Former VECO official testifies in Kohring trial
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The former chairman of VECO corporation took the stand today (Friday) in the corruption trial of former state Representative Vic Kohring.

Bill Allen took the stand late this morning. 

Prosecutor Joe Bottini (boe-TEEN'-ee) spent more than an hour questioning Allen about how he built VECO from an Alaska company with ten employees to an international firm with up to 5,000 employees.

Allen and VECO vice president Rick Smith in May pleaded guilty to bribing Kohring, a Republican elected seven times to the state House from Wasilla.

Plea agreements signed by Allen and Smith call for them to cooperate with the government's case against Kohring and others.

Kohring is accused of accepting at least $2,600 from the VECO officials in exchange for pushing legislation that the company wanted.

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Smith concluded his testimony this morning.

Smith says Allen gave cash to Kohring to ``keep him on board'' on legislation VECO favored.

But he acknowledges that he only once saw Allen handing Kohring cash -- when Allen handed over money that he directed to put into plastic Easter eggs for Kohring's daughter.

Exxon official spurs two lawmakers to walk out of committee hearing
A pair of state lawmakers walked out of a committee meeting in Juneau after a confrontation with a representative of Exxon.

Senators Bill Wielechowski of Anchorage and Tom Wagoner of Kenai left the Resources Committee meeting Thursday after an exchange with Exxon-Mobil's top Alaska executive, Craig Haymes.

Earlier this week, Haymes said Exxon believes Alaska's oil tax rate is too high, and that Alaska is the most expensive place to do business. He repeated that view at Thursday's hearing.

Wielechowski asked Haymes how much of Exxon's $40 Billion in profits last year came from Alaska. Haymes replied that the company doesn't report profits state by state.

Later, Wagoner asked the same question, noting that the other major North Slope producers, BP and ConocoPhillips, are able to account for their Alaska profits.

Wagoner said Haymes' refusal to answer made him think Exxon was not behaving like a partner.

Alaska Air flight reports bird strike while taking off from Juneau
A bird strike was reported at Juneau's airport Thursday evening.

Airport Manager Dave Palmer says he was informed about the event by the FAA Tower.

He was told a departing Alaska Airlines pilot reported the strike as they took off on runway eight.

The field maintenance crew drove down the runway, but no signs of the bird were found, according to Palmer.

The incident occurred at about eight last evening.

The flight number was not available at this report.

Wing ship wins exemption from Docks and Harbors board
Wing ship marine passenger service for Upper Lynn Canal is one step closer to reality.

The Docks and Harbors Board of Directors Thursday night adopted a speed limit exemption for the WIG, or wing in ground effect craft, to exceed the speed limit on a manner similar to seaplanes in the downtown port area, according to Port Director John Stone.

He says the exemption also applies to the area off the Statter Harbor breakwater, although the wing ships are not expected to be operating in that area.

Stone says the regulation will now be f9rwarded to the city attorney for presentation to the Assembly.

                          
                 

The vessels ride on a self generated cushion of air.

They operate at about 110 miles per hour at a maximum of nine feet above the surface.

Pacific Sea Flight President Linus Romey says they will offer the service during the summer with four trips a day to Haines and Skagway and six per day to Hoonah.

Juneau to Haines would take about 50 minutes with another ten minutes to Skagway.

Juneau to Hoonah would take about 30 minutes.

Public hearings set for waterfront sale permit regs
The Docks and Harbors Board of Directors Thursday night  proposed amendments to waterfront sales permit regulations.

They will be available on the CBJ web page in the next couple of days.

Port Director John Stone says the proposed amendments will be out for public comment until the end of December.

The board has scheduled two public hearings, the first on November 20th and the second on December 20th at it's Operations Committee meetings.

Final action is scheduled for December 27th.

Lawyer says lawsuit will move forward despite BP settlements
LONDON (Dow Jones/AP) - An attorney plans to go forward with a private shareholder lawsuit in the United States against BP's former head and other executives.

The case was filed in Anchorage, Alaska, last year by two BP shareholders, the London Pensions Fund Authority, and the U.S. retirement fund of Unite Here.

It alleges mismanagement by CEO John Browne and other BP executives damaged the company.

Patrick Daniels, a lawyer with Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins, also criticized new U.S. government settlements as insufficient.

U.S. law enforcement agencies settled charges with the British oil company and fined it $373 million. The agreement largely resolves long-running probes into a deadly 2005 explosion at BP's refinery in Texas, 2006 oil spills from pipelines in Alaska and the manipulation of propane prices in 2004.

BP declined to comment on the matter.

ACS to build $95 million undersea cable to Oregon
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Communications Systems Group has announced an agreement with Tyco Telecommunications to build an undersea cable stretching from south-central Alaska to the central Oregon coast.

The company says the cable link between Anchorage and Florence, Oregon, will cost about 95 million dollars.

It cited strong projected customer growth as one reason for the move.

It will be the first undersea cable owned by ACS that connects Alaska to the lower 48.

ACS spokeswoman Mary Gasperlin says the cable would offer customers ``more choice,'' but was unable to elaborate.

David Morris, vice president of competitor GCI, says his company owns two cables connecting Alaska to the West Coast.

He says he expects the telecommunications market to get tighter with the construction of the ACS cable.

Morris says GCI will make sure to reemphasize the benefits they provide to customers.

Tennessee man gets 60 months on old pot charges
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A Tennessee man will serve more than four years in federal prison for growing 100 marijuana plants - nine years ago.

U.S. District court Judge John W. Sedwick has sentenced 54-year-old Kenneth Gassman to 60 months on the charges stemming from 1998.

Gassman was originally charged then with conspiracy to grow marijuana and had pleaded guilty in 1999. But he failed to appear for sentencing.

His whereabouts were unknown until his arrest on June 28th near Nashville.

Gassman originally faced a sentence of about 30 months, but Sedwick imposed a longer term, taking into account his failure to appear for the original sentencing.

No damage from 5.4 earthquake near King Cove
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A city official in King Cove reports no damage from a magnitude 5.4 earthquake.

Mayor Ernest Weiss says, ``We felt it; it shook for quite a while, but there's no damage.'' He adds, ``Everything is fine.''

Besides, after about 20 temblors were reported on one day earlier this month, he says they're getting accustomed to the quakes.

The U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center says the latest quake was recorded about just after 7 o'clock Friday morning. It was centered about 30 miles southeast of King Cove.

The community of about 800 residents is located on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. 

Journalist to become state's rural adviser
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A journalist with an extensive background reporting on Alaska Native and rural issues will become an adviser to Governor Sarah Palin.

Rhonda McBride will start her new job as the state's Rural Adviser in December.

McBride will be the principal liaison between the governor's office and rural communities, as well as Palin's chief adviser on issues impacting rural Alaska.

McBride currently works for Anchorage television station KTUU. Before that, she was the news director for KYUK AM/TV in Bethel and hosted two television shows on KAKM in Anchorage.

Before moving to Alaska in 1988, she worked for television stations in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, and in Twin Falls, Idaho.

ASRC issues largest-ever dividend
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The board of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation is issuing a fall dividend of $42.21 per share, the highest regular dividend ever.

The Barrow-based Native corporation says the typical shareholder will receive about $4,200 dollars.

Arctic Slope is the largest Native corporation based on revenue, with $1.7 billion last year.

The company says that last spring it paid a $16.34-per-share dividend, and last fall it paid $37.76.

The company's business interests include engineering, financial management, oil and gas support services, petroleum refining and distribution, civil construction and communications.

It is a part owner of the North Slope's Alpine oil field, the state's third-largest oil field.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Man arrested for Anchorage murder
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Police say they've arrested a man they've been seeking on a murder charge in connection with a dismembered body found in his grandmother's freezer.

Police say 22-year-old Elmer Gregory Seetot was arrested by Anchorage police without incident. Seetot allegedly killed 38-year-old Terry Lee Jackson with a frying pan.

Court documents say the men had gotten into a fight while drinking last Friday night.

Restaurant assault nets Anchorage man 10 years on federal charges
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An Anchorage man will serve 10 years in prison on drug and weapons charges.

Twenty-year-old Jarre Rashawn Lee was arrested May 15 after a fight in an Anchorage restaurant, where an off-duty officer having dinner came to the aid of an underage victim.

The U.S. Attorney's office says Lee and Jordan Shanholtzer started a fight with the juvenile in the Outback Steak House.

Anchorage Police Lieutenant Paul Honeman, spokesman for the police department, was having dinner and stepped in to detain Shanholtzer.

Lee ran from the restaurant, but was apprehended by another officer across the street. Authorities said he was carrying a loaded .45 caliber pistol and more than 15 grams of cocaine base, or crack.

Air Force cargo jet to transport Alaska's only elephant to new home
Maggie the elephant will be hitching a ride with the Air Force as she leaves Alaska for her new home in California.

Moving day is scheduled for November 1st.

Alaska Zoo officials estimate a total trip time of 12 hours from the time Maggie leaves her home of the last 24 years until she arrives at the Performing Animal Welfare Society.

A C-17 cargo jet from Elmendorf will carry Maggie on a five-hour flight to Travis Air Force Base. Zoo officials say PAWS will pay for the flight.

Maggie is currently being trained to ride in a 10-foot tall crate.

The 12-hour flight is expected to cost the sanctuary about $200,000.

Air Force Captain Kelley Jeter says the trip will give airmen a great training opportunity.

The zoo has scheduled a farewell party this weekend, noon to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
(KENI- Anchorage)

Woman bitten by bear near Eagle River Nature Center
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A volunteer at the Eagle River Nature Center is recovering after being bitten by a brown bear sow.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials say Sarah Wallmer was bitten on the buttocks on the Crow Pass Trail, about a mile from the nature center.

The attack happened Thursday as Wallmer was traveling to the Rapids camp yurt. She was running with her dog, about 10 minutes ahead of another volunteer.

Officials say she was making noise on the trail to announce her presence, but the blowing wind probably obscured her voice.

The bear charged her, and she dropped her dog's leash and turned her back to the sow. The bear bit her once.

The bear roared and left, presumably to chase the dog. The dog came back about 10 minutes later with the other volunteer on a four-wheeler.

She was treated at a clinic for four puncture wounds but a release from the state agency says she otherwise ``appeared to be in good spirits.''

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Rangers and biologist say this was a chance encounter with the sow, who also had a cub with her, and no further action was necessary.

The nature center is about 20 miles northeast of Anchorage.

Wolves kill sled dogs in Yukon River village
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska State Troopers report a pack of wolves have killed about a half-dozen sled dogs from three teams in Marshall, a village on the Yukon River.

They say the attack on Wednesday night left three adult dogs and three pups dead. Several other dogs were injured.

Dewayne Cooper is the housing improvement officer for the Native Village of Marshall.

He says the wolves were running through town and did not appear afraid.

Troopers say the residents eventually chased the wolves out of town, killing one and wounding several others in the process.
(Anchorage Daily News)

Harbormasters end Juneau conference with award presentations
The Alaska Association of Harbor Masters and Port Administrators  wrapped up its annual conference in Juneau Thursday.

Juneau Port Director John Stone says the presented the Harbor Master of the Year award to Paul Dybdahl of Hoonah..

The Harbor Employee of the Year is Kodiak Deputy Harbor Master Lonnie White.

Alaska Historical Society compiles list of best books
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - The Alaska Historical Society has compiled a list of best books about Alaska.

Bruce Merrell, bibliographer at Anchorage's Loussac Library, introduced ``Alaska 67'' at the Kodiak Historical Society's annual meeting this week.

Six people compiled ``Alaska 67'' and wrote descriptions of the books. The jury was comprised of three historians and three librarians, all with expertise in Alaska bibliography.

Even so, Merrell says the choices were tough.

After soliciting nominations from experts and the public, the editors had 402 titles to choose from. It took more than a year to pare them down to 67.

The number 67 was chosen to commemorate 1867, the year Alaska was purchased from Russia.
(The Kodiak Daily Mirror)

High school hockey season gets underway next month
The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears hockey team is holding a fundraiser Saturday.

Coach Dave McKenna says money raised will go toward the hockey team's sports program, travel and equipment budget.

The spaghetti dinner and desert auction will be held at the high school Commons this Saturday from 5 until 7.

Admission is 8 dollars for adults, 5 dollars for students and 25 dollars for the whole family.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Bears hockey team's first game is November 9th in Juneau.

The Bears will play Nikiski.      

(Copyright ©2007 Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio)