Cargo plane crashes at Alaska base; 4 on board
RACHEL D'ORO -Associated Press Writer
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AP) — A military cargo plane crashed Wednesday at an Air Force base near downtown Anchorage with four people on board, the Air Force said.

The conditions of the four were not immediately known, said Air Force Capt. Uriah Orland. When asked if there were deaths, he did not answer.

The plane crashed at Elmendorf Air Force Base at 6:14 p.m., and first responders were still at the scene more than two hours later, Orland said. Access routes to the crash site, which was not on a runway, were closed.

The plane was from the 3rd Wing, based at Elmendorf, and Orland said it was on a local training run.

A board of officers will investigate the crash.

Anchorage Fire Dept. Captain Bryan Grella said his crew was just getting done with dinner at about 6:30 p.m. at the downtown fire station when something caught his eye.

"It was a big, gray plume of smoke, and I saw a fireball go up in it," he said.

The fireball extended about 750 feet in the air. He estimated the plume to be about two miles from downtown.

It's the third airplane incident in Anchorage this summer. In June, one child was killed and four others burned when a small plane crashed after taking off from the city's small-airplane airport in downtown Anchorage.

Days later, a small plane landed on the busy Glenn Highway, the only highway leading north out of Anchorage.

There were no injuries in the latter mishap.

Dead whale reportedly stuck to bow of cruise ship
A whale got stuck to the bulbous bow of a Princess Cruises' vessel overnight.

Kirby Day, the Director of Shore Operations for the company in Alaska, says the Sapphire Princess held in  an area south of Douglas Island until the whale was removed from the bow.  That was accomplished at about 2:40 this afternoon.  It was to be towed to shore there. 

He says the ship was enroute from Ketchikan to Juneau overnight. They noticed at about 8 a.m. that a dead whale was attached to the bow.

He says they immediately contacted federal officials.

The Coast Guard transported NOAA officials to the scene.

Kaja Brix, the director of Protected Resources for the agency in Alaska, says judging from photos it appears to be a juvenile humpback whale.

She says they know the cruise ship had to increase power to maintain speed at 1:30 this morning (Wednesday) so they're making an assumption at this point that that may have been the time the vessel struck the whale.

She says they plan to conduct an necropsy in the next couple of days in an attempt to figure out what happened.

The Sapphire Princess was due in at 1:30 this afternoon.  It was cleared to proceed into port after the whale was removed.

US reps sign letter against Sealaska lands bill
MARY PEMBERTON - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Dozens of U.S. House members have signed a letter opposing a bill allowing a private Alaska Native corporation to select choice lands in the nation's largest national forest for its own use.

The bill would allow Sealaska Corp. to pick lands outside designated areas — a feature that has led to charges that the Native corporation is cherry-picking lands in the Tongass National Forest.

Sealaska Corp. is entitled to 85,000 acres under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Fifty-eight House members signed the letter that says the bill would "severely threaten the economic and ecological well-being of the Tongass."

Sealaska says the letter is "misleading" and "ill-informed." It says the bill would maintain and create jobs, while preserving old-growth trees.

Long returning home to take top level job with Juneau's fire department
A new deputy chief for Capital City Fire Rescue has been hired.

Brian Long will fill the position held by Chief Rich Etheridge before he was promoted to his current job.

That will make him in charge of career staff.

Etheridge calls Long one of the most professional firefighters he's worked with and says has tremendous confidence in his character and ability to take the department where they want it to go.

He's currently the fire chief of Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians.

Long started his career as a volunteer for Capital City Fire Rescue.

He served six years on the professional staff here following his time as a volunteer.

Long worked as a line officer at the Castle Rock Fire Department in Denver, Colorado.

He's a graduate of the Fire Sciences Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Long is expected to start work here in September.

He's is the son of Dick and Elaine Long.

Four pull themselves out of Lemon Creek after raft overturns
Capital City Fire Rescue's Water Rescue Team was called out Monday afternoon.

George Reifenstein, the fire department's special teams captain, says they were summoned to Lemon Creek on a report of a raft with four teenagers that overturned.

He says they were told people were in the creek hanging on to branches and pulling themselves out.

Reifenstein says they found two teenagers on each bank.

He says injuries were restricted to some bruises

Doc Water's owner pleads guilty
The former owner of a Juneau restaurant pleaded guilty in a Juneau federal court 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.

Committee forwards Auke Bay school projects to school board
The School District's Facilities Committee met Tuesday to consider projects for bonding on next October's local election ballot.

Superintendent Glen Gelbrich says the first option is renovating Auke Bay School at the existing site.

The second is a new school to be built uphill from the current school.

The school board is scheduled to consider the projects at a special meeting at noon Thursday in room 206 at Juneau Douglas High School.

The board will then forward its recommendation to the Assembly.

Police collar suspected burglar
A suspected burglar has been apprehended by police.

The arrest came just before one Sunday morning, according to the police department's Cindee Brown-Mills who says offices arrested him inside Taku Smokeries.

27 year old Arden Mohammed Gillen was formally charged with theft and burglary in the second degree.

We're told he was a former employee of Taku Smokeries. 

Teen bicyclist fatally struck by truck
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A 14-year-old girl has died and another juvenile was injured after they were struck by a pickup truck while riding their bicycles in Fairbanks.

Police say witnesses told officers that the Ford F-150 ran a red light shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday as the two bicyclists and another juvenile bicyclist headed away from the Latter-day Saints church off the Steese Highway.

The teenage girl died at the scene.

One of the other cyclists was taken to a local hospital with injuries after the accident at the intersection of the highway and the Johansen Expressway.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says the third bicyclist appeared to be unhurt.

Police have not released the names the dead girl, the other bicyclists or the truck driver, who was questioned at the police station.
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Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Process begins to replace U. S. District Court judge in Anchorage
Alaska's U. S. Senators are soliciting names of candidates to replace Alaska U. S. District Court Judge John W. Sedwick when he moves to senior status next March.

In a joint press release issued by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, they say they will work with the Alaska Bar Association to accept applications and conduct a poll of Alaska lawyers.

Each plans to make individual recommendations to the White House.

Judge Sedwick was named to the Anchorage District Court seat in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush.

The ultimate decision in filling this vacancy rests with President Obama.

The deadline for the receipt of applications by the Alaska Bar Association is August 20.

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Sedwick is one of three active U. S. District Judges in Alaska.

All based in Anchorage.

Four others have senior judge status.

Federal magistrates serve in Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Kodiak.

SEADOGS assisting in two Southwest searches
Alaska State Troopers have called in the assistance of two Juneau based SEADOGS teams in the search for two men missing in Southwest Alaska.

22 year-old George Morgan of Kalskag never made it to shore after his skiff started taking on water and sank on the Kuskokwim River Saturday.

The Troopers' Beth Ipsen says Morgan was traveling with another man from Aniak to Kalskag at the time of the incident.

She says the other man managed to swim to shore and was picked up by passing boater.

Ipsen says Morgan's shoes were found washed up on the shore a couple of days ago, so Troopers have a pretty good idea where he is, probably in the river.

Apparently neither man was wearing a life jacket.

The second search involving the SEADOGS is 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.

The SEADOGS are scheduled to arrive in Bethel today (Wednesday) and then be deployed to the search areas.

Aircraft are also assisting in both efforts.

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  

Grounded vessel releases diesel
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Coast Guard says a grounded fishing vessel in Alaska's Prince William Sound released an unknown volume of diesel fuel.

Coast Guard officials say responders believe the Seattle-based Cape Cross discharged the fuel after the 100-foot vessel tipped over on its side in Main Bay.

The Cape Cross was carrying an estimated 3,000 gallons of diesel on board when it went hard aground Monday with seven crew members on board.

There were no injuries.

Responders have placed containment booms around the vessel and near a land-based fish hatchery about a mile away.

Officials say bilge water also escaped through a hole punched through the engine room when the vessel went aground.

The plan is to remove the fuel and salvage the vessel.

5.5-magnitude quake shakes near Aleutian Islands
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Authorities say a 5.5-magnitude earthquake shook a remote area in the Aleutian Islands.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was reported at 3:31 a.m. today (Wednesday) and centered about 25 miles southwest of Nikolski, where a few dozen people live. There were no reports of injury.

A magnitude-6.7 earthquake was reported July 17 in the area, and as many as two dozen aftershocks shook the region and unsettled residents. No one was injured and no damage was reported.

A seismologist with the Alaska Earthquake Information Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks had said the aftershocks from the July 17 earthquake could go on for a month or more. It was not immediately clear whether Wednesday's earthquake was an aftershock or a separate event.

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Alaska's Fox Islands
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Earthquake Information Center is reporting a magnitude 5.5 earthquake early today (Wednesday) at a depth of about 7 miles in the Fox Islands region.

Officials say they have received no reports of the earthquake being felt or causing any damage.

The epicenter is believed to be more than 140 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor and Unalaska.

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.

APNewsBreak: Begich may support GOP proposal
BECKY BOHRER - Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's Democratic senator says he may sign on in support of a Republican energy bill because he's not satisfied with the proposal Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put forth.

Sen. Mark Begich says he's reviewing the Republican plan and would have no problem backing it if he finds it more acceptable than the Democrats' current plan.

He believes there is common ground on the energy issue between the parties and the air simply must be cleared of the "political posturing" to advance a comprehensive plan.

Begich says he has several problems with the Reid proposal, including the elimination of a $75 million cap on economic liability from an oil spill.

Begich says allowing for unlimited liability will be a job killer and limit opportunities for offshore drilling.

NRA PAC endorses Murkowski
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has gotten the endorsement of the National Rifle Association's political action committee.

The chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund, Chris Cox, says the Alaska Republican has a record of support for Second Amendment rights.

The group says Murkowski also has gotten an "A'' rating for her support of individual gun ownership rights.

Murkowski faces an Aug. 24 primary challenge from Joe Miller, who's gotten support from the national Tea Party Express.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

Judge orders tougher look at fire retardant drops
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Montana has ordered the U.S. Forest Service to take a tougher look at the possibility that routinely dropping toxic fire retardant on wildfires from airplanes will kill endangered fish and plants.

U.S. District  Judge Donald W. Molloy ruled today (Wednesday) that the environmental assessment was inadequate. He gave the Forest Service until the end of 2011 to do a tougher environmental impact statement.

Molloy wrote that although U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Service found that fire retardant drops jeopardize the survival of endangered species, the agencies put no real limits on ordering retardant drops.

The lawsuit was brought by the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics in Eugene.

EPA chief in southwest Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The head of the Environmental Protection Agency is in the state listening to concerns expressed by southwest Alaska communities.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today is scheduled to visit Dillingham to meet with Bristol Bay region tribal governments, Native corporations and other organizations to get their views on the proposed Pebble Mine.

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.

Juneau Juniors increase lead in state baseball tourney
The Juneau entry at the State Juniors Baseball Tournament in Anchorage took a 2 to nothing game lead last night in the best of 5 series.

Juneau defeated Abbot-O-Rabbit 7 to 2 in game two of the series.

Tanner Petrie pitched 6 and 2/3 innings with Nathan Klein coming on in relief.

R. J. Markovich hit a solo home run.

Game 3 is this evening at 6.

The winner advances to the Western Regional Tournament in California.

Majors Baseball tourney getting underway
The Majors Baseball Tournament gets underway this evening in Anchorage.

Juneau representing District 2 takes on Knik representing District 1 in the best of five series.

Games are scheduled Thursday and Friday and Saturday and Sunday if necessary.

Softball tournament gets underway in Juneau with a home team loss
Juneau dropped the first game in a five game series in the Junior Softball State Tournament being played at Melvin Park.

Nunaka Valley scored 11 runs to Juneau's 3 in Tuesday evening's contest.

The first pitch for game 2 is at 7 this evening.

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.  

Alaska Zoo gets bear cub
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage is babysitting a brown bear cub until state officials determine what facility outside Alaska will take it.

Zoo workers say the cub arrived this week after it was rescued from the King Cove area. The 50-pound cub is about five months old.

One of the cub's two siblings was killed by a male bear and its mother ran off, possibly injured by the same bear.

The surviving cubs were seen at the local dump. That's where the zoo cub was rescued, but the other cub ran off.

Man cops guilty plea in beating case
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 25-year-old Chignik Lake man who pleaded guilty to beating a friend to death has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Investigators say Edwin Pedersen beat 22-year-old John Kalmakoff to death with an ax after the two got into a drunken argument. Chignik Lake is on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula 265 miles southwest of Kodiak.

Amish could be headed to Alaska
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Amish in Alaska? It's not out of the question.

The population of Amish is growing in North America, and their search for affordable, fertile farmland is sending them into new areas to accommodate a population currently estimated at 249,000.

The Amish have even been scouting for land recently in Alaska and Mexico.

Kelp, fish guts used to improve soil in Alaska
PALMER, Alaska (AP) — A program that promotes sustainable agriculture in the West could mean better soil for gardeners in Alaska.

The program backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing a grant to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks to build demonstration gardens where poor soil will be mixed with locally found fertilizers.

Those might include kelp from a Panhandle beach or salmon guts from Bristol Bay.

Organizer Jodie Anderson says she wants Alaskans to know that despite the state's often harsh weather, they can grow vegetables to supplement their hunting and fishing. Without gardens, produce must be flown in at a high cost.

Federal grants also pay for other soil-improving projects in the West, where the dirt often is shallow and rocky.

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 life 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 a lot code of 10124 and an item number of 061041 on the label.

The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to return the ice cream 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 

Open house for new Red Cross Office coming up Thursday
An open house for the  Southeast Alaska office of the American Red Cross in Juneau  is coming up Thursday.

The agency's Caitlin McLaughlin says it's scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. that day.

The office moved recently to the corner of Glacier Highway and Hospital Drive.

The Red Cross office is part of a non-profit center on the 2nd floor where the space is shared with the United Way of Southeast Alaska.

The exact address is Suite 202 at 3225 Hospital Drive.

For additional information call 463-5713.

Alaska-Anchorage assistant coach takes USHL job
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An assistant hockey coach at the University of Alaska Anchorage is leaving to take a head coaching job in the United States Hockey League.

Regg Simon will leave the Seawolf staff to become head coach and general manager with the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Simon is a former team captain for the Seawolves. Originally from Elk River, Minn., he worked as an assistant coach at Alaska-Anchorage for two years.

Simon has experience with the Buccaneers. Simon coached the Buccaneers for parts of five seasons from 2003 to 2008, with the last two and a half as head coach and general manager.

The USHL is an amateur junior ice hockey league with 14 teams in the Midwest made up of players 20 years old and younger. USHL players remain eligible to play college hockey.