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Longevity Bonus bill gets hearing in Senate committee
A hearing was conducted today on a bill seeking to restore the Longevity Bonus program for senior citizens who were receiving it when the former Murkowski Administration moved to end it.
The Senate Health, Education and Social Services Committee heard from the sponsor of SB 40, Anchorage Senator Bill Wielechowski
He said in too many cases the program was the difference to allow seniors to make ends meet. "A promise made, should be a promise kept," he told the committee.
A key provision. of the measure is a requirement that a recipient in the future must have been eligible in 2003.
Another provision requires that recipients must have maintained continuous state residence between June 30, 2003 and the date the reapplication is filed. As a result, Wielechowski said the program won't be opened up to new applicants.
Assistant Attorney General Stacie Kraly told the committee a legislative fix is needed since the law was never taken off the books, but rather just not funded.
She says the program must be reconstituted to avoid technical problems.
The chief one involves a continuing requirement under the statute that recipients needed to re-establish eligibility on an ongoing basis.
But that hasn't happened since the program has been unfunded. So she says that's the primary reason why that believe a new bill is necessary, rather than just an appropriation.
Committee Chair Bettye Davis held the bill in the committee pending additional work with the Department of Law.
Lawmakers voice doubts on same-sex benefits vote
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Lawmakers on both sides of the issue are expressing qualms about an April Third advisory vote on benefits for same-sex partners of state employees.
It would ask voters if they support placing a constitutional amendment on the 2008 General Election ballot that would roll back the court-ordered benefits.
Proponents of the one-point-two
million dollar advisory vote are hoping support will bolster their case for getting a constitutional amendment through the Legislature.
But some, like House Republican John Coghill, are now worried the spring election will fail to draw voters.
The Senate is also discussing whether to introduce legislation to rescind the vote.
And House Democrats have introduced a measure that would postpone the election until the Legislature has approved the full cost.
Anchorage Democrat Mike Doogan says the Legislature would get a better sense of where the public stands with a 12 thousand dollar opinion poll.
Scammon
Bay High School locked down in response
to drunken threats
A drunk man spurred the lock down of the
high school in the Western Alaska
village of Scammon Bay Tuesday
afternoon.
Tim DeSpain of the Alaska State Troopers
says the incident started at about 3:45
when 40 year-old Steven Walker, Sr.,
threatened to shoot school children and
staff leaving the high school.
He says Walker had been drinking home
brew and made the threats over the VHF
radio.
Walker's also accused of assaulting his
15 year-old daughter.
A total of 203 students and 21 staff
members were locked down for about three
hours.
DeSpain says Troopers took Walker into
custody without incident at about six
p.m.
He was charged with terroristic
threatening in the second degree, a
class "C" felony and domestic
violence assault in the fourth degree.
He was transported to Bethel where he
was jailed.
Two Noatak men charged with attempted murder in shooting case
Two men are charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting of a man in the northwest Alaska village of Noatak Tuesday.
The Alaska State Troopers Tim DeSpain says their Kotzebue detachment was contacted at about 2:30 Tuesday morning and told the man was shot in the head and was being transported to Kotzebue.
Investigation revealed that the victim had been shot with a small caliber rifle which had not penetrated his skull.
The men arrested are identified as 55 year-old Bill C. Bailey and 22 year old Charlie
Bailey III, both of Noatak.
Their exact relationship was not disclosed.
They're also charged with assault in the third degree, misconduct involving weapons, and reckless endangerment.
They were transported to Kotzebue Regional Jail.
DeSpain says investigators determined alcohol was involved.
Body found near mouth of Kasilof River
KENAI, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers say they found the body of an adult male on a beach near the mouth of the Kasilof River on the Kenai Peninsula.
Troopers say the body has
not been identified. That should come some time this week as troopers continue to investigate.
The body was found on the beach Monday by a trooper responding to an abandoned vehicle call.
Pedestrian
killed when struck by semi
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An Anchorage
man was killed when he was struck by a
tractor trailer truck hauling double
trailers.
Police say 51-year-old George Leonard
Allowan stepped out into the path of the
oncoming truck last night at about 8-30.
He was struck by the second trailer and
dragged about two blocks.
Police say it appears that Allowan had
been drinking.
The intersection is posted on three
sides as ``No Pedestrian Crossing'' and
is controlled by a traffic signal.
Police say it also is well-lit.
The driver of the truck was unaware had
had struck Allowan until motorists
flagged him down.
Police say the driver of the truck --
62-year-old Leonard Berger Reid of Eagle
River -- was not injured.
Police say there are no indications of
improper driving on Reid's part.
Hayes not at Juneau meeting of Regents
The University of Alaska Board of Regents started a two day meeting in Juneau this morning without one of its members.
University official Kate Ripley says Jim Hayes is not present at the meeting.
The former mayor of Fairbanks and
his wife Chris are under federal indictment on charges of fraud, theft, money laundering and misappropriating government funds.
Governor Palin has asked Hayes to resign, but he's refused indicating he plans to serve his full term which runs out in 2011.
Among other business, the regents are in the capital to lobby lawmakers and the governor on their budget request.
After convening this morning at Centennial Hall, members split into groups to meet with legislators.
They'll reconvene at the University of Alaska Southeast
campus (tomorrow) Thursday and listen to public testimony beginning at 8 a.m.
Sealaska
acquires new fabrication and manufacture
businesses
Sealaska Corporation has added a new
manufacturing company to it's portfolio.
Company officials announced yesterday
[Tuesday] the launch of Olympic
Fabrication, LLC.
Sealaska recently purchased the assets
of the Shelton, Washington, based Olympic
Tool and Engineering, a fabricator of
welded assemblies in the commercial and
defense sectors.
Olympic Fabrication will operate at the
same 60,000-square foot facility at the
Port of Shelton.
Company officials say Sealaska will add
to the company's current 53 employee work
force.
The wholly-owned subsidiary specializes
in the welded fabrication and
manufacture of a wide variety of
precision components and assemblies for
a wide range of industries, including
the military.
Sealaska President and CEO Chris E.
McNeil Jr. says the company will soon qualify to
participate in the Small Business
Administrations 8(a) programs.
Sealaska is the Regional Native
Corporation of Southeast Alaska created
under the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act of 1971.
Products and services include plastic
injection molding and manufacturing,
machining and prototyping, fabrication,
information technology and environmental
services.
With more than 291,000 acres of land,
the corporation is the largest private
landowner in Southeast Alaska.
Sealaska is owned by more than 17,500
shareholders of Tlingit, Haida and
Tsimshian descent.
Sealaska
Board appoints Chief Operating Officer
Sealaska Corporation has announced that
Sam Landol has been appointed the
corporation's Chief Operating Officer
effective February 19th.
Its
a newly created position, according to
President and CEO Chris E. McNeil, Jr.
Landol's primary responsibilities will
include Sealaska's current manufacturing
and service-providing subsidiaries.
Before coming to Sealaska, Landol served
as president of European operations for
Nypro, Inc., a leading precision molder.
Nypro is a partner with Sealaska in
Nypro Kánaak, one of the largest
injection molders in the United States
to be certified by the National Minority
Supplier Development Council.
McNeil says Landol brings proven talent for
increasing market share with innovative
strategies across multiple sectors on
multiple continents.
McNeil says Landol's experience with
implementation of corporate lean
programs will lead to increased
profitability of Sealaska's companies
Landol's duties include expanding
Sealaska's customer base by emphasizing
the company's diversity supply programs.
As a minority-owned company Sealaska and
its subsidiaries qualify as a diversity
supplier for many Fortune 500
companies.”
Landol is a graduate of the Pratt
Institute and Harvard Business School.
He'll be based in Seattle.
Taylor
relieved at Marine Highways
The Palin Administration is looking for a new deputy commissioner to oversee the Marine Highway System.
Robin Taylor has been on personal leave since Palin became Governor in December. He was removed from the position effective January 31st.
Charles Fedullo, in the Governor's press office, says Palin decided she wanted to move in a different direction.
He
says Palin wants to find a director of the ferry service who is driven by information and driven to make the ferries have a consistent schedule.
In the meantime, Deputy Commissioner John Torgerson is serving on an acting basis in that position until a new person is appointed.
Leo
von Scheben was appointed DOT
commissioner last month and started work
Monday.
Snow
day make up added for Juneau school
students
The School Board has approved a change
to this year's school calendar.
Because of the snow days in November, in
order to have enough student school
days, the district needed to add another
student day.
The board unanimously approved the
administration's recommendation of
switching April 27th from a staff
in-service day to a student day.
Superintendent Peggy Cowan says that
change will bring the district into
compliance with the state and it's the
least disruptive.
Other alternatives would have been too
add a student day during spring break, a
Saturday or add a day at the end of the
school year.
The last alternative was ruled out
because of the plans families have
already made around the current school
year.
New
hospital wing opens
The new three-story wing of Bartlett
Regional Hospital was unveiled to the
public Tuesday.
The new wing adds close to 55,000 square
feet to the original 110,000 square foot
structure.
It
includes a heliport on top of the
structure.
The
Mental Health Unit occupies the top
floor.
The second floor houses the Critical
Care Unit and obstetrics-nursing unit
and the emergency services will be
located on the ground floor.
Construction commenced in August 2004 at
a cost of $25 point 2 Million.
Hospital CEO Jim Richardson says
departments will begin a month long move
into their new quarters following the
public opening.
After that's completed, a renovation of
the original structure, that will take
approximately two years, will get
underway.
The ground floor entry near the
ambulance bay will become the temporary
main entrance during Phase Two
construction.
Assembly
panel to interview Docks and Harbors
candidates
The Assembly sitting as the Human
Resources Committee will interview
applicants for the Docks and Harbors
Board of Directors this evening.
(Wednesday)
After adjourning to executive session,
the Assembly will then appoint new
members to the board.
The meeting gets underway at 5 in room
224 at City Hall.
PRAC to
receive updates
The CBJ Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will hear reports on several ongoing projects tonight. [Wednesday]
One will be on Project Playground at Twin Lakes, according to CBJ Parks and Recreation Director Marc Matsil.
He says the dates for construction are set for May 15th through the 19th and May 22nd through the 26th.
The work will be completed primarily with community volunteers.
The panel will also receive updates on the Auke Lake Wayside Park and the Montana Creek Buffer proposal.
The Trout Unlimited proposal calls for a 500 foot buffer along Montana Creek.
During its meeting in December, the committee discussed the use of recreation facilities including the maxed out Augustus Brown Swimming Pool.
That situation has spurred the Glacier Swim Club to resurrect an effort for a new pool or aquatic center at Dimond Park.
Members will discuss that situation again at this evening's meeting and designate a representative to the swim club's pool committee.
Matsil says the committee will also continue discussion on the request by various users for regulation size artificial turf fields to particularly fulfill the needs of baseball and softball.
The meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. in the Assembly chambers.
Boy Scout trail head will not be part of Forest Service park land sale
The Boy Scout trail head out the road will not be sold by the Forest Service.
The agency updated reporters during a teleconference Tuesday on revised plans by the Bush Administration to sale national forest lands to help pay for rural schools and roads.
The trail head, which provides access to Eagle Beach, accounts for about six acres.
When the proposal was made last year, 92 acres in the Tongass and one acre in the Chugach, in Southcentral Alaska, were on the list for sale.
That's been reduced to just over six acres this year. They include two areas in the Tongass.
There are two parcels accounting for
five acres north of Berners Bay near the Kensington Mine. The other half acre site is in Funter Bay.
Men suing priest, Jesuits for child support
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Two men are suing their father for child support and damages.
The twist?
Father James Jacobson, the man accused of being a deadbeat father, is a Roman Catholic priest.
The unnamed plaintiffs are also suing the Jesuits for support. Besides the two sons, one of their mothers is also suing.
Anchorage attorney Chris Cooke filed the child support motion in January for the three.
One son is seeking nearly 325-thousand dollars in child support and the other is seeking more than 270-thousand.
Cooke says being a priest doesn't erase the responsibility to care for one's children.
Jacobson's lawyer, Joan Unger of Anchorage, says the priest has always turned his money over to his religious order, Society of Jesus Oregon Province.
The Jesuits say in court papers they don't have to pay child support for priests.
D-N-A testing in 2005 showed Jacobson is the biological father of both John Does.
Their mothers, both married at the time, were sexually assaulted by Jacobson and became pregnant.
That's according to a lawsuit filed in Bethel Superior Court in October 2005.
Jacobson, who is 83 years old, was ordained as a Jesuit priest and worked in Alaska from about 1961 to 1976 in various Yup'ik villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Bush promotes national parks spending plan with park visit
WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush took a helicopter ride to Virginia's Shenandoah National Park today (Wednesday.)
There, he promoted his plans to boost park spending.
Bush's new budget calls for enough federal and private funding to provide national parks with an extra three
billion dollars over the next ten years.
The president is aiming to spruce up U-S parks in time for the 2016 centennial of the National Park Service.
Conservation groups say the cleanup is long overdue. They say years of neglect have left the parks plagued with growing pollution, small staffs and run-down facilities.
There's
more than six million for national parks
in Alaska in the president's proposed
budget for fiscal year 2008.
The money would focus on visitor
services, resource protection and
maintenance. About one-third would go to hiring
seasonal staff.
The increases bring the proposed 2008
budget for national parks in Alaska to
almost 60 million dollars.
Alaska
residents worry coal project could ruin
subsistence habitat
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A Canadian
mining exploration company wants to
drill for high-grade coal in an area
practically surrounding the community of
Chickaloon.
Many residents in the community of 250
people are opposed to the proposal. They
say it could ultimately ruin a habitat
rich in moose, fish and other
subsistence foods.
Full Metal Minerals has applied for a
state exploration permit for the
21-thousand-acre area about 60 miles
northeast of Anchorage.
Michael Williams is the president of the
Vancouver, British Columbia-based
company.
He says that any actual mining would
largely be underground with little
impact on the environment. Any work
beyond exploration would need further
government authority.
Lisa Stevenson -- who heads an
opposition group called the Castle
Mountain Coalition -- says many
residents don't believe their community
can coexist with the venture.
The Alaska Department of Natural
Resources is holding a community meeting
tonight (Wednesday) along with
company representatives who will discuss
the proposed project.
Public testimony will be taken at the
meeting and through the comment period
that ends next Monday. The state then
has 60 days to decide on the
application.
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