Juneau Daily News Online

Thursday,  May 9, 2002

JEDC seeking major funding hike from CBJ
The Juneau Economic Development Council and the Juneau Alliance for Mental Health presented their fiscal year 2003 budget requests to the Assembly's Finance Committee yesterday.

JEDC received a grant of $75,000 from the city this year. For fiscal year 2003, the council is requesting $220,000, or three times more.

Earmarked for the Business Assistance Center is $40,000. There's $20,000 for the Wood Products Development Service, and $160,000 for specific programs including, administration, payroll and traveling expenses.

The grant request represents about 21 percent of the council's overall budget of just over $761,000.  

Mayor Sally Smith, who also sits on the council's board, said the Assembly is putting together a maintenance budget and she'd like to see the city's entire budget overview, before acting on the grant request.

Assembly member Frankie Pillifant agreed with the Mayor and suggested the possibility of using funds from the City's Rainy Day Fund or the Better Capital City Fund.

Finance Committee Chair Jim Powell pointed out that there are a multitude of worthy requests for additional funding this year. He said there may be more flexibility if the Legislature approves House Bill 20. If approved by the lawmakers, the measure would use earnings of the Permanent Fund to fund a municipal dividend.

The Juneau Alliance for Mental Health is requesting the same amount as they received this year, $305,000.

JAMHI and Juneau Youth Services have assumed many of the mental health services previously provided by the now defunct CBJ Health and Social Services Department.

Proposal to build Anchorage state office building advances in House
A measure calling on the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to finance construction of a government office building in Anchorage was heard by the House State Affairs Committee this morning.

When asked if the bill is tied to moving the capital, a chief backer said its not intended to be. Anchorage Representative Joe Green said it is not tied in any way that he knows to moving the capital.

He added that he personally doesn't want the capital moved and thinks that would be a mistake. Green doesn't consider it economical. He does support moving legislative sessions out of the Capital City.

The measure was moved out of the committee and sent to House Finance. A similar measure sponsored by Anchorage Senator John Cowdery is under consideration in the Senate.

Jacobson running for Green Party gubernatorial nod again
The Green Party of Alaska announced yesterday that Desa Jacobson and Diane Benson will be at the top of their ticket this fall in the race for Governor and Lieutenant. Governor.

Jacobson and Benson are believed to be the first Native women to seek the state's two highest offices at the same time. Jacobson was the party's standard bearer in 1998.

At a press conference, Jacobson said the other well known candidates are staring their campaigns with huge amounts of money raised Outside. She says they're proud to say they're starting their campaign with a 5 dollar Alaskan contribution.

They made their filings official at the Division of Elections office in Anchorage yesterday.

Grass fire doused in Dredge Lake area
Among the calls Capital City Fire and Rescue responded to yesterday were a brush fire and a possible water rescue.

The wild-land fire in the Dredge Lake area consumed about a half acre. Captain Jerry Godkin says ten firefighters assisted by two Forest Service workers put the fire out quickly with hand tools and portable water pumps.

Ambulance crews were then called to a report of someone splashing around in the water about 300 yards offshore in the Auke Bay Recreation area. Captain Godkin says when the EMT's arrived the saw a man coming out of the water in diving suit, snorkel and fins. After it was determined that there was no problem, the crew returned to the fire station.

Black bear cub rescued in Juneau, but homeless
State biologists say it's unlikely a home will be found for a black bear cub captured this week by Juneau Public Health Center workers.

The three workers say they decided to help the cub because it appeared to be wounded and motherless as it wandered around near the center Tuesday afternoon. They turned it over to a Juneau veterinary clinic.

A Fish and Game official says that because the cub has been handled by humans, it would be difficult to return it to its mother if she is alive. Thus the bear will have to be euthanized if it can't be returned to the wild or a zoo isn't found to take it in. The official says placing a black bear cub at a zoo is difficult, because zoos rarely need them.

Bird kill measure receiving U. S. House attention
The U-S House of Representatives is considering a bill that would exempt the military from a ban on accidental killing of migratory birds.

Supporters of the measure say ever-increasing limitations on when and where troops may train makes exercises less realistic and threatens military readiness.

Environmentalists and House Democrats say laws already permit exemptions in the name of national security. And they say the Bush administration is using the war on terrorism as an excuse to roll back environmental laws.

The proposal is part of the annual defense authorization bill and would give the military more leeway in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Marijuana heist subject of Trooper call in Wasilla
State Troopers say armed robbers attempted to steal marijuana plants that were being illegally grown in a Wasilla home.

An anonymous man called Troopers early Tuesday to report several men with guns outside a home. The caller said two men went inside and began cutting the marijuana plants. The caller then heard at least one gun shot from the home.

The Trooper's Greg Wilkinson says it appears one of the residents fired a warning shot, causing the robbers to flee.

Troopers say they found 18 marijuana plants growing inside the residence of Travis and Brian Lizer. The case is being referred to the Palmer district attorney's office.

ATM theft short circuited in Anchorage
Two burglars were foiled in their attempt to steal an automatic teller machine from an Eagle River bank in the Anchorage area this morning when an alarm alerted police.

After gaining entry into the arctic entryway of the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, they were able to detach the machine, but that's when the alarm went off.

A security company notified police at 4:18 a.m. reporting something amiss. Officers arrived three minutes later. Witnesses said the burglars were dragging the machine up an embankment to a vehicle when they apparently heard the sirens. At that point they decided to abandon the ATM and fled the scene.

Department official Ron Magee said the suspects remain at large.

Cut off for prize money in Spring King Derby is 22.5 pounds
A 41 point 8 pound King entered by David Julian continues to lead the annual Spring King Derby sponsored by the Tlingit - Haida Central Council.

The council's Archie Cavanaugh says they had about 15 fish turned in yesterday with about a dozen caught off the rock at Outer Point.

There are prizes for the 30 top fish. Cavanaugh says size of the 30th place first right now is 22 point 6. He says that is worth $500 in cash. The first place fish is worth $5,000 in cash and $3,000 in prizes.

Fish must be gutted and gilled before being entered at Jerry's Meats and Seafoods, Alaska Seafood Company or Taku Fisheries. Before fishing, Cavanaugh says be sure to buy a ticket at one of the various outlets around town.

The derby runs through the end of the month.

Auto show opens tomorrow
The Second Annual Classic and Custom Car and Cycle Show is tomorrow and Saturday.

One of the organizers, Stan Ridgeway, says there will be 38 cars and about a dozen cycles on display this year.

Like last year, the show is at Centennial Hall. Another of the organizers, Steve Allwine, said on KINY's Capital Chat today that admission is five dollars.

Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. tomorrow and from 9:30 to 4:30 Saturday. Allwine says those who pay admission Friday can come back in time for the awards Saturday afternoon at 4 at no additional charge.

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