Friday, February 9, 2001 © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News
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Perkins calls it quits at Labor
Official tenders resignation in wake of crime
Dwight Perkins has resigned his position as Special Assistant to the Commissioner at the Department of Labor effective today. That word came in a statement from Labor Commissioner Ed Flanagan. Flanagan met with Perkins (left) this morning to discuss his employment status following his sentencing Thursday for a class B misdemeanor charge of
harassment. He said they agreed that this is not the time for Perkins to be engaged in public service, but accepted his resignation with profound regret. He said Perkins needs to direct his full attention to his family and addressing his responsibilities under the court sentence to achieve a successful rehabilitation. Flanagan (right) said Perkins made a significant and lasting contribution during his time at the department and the circumstances of his departure do not diminish his gratitude for his efforts. Flanagan would not be interviewed and pointed to the statement that he faxed to our studios as his thoughts on the matter.
Two Juneau residents are among the thirteen applicants being considered for two vacancies on the University of Alaska Board of Regents. The Juneau applicants are former regent Gordon Evans and Steven Zimmerman. Fairbanks Mayor Jim Hayes and Miranda Wright, executive director of the Doyon Foundation, have also applied. The other applicants come from Anchorage, Kodiak and Palmer. They want to fill vacancies left by Mary Jane Fate of Fairbanks and Danforth Ogg of Kodiak whose terms expired February 1st. The governor's staff will review the list of applications and make a recommendation to Knowles. The governor then will make the final selection and forward the names to the Legislature for approval.
The Executive Director of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce is stepping down. George Davidson took the job on a temporary basis in January of 2000. Davidson says he had some things he wanted to help the Chamber accomplish, and many have been done, so he decided the time was right to move on. Davidson says he'd like to leave by April 1st, but will stay on the job until another Executive Director is recruited.
That logging ship in the Bering Sea near the Pribilofs has been able to change direction after experiencing trouble in high seas. The skipper of the Leo Forest (left) reports stability problems. The starboard collapsible stanchions broke away causing a cargo of logs to shift. Yesterday the ship was headed north and couldn't turn around because of high seas, but Coast Guard Petty Officer Mitchell Fletcher it is now headed to its destination in Japan. The cargo is no longer shifting around. It lost about 2,300 logs while fighting high waves this week. Fletcher says the weather in the Bering Sea remains poor and a Coast Guard plane is in the area and keeping an eye on the ship. There are 3 life rafts and 4 survival suits available for 20 crewmen on board. The Leo Forrest is en route to Japan from Longview, Washington.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council continues meeting today with more discussion expected on a proposal to divvy up the halibut charter harvest among boat owners. That topic dominated discussions yesterday. Phil Smith of the National Marine Fisheries Service says don't expect a final decision for awhile. He says the process at this point involves an analysis of various options that have been established by the council. He says the idea at this meeting is to determine if that analysis is "robust" enough to be formally put out for public comment. The idea is modeled on a similar plan put into effect for the commercial halibut fleet.
An official of the Alaska Tanker Company apologized to the Port Angeles City Council for an oil spill. The official, John Ripperger, told the council Tuesday night that the January 29th spill of about 400 gallons of Alaska North Slope crude was avoidable.
Secretary of State Colin Powell says President Bush remains committed to his missile defense plan, but says he won't be rushed. Powell (right) says lots of issues need to be worked out before it can be put in place, including the cost of the plan and what he called "diplomatic considerations." Russia says the plan will trigger a new arms race, and European allies also have expressed misgivings about the proposal. Powell told a State Department news conference the world needs to be reassured the missile defense will add to deterrence, not diminish it. If the project proceeds, it may be built in Alaska.
"Juneteenth" would be formally recognized in Alaska under terms of the legislation that cleared the State House today. The sponsor is Anchorage Representative Lisel McGuire. She explained that slaves in Galveston, Texas, didn't receive word of President Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 until June 19th, 1865. She said during floor comments that Juneteenth would be a non-paid holiday observed on the third Saturday of each June. House Bill 100 was approved unanimously by representatives and sent to the Senate.
Fairbanks Senator Pete Kelly (left) has introduced a bill aimed at creating special hunting seasons before the start of the school year so children can join adults in pursuit of big game. Kelly says he wants to keep hunting a part of the growing up experience in Alaska.
Unalaska residents will choose a new mayor Monday from among 5 candidates for the job. Former mayor Frank Kelty resigned in December to take a job as the city's natural resource analyst. The winner of Monday's special election will serve out the remainder of Kelty's term, which would have expired in October, when the regular municipal election is held. The candidates are City Councilman Gregg Hanson; Dick Davis, chief executive of the lcoal native corporation; Paul Larsen, shop foreman at American President Lines; Bill Bradshaw and Earl Southworth. If none of the candidates receive 40 percent of the vote, the city will hold a runoff election between the top two vote-getters on or before March 13.
Property owners in the Mat-Su Borough can now pay their property taxes on-line. The new way to pay property taxes is the first on-line tax payment service in the state of Alaska. It is being made available through a partnership with software company EzGov.
Wave Wholesale Company has halted construction of a retail center in Bethel as it tries to restructure. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month and laid off 28 workers. Wave was formed three and a half years ago by several Native corporations as a cooperative to supply groceries to village stores.
Kid Safe is scheduled for Centennial Hall on Saturday. The Co-Coordinator of the annual event, John Wray of Bartlett Regional Hospital, was a guest on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. He said registration begins at 9:00am, with the first of several classes beginning a half hour later. The annual event is for kids between the ages of 4 to 14. Classes continue until 3:00pm. Wray says kids are welcome to come and go as they please and attend any class they want. (In photo, Kid Safe Co-Coordinator John Wray of Bartlett Regional Hospital, left, and Volunteer David Thomson of the Alaska Division of Health)
Gastineau Humane Society's annual Rabies Clinic is scheduled from 2:00pm to 4:00pm tomorrow afternoon. The society's Katherine Torrence says the clinic is sponsored by the Southeast Alaska Vet Clinic. The rabies shots will be $5. She says all animals must be restrained. Dog licenses will also be for sale during the clinic.
Two Juneau residents are among the Alaska residents nominated to United States military academies by Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. Wesley Brooks, the son of Dennis and Clare Brooks, has been nominated to attend the Air Force Academy. There are 19 candidates for two vacancies. Orion Bloom, the son of Dwight and Kathleen Bloom, is one of two candidates for one vacancy at the US Merchant Marine Academy.
The annual Anchorage Fur Rendezvous is getting under way today. Over the next 10 days, the state's biggest winter carnival will offer everything from fireworks and concerts to cribbage and handball tournaments. But the traditional sled dog racing was canceled due to lack of snow.
The high school men's basketball team played host to Service last night but was less than hospitable by defeating the Cougars 69 to 59. The final two home games of the season are scheduled February 16th and 17th against Ketchikan.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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