Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Americans have a misconception of a high tea
I note in the Nov. 7 Juneau Empire, that Epsilon Sigma Alpha is hosting a "high tea" for the benefit of Hospice and Home Care. A few years ago, Juneau Opera to Go! hosted a "high tea" at the Baranof.
AEL&P shouldn't supply Greens Creek with excess power
I am in receipt of my household electric bill for October. It contains a riff on the subject of lake water levels at Snettisham, the need to conserve electricity and the inevitable need to start up the diesel generation backup system.
Torture goes against Christian teaching
At the heart of Christian anthropology and Catholic social teaching is this fundamental truth: That all human beings are made in God's image and likeness and each person possesses a unique dignity and worth conferred on them by their Creator.
Lynn Canal herring need protection
I attended the Juneau Board of Fisheries meeting on Nov. 6 at Centennial Hall to learn more about the potential listing of Lynn Canal herring under the Endangered Species Act.
Photo: Traveling in style
Pat Bingham wheels her dog, Little Bit, on Tuesday into Juneau International Airport. Bingham and Little Bit were on their way to California.
Charities still seek holiday donations
The number of needy people is up at the Glory Hole homeless shelter and Thanksgiving donations are down at St. Vincent de Paul.
Police & Fire
Reports from police, fire officials and state troopers
Photo: Rising to the occasion
David Ottoson, owner of Rainbow Foods, climbs a tree in front of his store Monday to put up Christmas lights. After testing the lights, he said he will try to resist the temptation to turn them on before Thanksgiving.
City hopes to boost parking with garage
Finding a quick parking spot downtown could become a lot easier with a new city garage slated for downtown.
Eaglecrest skiers scoop up passes
Eaglecrest Ski Area made more money from early season passes this year than last, even though about the same number of passes were sold.
Police & Fire
Juneau police and fire officials and state police reported
Tourist numbers rise steadily
The number of tourists grew steadily in Juneau and throughout Alaska in the summer of 2007, and those visitors spent nearly $2 billion, according to the travel industry.
Would a woman go 'Into the Wild'?
"You were like Chris McCandless with a plan." A friend said this to me while swapping coming-to-Alaska stories. This is not true. It is especially not true in light of re-reading the book "Into the Wild" and seeing the movie.
Court Appointed Special Advocate recognition
Bob Wild, fourth from left, received the Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer of the Year Award at a dinner to honor all Juneau CASA volunteers held in November at the home of Sheri and John Williams.
Neighbors Digest
Widowed Persons Program holds holiday program Thursday; Reiki and healing touchworkshop to be held today; Sitka EmployeeWellness Coalition to meet on Nov. 15; SEARHC celebrates 31st Annual Great American Smokeout
Karate bronze medal
Ethan Kramp, representing the Juneau Shotokan Karate Club, wins the bronze medal for his age group, 12-13 years, in kumite (sparring), at the International Shotokan Karate Federation National Tournament held Oct. 20 and 21 in San Francisco.
Soboleff celebrates 99th birthday
Dr. Walter Soboleff will celebrate his 99th birthday in a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at Northern Light United Church, Fellowship Hall, 400 W. 11th St.
Georgia Finau selected to serve on National Tribal/BIA Welfare Assistance Advisory Workgroup
The Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is pleased to announce that its Self Governance Director Georgia C. Finau has been selected to serve on the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Indian Services, Division of Human Services Tribal/BIA Welfare Assistance Advisory Workgroup.
Training for mountain rescue
Juneau Mountain Rescue volunteers met for a monthly training on Nov. 10 near the Bonnie Brae subdivision in Douglas. The focus of the training was rigging rescue litters and litter/rescuer attendant tie ins.
Recognitions
Floyd Dryden Middle School announces its honor roll list for the first quarter.
Clinical nurse specialist Osbekoff honored by Indian Health Service
Etsuko Osbekoff, a clinical nurse specialist at the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka, will be honored by the Indian Health Service Dec. 13 at the National Director's Award Ceremony in North Bethesda, Md.
Kim Hort wins Richard C. Pugh Achievement Award
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium pediatric dentist Dr. Kim Hort is one of 14 recipients nationwide to earn the 2006-07 Richard C. Pugh Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists.
Melvin Allen Gamble
Former Juneau resident Melvin Allen Gamble died Oct. 30, 2007, at his home in Wasilla. He was 59.
Eldon L. Taylor
Former Juneau resident Eldon L. Taylor, of Wenatchee, Wash., died Nov. 9, 2007. He was 84.
David Knuth
Juneau resident David Knuth died Nov. 10, 2007, at home.
Donald Lee Stichler
Former Juneau resident Donald Lee Stichler, formerly of Chattanooga, Tenn., died Nov. 5, 2007, at home in Saint Augustine, Fla. He was 77.
David Thomas Knuth
Juneau resident David Thomas Knuth died Nov. 10, 2007, in his home. He was 76.
Robert Jennings Simi
Former Juneau resident Robert Jennings Simi died Nov. 8, 2007, at his home in Salmon, Idaho.
Outside editorial: Good news in Iraq*
The Bush administration and the U.S. military, after four years of unrelenting bad news from Iraq, hardly could be blamed for crowing when the news gets better.
Like ravens, oil lobbyists are picking apart Palin's legislation
The first time I had the opportunity to watch a group of ravens pillage a new bag of groceries out of the back of a pickup, I was awestruck. The quickness and precision of the assault, completed before the unsuspecting owner figured out what had happened, was amazing.
Outside editorial: Fed performs tightrope act to keep economy going
Watching the American economy these days is like watching an Indiana Jones movie: Real estate bombs explode, pillars of banking totter, investors duck for cover.
My Turn: A tribe is landless in Ketchikan
The Sealaska Corp. newsletter sent in October featured a story called "Southeast Lands Bill: Fulfillment of a Promise to Alaska Natives: Good for the Economies, Good for the Environment."
My Turn: Promote sustainability by making state fluoride-free
When it comes to water quality, the people of Juneau are among the most informed in the state. Residents of the capital recently voted to ban fluoride from their water.
Pre-empting recruitment debate with war education
In the week following the national holiday in which we honor America's veterans, it may seem poor timing to add to the debate about military recruitment at the high school.
Sports Digest
Fagerstrom earnsall-conference honors; Former Juneau players square off at Bradley; 'Pacman' Jones intends to take plea deal; MLS awards Seattle an expansion franchise
Sports Digest
Juneau-Douglas' Melissa Bogert off to Washington State; Online voting for Alaska Sports Hall of Fame under way; Juneau's Kramp takes bronze at karate tournament; Janes wins three medals at Huntsman World Senior Games
Bad Larry, good snowboarders
While Juneau-Douglas High School varsity sports have always drawn a lot of attention within the community, one athletic team, or crew rather, has been under the communal radar.
Juneau Parks and Recreation men's and women's volleyball final standings
Wild final period leads to an Orange victory in Women's B
The Orange edged the Green 3-2 on Sunday in a thriller as the team's combined to score four goals in the final period at Treadwell Arena in Juneau Adult Hockey Association Women's B action.
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.
Juneau Parks and Recreation Ordway Basketball Scores
Inaction prompts new session talk
Some House Democrats are accusing oil industry allies in the Alaska Legislature of trying to delay action on an oil tax increase until the 30-day special session ends Friday.
Alaska Digest
Lost hunter rescued on Shelter Island; Juneau man pleads guilty to meth charge; Mine reports rising third quarter profits; Remainder of PFDs going out in the mail; Report: Animal abuse laws weak in Alaska; Newly-constructed hangar has design flaw; Judge reaffirms 95-year sentence
Survey shows Steller sea lion population has not increased
The number of endangered Steller sea lions along a long stretch of Alaska coastline remains stagnant, federal scientists said Tuesday.
'Recyclers' decry proposed ban on Dumpster diving in Fairbanks
Meet Jay Hill, recycler of other people's waste.
Senate mulls oil tax bill
Gov. Sarah Palin has the support from the Alaska House of Representatives to boost the net profits oil tax from 22.5 percent to 25 percent, but will she get the same backing from the Senate?
Oil tax standard deduction plan, defeated once, makes a comeback
Trying to lower the risk that skyrocketing oil field costs will limit the state's tax revenues, the Alaska House of Representatives has amended the state's Petroleum Profits Tax to include a new standard deduction amount for operating expenses.
Gold prices dip after nearing historic high
Alaska's mining industry could continue to reap benefits from high metal prices as gold traded above $840 per ounce last week, but dropped below $800 by Tuesday.
Northwest Digest
Two cars set on fire next to burned house; Margaret Sullivan dead at age 82; Cruise ship tourists infected with virus
Initiative sponsors seek to reverse Murkowski environmental decisions
A series of voter initiatives certified this week seeks to strike down state environmental legislation that favors the mining industry.
This Day in History
In Alaska, in the Nation and the World
This Day in History
In Alaska and in the Nation
House speaker tightens ethics rules
Just before the Alaska House of Representatives began debate on Gov. Sarah Palin's oil tax bill Sunday evening, House Speaker John Harris, R-Valdez, laid down some new rules:
Anderson to report to prison on Dec. 3
A former Alaska lawmaker convicted of seven counts of conspiracy and bribery will begin his five-year federal prison sentence next month.