Thursday, September 28, 2000 © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News
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Princess announces smoke abatement plan
Would use surplus AEL&P power, shut down ship engines in port
Princess Cruises wants to plug its ships into Juneau's power supply to lessen the smoke over the capital city. The ships would use surplus electricity from theSnettisham hydroelectric plant (left) instead of running their own engines to produce power. The Department of Environmental Conservation cited Princess this summer for violating air quality standards. Local Princess Manager Kirby Day (right) says the cruise line would make a
multi-million-dollar investment in new connection equipment at the South Franklin Street Dock so the utility and its customers wouldn't bear the cost. Under terms of a letter of intent signed yesterday, the utility's revenue would go back to its customers. Peter Bibb of Alaska Electric Light and Power says Juneau only uses about 45 megawatts of the plant's 80 megawatt capacity in the summer time. He says it's a complicated process which might lead to delays next season. Bibb says there will be a long lead time on the transformer because of the non-standard voltage they'll be dealing with on the ship. In addition, the final agreement is subject to approval by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and the City and Borough of Juneau must also approve permits for construction of the substation. The agreement does not cover what will happen when the city goes on diesel when power from Snettisham is interrupted. Bibb says the details on how the ships will get power during those times will come out of the power sales agreement.
A Canadian backpacker who went for a day hike near Skagway on Tuesday has become the subject of a large search effort. Witnesses told police 28-year-old Charles Brian Gay of Montrose, British Columbia, was headed to Upper Dewey Lakes to look at rocks. A search until dark last night revealed no signs of the man. He was scheduled to board the ferry in Skagway at 11:30 last night, but did not show up. A Temsco helicopter from Juneau was scheduled to fly the area today and specifically search rock outcroppings. A friend of the missing hiker says Gay likes to climb around rock outcroppings. Gay is a geologist and reportedly works for a firm in Whitehorse. Personal and dogs from SEADOGS in Juneau, Juneau Mountain Rescue, and searchers from Haines are assisting State Troopers and the Skagway Fire Department in the effort. Gay left the youth hostel in Skagway where he was staying Tuesday morning for a hike to Twin Dewey Peak about five miles away. He reportedly told the manager he would return that evening, but hasn't been seen since.
Juneau is sending five representatives to the state's Education Summit which begins in Girdwood south of Anchorage tomorrow. They include School Board President Stan Ridgeway (left), Dzantik'i Heeni MiddleSchool Teacher Marty Borthwick, High School teacher Karen Klein, High School Site Council President Lance Carpenter, Assistant Superintendent Peggy Cowan and Superintendent Gary Bader. Bader says the Juneau team hopes to analyze the benchmark test data that will be provided by the state during the summit. From there they hope to formulate action plans in response to those results and identify barriers to learning and solutions for removing those barriers. About 350 educators from school districts around the state are expected to attend the summit.
Emergency personnel responded to a report of a car flipped over in the Sealaska parking lot downtown at about 8:30 last night. Police found the vehicle flipped upside down. They say the car apparently struck the exit sign as it was attempting to leave the parking lot on to Seward Street. The driver, 79 year old Ella Fortin, was taken to the hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released. She was later charged with Driving While Intoxicated and released on her own recognizance.
Someone torched the stack of wood planned for this evening's bonfire at Dimond Park. The fire department responded to the call at about 1:00 this morning. Carla Tollefson is a member of the Juneau Youth Football League Board of Directors, which sponsors the bonfire as part of the high school's "Spirit Week." Tollefson said the stack was pretty large. She figures about 15 feet wide and 20 feet high. The contractor working at Dimond Park was adding to the pile. Tollefson says they still plan to proceed with the bonfire as scheduled tonight, and are seeking donations of dry, burnable material. If people with wood can't get it to Dimond Park, Tollefson says they can arrange to pick it up. Her number is 790-3181. The bonfire is scheduled from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Dimond Park.
Members of Bartlett Regional Hospital's Board of Directors were guests on KINY's Capital Chat this morning to urge passage of Proposition 2 in next Tuesday's election, which calls for extension of the temporary 1 percent sales tax. The vast majority of the levy is earmarked for the hospital. Board Vice President Ron Lorensen (right in photo) said considering how medicine has developed over the 15 to 20 years since the last true upgrade at the hospital and looking ahead to the needs of the community, this is direction the hospital needs to go to stay current. $20-million of the tax would go toward the planned renovation and improvements at the hospital. The hospital plans to put up a like amount for the so-called "Project 2005." Board President Dr. Bob Urata (left in photo) explained that the balance would come from a price increase, amounting a 2.5 percent increase in each of two years. The proposition also includes funds for school repairs and the recreational facility at Savikko Park with an ice rink as its highlight. The hospital board asked for their project to stand alone on the ballot, but Urata and Lorenson said it was an Assembly decision to include the others.
Juneau Catholic Community Service has received a federal grant in the amount of $920,000. The grant is for expansion of the non-profit organization's Family Resource Center and creation of a Child Advocacy Center. That according to Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. Other recent grants include nearly $463,000 for rehabilitation of the exterior of the Sitka Pioneer Home; and $110,000 for the City of Craig to complete an industrial park in that Prince of Wales Island community. Just over $152,000 goes to the State Department of Community and Regional Affairs to conduct research and collect landing statistics in Southeast Alaska under the Anadromous Fish Conservation Program.
The Alaska Fish and Game Department has received several federal grants. They include nearly $2.8-million to continue management activities needed under terms of the Pacific Salmon Treaty; nearly $228,000 is earmarked for increasing Pacific Northwest salmon recovery efforts; and $337,000 for pink, chum and other Southeast Alaska salmon management practices under terms of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act. Just over $152,000 goes to the State Department of Community and Regional Affairs to conduct research and collect landing statistics in Southeast Alaska under the Anadromous Fish Conservation Program.
The Department of Transportation and the Alaska Marine Highway System are sponsoring a round trip voyage between Juneau and Sitka today. The trip aboard the 132 foot MV Klondike Express (left) is simulating a daily round trip between the two cities. Marine Highway General Manager Captain George Capacci says it's to demonstrate what it would be like to travel at 32 knots in a nine to ten hour day. The Klondike Express, with its 350 passenger capacity and catamaran hull, is similar in design to the shuttle ferry that's now out for bid and scheduled to begin service in 2003. Capacci says the smaller, faster shuttle ferries will supplement the mainline ferry service. The Klondike Express is owned by Phillips Cruises and Tours -- it usually operates in Prince William Sound. A similar demonstration trip was conducted in April. Elected officials, community leaders and members of the media were invited on today's voyage.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will be getting a $100,000 grant to participate in a project dealing with disasters. Senator Ted Stevens says the pilot program will involve five universities from around the country. The Federal Emergency Management Agency wants the schools to help it determine how vulnerable they are to natural hazards.
The president of the University of Alaska has upheld a decision to release a doctor at the school's Health and Counseling Center. And that leaves Melinda Evans with no more appeals at the college level in the fight to keep her job. Her lawyer says Evans may take the matter to court.
Thousands of dead fish are heaped in the tide line on a beach in Monashka Bay near Kodiak. Officials were scrambling yesterday to determine the cause and warning the public not to eat the fish. The Department of Environmental Conservation says there have been no reports of oil or petrochemical sheens in the area. The department's Leslie Pearson says the fish kill could have a natural cause.
Nome resident Marie Tozier is heading to New York City next week. And she just might return a millionaire. Tozier has been tapped to appear on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" -- ABC television's hit quiz show hosted by Regis Philbin. Tozier says she got the call from the show's producers Monday, telling her to pack her bags for the Big Apple. She says she already holds a distinguished place in the show's short history as the first Alaskan to compete. Tozier says the show will be taped Tuesday, and that she's bringing her grandmother, Ethel Karmun, as her guest. No word yet on when the show will air.
Drivers passing through Canada with rifles and shotguns will have to pay a 33-dollar fee starting next year. It's part of a nationwide gun licensing and registration law enacted in Canada. A visitor's gun license will be good for one year. It'll be good for multiple weapons.
Greenpeace activists have shifted their efforts to the south, but they're still targeting ships owned by British Petroleum. Five of them yesterday tried to board a tanker contracted to BP and headed for Long Beach, California with a million barrels of crude oil from Argentina. Last month, Greenpeace activists boarded a barge carrying equipment to BP's Northstar field off Alaska.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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