Hoonah mill explosions and fire believed accidental
There's an explanation from the State Fire Marshal's Office for the explosions and resulting fire at the sawmill in Hoonah last Thursday morning.

Deputy Fire Marshall Bob Plumb conducted the investigation.

He says they think there was a dust explosion in the mill building, making the cause accidental.

Plumb says they called in explosive experts from the federal governments' Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. They were there Saturday and helped eliminate the possibility of a high explosive device.

He says a dust explosion is considered a low energy explosion.

At this point he says they think the explosions were spurred by a small fire.

He says the fire could have been started by a cigarette butt or a spark coming off of a bearing that fell undetected into saw dust. There was a report that a worker cooled a hot bearing or piece of metal with wet saw dust a couple of days before the explosions.

The plant was in operation last Tuesday.

Plumb says any of those are possibilities, but they really can't say for sure what it was.

The owners of Icy Strait Lumber are deciding whether or not to rebuild the saw mill on Long Island which is beyond the White Stone community in Hoonah.

The main building and log milling equipment in the building were destroyed.

The owners, Wes and Susan Tyler, say they have logs, but no equipment to break them down.

If they decide to rebuild the mill, they say it will be because of their desire to continue offering employment to the 10 to 15 Hoonah residents who work there.

Diesel fuel spilled into Auke Bay
The Coast Guard deployed teams to Auke Bay tonight. (Monday)

Petty Officer David Mosley says a 27 foot pleasure craft started pumping diesel fuel into the bay for an unknown reason.

Mosely says the Harbor Master has deployed absorbent boom and Coast Guard teams are assessing the cleanup efforts.

The Coast Guard says they'll have more information on the cause of the diesel spill and the extent of cleanup sometime this morning. 

Diesel fuel spilled into Auke Bay
The Coast Guard deployed teams to Auke Bay tonight. (Monday)

Petty Officer David Mosley says a 27 foot pleasure craft started pumping diesel fuel into the bay for an unknown reason.

Mosely says the Harbor Master has deployed absorbent boom and Coast Guard teams are assessing the cleanup efforts.

The Coast Guard says they'll have more information on the cause of the diesel spill and the extent to cleanup Tuesday morning. 

Report: Black bear sow attacks boy in Kake
There's a report of a  black bear attack in the Southeast village of Kake.

We got a call from Marvin Kadake there who says the attack on a teenage boy occurred in town near the area of their school where kids play at on a basketball court.

Kadake says the black bear sow came after him ripping his shirt off in the process.

He says he talked to the boy's grandmother who reported he was going to be okay.

Kadake says the boy was being checked out by the clinic there.

He says black bears have been a big problem in the village this season.

He cited an incident from earlier today where possibly the same sow killed its cub and was feeding on it.

Kadake says there's hardly any fish in the creek there and bears have little to eat.

He says  they are roaming around all over the village with some breaking down doors and entering buildings.

Decision on scope of work for Auke Bay school expected this week
A decision from the Juneau School District is scheduled this week on what to pursue for bonding on the local election ballot in October.

Superintendent Glen Gelbrich was a guest on KINY's Capital Chat this morning (Monday).

He says they're exploring two different projects.

One is the Marie Drake facility and the other is Auke Bay Elementary.

Gelbrich says a report was commissioned for some local architects to look at the feasibility of whether its wiser to remodel Auke Bay and upgrade it or to tear down the existing structure and build a new facility there.

That group will deliver its recommendation to the School District's Facilities Committee during a Noon time meeting Tuesday in Assembly chambers at city hall.

At that point, the Facilities Committee will submit a proposal to the school board which in turn will forward a recommendation to the Assembly.

Gelbrich expects the school board to conduct a special meeting on Thursday for that purpose.  A time has not yet been announced.

The superintendent says the primary focus right now is the Auke Bay school.

He figures Marie Duke will be considered for the ballot in future years.

Federal appeals court panel listens to Juneau Access arguments
A panel of judges of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals conducted a hearing in Anchorage this morning on the State of Alaska's Juneau Access plan.

The plan calls for construction of about 50 miles of road to the Katzehin River where a ferry terminal will be built. From there ferries, would shuttle travelers to Haines and Skagway.

The appeals court heard an appeal by the state to a lower court ruling that blocked the permits for the project.

Judge John Sedwick ruled that the state failed to adequately consider the use of ferries rather than construction of a road.

The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council is a party to the appeal.

Executive Director Lindsey Ketchel attended the hearing.

Although she says she doesn't like playing Monday morning quarterback when it comes to judges, Ketchel believes the appeals panel will uphold the lower court ruling.

When asked for his thoughts on the likely outcome, Dick Knapp of Citizens Pro Road Alaska said it's anyone's guess.

"We believe we have the merits on our side, but obviously that's not a unanimous position," he says.

It could be up to several months before the appeals court issues a decision.  

Chief out of Alaska jail on bail
Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation Chief Eddie Skookum is out of jail on bail.

Skookum, who has been chief of the Yukon First Nation for 13 years, was arrested in Haines, Alaska, on July 4 and charged with felony assault and drunk driving.

The charges were laid after a 21-year-old woman was found beaten and bloody in the parking lot of a motel.

Bail was initially set at $50,000, but that was lowered to $20,000 following arguments by Skookum's lawyer, David Mallet.

Mallet wouldn't say anything about what kind of defence he plans.

"I have just one comment, which is that Mr. Skookum is a very fine man and I'm sure he'll be vindicated," Mallet said.

U.S. authorities had earlier expressed concern that Skookum would not return to Alaska if he were released.

The prosecutor had argued that Skookum's criminal record, which includes convictions for assault and failing to appear in court, made him a flight risk.

Skookum is due back in court in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 10.
----
CBC News  

Group: Initiative opponent breaks disclosure rules
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Public Offices Commission has called on ballot group to pull its ads, alleging they violate new campaign finance disclosure rules.

Alaskans Against Government Mandates, which is opposing a parental notification initiative for minors seeking abortions, questioned its being "singled out."

The Legislature this year changed disclosure rules, requiring radio and other audio communications identify not only the group sponsoring the ad but also the top three donors to the group.

Alaskans for Parental Rights, which supports the initiative, filed its own complaint Monday.

It wants the ads pulled and fines imposed.

Alaskans Against Government Mandates said it has included the required new language in all its radio and TV advertising, as well as online.

Chairwoman Clover Simon said other campaigns also followed the old guidelines and that once her group discovered the problem, it moved to correct it. 

Parnell declares state disaster for road washout
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Sean Parnell has declared the washout of portions of the Taylor Highway in eastern Alaska a state disaster.

As part of the declaration, the governor's office says the state will either use or seek federal funds for costs associated with responding to the emergency, repairing infrastructure and taking steps to avoid recurring problems in the future.

The state Department of Transpiration estimated at least $6 million in damages after heavy rains earlier this month caused landslides and washouts on parts of the road.

Parnell, who toured the site recently, called the highway an important emergency and transportation corridor.

While the governor's office said emergency access was established, rains have continued to cause damage, and Parnell said in a release that he wants the department to use "any resources necessary" to quickly re-establish fuller access.

Murkowski wants pipeline review
BECKY BOHRER -Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski wants the operator of the trans-Alaska pipeline system to conduct a safety review of the line.

The Alaska Republican says it's critical the public have confidence in Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.'s maintenance of the 800-mile line.

State Rep. David Guttenberg agrees, but he says it will only come with an outside review.

The Democrat has criticized recent job transfers, claiming they're an example of cost-cutting efforts that could lead the company down a dangerous path.

An Alyeska spokeswoman has expressed confidence in the line's safety.

BP Pipelines (Alaska) is the largest single owner of the line, which is independent of BP.

More questions about hiring of Parnell aide
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Parnell administration continues facing pressure over last year's hiring of former lawmaker Gene Therriault to an energy adviser role.

Activist Andree McLeod says public records she received indicate the hire was illegal.

She released personnel papers Therriault signed, dated Sept. 12, 2009, stating he was "being appointed" to a new position. She also released an e-mail showing his official separation from the Legislature was the next day.

She says this helps show the position was created while he was a lawmaker — and that his hire was, therefore, not allowed under the constitution.

Linda Perez, administrative director for Gov. Sean Parnell, says the office wasn't created until Sept. 21, 2009, with an effective date of Sept. 14 — meaning he wasn't a legislator at the time.

Parnell marks 1st year in office as primary looms
BECKY BOHRER - Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Perhaps Sean Parnell's greatest accomplishment so far as governor is that he's not Sarah Palin.

In the year since inheriting the job when Palin resigned, Parnell has quietly gone about restoring a sense of calm that many Alaskans craved after the storm-that-was-Sarah.

Barring any major missteps, that alone may be enough to help him carry next month's GOP primary and win the office he wasn't expecting to hold.

Parnell is not considered particularly vulnerable, according to the non-partisan, Washington, D.C.- based Rothenberg Political Report, despite challenges from Republicans Ralph Samuels and Bill Walker and a Democratic contender this fall.

"I don't think anyone outside of Alaska knows who Sean Parnell is, and that's a good thing for him," said the Report's political editor, Nathan Gonzales.

Vandalism costing taxpayers money
City officials are raising concerns about the amount of vandalism occurring to CBJ property.

City Manager Rod Swope talked about the problem on Friday's edition of KINY's Capital Chat.

He said a building housing electrical facilities at Dimond Park was torched by arsonists.

He said the restrooms at Melvin Park have be torched by arsonists causing $44,000 in damage, the restrooms at Adair Kennedy Park have also been burned and vandalized causing 10 to 12 thousand dollars in damage.

He added that the port-a potties at Sunshine Park out the road are continually being vandalized.

They cost $4,000 each.

Swope said these are additional costs that that the city is incurring that taxpayers have to pay for.

Swope says, typically, the vandalism occurs in the summer.

He says, when police solve the cases, the vandalism is found to have been committed by youths.

Swope says his message to them, is to find better things to do and become productive members of the community.

AEL&P interim rate hike impacts city budget
The 20 percent interim rate increase recently granted to Alaska Electric Light and Power will have an impact on Juneau's municipal budget.

On Friday's edition of KINY's Capital Chat, City Manager Rod Swope said for the city's general operations it will cost between $75 to $80 thousand dollars for the reminder of this year.

The impact to the city's water treatment facilities will be about $30,000 for the rest of the year.

Swope says something will have to give in order to balance this fiscal year's budget.

He said the airport, the school district and the hospital will also see an impact of the rate increase for the rest of this year.

He estimates that it will cost the school district about $75,000, the hospital about $30,000 and the airport about $20,000.

Investigation into crash of float plane in Ketchikan area ongoing
The investigation into Friday morning's crash of a float plane near Ketchikan that killed the pilot and sole occupant continues.

Alaska State Troopers conducted the initial investigation and notified next of kin of 38 year old Josh Murdock.

Troopers say witnesses saw the plane clip some trees and then lose its right wing.

The Troopers Beth Ipsen says the 1959 DeHavilland Beaver float plane crashed on a grassy knoll off of the Tongass Highway in an area north of Ketchikan.

The aircraft was owned by Pacific Airways of Ketchikan.

The National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and the State Medical Examiner's Office have taken over the investigation.

Stormy weather was reported in the area at the time of the crash. 

Fishing vessel hits rock near waters near Hoonah, 2 other grounding reported
The Coast Guard's Juneau Sector Command Center had handled three boat groundings today.

In the most serious case, a Juneau based fishing boat, the Arcola, went aground in the vicinity of Point Couverden in the Hoonah area.

Petty Officer Lindsey Basquin says that incident occurred before 7:30 this morning.

She says the majority of the vessel is under the water..

She says the chart plotter on board the vessel did not list a rock that is submerged there.

No injuries were reported.

There was a grounding a few minutes before seven a.m. in the vicinity of Mab Island, south of Berner's Bay.

The Windbreaker was able refloat at high tide and continue fishing. Basquin wasn't sure why it ran aground.

The Shevelle ran aground at about 3:30 this morning in the area of Annette Island near Ketchikan.

Basquin says the owner - operator of the 69 foot crabber fell asleep at the wheel and ran aground.

A 3 inch hole was found in one of the coolers.

Dewatering efforts were continuing at last report.

Plans call for towing the vessel back to Ketchikan after its salvaged.

2 men on missing plane found alive
PALMER, Alaska (AP) — Alaska State Troopers say the pilot and passenger of a plane missing since Thursday have been found alive in the Knik River Valley.

Police say 51-year-old David W. Akers, of Palmer, and 46-year-old Gary D. Nall, of Wasilla, were found early Saturday by a group of Air Force men who were four-wheeling.

The two were taken to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The pair took off in a Cessna 170 from the Palmer airport Thursday evening for a sightseeing flight.

Police say a severe downdraft forced Akers to make a controlled landing in the Knik River drainage.

The two men began walking out and were found about 30 hours later by the four-wheeling group.

Search for missing boaters continuing in separate cases
Alaska State Troopers are searching for two missing boaters in separate cases.

Both were reported Friday.

In one case, two men were traveling from Aniak to Kalskag on the Kuskokwim River when the small open boat took on water and sank.

Only one of the men, 24 year old Kalvin Kerr, made it to shore.

The search for the second man, who has not been identified, was continuing at last report.

In the second case Troopers were notified Friday that 41 year old Robert A. Smithwick of Soldotna disappeared in the Kenai River last Wednesday.

According to accounts given by witnesses, his general description matches that of a man who was last seen struggling to stay afloat. 

Troopers received a 911 call at about three that afternoon of a man in the water about 100 feet above the Pillars Boat launch ramp.

The shirtless male was seen going under and never seen again, according to those accounts.

His family reports they have not heard from Smithwick since Wednesday.

That search was also continuing at last report.

Anchorage hospital is Alaska's top private employer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Providence Health and Services remains No. 1 on the list of Alaska's top 100 largest private employers compiled by the state Labor Department.

It's the only private business with more than 4,000 employees.

Walmart-Sam's Club is No. 2 with about 3,000 employees and the Carrs-Safeway grocery chain is No. 3 with almost 3,000 workers.

Juneau woman sentenced in federal court in drug trafficking case
A Juneau woman was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage Friday to 51 months in jail for her conviction for conspiring to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine.

U. S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess imposed the sentence on 25 year old Priscilla Finau.

Finau participated in buying drugs in California and sending packages of drugs to Juneau for distribution in 2007 and 2008.

Her boyfriend, Tamafaiga Lancelot Maefau, was sentenced to 72 months in prison last November.

'Barefoot Bandit' not interested in selling story
SEATTLE (AP) — The lawyer for the "Barefoot Bandit" says his client isn't interested in selling his story and dislikes all the attention.

Colton Harris-Moore is accused of dozens of thefts of airplanes, yachts, cars and other property over two years from Washington state to the Caribbean.

The 19-year-old is being held in Seattle on a count of interstate transportation of stolen property.

His attorney, John Henry Browne, told ABC News on Sunday that Harris-Moore's time as a fugitive wasn't planned and he slept in culverts, ditches and at least one portable toilet. He was afraid to turn himself in and eventually ended up in the Bahamas, where he was captured.

Browne says there have been book and movie offers, but Harris-Moore isn't interested.

Juneau Juniors take one game lead in state championship series
The Juneau entry at the Juniors state baseball tournament in Anchorage has taken the first game of a best of five game series.

Juneau had to come from behind and score three runs in the bottom of the sixth to squeeze out the 3 to 1 win over Abbott O Rabbit.

Jeffrey Pusich pitched 4 solid innings with Tanner Petrie and Nathan Klein pitching in relief. Klein picked up the win.

Game 2 is set for today at 6 p.m.

The series winner will represent Alaska in the Western Regional Tournament in Laguna Niguel, California.

Juneau Majors baseball team advances to state championship
The Juneau Majors baseball team will play for the District 2 state championship after defeating Sitka 24 to 11, Friday at the regional tournament.

Juneau had 20 hits and scored 24 runs in 4 innings.

Kaleb Tompkins went 4 for 4, scored 4 runs and hit a homer.

Jared Markovich hit 2 homeruns. Hunter Hickok went 3-3, and Jake Tanner went 3-4 with 3 runs scored.
Sitka had Trevin Coleman score 3 runs and went 2-3, Ky Stockel scored twice with 2 hits, and Kye Fitzsimmons had a couple hits with a run scored.

For Juneau, Chase Barnum started on the mound, followed by Grant Ainsworth, and closed by Jared Markovich.

Juneau now advances to the State Majors Tournament in Anchorage beginning on Wednesday.

Bering Sea crab fishing safer, feds say
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A new federal safety report says Bering Sea crabbing is not as deadly as it used to be.

KTUU News reports that a new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study says Bering Sea crab fishery is now the safest in Alaska. Since 2005, only one death and no vessel sinkings have been reported.

The industry inspired the popular Discovery Channel reality show, the "Deadliest Catch."

The Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers credit the drop in fatalities to new fishing rules, including longer fishing seasons and set quotas, which allows captains to wait for good weather and limits sleep deprivation.
----
Information from: KTUU-TV

Man with chest pains evacuated from oil tanker
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Coast Guard crew evacuated a 55-year-old man on Sunday from an oil tanker 200 miles south of Sitka.

The Guard says Winfred Opare reportedly suffered from chest pains and was onboard the 905-foot U.S. flagged tanker Alaskan Explorer.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter hoisted him up and flew him to Ketchikan, where he was taken to the hospital.

His condition is unknown.

Elderly woman air lifted from fishing vessel
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says it airlifted an 83-year-old woman from a fishing vessel in Gedney Harbor after the woman began experiences symptoms of a stroke.

The Coast Guard says that the woman was extracted from the Sitka-based Annie Be vessel around 5:15 a.m. Saturday, about 53 miles from Sitka.

She was later taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

Business turning up at Port of Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Port of Anchorage reports traffic is increasing, after the slump of 2009.

Deputy Director Steve Ribuffo says this year is a marked turnaround. The port expects more than 4 million tons of cargo to arrive with vehicles, cargo containers and shipments of jet fuel all up.

Port officials told KTUU they're seeing the effects of weekly cruise ship visits and expect more next year to bring additional tourists to downtown Anchorage.
(KTUU-TV)

Anchorage mayor scrubs development of park
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan says the city won't spend $2.7 million to help create a 60-acre park near Campbell Lake.

Sullivan says the city has plenty of parkland and can't afford to manage more.

He says about 20 acres of the property could be developed for housing and existing city laws will protect the estuary at Campbell Creek.

Air show set for Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Navy's Blue Angels and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds are the featured performers in next weekend's Arctic Thunder air show at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Other demonstrations include Harrier, Raptor and Globemaster aircraft and the 101st Airborne's and Air Force Academy's parachute teams.

Over 170,000 people are expected to attend the two-day event.

Scissor jumpers wrap up Eskimo-Indian Olympics
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks have wrapped up with the scissor broad jump, one of the lesser known competitions of the event.

The jump looks like a combination of a triple jump and a dance on ice. It represents the technique Natives use when they cross melting, moving ice.

Competitors take off on two feet, jump the pattern and land on both feet.

The landing is most important because falling over or not having a solid two-foot landing would mean the person would have fallen off the ice and into the water.

Twenty-two-year-old Erica Meckel took first place in the women's division of the event Saturday. Her winning jump was 27 feet, 2 1/4 inches.

Tim Field took first place in the men's division. He jumped 34 feet, 1 1/4 inches.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Nap Nanny recliners recalled
WASHINGTON (AP) — Portable baby recliners that are supposed to help fussy babies sleep better are being recalled after the death of an infant.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall Monday of 30,000 Nap Nanny recliners made by Baby Matters of Berwyn, Pa.

The commission says it's investigating a report that a 4-month-old girl from Royal Oak, Mich., died in a Nap Nanny that was being used in a crib.

The agency says it is aware of 22 reports of infants, mostly under 5 months, falling over the side of the Nap Nanny despite most of the babies being strapped into the harness on the recliner.