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Fenumiai: Coastal zone
process far from over
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) A computer analysis has found
about 20,200 signers qualified to sign petitions to
get a coastal zone initiative on the ballot this year.
That's below the necessary threshold, but the
director of Alaska's Division of Elections says the
verification process is far from over.
Nearly 26,000
signatures are needed to get the issue on the
ballot. Sponsors turned in nearly 34,000.
Gail Fenumiai (feh-NEW'-me-eye) says signers among
the roughly 11,500 signatures deemed unqualified by
the computer aren't necessarily disqualified. For
example, she says a signer may have written Jim
Smith, when his voter registration is James Smith.
That means the state will do more research, in a
process that could take up to four weeks.
She says this isn't uncommon in the initiative
process, citing one proposal that had a high number
of unqualified signers after the computer analysis
but that was ultimately validated by the state.
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A hearing on the initiative by the joint Judiciary Committees is
scheduled for February 6. Senate President
Gary Stevens indicated Tuesday they
will proceed with the hearing.
Stevens was scheduled to meet with House Speaker
Mike Chenault on how to proceed.
Stevens says lawmakers could still take action on a
piece of legislation with or without the existence
of an initiative.
Lawmakers could approve substantially similar
legislation to preempt the initiative from going to
the ballot this year.
Parnell opposes changes to
retirement system, base student allocation
Governor Sean Parnell is in opposition to several
legislative initiatives.
One is a measure by Juneau Senator Dennis Egan to
allow state and local government employees switch
from a defined contributions retirement system back
to defined benefits.
Egan's trying to devise a plan that would make it
cost neutral to the state. Parnell said he thinks
that means it would be cost neutral in today's terms
and assumes good economic times ahead. He said we
got into this situation because somebody's
assumptions turned out to be wrong when the stock
market plunged 3 years ago.
Putting that risk on the system for the benefit of
state employees when everybody else bares the risk
themselves is something that he doesn't support at
this point. Parnell said He doesn't see digging a
deeper hole at this point and he doesn't want to do
that for the people of Alaska.
Parnell said our focus right now is figuring out how
to deal with the current $11 Billion hole, referring
to the $11 Billion unfunded retirement system
liability.
The Governor is also opposed to the the measure
approved by the Senate Education Committee that
increases the base student allocation under the
state's education foundation formula over 3 years.
He said if we put in statute automatic increases,
the legislature really never looks at the issue
again, they just write a check. Parnell wants to
build more accountability into the system and
maintain flexibility.
He said what he's told legislators is that hes
willing to consider and fund some fixed cost
increases. The bottom line, according to Parnell, is
that we need to address increases in education
funding on a fixed cost increase basis and write the
check for the costs that are demonstrated to be
going up.
Parnell said he wants to talk about the categories
that we should be doing that for.
The Governor made his comments during a press
conference on Wednesday.
School Board budget
committee requests revised proposal
The School Board's Budget Committee met again last
evening in its effort to come up with
recommendations on how to bridge a $5.8 Million
budget deficit in the next school year.
The school district's Kristen Bartlett says members
discussed their own individual ideas about funding
priorities and listened to public testimony on some
of the proposed cuts.
Bartlett says the committee didn't come to any real
consensus, but listed different ideas and asked the
administration to come back with a revised proposal
incorporating some of the changes that were
requested during the meeting..
The next meeting is February 14 at 6 p.m. in the
JDHS Library.
Public comment can also be e-mailed to
budgetimput@jsd.k12.ak.us
New excursions to be added
to Alaska cruise stop
HOONAH, ALASKA (AP) Representatives of a southeast
Alaska cruise ship destination say two new
excursions will be offered in the upcoming visitor
season.
Officials say the new excursions add to a list of
attractions offered at Icy Strait Point, 1 ½ miles
from Hoonah. The cruise port is owned by the village
Native corporation for Hoonah, a largely Tlingit
community of 765 people.
One of the new attractions is a six-hour excursion
to the Tongass National Forest. The other is an
advanced kayaking excursion.
The buildings of Icy Strait Point were transformed
from a cannery that was built in 1912. Officials say
the port is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the
cannery.
14 apply for vacancy on
State Supreme Court
The Alaska Judicial Council reports 14 have applied
for a vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.
The vacancy was created with the appointment of
Justice Morgan Christen to the Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals.
One of the applicants is Terry Thurbon, a Chief
Administrative Law Judge in Juneau.
Judge Joel Bolger serves on the Alaska Court of
Appeals.
Four applicants are superior court judges.
Charles Huguelet serves in Kenai.
Michael MacDonald is on the bench in Fairbanks.
Frank Pfiffner serves in Anchorage.
And Eric Smith is in Palmer.
Jeffrey Friedman is an administrative law judge in
Anchorage.
Andy Harrington is an assistant attorney general in
Fairbanks.
Five of the applicants are in private practice in
Anchorage.
They include William Callow, Kevin Clarkson, Peter
Massen, Don McCintock, and Marc Wilhelm.
The remaining applicant is Daniel Westerburg who is
in private practice in Homer.
The applicants will be evaluated by the seven member
council which include the chief justice, three
non-attorney and three attorney members.
Comprehensive background investigations, a survey of
Alaska Bar members, and personal interviews will be
part of the evaluation.
Interviews with the applicants and a public hearing
will be held in Anchorage, according to council
executive director Larry Cohn.
Cohn says ,the council will select two or more
nominees to send to the governor.
Governor Parnell will then have 45 days to make an
appointment from the council's list.
Gov't recommends less prison
time for Fuglvog
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) The government is
recommending five months in prison for a former
fisheries aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Arne Fuglvog (FOOG'-luh-vog) pleaded guilty in
August to falsely reporting where he caught
sablefish intended for interstate commerce. He is to
be sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in
Anchorage.
Besides the five months, the government is
recommending a $50,000 fine, $100,000 community
service payment and a year of supervised release.
The plea agreement initially called for 10 months,
but the U.S. Attorney's office is recommending the
reduction because prosecutors say Fuglvog has
accepted responsibility and is cooperating in the
investigation of fisheries crimes.
His fishing violations occurred before he became
part of Murkowski's staff.
Skagway ore terminal update
highlights meeting of Alaska and Yukon leaders
Governor Sean Parnell met with his counterpart in
the Yukon Territory Tuesday as Premier Darrell Pasloski
paid a visit to Alaska's capital Tuesday.
The leaders discussed renewal of the Alaska Yukon
Intergovernmental Relations Accord which was
established more than a decade ago.
They also reviewed the progress of port expansion in
Skagway.
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export
Authority received authority from the Legislature
last year to bond up to $65 Million to expand the
ore terminal in that Southeast city.
In 2011, Yukon copper ores worth approximately $200
Million were exported through Skagway.
Parnell wants Alaska
divested from Iran
BECKY BOHRER,Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Gov. Sean Parnell is calling
for the divestment of state investments in companies
that either do business in Iran or with Iran's
ruling government.
Parnell sent letters this week urging a "policy of
divestiture" to the executive director of the Alaska
Permanent Fund Corp., the state Revenue commissioner
and the chair of the Alaska Retirement Management
Board.
"I understand some believe free markets, rather than
government policy, should direct our investment
choices, but this very real threat requires action,"
Parnell wrote. He cited nuclear concerns raised by
the International Atomic Energy Agency and a hostile
Iranian stance against Israel.
"No free markets exists when one nation builds a
nuclear arsenal while it continually and steadfastly
advocates for the eradication of an entire nation,
with our own not so far behind," he wrote.
Israel has argued that an Iran with nuclear weapons
would threaten its survival. The country has cited
the Iranian government's calls for the destruction
of the Jewish state and support of anti-Israel
militant groups.
Parnell said sanction "comes as a last resort, an
option our state has historically refused when
presented. However, the time to stand on the
principles of life and liberty is at hand, and we
must step up along with our country and other
states."
The Senate is currently considering legislation
requiring the state to divest from companies that
have investments in Iran. Materials provided to the
Senate State Affairs Committee, as part of the
hearing process, cited similar policies in at least
22 states and the District of Columbia, plus a
unanimous U.S. Senate vote to sanction financial
institutions that associate with the Central Bank of
Iran.
According to a Legislative Research Services memo,
Alaska has an estimated $79 million invested in
companies that are invested in Iran. Those companies
include China-based China Petroleum and Chemical,
South Africa-based Sasol Ltd. and Russia-based
Gazprom OAO.
The $79 million represents about 0.1 percent of the
state's overall investments.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, lead sponsor of the
legislation, SB131, said he's glad the governor is
following lawmakers' lead, but Wielechowski said he
plans to continue pursuing his measure because it is
an important policy to have in law.
Parnell defends DNR change
in mission statement
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Gov. Sean Parnell says he had
a role in the Department of Natural Resources
proposing a new mission statement.
Parnell says he asked his departments to examine
their mission statements and to make sure they fit
with state law and the constitution.
DNR's mission statement has been to "develop,
conserve and enhance natural resources for present
and future Alaskans." The proposed mission is to
"responsibly develop Alaska's resources by making
them available for maximum use and benefit
consistent with the public interest."
This has riled some lawmakers, as well as
conservationists worried about a pro-development
bent.
Parnell says conservation is implied in the
constitution. He says if lawmakers have something
better than the constitution as a basis for a
mission statement, he'll work with them.
House passes Thomas'
military transition bill unanimously
The Alaska House passed a bill Wednesday that aims
to help military personnel leaving the service
transition into civilian life more easily by
allowing them to apply military training and
certification toward professional licensing.
Representative Bill Thomas of Haines, who authored
the bill, explained that the goal is to try and help
separating service members make that transition from
the military a little quicker.
According to Thomas, Alaska sees about 1,200
military soldiers retiring or being discharged and
staying in the state each year. He said we need to
welcome them here and help them with the transition
as they get out.
Thomas said many veterans have already received
quality training through the military, using the
example of mechanics who have the ability to perform
many required duties, but have to go through the
process of getting certified at the local level
within the state.
He gave another example of a Navy plumber with 20
years of experience. According to Thomas, there's no
reason for them to come back and start all over
again. Under HB 282, they would use their current
certification, if it's approved by the licensing
board, to go forward and authorize them to be
licensed.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration
where Senator Bill Wielechowski has its companion,
SB 150.
Resolution
aims to end PAC spending
Democratic lawmakers in the Alaska Legislature are
seeking an amendment to the U. S. Constitution that
would ban unlimited third party spending in
campaigns.
Resolutions for introduction in both the Alaska
House and Senate are in direct response to the 2010
U. S. Supreme Court decision that allowed for
corporations, unions and individuals to give
unlimited amounts to outside groups in support of or
opposition to candidates for office.
The decision gave rise to so-called super PACs, the
likes of which have made a mark during the current
presidential race.
The resolution would urge the president and Congress
to propose a constitutional amendment to ban such
unlimited spending.
Anchorage Representative Les Gara says he thinks
there's an appetite in the country to take this
step.
Rural
educators out of step with state regulators
AUSTIN BAIRD,Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Educators from a western
Alaska school district described to the House
Education Committee Wednesday morning a relationship
with state regulators they say is plagued by a lack
of dialogue and inconsistent priorities.
The committee is considering HB256, which would
remove the state's ability to intervene in
struggling districts when it's perceived as being
punitive.
Howard Diamond, superintendent of Yupiit School
Districts, told the committee that state efforts
have faltered because collaboration with rural
districts when enacting improvements is lacking. He
also said "one size fits all" approaches often fail
in bush Alaska.
Rep. Peggy Wilson said varying ideals of the state's
four governors in the past decade and five education
commissioners since 2005 have complicated state
efforts to help struggling districts.
Testimony will continue Friday.
Bill would help fund
low-income legal services
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Senators are considering
legislation intended to fund civil legal services
for low-income Alaskans.
SB62 would let the Legislature appropriate up to 25
percent of filing fees paid to the Alaska court
system during the prior fiscal year to the civil
legal services fund. That could be about $666,000.
Sen. Lesil McGuire, in her sponsor statement, said
Alaska Legal Services Corp. funding has dropped, and
the organization's struggling to serve a growing
number of applicants. The nonprofit receives
federal, state and private funding. McGuire,
R-Anchorage, says the state's contribution is about
$350,000.
Legal Services' Nicole Nelson says her group
provided representation to over 2,500 families in
the last year but had to turn many others away for
lack of resources. She says 500 more families could
be served under the bill.
Florida man named to lead
Anchorage schools
DAN JOLING,Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A Florida man has been
named the new superintendent for Alaska's largest
school district.
Board President Gretchen Guess announced Tuesday
that Jim Browder will lead Anchorage Public Schools.
Browder, formerly the head of the Lee County School
District in Fort Meyers, Fla., and Steve Atwater,
the superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough
School District in Kenai, Alaska, were the two
finalists from a field of 150 applicants.
Both men took part in three-day visits to Anchorage
earlier this month.
Superintendent Carol Comeau (COE-moe) earlier
announced she will step down June 30 from the
high-profile post she has held since 2000.
2nd man dies at Karluk Manor
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A second person has died at
an Anchorage center that allows homeless alcoholics
to drink in their rooms.
The Anchorage Daily News reports Daniel Worthman
died Tuesday at Karluk Manor. Police say a medical
examiner will determine the cause of the 46-year-old
man's death.
It's the second death reported at the center, which
opened Dec. 8 in a former Red Roof Inn in downtown
Anchorage. The first death was reported New Year's
Day.
Karluk Manor is based on the Housing First model
that maintains that chronic alcoholics are
best-served by providing them with safe housing as a
first step toward self-sufficiency and eventual
integration into the community.
The manor was modeled after the 1811 Eastlake
project in Seattle, where hundreds of housing units
have been provided for chronic alcoholics.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Arrest made in Anchorage
hotel stabbing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A man has been arrested in
a stabbing at an Anchorage hotel.
Anchorage police say 50-year-old Jackie Adams has
been charged with assault in the stabbing a man at
the Inlet Inn. Police say Andrew Wilson sustained a
serious wound to his abdomen.
Police say a group was drinking in one of the rooms
at the hotel when a dispute broke out late Tuesday
night. Witnesses told police that the hotel charges
an additional $11.50 for guests who stay in renters'
room and Adams didn't want to incur the extra fee.
Adams forced Wilson from the room, but Wilson
returned and began banging on the door.
Police say that is when the stabbing occurred.
Adams was being held on $25,000 bail and needs a
third party custodian for release.
Fire fatality under
investigation
A person was killed in a residential fire near
Glennallen Sunday night, according to a dispatch
issued by Alaska State Troopers Wednesday.
Troopers and the GlennRich Fire Department responded
shortly after 10 p.m. to a cabin at Mile 93.7 of the
Richardson Highway.
Firefighters were unable to extinguish the flames
and the cabin burned to the ground.
A body was located inside the structure, but it
could not be identified due the severity of the fire.
The remains were transported to the State Medical
Examiners Office in Anchorage for autopsy and
identification.,
The cabin owner and sole resident is 71 year old
Harlan A. Parker. Parker was last seen at the cabin
on Saturday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Man sets himself on fire
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A former martial arts
fighter set himself on fire after vowing not to go
back to jail.
Anchorage police say Harold Finger sustained severe
burns Tuesday night and was hospitalized.
Police say Finger had been out of jail for one week
when he became angry and began punching and kicking
a 34-year-old woman in the face and head. Police say
he was wearing leather gloves with hard plastic
knuckles at the time.
The woman and two other women in the apartment took
refuge in a bedroom, but not before Finger allegedly
grabbed a 6-year-old child and held the child to his
chest. The women were able to get the child back
before Finger doused himself with automobile starter
fluid and ignited it.
Finger is charged with assault and reckless
endangerment.
Police arrest man in
cousin's shooting
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Anchorage police have
arrested a man accused of shooting a relative in the
foot with a shotgun after arguing about money.
Police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker says in a release
that 29-year-old Chase Brewer has been arrested on
assault and other charges.
Police allege Brewer shot his cousin, 26-year-old
Jason Chernikoff, in a mobile home park in the
Muldoon area of east Anchorage Tuesday morning and
then fled. Chernikoff was hospitalized.
Parker says officers followed footprints in the
snow, and found a shotgun in the storage shed of
another mobile home. A police dog then led officers
to Brewer, who is being held without bail.
Arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
Nearby Bartlett High School was put into lockdown
during the search for Brewer.
Fairbanks woman charged in
credit union robbery
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) A 33-year-old woman
scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon on a
theft case is charged with robbing a credit union
earlier that day.
Jessica Nel Brown is charged with holding up the
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union within a Fred Meyer
store on Fairbanks' west side.
Police say Brown walked into the credit union at
12:40 p.m. and passed a threatening note to a
teller.
She was arrested in her vehicle at 3 p.m.
Police Sgt. Kurt Lockwood tells the Fairbanks Daily
News-Miner that Brown was carrying a money envelope
from the credit union.
Brown was scheduled to enter a plea Monday afternoon
in previous cases. She had been charged with theft,
fraud and drugs misconduct.
She remained in custody Tuesday at Fairbanks
Correctional Center.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Alaska volcano lava dome
forms, alert level raised
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) The warning level for a
remote Alaska volcano has been raised after a new
lava dome began forming, indicating the mountain
could explode and send up an ash cloud that could
threaten aircraft.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory on Tuesday elevated
the alert status for Cleveland Volcano.
Officials say the new lava dome was spotted in the
summit crater. The observatory says as of Monday,
the dome was about 130 feet in diameter.
There have been no eruptions since Dec. 25 and Dec.
29, which destroyed the earlier lava dome built up
over the fall.
Cleveland is a 5,675-foot peak on an uninhabited
island 940 miles southwest of Anchorage.
Authorities say sudden eruptions could occur at any
time, and ash clouds 20,000 feet above sea level are
possible.
2 slides cause brief
closures of Seward Highway
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Two small avalanches have
caused short-term blockage of one lane of traffic on
the Seward Highway.
Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meadow
Bailey says in an email to The Associated Press that
the slides blocked the lane of traffic at Mile 106,
or about two miles north of Indian.
She says there may have been intermittent delays on
the highway associated with the slides, but the
highway wasn't closed.
She says officials will conduct avalanche mitigation
efforts later Wednesday in the area, and travelers
can expect delays of up to an hour Wednesday
afternoon.
Olson wants council on
Alaska Native languages
AUSTIN BAIRD,Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) A bill from state Sen. Donny
Olson of Nome would help preserve and revitalize the
20 Native languages of Alaska
Olson recommends in SB130 that the state create the
Alaska Native Language Preservation Council, which
would advise the governor on programs and projects
that will make the most of resources available to
Native groups.
The bill was before the State Affairs Committee
Tuesday. Representatives from Native groups and
linguists voiced their support and called for
lawmakers to do what they can before time runs out.
Lawrence Kaplan, a Native language professor at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks, says teaching
students from an early age and working fast while
elderly Native speakers are alive is paramount to
avoiding extinction of languages.
The bill was held pending further dialogue with
Native groups.
Fairbanks protest to go into
spring
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) Occupy Fairbanks protesters
say they plan to continue their Wall Street protest
into the spring.
The decision comes after the borough had their
chemical toilet removed from Veteran's Memorial Park
last month, and after the group has clashed
repeatedly with the borough over camping in the
park.
Like the national Wall Street group, the Fairbanks
protesters cite a wide range of reasons for devoting
dozens of hours in very cold conditions to keep the
protest alive and visible. Some common themes are
concerns about income inequality and civil
liberties.
Ice Classic tickets go on
sale
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) Tickets for the annual
Nenana Ice Classic are on sale.
The guessing game is going into its 96th year with
the ice on the Tanana River the thinnest it's been
in years. But, what that means for breakup is
anyone's guess.
The object of the game is to guess the exact day and
time the Tanana River ice will go out in Nenana.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says last year, 22
different ticket holders shared a record $338,062
jackpot when the ice went out on May 4 at 4:24 p.m.
AST.
Each winning ticket was worth $15,366.45 before
taxes.
Tickets for this year's Ice Classic went on sale
Wednesday and are available at almost 200 different
locations across the state.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
AltaGas to buy Alaska
natural gas utility
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) AltaGas Ltd. has agreed to
pay more than $1.1 billion for natural gas
businesses in Alaska and Michigan, which it says are
a good fit with its own assets and part of a
strategy of becoming a top North American energy
infrastructure company.
The Calgary-based gas processor and pipeline
operator said Wednesday it has agreed to buy SEMCO
Energy of Port Huron, Michigan, from Continental
Energy Systems LLC, another Michigan company.
SEMCO owns a regulated natural gas distribution
company in Alaska through ENSTAR Natural Gas and
part ownership of a gas storage terminal being built
in Alaska. It also has gas distribution and storage
businesses in Michigan.
ENSTAR is the largest natural gas distributor in
Alaska, serving 132,000 mostly residential
customers.
Emissions testing in
Anchorage to end March 1
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Emissions testing in
Anchorage is ending early.
The Anchorage Daily News says the Assembly has voted
to do away with the program March 1st.
The Environmental Protection Agency in January
approved ending the program after agreeing that it
was no longer needed to improve air quality in
Alaska's largest city.
The Assembly then voted to allow a grace period of
six months so that emissions centers could prepare
for the loss of business. But Mayor Dan Sullivan
said continuing the program would be
"unconscionable" and a needless expense to drivers.
Sullivan told the Assembly the tests costs $68 each
and amount to more than $3 million in unnecessary
expenses.
The Assembly heard about an hour of testimony
Tuesday night before voting 6-5 to end the program
early.
(Anchorage Daily News)
United will have
seasonal Denver-Fairbanks flights
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) United Airlines will begin
seasonal flights this summer between Denver and
Fairbanks.
The airline announced the daily flights in a release
Tuesday for summer travel. The flights will operate
from June 7 through Aug. 27.
United says this is in addition to its flights to
Anchorage from Denver, Chicago, Houston, San
Francisco and Seattle.
Fairbanks food bank
receives bounty of turkey
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) Clients of the Fairbanks
Community Food Bank will be enjoying a Thanksgiving
dinner two months after the holiday.
Food bank director Samantha Kirstein says Walmart
surprised her organization last week with a donation
of 1,089 frozen turkeys. The birds average 18 pounds
apiece, which adds up to nearly 10 tons of poultry.
Kirstein says the gift is welcome because months
that follow major holidays can be slow for
donations.
Walmart manager Tim Ericson tells the Fairbanks
Daily News-Miner that the store's warehouse had
become overstocked.
He says Walmart could have shipped the turkeys back
but that it made more sense to donate them.
Kirstein says the turkeys will be added to food
boxes for large families and used for Meals on
Wheels deliveries.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Daffodil
Days underway
It's not too early for a sign of Spring. That sign
is the start of the American Cancer Society's annual
daffodil sale in Juneau called Daffodil Days.
Volunteer Wanda Fleming says sales began Monday and
continue through February 10th.
She says pre-sales volunteers will be contacting
people and businesses for orders during that time.
The cost is $10 per bundle. Fleming says there are
10 blooms to a bundle.
A minimum order of 10 bundles is required for
delivery which occurs on March 14th. Otherwise they
can be picked up March 14th at the Nugget Mall near
Shear Design or in the Goldbelt Building downtown...
Some extra bundles will be available that day at A
and P Grocery downtown for those who didn't
pre-order.
The money raised from the sale goes towards travel,
education and research for the American Cancer
Society.
Fleming says they raised $26,000 last year.
For more information call Fleming at 364-3617.
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