATO allies oppose the plan, but Chretien has kept silent.
A ban on road-building and most logging in a third of the country's national forests has been delayed by the President Bush (left). The forest plan was announced by President Clinton on January 4th. It has been attacked by Western Republican lawmakers, along with the energy, timber and mining industries. The two-month delay is in line with an order President Bush made to halt or slow a series of regulations the Clinton administration issued in its final days. The forest restrictions were published in the Federal Register before Bush took office, so he can't block or alter them without going through a new rule-making process. Today's action changes the plan's effective date from March 13th to May 12th. The forest plan remains under review by the Agriculture Department. Under the plan, the Forest Service will ban road-building in 58.5-million acres of federal forests where no roads currently exist. That includes 9.3-million acres in the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska. The regulations also will limit future logging in those areas to activities that "restore and preserve" the forest. Commercial timber contracts already in the government pipeline will be allowed to go forward.
Anchorage Senator Jerry Ward has introduced a Joint Resolution proposing a constitutional amendment mandating that some of Permanent Fund's yearly interest earnings be used for inflation proofing. If the amendment, in its current form, were to be made to the constitution, no further changes could be made to the Permanent Fund or the dividend program without a statewide vote. Ward says the amendment would protect the Permanent Fund Dividend from the legislature and the Governor. If SJR 11 is approved by the Senate and House, the proposed constitutional amendment would go to a statewide vote.
A House sub-committee is set to study soaring insurance costs for in-state passenger air carriers. Anchorage Representative Andrew Halcro (right) chairs the Labor and Commerce subcommittee. Halcro says many factors, including some tragic accidents, have forced the companies insuring Alaska's smaller air carriers to raise their rates substantially. He says that means higher ticket prices and fewer flights for rural residents. Halcro says the subcommittee will study ways to relieve the burden on airlines while making sure the flying public is properly protected.
A car wrecked and went up on the lawn of Police Chief Mel Personett on Riverside Drive early this morning. Captain Tom Porter says the call came in at 2:14 this morning. He says it appeared the vehicle struck a no parking sign and drove across a portion of the chief's lawn and ended up in the ditch alongside the property. That's where responding officers found the white Pontiac Firebird. There were no occupants in the vehicle when they arrived. At last report, police were still trying to track down the driver. The vehicle was impounded.
Capital City Fire and Rescue in Juneau is recruiting volunteer fire fighters. Jim Carroll is the Volunteer Fire Chief for the Downtown District. Carroll says volunteers are needed at all departments throughout the borough. Chief Carroll says they must possess a drivers license. There's a probationary period and completion of a firefighter training program is required. He suggests inquiring at the downtown station on Glacier Avenue or at any fire hall.
The Forest Service Information Center in Centennial Hall is moving to the Juneau Ranger District on Old Dairy road. The district's Ron Marvin says visitation at the downtown outlet has dropped dramatically over the last few years. The center opens in its new location April 2nd. The Centennial Hall location will shut down a week before that. Marvin says the telephone numbers will remain the same.
Comtech 2001, Juneau's annual trade and technology show, is scheduled atCentennial Hall from Wednesday through Friday this week. State Webmaster Andy Kline (right in photo) and Joan Pardes (left in photo), the coordinator of the event for the Southeast Alaska Regional Resource Center, were guests on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. Pardes says they're expecting around 600 participants this year. A global pass, providing access to all events with the exception of labs is $295. Individual classes are $35 per session. Admission to the trade show is $5. Admission to the panel discussions, sponsor shows and the keynote address are free. Information is available on the web here.
Some beluga whales are hanging around Cook Inlet this winter, but scientists tracking the mammals don't know what they eat. Finding the mysterious winter destination of local belugas has become a critical task for federal biologists charged with managing their recovery.
Tickets for Alaska's oldest and richest game of chance have gone on sale. Alaskans will have until April 5th to guess when the ice will break up on the Tanana River and trip the tripod at the small Interior community of Nenana. (At left, scene from the 2000 Nenana Ice Classic. Visible is the "tripod," with attached line and flags, that moves out with the ice signaling the official winning time)(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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