Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Find a way to solve school space issues
I just came from the (Jan. 7) site meeting at Mendenhall River Community School. The bottom line is finding the Montessori learning community a home that will not disrupt the learning community of its host school.
Ferry schedule raises several questions
As a Juneau resident, I am concerned that the proposed Alaska Marine Highway System ferry schedule for the summer of 2008 actually reduces service to communities south of Juneau. The proposed winter 2008-09 schedule is also of concern.
Anchorage is much cheaper than Juneau
This letter is responding to quotes from Rep. Andrea Doll's My Turn on Jan. 8.
Murkowski's move has hurt Haines salmon habitat
In his Dec. 30 letter, Department of Natural Resources Deputy Commissioner Dick LeFebvre defended the department's record of protecting fish habitat since former Gov. Frank Murkowski moved both the Habitat Division and the Coastal Management Program to his agency.
Businesses right to promote recycling
I applaud both the businesses around town that have been selling the reusable shopping bags and the increasing numbers of customers I see using them.
Photo: Preparing to discuss state of the state
Gov. Sarah Palin, left, works on her State of the State address Monday with members of her staff, Deputy Communications Director Beth Leschper, center, and audio visual technician Jason Bluhm in the Capitol. Palin will deliver the address to the Alaska Legislature today.
Photo: Skating through a winter storm
Dan Lesh, left, skate skis with Laura and Brien Daugherty on Sunday at the Mendenhall Lake Campground.
Correction
The date for the School District Facilities Committee was incorrectly listed in Monday's Juneau Empire. The meeting will be held at noon today in the Juneau Fire Hall classroom. For more information, please call 463-1750.
Police & Fire
Juneau police and fire officials and state police reported:
Photo: 'No mas Navidad'
Antonio Caranza, a cook at El Sombrero Mexican restaurant, takes down a Christmas tree on Monday on the restaurant's balcony. "No mas Navidad," Caranza said.
Stomach virus hits hard in Juneau
A stomach virus is making the rounds in Juneau, taking people as many as four days to recover.
Police & Fire
Juneau police and fire officials and state police reported
Police department in need of dispatchers
While police officers are now staffed at nearly 90 percent, the Juneau Police Department is in serious need of dispatchers, Sgt. Dave Campbell said.
Photo: Frequent flyer
Shane Young flies his remote control Piper Cub model airplane Sunday at Mendenhall Lake.
Juneau's delegation prepares bills
With a new legislative session starting today, members of Juneau's all-Democratic delegation have several bills they hope to persuade their mostly Republican colleagues to adopt.
Strong wind gust breaks record at Juneau airport
A gust of wind broke records at Juneau International Airport Sunday night, and windy weather elsewhere caused harbor damage and a power outage in the Mendenhall Valley.
Web-based class to offer Haida instruction
The area's first Web-based Native language course is scheduled to start later this month. The Sealaska Heritage Institute will offer an elementary Haida class to interested participants solely on the Internet.
Phyllis Ann Albright Beima
Former Juneau resident Phyllis Ann Albright Beima, of Ellettsville, Ind., died Jan. 11, 2008, at Meadowood Retirement Community in Bloomington, Ind. She was 76.
Raymond James Martin
Former Juneau resident Raymond James Martin died Dec. 21, 2007, in Ennis, Texas. He was 58.
James Alan Hettwer
Former Juneau resident James Alan Hettwer died Jan. 19, 2008, at his home in Post Falls, Idaho. He was 48.
Bloomberg (& company?) in the wings
If you thought Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses was historic and Sen. Hillary Clinton's outta-nowhere win in the New Hampshire primary extraordinary, then be prepared to gasp once again if New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announces a bid for the White House.
Outside editorial: U.S. should give Sudan envoy more support to end genocide
The international community has failed to muster the will to bring peace to Sudan's Darfur region after four and a half years of a genocidal conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives and driven 2.5 million people from their homes.
Outside editorial: Get real, governor: It's time to talk about California tax system
Big new bonds to plunge the state further into debt, killer cuts to schools that already struggle mightily to meet high demands, and new fees that don't help the budget overall are clearly not the way to close California's budget shortfall.
Outside column: Fluoride-Gate, naming names at Centers for Disease Control
Americans' distrust of societal institutions continues to grow, and now comes evidence of yet another burgeoning scandal: Fluoride-Gate.
My turn: In support of Montessori
Perhaps it is the rare human being who emerges from the formative influences of their childhood still flexible, able to be influenced and changed by their adult lives. We adapt to events or the needs of the moment, of course, but at our core, we remain the same.
Outside editorial: Party on: New ethics law cracked down on lobbyists - or did it?
t's not yet clear, and it may not be for some time, exactly which candidates will be nominated by Republicans and Democrats at their conventions this summer.
My Turn: Why can't we all just get along?
I went to the Adolescent Montessori Program. Now let's be honest with ourselves: When you read that, what did you think? I'm guessing it was something along the lines of, "Eh, she went to a private school," or "Stupid smart kids, thinking they're better than everybody else."
Photo: Flying on the edge
Despite an equipment malfunction, Juneau Ski Club racer Sophia Wahto managed to ski to victory in the women's giant slalom race Sunday at Eaglecrest Ski Area.
Southeast Basketball Roundup: Yakutat girls top Hoonah
The Yakutat High School girls basketball team swept Hoonah on Jan. 7-8 in Class 2A Southeast Conference play.
Sports in Juneau
Sports in Juneau is a service provided by the Juneau Empire to provide information on upcoming sports and outdoors events in Juneau.
Legislature returns for short session
Lawmakers slowly trickled into the Capitol on Monday, bracing for their first 90-day legislative session, a time frame cut by nearly one-third and mandated by voters.
Rocket research range may receive more NASA funding
With NASA getting more money for a specialized rocket program, the Poker Flat Research Range may be getting busier in the future.
This Day in History
In Alaska and in the Nation
Young to campaign more aggressively
Alaska's lone Congressman, Don Young, says he knows the race for Congress this year won't be easy.
Republican leaders call for Cowdery to step down
The latest calls for Republican Sen. John Cowdery to step down are coming from his own neighborhood, though Senate leaders say the ailing lawmaker should be back in his Juneau office this week.
Energy rebate among new legislative bills
Alaskans could get a break on their heating bills under a proposal included in more than a dozen pieces of legislation filed in the run up to the legislative session.
Alaska Digest
Sponsors ready with clean water initiative; Man sentenced in Petersburg murder; Bald eagles fly to Anchorage for rehab; Town of Huslia holds memorial potlatch; Superintendent calls for longer school days
Mouthwash sold behind the counter in attempt to reduce alcohol abuse
A few supermarkets in Anchorage are selling mouthwash from behind the counter to keep people from stealing it to get drunk.
Both sides prepare for legal battle in trial of Jim Hayes
A defense attorney for former Fairbanks Mayor Jim Hayes filed court papers challenging federal prosecutors to prove his client's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a case accusing Hayes and his wife of misusing federal grants.
Eagles recovering after disastrous dive into fish truck
Most of the 30 eagles who survived a disastrous dive into a truck full of fish guts are close to recovery, said officials at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.
Alaska Digest
Communities observe AMBER Alert day; Seiner in Seward after engine failure; UAF teams up with Finland school; Alaska Air National Guard members return; Kott seeks delay in reporting to prison; Police seek burglars who bludgeoned dog
Iditarod auction lets fans ride with mushers in race
The reaction is always the same when Army Capt. Darrick Gutting asks his war-wounded veterans if they would like to ride in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as part of a spiritual retreat to Alaska.
This Day in History
In Alaska and in the Nation
Angoon council works to revive government
After months without city meetings, the Angoon City Council has named a new mayor and is trying to nurse the town's ailing local government back to health.