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Juneau Daily News Online

Wednesday, February 10, 1999  © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Federal building evacuated
   Fumes from spilled heating oil to blame
The federal building (left) was evacuated yesterday afternoon after the heating fuel tank was overloaded spilling about 125 gallons. Fumes spread throughout the building which spurred Building Manager Tim Essebaggers to order the evacuation at about 1:30pm. But he says no one was endangered. The OSHA action level for evacuation is 400 parts per million, but the level in the building yesterday never exceeded 20 parts per million, according to the building manager Meanwhile, Les Leatherberry of the state Department of Environmental Conservation says they monitored what was going on inside the building and will investigate what happened on the outside. Eight barrels or 400 gallons were removed from the basement today, but that included materials that were already in the basement prior to the spill, according to another DEC official. Essebaggers said Petro Marine overflowed the new tank as it was making a delivery.

Collins gets high marks for Juneau judgeship
Ketchikan District Court Judge Patricia Collins received the highest rating from a survey of attorneys around the state to succeed Juneau Superior Court Judge Walter Carpeneti. As a matter of fact, Collins received the same score as Carpeneti, 4.6, which Alaska Judicial Council Executive Director Bill Cotten, said are the highest scores since 1984. Council members will interview the four applicants Friday morning in Juneau prior to sending the Governor at least two names for his consideration. Ron Lorenson, a private attorney in Juneau, received a 4.0 rating. Juneau Assistant Public Defender Phil Pallenberg was rated at 3.9 and Douglas Mertz, also a private attorney in town, got a 3.2. The Governor has up to 45 days to make a selection after receiving the council's list. Meanwhile, a swearing in ceremony is scheduled at 3:30 Friday afternoon as Judge Carpeneti assumes his new position as an Alaska Supreme Court justice.

Hudson, Kerttula split over summit meeting
Juneau Valley Representative Bill Hudson said yesterday's economic summit (right) clearly showed how every industry is interdependent on each of its sectors. He says any plan must be holistic and frugal, but include the protection of the professional work force in both the private and public sectors. Juneau Downtown Representative Beth Kerttula wants to hear from other than industry representatives which was the summit's focus. She said the voices of native corporations, environmental representatives and Alaskans in general must be heard before any action is taken.

JSD, teachers begin bargaining process
The job of negotiating a new contract for Juneau teachers started up this week. School District Superintendent Mary Rubadeau (left) says ground rules were established and several issues identified during initial bargaining Monday and Tuesday. The next bargaining sessions are scheduled February 24 and 25 and March 9 and 10 and will be closed to the public. The current contract expires at the end of the school year.


School forum set for tonight
Another in a series of public forums on the proposed high school plan is scheduled this evening at Floyd Dryden Middle School. The school district is proposing construction of a new school at Dimond Park and renovation of the current facility with both housing 1,200 students. Tonight's forum begins at seven.

Planners approve street project for Douglas
The reconstruction of St. Ann's Avenue in Douglas (right) was approved by the Planning Commission last night. Part of the CBJ project calls for a cul de sac just south of Treadwell Street for use as a bus turnaround. The commission stipulated that the turnaround construction not interfere with the adjacent historic Treadwell Mine structure and that parking on the cul de sac be limited to three spaces. The panel also approved a preliminary plat for a subdivision on the rock dump. The subdivision creates an additional 12 lots for commercial and industrial development.

Birth center offers alternative to hospital
The operations of the Juneau Family Birth Center, which opened last year and delivered the town's first baby of 1999 was the topic of discussion on KINY's Capital Chat today. The center delivered Juneau's first baby of 1999 early on January 2nd when Elke Coon gave birth to her son, Reed Alexander. The center's executive director and midwife Kaye Kanne (center in photo) thought it was significant that the baby was born at home. Barbara Fiscus (right in photo), who had her baby at the center last September First, said she initially had her lab work done at a doctor's office, but ultimately decided she would feel more comfortable at the center. Laura Minne (left in photo), chair of the center's board of directors, says funding is achieved in a variety of ways including clients and grants. A major fundraiser for the non profit organization is a hot dog booth during the Fourth of July in Douglas.

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