Alaska Digest
Valley store hit by 'grab and dash' burglar
JUNEAU - After seeing his glass front door repaired Tuesday for the second time in less than a week, the owner of Duck Creek Market in the Mendenhall Valley said he's tired of being awakened by the store's alarm.
"They broke the same glass again," Jack Manning said. "It's always a bummer."
Juneau police said they were notified by the store's alarm at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday. They discovered a rock had been thrown through a glass front door. A search of the store and the surrounding area revealed no suspects.
The statement was almost identical to what police reported Friday. In both cases, damage to property and the value of what was taken were estimated at $500.
Earlier Friday, Kenny's Liquor Market, 617 W. Willoughby Ave., and Home Liquor, 425 W. Willoughby Ave., also had rocks thrown through glass at the front of the store.
Manning said there was one other similar incident at his store. On July 19, the alarm sounded at 3:45 a.m. and the glass front door had been shattered. Manning said he was unable to determine if anything had been taken.
He described the August burglaries as "grab and dash" operations. He said he could not say what was taken and didn't want to say much, as he is working with police to solve the crimes.
On each occasion, the alarm apparently frightened the burglar away, he said.
Eaglecrest board appoints new manager
JUNEAU - After months of extensive interviews, the Eaglecrest Ski Area Board appointed Kirk Duncan as the ski facility's new manager.
Duncan has over 25 years of management experience in the ski industry. He most recently served as director of ski area operations at Mountain Creek Resort in New Jersey. Prior to that, he was general manager for the Mount Spokane Ski area.
The board said Duncan has strong management and the financial skills to manage the 640-acre ski area's mountain operations, including lifts, grooming, safety, food services and equipment rentals. Duncan will also supervise more than 100 seasonal employees.
Duncan replaces Paul Swanson, who retired earlier this summer after 16 years with the ski area.
ANB scholarship panel needs applications
JUNEAU - The Alaska Native Brotherhood Scholarship Committee is asking all applicants to resubmit their paperwork by Sept. 15. New applicants also are welcome.
Some of the previously received applications were damaged in an Aug. 15 fire downtown, officials said. The scholarship office was in the water-damaged building next to the Skinner building, which burned.
The scholarship deadline had been Aug. 15, and all the applications were in the office at the time of the fire. Some applications were saved, but others couldn't be read because of water damage from the firefighting efforts, officials said.
The application package should include proof of enrollment or a letter of acceptance, a transcript of academic record, and a letter requesting consideration for the scholarship.
Mail the items to: ANB Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 34096, Juneau, AK 99803-4096.
Airman from Elmendorf killed in Iraq fighting
JUNEAU - A serviceman from Elmendorf Air Force Base was killed and two others were wounded in Iraq, Gov. Frank Murkowski's office said Tuesday.
The serviceman who died in battle was Airman 1st Class Carl Anderson Jr. of Georgetown, S.C. Those wounded were Staff Sgt. Michael Helmick and Airman 1st Class Jacob Sutton. The three are attached to the Third Logistics Readiness Squadron at Elmendorf.
"My heart goes out to the family of Airman 1st Class Carl Anderson Jr., who lost his life on Sunday fighting in the service of freedom for the Iraqi people," Murkowski said in a release. "My prayers are with the family of Airman Anderson and with those of Staff Sgt. Michael Helmick and Airman 1st Class Jacob Sutton."