Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Delegation should nix attorney gen. nominee
I am writing to ask Empire readers to join me in urging Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens to vote no on Michael Mukasey on his appointment as U.S. attorney general.
Waring's remarks on military troubling
The Juneau School Board meeting on Oct. 9 at the Juneau-Douglas High School library was unusually crowded with veterans. They were present to support Sgt. Seth Beebe's request to not allow protesters on school grounds when recruiters are invited.
School Board following policy on recruiting
I am writing in regard to an article on Oct. 17 about the National Guard recruiter complaining to the Juneau School Board about limiting protest groups' access to Juneau-Douglas High School while military recruitment is underway.
Looking ahead after fluoride decision
Voters have voted. The die has been cast for the time being. Those who can will go back to their lives with pristine pure Juneau water that contains chlorine, potash and some by-products that you can read about in the city of Juneau Annual Water Report.
Disputing 'elevated' mercury guidelines
After reading about the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation's "guidelines" about "elevated" mercury levels, I thought I would share information dispelling myths about mercury in fish.
Police & Fire
Reports from police, fire officials and state troopers
ACLU names Mertz Civil Libertarian of the Year
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska named Juneau attorney Doug Mertz Civil Libertarian of the Year on Saturday.
City program draws more junk vehicles
The city's junk car program was intended to be a temporary solution, but it has been so successful it looks like it will be around for the long haul, officials say.
Halibut catch limit in limbo
Halibut catch limits may drop considerably in the coming years as the International Pacific Halibut Commission decides whether to use a new way of accounting that cuts in half the estimated number of halibut in Southeast Alaska.
Photo: Going low, not high
Runner-up limbo champion Brenden Winters, an eighth-grader at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School, bends under a limbo stick Tuesday to kick off the school's Red Ribbon Week.
Police & Fire
Juneau police and fire officials and state police reported
Photo: Ready for snow
Juneau streets department employees Jerry Tisher, left, an equipment operator, and Joe Santos, a mechanic, work on installing new hardware on a snowplow for one of Juneau's "ten yarder" trucks.
Renovations under way at KeyBank branch
KeyBank has begun a nine-month renovation that will restore the façade of its vintage branch in downtown Juneau, which includes remodeling its interior.
Photo: Fall flight
A bald eagle soars Monday morning over the Gastineau Channel.
Cruise fees may not cover ocean rangers
Fees collected from cruise ship passengers may not be enough to cover the total cost of a new ocean ranger program launched this year, according to the state agency charged with implementing the program.
Photo: Taking care of their highway
Juneau Rainbow Girls (Summer Christiansen, Megan Clough and Sorcha Hazelton) collect trash along their adopt-a-highway section for the fall.
Williams to celebrate 90th birthday with open house
Lifelong Juneau resident Dean Williams will celebrate his 90th birthday at an open house from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Juneau Senior Center, 12th Street.
Neighbors Mailbox
Thanks from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
Trashin' Fashion
The 2nd Annual Trashin' Fashion show, held Oct. 13, challenged Juneau students to create haute couture with low materials: Only duct tape, plastic bags, and paper sacks could be used. The results, shown here, were anything but trashy.
Shaub and McCowan
Colleen Shaub and Nathan McCowan, both of Juneau, married on Sept. 9, 2007 at the Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Wash.
Pets of the Week
We still have an awful lot of kittens up for adoption.
SEARHC applauds city of Klawockclean air law
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium congratulates Klawock residents for passing the City of Klawock Smokefree Air Act of 2007 during the municipal election on Oct. 2.
Neighbors Digest
Local churches to hold reformation Sunday services on Oct. 28; ANB/ANS 95thAnnual Grand Camp Convention held; SEARHC to host employee wellness training Nov. 16; Ski patrol, ski club hold annual ski sale at Centennial Hall
Ravens win for second straight year in Eagles vs. Ravens Wellness Challenge
For the second straight year, the Ravens moiety topped the Eagles in the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Eagles vs. Ravens Wellness Challenge in Juneau.
Marsha Ellen Ramsey
Longtime Juneau resident Marsha Ellen Ramsey died Oct. 13, 2007, in Juneau, after a long illness. She was 66.
Marsha Ellen Ramsey
Longtime Juneau resident Marsha Ellen Ramsey died Oct. 13, 2007, in Juneau, after a long illness. She was 66.
Marlene Krainson Webster Pratt
Former Southeast resident Marlene Krainson Webster Pratt died Oct. 21, 2007, from complications following a long battle with cancer. She was 71.
Alaska editorial: Let's not judge other politicians too quickly
Alaska has 69 appointed state judges, plus federal judges - and almost 500,000 unappointed with the right to vote in the next statewide election.
Outside editorial: On nuclear negligence
Sexual assault and torture grab headlines, especially when U.S. military officers are the accused perpetrators. But when it comes to protecting the American homeland - and the rest of the planet - failure to maintain control over U.S. nuclear weapons is the ultimate dereliction of duty.
Empire editorial: Kudos to Crimson Bears football and many more
To the Juneau-Douglas High School football team for bringing home the state championship on Saturday and completing a perfect 11-0 season. Way to go, Crimson Bears.
My turn: The oil industry: our golden goose
As this letter is being typed, I am reminded of the story about the goose that laid the golden egg. The basic moral that story teaches is greed will destroy the source of good. In other terms it might mean, keep the goose healthy, happy and producing golden eggs, and you will have a daily addition to your wealth.
My Turn: Look who's being Orwellian
Mihael Blikshteyn and Hildegard Sellner's Oct. 8 My Turn "The recyclable plastic bag is a myth," provided one piece of hilarity and one vitally important standard when it comes to recycling in Juneau.
My turn: Frank Murkowski deserves praise for his support of democracy
I had just sat down for what would be a wide-ranging one hour conversation with Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan's leader from 1988-2000.
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.
Photo: Ready to rumble
The Hurricanes' Spencer Miller leads his team during warm-ups before Saturday's Juneau Youth Football League Senior Division championship game against Sitka at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field. Turn to Page B3 for a rundown of all the JYFL title games.
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.
Hurricanes hold off Sitka for Senior Division title
The Hurricanes received two touchdowns from Randy Segelhorst to capture the Juneau Youth Football League Senior Division championship with a 22-16 victory over Sitka on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field.
Stevens wants to close underage flying 'loophole'
U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens has called for an examination of the airline industry's underage flying policies after a Juneau girl was allowed to fly out of town without her parents' approval.
Alaska Digest
Hearing set in Kenai election lawsuit; Body dismembered, placed in freezer; Man pleads guilty to federal drug charge; Officials: Spill should be cleaned up soon; Air National Guard commander starts job
Exxon calls for rate reduction
Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, trumped Gov. Sarah Palin's order to raise taxes with its own demand on Tuesday: Lower the existing rate.
Palin, select lawmakers meet with Pebble Mine officials
Some state lawmakers took a break from the governor's oil and gas bill Monday to discuss another resource: metals.
Committee finds two violations
The Select Committee on Legislative Ethics has found that two people, one a legislator and the other a legislative staff member, violated rules regarding personal and political activity.
Northwest Digest
Man sent to prison for hazardous waste; Alaska-based soldier dies in vehicle crash; Police identify body found in freezer; Alaska Airlines, Horizon raise fares
Attorneys spar in opening of former lawmaker's trial
The attorney for a former Alaska legislator on trial for corruption charges used his opening statement to attack a key government witness, questioning his motive for aiding the government's case.
Jury selection begins in Kohring trial
Chances are there aren't many corruption trials that begin with the defendant crossing over to shake hands with the people trying to put him in prison.
CEO makes pitch for Pebble Mine
The chief executive of Anglo American PLC, the world's second-largest mining company, has crisscrossed Alaska during the past two days, meeting key politicians and business leaders in her pitch for transforming lands in western Alaska into one of world's largest mines.
This Day in History
In Alaska, in the Nation and the World
Legislature hears public views on tax
Alaska companies and workers in the oil industry cautioned the Legislature on Tuesday evening to not be hasty in abandoning the Petroleum Profits Tax on the oil industry - though a few speakers also called for higher taxes.
Chairman: Ethics committee can't be blamed for scandal
Alaska's Legislative ethics committee works well for those legislators who want to keep on the right side of the ethical line, but shouldn't be relied on to stop intentional wrongdoing, said the committee's chairman.
Iditarod champ wants to win another truck
Lance Mackey accomplished something that many people thought was impossible when he won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the Yukon Quest in the same year.
Former stripper convicted of murder in fiance's death
A former stripper accused of borrowing from a movie plot to kill her fiance before she recreated herself as a cookie-baking doctor's wife was convicted of first-degree murder Monday in the decade-old death.
This Day in History
In Alaska and in the Nation
Photo: Angoon's new magistrate sworn in
Elaine Kookesh-Jack, center, is formally sworn in as the city's new part-time magistrate on Oct. 16 at Angoon District Court.