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Alaska Native
corporation's land deal draws ire
MARY PEMBERTON -Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The proposed payoff of a decades-old
debt by the federal government to a private Alaska Native
corporation has prompted growing criticism that it's nothing more
than a modern land grab.
Critics question why Sealaska Corp. and its more than 20,000
tribal member shareholders would be allowed to cherry-pick some of
the loveliest and most valuable lands in the Tongass National
Forest in the southeast part of the state.
Sealaska said the transfer of up to 85,000 acres of federal land
is an unpaid debt and long overdue — and could create new
economic opportunities in an area of Alaska where the timber
industry is dying.
"I believe this will have a positive economic impact
throughout the region," said Sealaska President and CEO Chris
McNeil Jr.
The company would like to diversify its businesses, which now are
mostly in mining and timber, into cultural and environmental
tourism and perhaps renewable energy projects such as tidal,
geothermal, biofuels and wood pellets, he said.
Jim Gould, mayor of Thorne Bay, a town of about 400 people on
Prince of Wales Island, countered that if Sealaska gets what it
wants, the town's dependable supply of timber and the jobs that go
along with it will be gone.
"I think they will harvest when the market is high and it
will be short-term boom and bust with most of the timber going to
exports," Gould said.
All three members of Alaska's congressional delegation sponsored a
bill that would approve the transfer.
It would be the first time that one of 13 Native regional
corporations formed nearly 40 years ago has been allowed to pick
land outside the original boundaries of the 1971 Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act.
Under the act that compensated Alaska Natives for the taking of
their lands, the regional corporations were allowed to select from
44 million acres and were paid more than $962 million.
Sealaska was entitled to up to 375,000 acres but received 290,000
acres.
Much of the land it was entitled to was tied up in long-term
timber contracts. Some of the parcels now available for choosing
are mostly under water and include municipal watersheds and land
used for subsistence hunting and fishing.
Those lands should stay in the public domain and shouldn't be part
of the deal, McNeil said.
In addition, the Native corporation is giving up its rights to
hundreds of thousands of acres of old-growth forest in the
Tongass, — at nearly 17 million acres, the nation's largest
national forest — to be able to make selections outside the 1971
settlement act boundaries.
The bulk of the acreage Sealaska wants in southeast Alaska is for
timber harvesting. Sealaska also wants 3,600 acres containing more
than 200 sacred sites and 5,000 acres containing 46 sites for new
business ventures such as ecotourism.
"We think this is a fair alternative," said McNeil,
adding that the corporation's plans could help lower the high cost
of living in southeast Alaska, while at the same time creating
jobs.
"We think our land bill is an idea not just about the past
but looking at the future of the region," he said.
Sealaska is not getting more than its fair share, said Alaska
Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
"The bill doesn't give Sealaska one single acre more than it
was entitled to receive back in 1971," said Murkowski, who
expects congressional movement on the bill this month or next.
No one is suggesting that Sealaska be denied the acres it's
entitled to, said Tenakee Springs Mayor Don Pegues. The problem is
what choice parcels Sealaska wants, for example, Crab Bay, where
locals go to hunt and fish.
"We are not opposed to Sealaska obtaining its lands, but we
are not too much interested in having them pick this piece of
land," Pegues said.
Folks in the town of fewer than 100 people don't mind visitors,
but a large tourist lodge, for example, would be too much, he
said.
"We like them individually and not in large groups,"
Pegues said.
Mine loses
short-term water permits
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The state has suspended short-term
water and land use permits at the Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay.
The problem involves withdrawals of water from lakes and streams
outside areas where it is permitted.
The Department of Natural Resources says the unpermitted water
withdrawals occurred at 45 sites over a three-year period.
The Pebble Partnership, the industry group pushing for development
of the mine in southwest Alaska, reported the unpermitted
withdrawals to the state last November.
Pebble has agreed to pay a $45,000 fine and come up with a plan to
prevent unpermitted water withdrawals in the future.
Northern Dynasty Minerals and Anglo American are developing Pebble
— a huge copper and gold deposit near some of the best-producing
wild salmon streams.
Stolen mail found
in Valley
A local resident reported to police finding a bag of mail lying on
a Mendenhall Valley road Thursday.
A short time later, a JPD officer located another bag of mail in a
different location in the Valley.
Police determined that the mail had been stolen from several
mailboxes throughout the Back Loop Road area, and the adjacent
residential streets.
Police returned the found mail to the owners.
Residents who suspect they are missing mail are encouraged to
contact the Juneau Police Department at 586-0600.
Man charged in
nurse torture death to change plea
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska man accused of torturing and
killing a 52-year-old nurse who lived next door to him will change
his plea in the federal capital murder case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cooper wouldn't comment Friday on
Joshua Alan Wade's change of plea and sentencing, except to say it
would be held in Anchorage federal court on Wednesday.
Wade's lawyer, Suzanne Lee Elliott, did not immediately return a
call to The Associated Press seeking comment.
Wade's trial was to have begun next month.
He could have been sentenced to death if convicted in the 2007
killing of 52-year-old Mindy Schloss.
Federal prosecutors had planned to call an expert to testify that
Wade was a violent sexual predator, testimony they hoped to use to
seek the death penalty. Wade has said he did not kill Schloss.
Duty station bill
would keep governor in Juneau
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)- A Senate committee has advanced a measure
that would make clear the governor's place is in Juneau.
Supporters say there are no current provisions requiring a
governor live in the capital city during his or her term or stay
at the governor's mansion.
The bill makes explicit that a governor's "duty station"
-- where he or she spends the majority of time to fulfill the
office's duties -- is Juneau.
The measure also would not allow a governor to claim a lodging
allowance when staying in his or her personal residence outside
Juneau.
A deputy commissioner with the Department of Administration says
the state typically pays any travel for a governor, and this bill
would not change that.
The measure now goes to the Judiciary Committee.
Notices going out
over lost data
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Letters should start going out by Friday
to the more than 77,000 current and former public employees whose
personal information was lost by the accounting firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
That update given to the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday
comes nearly two weeks after the state announced it had reached a
settlement with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Senior assistant attorney general Ed Sniffen attributed the lag to
logistics, such as getting call centers set up.
The letters are intended to alert those affected to the credit
protection services available to them under the settlement.
Sniffen says the agreement still allows for individuals to make
claims against the firm and even the state, though he said
PricewaterhouseCoopers would indemnify the state for any related
claims.
Lawmakers await
clarity on corporate campaigning
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A formal legal analysis is expected soon on
how a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affects Alaska campaign
finance laws.
Lawmakers have been quizzing state lawyers for guidance so
campaign laws can be updated, if necessary, in advance of
elections later this year.
Deputy Attorney General Craig Tillery says he hopes the analysis
will be done within a week.
The court threw out part of a federal law that allowed banning
corporations from independently spending their money to urge how
to vote on specific candidates, which Alaska had banned outright.
That kind of third-party political spending is now a form of
protected free speech.
Report predicts construction
decline
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Researchers at the University of Alaska
Anchorage predict a 3 percent decline in construction this year in
the state.
A report from the university's Institute of Social and Economic
Research says the overall decline is mostly due to slower
home-building and commercial projects.
Road-building remains relatively strong.
The Anchorage Daily News reports construction accounts for about
one in every 20 jobs in Alaska.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Rural oil and gas prices remain
high
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The state Division of Community and
Regional Affairs reports heating oil and gas prices in rural
Alaska remain more than 30 percent higher than they were five
years ago.
The division reports that adds to the problems villages face in
providing basic services.
The Alaska Federation of Natives leaders told state lawmakers they
support an energy bill.
Among other things, The Anchorage Daily News reports, it would
create a state Energy Department.
General fund eyed
for scholarship proposal
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell is proposing the $400
million for his scholarship program come from the state's general
fund, instead of reserves.
In unveiling his scholarship proposal last year, Parnell called
for setting aside $400 million from reserves to generate earnings
for tuition assistance.
But in a recent spending bill to the Legislature, his
administration proposed the money come from the general fund.
A Parnell spokeswoman attributed the change Thursday to
higher-than-expected revenue estimates.
A senior economist with the Office of Management and Budget said
the money would shift from the general fund to savings and
conceptually have the same effect as the first proposal.
Bethel man killed
by gunshot
BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — A manslaughter charge has been filed
against a 26-year-old Bethel man accused of shooting his friend in
the head last week.
Bethel police told The Tundra Drums that 24-year-old Dustin Anaruk
was dead on arrival at a local hospital after being shot by Ryan
Burke.
Police say alcohol was involved.
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Information from: The Tundra Drums
Pregnant woman punched in Selawik
BARROW, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska State Trooper arrested a man
accused of punching a pregnant woman in the stomach this week.
Troopers say the alleged attack occurred in the village of Selawik
— 90 miles east of Kotzebue. The woman, seven months pregnant,
was transported to a Kotzebue hospital.
James Foxglove was charged with assault and resisting arrest.
The 48-year-old was lodged at the Kotzebue Regional Jail. Another
man at the scene, 51-year-old Carl Foxglove, was charged with
disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after reportedly
challenging the Trooper to a fight.
Troopers say both Foxgloves were highly intoxicated.
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Information from: The Arctic Sounder
Fisheries Board to classify
Chitina dip netting
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Board of Fisheries has set
aside two days at its meeting next month in Anchorage to decide
whether Chitina dip-netters should be classified as personal-use
or subsistence fishermen.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the Chitina Dipnetters
Association and the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fund
sued the state last year and the board drafted proposals at last
month's meeting in Fairbanks.
The association wants a subsistence classification because
subsistence uses have a higher priority than commercial salmon
fishing.
The state issues 8,000 to 10,000 Chitina personal-use permits a
year and dip-netters catch about 100,000 fish. The Cordova
commercial fleet catches about 1.3 million salmon a year.
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Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Gov. Parnell not
in favor of Alaska seceding from U.S.
Governor Sean Parnell says he does not support the state of Alaska
seceding from the United States.
While a guest on KJNO's Action Line with host Murray Walsh
(Wednesday a caller from Sitka told the governor that
she's been hearing more and more talk lately about the state
seceding from the union.
The caller said she was interested in Alaska leaving the union
because she has $1,500 in unpaid parking tickets in Colorado and,
because of that, she can't get a driver's license in Alaska.
The governor did not mentioned her predicament specifically, but
did say he would like to see much less federal encroachment on
state's right's.
Parnell said he does not support Alaska leaving the union.
The Governor said he's sworn to uphold and "will live and
die" by the state and federal constitutions.
Parnell said there are many avenues to fight federal encroachment
including legislation, litigation, the regulatory environment and
the power of the ballot box.
Gatt leads Yukon
Quest
EAGLE, Alaska (AP) — Musher Hans Gatt has nearly a three-hour
lead this morning, leaving the Dawson City stopover in the Yukon
Quest International Sled Dog Race.
Gatt won four ounces of Klondike placer gold by arriving first at
Dawson Wednesday for the mandatory 36-hour rest.
He's followed by Lance Mackey and Hugh Neff on the 1,000-miles
race from Fairbanks to Whitehorse.
Domestic violence
assault in Sleetmute
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska state troopers say a man
attacked another man with a knife or hatchet in Sleetmute, which
is about 150 miles northeast of Bethel.
Troopers in Aniak responded to a domestic violence assault early
Wednesday and arrested 19-year-old Colten Evan Zauker on charges
that included attempted murder.
The Anchorage Daily News reports he's held without bail in the
Yukon-Kuskokwim Correctional Center in Bethel.
The victim was taken to Anchorage for treatment.
Troopers say alcohol was involved.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News
Man gets 6 years
in Soldotna drug death
KENAI, Alaska (AP) — A 24-year-old man who supplied the heroin
that killed another man in Soldotna will serve six years in
prison.
The Peninsula Clarion newspaper reports a judge also mandated
Wednesday that Thayr Watson apply to participate in a substance
abuse treatment program.
Watson earlier pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide.
Watson was charged in the death of Jason McCafferty, whose
lifeless body was found in the bathroom of a Soldotna grocery
store in August 2008. Authorities say he ingested heroin sold to
him by Watson.
Soldotna police said Watson was tied to the death through
surveillance tapes, cell phone records and personal records.
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Information from: Peninsula Clarion
No audio, video
recording allowed at Palin speech
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Want to record Sarah Palin's speech
when the former Republican vice presidential nominee comes to
Arkansas next week?
Thanks, but no thanks, organizers say.
The Arkansas Republican Party said Thursday that no video or audio
recordings will be allowed at Verizon Arena when the former Alaska
governor headlines a North Little Rock fundraiser next week.
The rule applies to both audience members and the media, the
party's executive director says.
Arkansas Republican Party Executive Director Chase Dugger says the
rule was requested by the Washington Speakers Bureau, which
arranged the event. The party is paying an undisclosed fee for
Palin to speak.
Palin, who is a paid contributor to Fox News, has been traveling
the country and promoting her recently published memoir.
She recently told the channel it would be "absurd" for
her not to consider running for president in 2012.
Johnston offers
variable child support payments
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Levi Johnston is asking a judge to
grant a flexible pay scale for the child support he must provide
to former Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter.
The Anchorage Daily News reports the 19-year-old Playgirl
centerfold contends in court documents he earned more than
$100,000 in 2009 because of his national celebrity.
But the documents add there's no guarantee the riches and fame
will continue.
Bristol Palin, the 19-year-old daughter of the former Republican
vice presidential candidate, is seeking $22,750 — $1,750 a month
— from her ex-fiance to cover the 13 months since the birth
their son, Tripp.
Johnston has paid $4,400 so far and says he is willing to pay 20
percent of his 2009 income.
Thomas Van Flein, Palin's attorney, says Palin and Johnston appear
to be making progress toward a fair resolution.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News
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