Pavilion at Sandy Beach ready for use
There's a new facility at Savikko Park on Douglas Island ready to go just in time for the 4th of July

Its a performance pavilion, according to Sandy Williams of the Douglas 4th of July Committee who was among the guests on Capital Chat Friday morning. 

He said that the facility is basically completed.

A metal roof is scheduled to go on next week.

It will be first used this weekend for Gold Rush Days.

An official dedication is planned for 5 p.m. on the 4th of July.

It's situated on what use to be the second ball field there which is in front of the Treadwell Ice Arena. That's where the food court is located for the Douglas 4th of July festivities.

Williams said that was one of the reasons they located the pavilion where it is since they wanted to get the music and the food court a little closer together so people are basically in one area.

And another facility is planned there. Williams part of the field next to the ice rink will be used for an outdoor ice rink.

He says Ice Rink Manager Greg Smith plans a rink about the size of the indoor rink. Weather permitting, Williams said it's his understanding that will happen this winter.

Former Miss Alaska to head Douglas parade
The grand marshal of this year's 4th of July parade on Douglas this year was revealed on Capital Chat Friday morning.

Pat Peterson of the Douglas 4th of July Committee says it will be Stuart Sliter. He says she was Miss Alaska in 1958 and still an island resident.

Romer Durr will lead the downtown Juneau parade.

He rang the bell 50 years ago upon Alaska's entry into the union.

That will be recreated at nine 4th of July morning which will set back the start of the downtown parade until noon and the Douglas parade until 3 p.m.

Parade entries could exceed 100, although official tally after deadline is 67
The deadline to sign up for the 4th of July parade in downtown Juneau was Thursday.

Juneau 4th of July Parade Director Jean Sztuk says they have 67 entries. She's guessing there could be between 30 to 35 more coming in late.

Just because they miss the deadline, she says it doesn't mean they can't fill out the entry form and pay a $10 late fee right up to the start of the parade.

It's not clear how many will participate in the Douglas parade since an advance sign up is not required there.

Gold Rush Days set for this weekend
It's Gold Rush Days this Saturday and Sunday.

Gold Rush Days Commission President Jerry Harmon says they moved the annual event to Savikko Park in Douglas this year from Dimond Park in the Valley.

He says mining events are set for Saturday and the logging events will be held on Sunday.

Docks and Harbors Board opts for Gastineau Channel disposal of Douglas dredging spoils
The CBJ Docks and Harbors Board last night made a choice on how to dispose of mercury laden dredging spoils from the Douglas Harbor as part of the rebuild project there.

Port Director John Stone says the panel selected the Gastineau Channel disposal alternative as the practicable one.

He says the science they have shows that alternative is acceptable from a health and environmental stand point and is the one for which they have funding.

He says the other alternatives exceeded available funding and would require the board consider fee increases.

Stone says the board felt that wasn't possible considering fee increases in recent years and current economic conditions.

On another matter, the board recommended the Assembly accept a legislative grant of $800,000 for the Auke Bay seawalk and two and half million dollars for cruise ship dock improvements.
Those funds come from the state imposed $50 head tax on cruise ship passengers.

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The panel approved a change to the storage fee and charge regulation. The current charge of one dollar per square-foot, per month is reduced to 50 cents per square-foot per month.

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The board sent proposed amendments to fees and charges out for public hearing over the next month. regulations are up for action.

Stone says they're looking at changing the fee for using cranes at CBJ facilities.

There are three at the downtown Marine Tech Center and there will be two at the new Auke Bay loading facility.

The board is considering repealing the current regulation that is either an annual fee or a fee based on time.

The new fee would be a charge of 25 cents per minute or $15 dollars per hour.

Stone says it would work in conjunction with key card access system that's currently being installed to run the cranes.

Final action is scheduled at the end of July.

Stone says they would probably not start the change until after this fishing season.

Candle cause of residential fire, owners credited with limiting damage
More details are in on that residential fire call late Thursday night at 4127 Dogwood Lane in the Valley.

The alarm was sounded at about 11:25, according to Deputy Fire Marshal Sven Pearson.

He says they determined the cause was a candle that caught a wood bed and mattress on fire.

He says the residents were home at the time, but were unaware that a fire had started in the neighboring room until the smoke alarm sounded.

He says working smoke alarms and a quick response by the homeowner to use a fire extinguisher and evacuate, prevented what could have otherwise resulted in serious damage or injury.

Damage was limited to under $1000.

Pearson says open flames such as candles can easily ignite nearby materials, spreading fire throughout a home in a matter of minutes.

He says this is why every home should have a working smoke alarm as well as an evacuation plan.

Rescue from airport wetlands highlight Capital City Fire Rescue blotter
Capital City Fire Rescue mounted a rescue operation on airport property at about 4 p.m. Thursday.

Captain Todd Cameron  says two Federal Aviation Administration employees were stuck in the wetlands there after the tide came in.

A trail vehicle was used to pick them up.

Cameron says neither person was injured.  

Fort Richardson soldier killed in Afghanistan
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska-based soldier from Washington state has been killed in Afghanistan.

The military reports that Army 1st Lt. Brian N. Bradshaw of Steilacoom, Wash, died Thursday in Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

The 24-year-old soldier was assigned to Fort Richardson.

He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Wasilla waste handler ordered to halt business
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Wasilla waste treatment business has been ordered to stop burning or handling hospital and infectious waste.

The permanent injunction issued Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick goes into effect July 1 unless Safety Waste Incineration demonstrates compliance with the federal Clean Air Act.

The order stems from a civil complaint brought by the Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA says business owners Nancy and James Oliver have been violating federal waste rules since October 2002.

Sedwick ruled the couple in noncompliance last year and in a March bench trial determined the actions including a $75,000 penalty.

Anchorage attorney Ted Stepovich, who represents the Olivers, says the couple believes they are exempt from some regulations and likely will appeal.

Arson suspected in Shungnak School storage building fire
A case of suspected arson in a northwest Alaska village is under investigation by State Troopers.

Troopers received a report Thursday of a fire at the Shungnak School storage building.

Villagers tried to extinguish the fire, but were unsuccessful, according to a Trooper dispatch, which says the building and its contents were lost.

Preliminary findings by Trooper investigators reveal the fire was intentionally set.

Troopers are trying to locate and identify two men wearing hooded sweatshirts who were seen leaving the area with a gas can moments before the fire was discovered.

3 detained in Selawik burglary
SELAWIK, Alaska (AP) — A 19-year-old man has been charged with burglary at the Selawik school.

Alaska State Troopers in Kotzebue say a resident at 4 a.m. Friday spotted two backpacks outside the school that contained stolen items.

A village police officer responded and confronted Jody S. Sheldon and two juvenile boys preparing to leave with three more backpacks containing concession goods.

The mother of one of the juveniles is employed at the school. Troopers say the three used her keys to get in without her knowledge.

The value of the stolen items is about $350.

The juveniles were released to their guardians and troopers said charges will be forwarded to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Selawik is a city of 846 about 90 miles east of Kotzebue.

Palin visits troops in Kosovo
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sarah Palin is visiting U.S. troops in Kosovo.

Palin's office had said the governor traveled Wednesday to see Alaska National Guard troops at an undisclosed overseas location.

On Thursday, her office said she was visiting about 140 aviators with the Guard in Kosovo.

Her spokeswoman, Sharon Leighow, says that for security purposes, the governor's office could not release Palin's destination until it was cleared by the Department of Defense.

Leighow says Palin traveled with Craig Campbell, commander of the Alaska National Guard, and Alaska Command Sgt. Maj. Gordon Choat.

Leighow says Palin will be on the trip through the weekend.

Assembly asking environmental groups to not delay Kensington Mine opening
Add the Juneau Assembly to the list of elected officials asking that environmental groups to not delay  the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling allowing the developer of the Kensington Mine to dump tailings into Lower Slate Lake.

In a press release issued Thursday, the Assembly congratulates Coeur Alaska on its successful appeal and the Supreme Court Decision to uphold the permits for the Kensington Gold Mine and the Goldbelt Cascade Point Marine Terminal.

The Assembly is encouraging environmental groups to not seek reconsideration, legislation, or other actions that could further delay the project.

This Assembly's release states that the mine will help to secure the economic and employment future for the people of Juneau and Southeast Alaska and also help to reverse the population decline of nearby rural villages by providing about 200 jobs.

The Kensington gold mine 45 miles north of Juneau
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On Wednesday, Juneau's legislative delegation urged environmental groups to not attempt to delay the mine's opening by requesting the court to reconsider its ruling.
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Environmentalists fear that the 6 to 3 ruling handed down Monday could set a precedent for how mining waste is disposed in American lakes, streams and rivers.

POW timber sale gets final approval
A record of decision and final environmental impact statement for timber sales on the Thorne Bay Ranger District of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska have been signed.

Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole inking those documents Thursday, according to the agency's Phil Sammon.

He says the Logjam Timber sale area is located about 20 miles west of Coffman Cove on the northcentral part of Prince of Wales.

It is designed to produce about 73 million board feet of sawlog and utility timber volume. The entire project area covers a little more than 56,000 acres, but Sammon says they're only going to harvest about 34-hundred acres. 

Alternatives under the draft EIS ranged from cutting no action to cutting 75 million board feet.

The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and several other conservation groups offered an alternative plan.

SEACC's Mark Gnadt says after working with the Forest Service, the Department of Fish and Game, Tongass communities and researchers they came up with a proposal of just under 40 million board feet of timber.

He says the conservation groups believe that no timber should be taken out of the Tongass, but they recognize the need of the local timber industry to survive.

Gnadt says they went from zero to  40 million board feet of timber while the Forest Service went from 75 million to 72 million board feet.

He says that "doesn't show much of a willingness to be much of a team player."

Cole's decision is subject to appeal.

Sammon says members of the public who submitted comments or expressed an interest during the draft phase have 45 days to appeal the final decision.

Gnadt says SEACC and the other groups have not decided yet if they will appeal the decision.

Sammon says timber sale contracts can be awarded 15 days after appeals are resolved.  

Committee votes to delay bridge project
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A joint state-city committee has voted unanimously to delay the Knik Arm bridge project by a few years.

The Anchorage Daily News says the committee, which makes decisions on major transportation and highway projects in Anchorage, voted on the bridge project Thursday afternoon.

The committee adopted a compromise recommended by a technical committee of planners and engineers.

It opted against an earlier proposal to delete the bridge project completely from Anchorage's long-range transportation plan entirely.

The compromise will allow the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority to continue its efforts to plan for and design the bridge, and to try to find ways to finance the project, most recently estimated at about $680 million.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News

Suspect questioned in Anchorage homicide
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage police have arrested a man sought for questioning in a midtown Anchorage murder.

Forty-five-year-old Kenneth Arnold Wahl was charged Thursday with a probation violation at a bar a block from the murder scene.

Wahl had done yard work last week for 47-year old Elisa Orcutt, who was found dead in her home Tuesday.

Police say a bartender at the Flight Deck spotted Wahl and called 911.

Wahl was convicted of a stabbing murder in 1983 and was recently paroled from prison.

Wahl had been staying in a camper on property across the street from Orcutt's home. Neighbors say he had been doing work in the area the last few weeks.
(KTUU-TV - Anchorage)

Anchorage man, city battle over property
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A piece of land overlooking the ocean in Anchorage is the subject of an ownership dispute between the city and a resident.

The city maintains it bought the property, while Matt Fink says the transaction was a bad deal from the start.

Fink says he wants to build a home with an ocean view.

The disputed land is located just below Lyn Ary Park in the Turnagain area.

Fink says he wants his backyard back.

The city's position is that it bought the land in 1996 and it's now park land. City attorney Bob Owens says the municipality intends to keep it.

The dispute is now in court and a trial is scheduled for November.
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Information from: KTUU-TV

Former foster parent sentenced to jail in sexual abuse case
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A former foster father was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison for sexually abusing girls in his care.

Forty-two-year-old Jose Morales of Anchorage pleaded guilty in March to two felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

Prosecutor Trina Sears says Morales' position of trust made the case especially serious.

Prosecutors file more charges in mine pot bust
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — State prosecutors say an elaborate marijuana growing operation at a gold mine near Manley may have been around for more than 20 years.

Investigators this week seized 636 mature marijuana plants and 50 pounds of processed marijuana at the site off the Elliott Highway.

Prosecutors filed additional charges Thursday against the suspected operator, 49-year-old John T. Larson of Fairbanks.

Prosecutors say the operation was worth $2 million per year.

Prosecutors say Larson went to elaborate lengths to hide the marijuana grow, with hidden rooms and a filtering system that removed the odor of marijuana but kept the heat of the grow lights from melting snow outside.

Prosecutors say a tip led them to begin an investigation.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

State reopens trail closed for bear concerns
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The state has reopened a stretch of a popular trail closed earlier this month because of concerns over grizzly bears roaming the area.

Chugach State Park officials say the portion of the Indian to Girdwood bike trail, which parallels the Seward Highway south of Anchorage, is open again because there have been no observed or reported aggressive brown bear behavior.

The section closed was a one-mile stretch, from Mile Post 96 to 97, near Bird Point.

State officials say people in the area should remain vigilant when traveling in bear habitat.

Institute provides Haida curriculum for schools
Sealaska Heritage Institute has produced a collection of Haida curriculum for distribution to schools with Haida language programs.

Institute President Rosita Worl says the goal is weave more Native lessons into the public school system.

She says the curriculum is unique because it's the first Haida language and culture curriculum done on a broad scale that meets state academic and cultural standards.

Worl says the project is part of the institute's goal to perpetuate and preserve the languages and cultures of Southeast Alaska Natives.

The institute distributed a similar curriculum in 2007 for the Tlingit language.
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The Haida nation may have numbered well over 10,000 at the time of first European contact in 1774.

Today, of a total Haida population of about 2,200 in Canada and Alaska, perhaps 40 fluent speakers of the language are still living.

Rural Alaska schools face closure
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The superintendents of two interior Alaska school districts say six rural schools are in danger of closing next year because of low enrollment.

The schools under scrutiny are in Central, Stevens Village, Takotna, Beaver, Anvik and Shageluk.

Districts see major state funding cuts when enrollment falls below 10 students at a school.

Joe Banghart of the Iditarod School district says Shageluk, Takotna and Anvik project 12 to 14 students but could drop below that.

Yukon Flats district superintendent Woody Woodford says schools at Stevens Village, Beaver and Central have been on the borderline. Their student count will not be known until the last week in September.

Both superintendents say long-range planning is difficult when districts are worried about enrollment.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Juneau Marching Band tunes up for parades with concerts
The Juneau Volunteer Marching Band is tuning up for its big day during the 4th of July parades.

But two concerts are also planned prior to then, according to band member Larry Stevens.

The first is Sunday at 3 p.m. The second is Wednesday at Noon.

Both concerts will be held at Marine Park.

A special event is part of Sunday's event which includes a steamboat ride on the Laurie Ellen for the first 15 people who make reservations.

After concluding a 30 minute tour of the harbor, the band will welcome them back as though they were arriving in Alaska as the way people use to on a steam boat.

The welcoming will include balloons and clowns and a birthday cake.

The number to call for reservations is 463-2667.