|
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.
|