Doc Water's owner pleads guilty
The owner of a Juneau restaurant pleaded guilty in a Juneau federal court today (Tuesday) to violating the Lacey Act by buying over two tons of subsistence caught halibut to sell at his business.

39 year-old Jason Maroney, pleaded guilty to nine violations of the Lacey Act in exchange for a prison term of 10 months.

Maroney is the owner and operator of the Doc Water's Pub, which is now closed.

Prosecutors say he took part in a scheme to buy halibut caught by two subsistence fishermen for resale at his downtown restaurant in violation of federal law.

According to prosecutors, Maroney bought more than 4,000 pounds of illegally caught halibut from two sources.

The majority, about 3,700 pounds, was purchased from 58 year-old David Skrzynski of Juneau.

Skrzynski, who holds a valid Subsistence Halibut Registration Certificate, otherwise known as a "SHARC card" previously pleaded guilty to providing the fish to Maroney.

Prosecutors say the second fishermen who provided fish is now dead.

Maroney paid more than $16,500 for the halibut, averaging between $4 and $5 per pound, which is significantly less than he would have paid for legally harvested fish, according to prosecutors. 

Both Maroney and Skrzynski are scheduled to be sentenced October 1st.

Skrzynski is facing up to five years in prison.

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 Monday  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.

Source of spill into Auke Bay was ruptured fuel line
The source of a fuel leak into Auke Bay Monday night was not a pleasure craft there as the Coast Guard initially thought.

But rather it was coming from a fuel supply line underneath the Petro Marine fuel dock, according to Nick Meyer in the Juneau Command Center.

The fuel line was secured with a temporary patch. Permanent repairs are planned today, according to the Coast Guard official.

Westbound goes aground near Point Bishop
A 42 foot gillnetter, the Westbound, went aground Monday evening at the entrance of Taku Inlet near Point Bishop.

Nick Meyer, a Search and Rescue Controller in the Coast Guard's Juneau Command Center, says the crew abandoned ship and made it to a  nearby Good Samaritan vessel.

He says the crew was unharmed.

When asked about a resulting fuel spill, he says there was some light sheening reported in the area. It's not known how much fuel might be involved.

Plans call for the vessel to be salvaged today.

Containment boom set around grounded vessel in Prince William Sound
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Coast Guard says responders have placed containment boom around a sheen leaking from a grounded fishing vessel in Alaska's Prince William Sound.

Petty Officer David Mosley says the 100-foot Cape Cross does not appear to be spilling fuel.

He says the sheen is likely bilge water escaping from the engine room after the Seattle-based vessel went aground Monday with seven crew members on board.

The crew members, who were not hurt, remain at the scene Tuesday aboard another fishing vessel.

Mosley says the crews have not been able to plug a hole in engine room caused by the grounding and the vessel is now lying on its side.

A Coast Guard cutter and salvage company are on site. Mosley says the plan is remove about 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board and salvage the vessel.

Two vehicle collision reported on North Douglas Highway Monday afternoon
Juneau Police released details this morning on a two vehicle accident that occurred on the North Douglas Highway Monday afternoon.

Authorities were called to the scene near 4755 North Douglas Highway a few minutes before 4:30.

Investigation determined that a 2008 Nissan Titan operated by 23 year old Kasey Krook was driving outbound.

Krook turned left in front of an inbound 2002 Chevy Avalanche driven by Tracey Lundy.

Both drivers and three passengers in Lundy's vehicle were transported to the hospital for treatment of what were described as non life threatening injuries.

Krook was cited for failure to yield.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene. The Avalanche was totaled. Damage to the Titan was estimated at over $5,000.

Police say alcohol was NOT a contributing factor.

The road was closed down for about 40 minutes while police conducted an investigation and cleared the scene.

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 17  boy occurred  Monday morning 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.

State Troopers says the teen suffered no major injuries.

The boy said he saw two cubs but did not see the sow.

He stated that the sow came out of nowhere and slapped him on his left side.

He tried to defend himself and was thrown into the ditch.

When he woke up the bear was gone and he walked to the clinic

Kadkae 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 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  today 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. 

Swimmer pulled from Jewel Lake dies
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A swimmer pulled from the bottom of Jewel Lake has died.

KTUU-TV reports John Negra died Saturday after being taken off life support.

A neighbor heard Negra call for help Wednesday as Negra tried swimming across the lake.

Firefighters reached the lake within minutes and commandeered boats to reach Negra.

A diver pulled him from the water.

Police Lt. Dave Parker said Negra was not breathing when he was pulled from the water.
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Information from: KTUU-TV 

Parnell says Begich proposal unnecessary
BECKY BOHRER -Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's governor is opposing creation of a citizens' advisory council to weigh in on Arctic drilling proposals.

Gov. Sean Parnell says the proposal approved by a U.S. Senate committee Tuesday is unnecessary and would merely create another level of review and oversight to oil and gas development off Alaska's coast.

Parnell says there's a "rigorous" existing regulatory framework in place, and his office chided U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, an Alaska Democrat, for not consulting with Parnell or his staff before pushing the proposal.

Begich says such councils "have proven their worth in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet without harming the oil and gas industry."

He adds that he thinks Alaskans should be involved in making decisions about their state's resource development "from Day 1."

The provision, which Begich's office says cleared the Senate Commerce Committee, would allow for greater local participation on development decisions, environmental monitoring and oversight for spill planning and readiness.

Group opposing parental notification has more cash
BECKY BOHRER -Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaskans Against Government Mandates has more than five times the money as the ballot group supporting an initiative requiring parental parental notification for minors seeking abortions.

In disclosures filed with the state, Alaskans Against Government Mandates reported having about $107,000 on hand as of Friday; much of its contributions have come from Planned Parenthood.

Alaskans for Parental Rights, which supports the proposed initiative, reported about $19,600.

It has drawn support from numerous GOP candidates, but chairman Jim Minnery issued a plea for more money, saying the opposition was "inundating the airwaves," and there is a "real chance" the initiative will fail.

Alaskans Against Government Mandates faces complaints alleging it didn't follow new requirements for campaign ads.

The group said it's moved to correct that.

Man asks for help after daughter's suicide attempt
BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — An Emmonak man whose 16-year-old daughter attempted suicide has written a letter to Gov. Sean Parnell's rural adviser, asking the state to take urgent action against a suicide crisis in Yukon-Kuskokwim villages.

Nicholas Tucker says in the letter sent Saturday to John Moller that his wife woke up early that morning and found their daughter, hanging from a hairdryer cord.

Tucker says the family "caught her just in time."

Tucker urges Moller and Parnell to aggressively target people who are supplying alcohol and drugs to minors.

The suicides of nine young people from Yukon-Kuskokwim villages since late May have alarmed local and state officials.

State troopers say alcohol played a part in some of the deaths.

Moller could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
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Information from: The Tundra Drums

Salmon derby tickets go on sale Thursday
The 64th Golden North Salmon Derby is on the immediate horizon with fishing beginning this year August 13th and continuing through the 15th.

Derby Co-Chair Sandy Williams says tickets go on sale beginning Thursday at A &P, DeHarts, Fred Meyer, Harri's Plumbing, and Western Auto.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help is asked to contact Docks Chair Kami Bartness at 957-2651.

No talk of Therriault resigning
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A spokeswoman for Gov. Sean Parnell says there's been no talk within the administration about energy adviser Gene Therriault resigning.

Questions have been raised about the timing of Therriault's hiring, and the legality.

Therriault resigned as a lawmaker last year to join Parnell's administration in the new post. Lawmakers aren't allowed to take positions created while they were in office for at least a year.

Parnell has defended the hire, saying he acted in good faith and relied on Department of Law advice. He said he wasn't governor when Therriault was "in session, as a legislator," and was standing on legal precedent and practice.

His press secretary, Sharon Leighow, said there's been no talk of Parnell asking Therriault to resign.

Candidate disclosures filed
BECKY BOHRER - Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Republican Gov. Sean Parnell and Democrat Ethan Berkowitz are heading into their respective primaries next month with the most money on hand.

As of Friday, Parnell reported having about $124,000 on hand. Among his higher-profile rivals, Anchorage attorney Bill Walker reported about $89,000 and Ralph Samuels, nearly $57,000.

For the Democrats, Berkowitz had more than $113,000, most of the roughly $114,000 he reported raising between Feb. 2 and July 23. State Sen. Hollis French had about $42,000 on hand.

-The disclosures came in filings with the Alaska Public Offices Commission ahead of the August 24 primary election.

Group: Initiative opponent breaks disclosure rules
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Public Offices Commission has called on a 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. 

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.

EPA administrator visits Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson is visiting Alaska for the first time.

She is in the state to find out how decisions made in Washington, D.C. affect industry and the environment in Alaska.

Jackson will be spending three days in the state. She will spend the next few days in Bethel and Dillingham. Issues expected to come up range from community sanitation to erosion to the proposed Pebble Mine.

Jackson also has met with industry groups, including the Alaska Oil and Gas Association and the Resource Development Council, as well as a collection of environmental groups.
(KTUU-TV)

One search effort in Western Alaska turns into a body recovery, another gets underway
Alaska State Troopers say a search for a man missing from a skiff on the Kuskokwim River has turned into a body recovery.

Investigation has determined that 22 year old George Morgan of Kalskag never made it to shore after the skiff started taking on water and sank Saturday.

Morgan was traveling with 24 year old Kalvin Kerr from Aniak to Kalskag at the time.

Kerr managed to swim to shore and was picked up by passing boater.

Apparently neither man was wearing a life jacket. A life jacket and a float coat were found with the boat.
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State Troopers in Bethel have started a search for 33 year old Nick Lupie of Tuntutuliak.

Lupie left Bethel Sunday evening on a 24 foot boat that was found adrift near Helmick Point.

Searchers are combing the shoreline along the Eek River. Aircraft are also assisting in the search.

State seeks to speed unemployment benefits
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The state labor department says it's trying to speed unemployment benefits for those who've filed since June 2, when federal funding expired.

It hopes to have those payments out within a week.

President Barack Obama last week signed an extension of unemployment benefits that had lapsed amid a stalemate in Congress.

MySpace encounter with girl lands man in trouble
An Anchorage man is accused of molesting a girl he met on MySpace.

Anchorage Police say the 11-year old girl sneaked away from a sleep over Monday morning and went to the man's home in Muldoon.

The mother of the girl hosting the sleep over noticed the child was missing.

Other children helped track down the girl's acquaintance over the Internet.

23-year old Aaron MacClellan is charged with second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Police say his mother gave the girl a ride to their home, apparently believing she was a teenager.

Police say the girl met MacClellan online a few weeks ago and initially claimed to be 16.

2 moose die in mine pond
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A moose and her calf wandered into a settling pond at the Fort Knox gold mine northeast of Fairbanks and died.

Delbert Parr, the mine's environmental manager, says the two animals became mired in the slurry Saturday at the mine 26 miles northeast of the city.

The cow died sometime late Sunday or early Monday. Biologists from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game euthanized the calf on Monday afternoon after conferring with mine officials.

Fairbanks area biologist Don Young says there was nothing biologists or mine officials could do to save the two animals.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

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

Recalled ice cream from Oregon reported in Alaska
Oregon Ice Cream Company is recalling three gallon tubs of Denali Bear Claw ice cream.

The company says it may contain peanuts not declared on the product label.

As a result, people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or lift threatening allergic reaction if they consume the ice cream.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that some of the recalled ice cream has been distributed in Alaska.

The affected tubs have the lot code of 10124 the item number of 061041 on the label.

The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to return the ice crease to the place of purchase for a refund or they can destroy the product.

No illnesses related to these products have been reported.

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Additional information is available on DEC's web site.

http://www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/fss/recalls/recallsalerts.htm 

Rain delays Junior tournament in Anchorage 
It was a rain out for the Juniors Baseball State Tournament game between Juneau and Abbott O Rabbit Monday evening in Anchorage.

Game 2 of the best of 5 series was rescheduled for 6 this evening.

Juneau won the first game 3 to 1.

The series winner travels to the Western Regional Tournament in California.

Juneau loses softball series to Anchorage team
Juneau fell to Nunaka Valley of Anchorage during the Alaska State Major Softball Tournament held in Juneau.

Nunaka Valley nailed down the series win Monday evening with an 18 to 4 victory.

Juneau won a narrow 3 to 2 game Saturday but had dropped the opening contest Friday 14 to 1.

The Anchorage team will now represent Alaska at the Western Region Major Softball Tournament in Vancouver Washington, which gets underway Saturday.

Meanwhile, play in the Alaska State Junior Softball Tournament opens tonight a 7 at Melvin Park.

The best of five series will unfold over the next three nights and Friday and Saturday if necessary.

UAS conducts shooter on campus drill today
The University of Alaska Southeast will be conducting a full scale emergency response exercise today. (Tuesday)

The training exercise will simulate a shooter on campus.

UAS Health and Safety Manager Dan Garcia says in the event of such an emergency the first call will be to 911 to get police on the way.

There are procedures in place  to alert the campus.

He says alerts can be sent out via text message to the campus population and will also simultaneously send an e-mail to a variety of designated people.

Garcia says they're also working on additional technological solutions for alert notifications.

He says, because the campus is relatively small, loudspeakers and word of mouth will also be used to alert students and staff.

He says they're trying to layer the alert notification using a variety of methods to guard against creating a single point of failure.

Agencies involved in the exercise include the Alaska State Troopers, CBJ Emergency Management, Juneau Police Department, Capital City Fire Rescue, and Bartlett Regional Hospital.

Today's training exercise will be centered in the area of the Egan Library, Mourant and Novatney Buildings on the UAS Auke Lake Campus from 4 until 7 this evening.

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.

State drops Kenai from polluted-rivers list
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The state has withdrawn the Kenai River from its list of polluted waterways.

The Anchorage Daily News reports state regulators say the river is now meeting water quality standards.

The Kenai River was added to the list four years ago after high levels of petroleum compounds were found. The levels exceeded the state standards in July when recreational boats are on the river for the king salmon run.

Regulators tightened rules on the Kenai, requiring outboard engines in July to be either four-stroke or direct fuel-injection two-stroke motors.

Tests in 2008 and 2009, after the rules were put in place, showed contamination no longer exceeded standards.

The removal of the Kenai was announced Monday when the state released its annual water-quality report.
(Anchorage Daily News)