Business briefs
DeeDee Jonrowe signs deal with Taco Bell
JUNEAU - Dogsled racing's DeeDee Jonrowe announced last week that she has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Denali Foods, the owner of the statewide franchise of Taco Bell restaurants.
Jonrowe was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer and will attempt to complete her 21st Iditarod this winter. Jonrowe has finished as high as second in the race, and holds the record for the fastest time by a woman racer. Her effort to defeat the disease and race again is also the subject of a forthcoming book.
"I couldn't have found a better partner as both a sponsor and a brand to be associated with," said Jonrowe. "Denali Foods, Inc., the Alaska Taco Bell franchisee, is a great company to be involved with, and I am grateful for their support."
Jonrowe's agent, Michael Barnes, said the sponsorship package will have her engaging in marketing and promotional efforts on behalf of the statewide chain, as well as fund-raising activities designed to highlight the fight against breast cancer.
"We are very excited to be involved with DeeDee Jonrowe. I've been a big fan of DeeDee and the Iditarod for many years, and am looking forward to a successful and exciting sponsorship that will also benefit breast cancer research," said Denali Foods President Dale Martens.
Alaskan Brewing releases porter package
JUNEAU - For the first time, Alaskan Brewing Co. is making prior vintage years of Alaskan Smoked Porter available to the public beginning this weekend. The Vintage Packs will be available only at the brewery gift shop.
The Alaskan Smoked Porter Vintage Pack contains one 16-ounce bottle each of the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 vintage years. One of the few beers that can be aged as a fine wine, Alaskan Smoked Porter is featured in vertical tastings around the country.
Vertical tastings traditionally feature four or more vintage years of Alaskan Smoked Porter and are tasted from oldest to youngest.
"We allow a little yeast to remain in each bottle so the beer continues to develop over time," said Brewmaster Geoff Larson. "The alder smoke has a preservative quality as well. The smoke flavor becomes more of a background note as it ages, allowing sherry, plum and raisin notes to emerge."
The Alaskan Brew Crew uses alder for smoking and the commercial smokehouse at Juneau's Taku Smokeries to prepare the malt.
Alaskan Smoked Porter is one of the most award-winning beers in the country with 11 medals to its credit from the nation's prestigious Great American Beer Festival as well as numerous international awards.
Alaska Pacific has record earnings
JUNEAU - Alaska Pacific Bancshares, the holding company for Alaska Pacific Bank, has announced record earnings for the third quarter of 2002.
The bank had a net income of $346,000, or 58 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2002, which includes the months of July, August and September. This brings net income at the bank for the first nine months of 2002 to $805,000, or $1.35 per diluted share. The bank had a net income of $138,000, or 24 cents per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2001.
"We are extremely pleased with the progress the bank has made since going public in June of 1999," said Craig Dahl, president and CEO of Alaska Pacific Bancshares. Alaska Pacific Bancshares, a Juneau corporation, is publicly traded.
Net interest income at the bank for the third quarter 2002 was approximately $1.7 million, a moderate growth from previous quarters. The first and second quarters of this year each had a net interest income of $1.6 million, as did the third quarter 2001.
The company will issue a regular quarterly dividend of 6 cents per share, to be paid Friday.
Loggers raze salmon-stream banks
ANCHORAGE - The state is considering what action to take after loggers working for Afognak Native Corp. razed the banks of a silver salmon stream.
State habitat biologist David Ryland said it was unclear talking to loggers whether razing roughly 300 feet of the stream bank off the northern tip of Kodiak was an accident or intentional. Under the Alaska Forest Practices Act, loggers must leave 66-foot-wide tree buffers on either side of a salmon stream on state and private land. On federal land, the minimum width is 100 feet.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Natural Resources are continuing to investigate why the banks were sheared. The punishment could range from a verbal warning to a fine of $10,000.
If Ben Thomas Logging, the company responsible for the cutting, knew it was a salmon stream and cut down to the banks anyway, the penalty would be harsher than if it was just an error of judgment, officials said.
Scientists have found that buffers provide essential shade, woody debris and nutrients to salmon streams. Trees also stabilize the banks, reducing soil run-off.