Alaska Digest
Murkowskis plan trip around the world
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FAIRBANKS - Eighty-one days around the world.
That's what Frank and Nancy Murkowski have planned once they are free of the constraints of public office.
Alaska's outgoing governor told a Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon crowd Tuesday that he and his wife have booked passage on the Queen Mary 2, one of the world's largest cruise ships.
The cruise ship company says the ship will make its maiden around-the-world trip from Jan. 10 to March 26.
The Murkowskis also plan to return to their Fairbanks residence, a converted Pullman coach. Once President Lyndon B. Johnson's executive rail car, the 40-foot coach is now parked on the banks of the Chena River.
Murkowski also plans to set up an office at the old federal building in Fairbanks. Spokesman Will Vandergriff says the governor plans to work as a consultant on trade, energy and natural resources issues with Asian markets.
Murkowski served in the U.S. Senate for 22 years before being elected governor in 2002.
LeConte delayed in returning to SE run
JUNEAU - The Alaska Marine Highway System will continue to use Allen Marine vessels Aquilina and Glacier to serve the Northern Panhandle route through Dec. 3 while work is completed on the LeConte.
The LeConte was expected to return to service on Dec. 1, but logistical problems have delayed the return, AMHS General Manager John Falvey said. The LeConte is now expected to return Dec. 4.
"Getting the LeConte back into service is a big project that requires a lot of little things to fall into place. We were delayed in getting a component and that's going to push sea trials back a day so we've made the decision to err on the side of caution and do the job right," Falvey said.
The AMHS currently has a contract with Allen Marine to provide vehicle and passenger service as needed. AMHS staff have secured Allen Marine to run the Aquilina on the Panhandle Route on Friday and Sunday and the vehicle ferry Glacier on Thursday and Saturday.
The LeConte has been in overhaul since Aug. 25 and was originally due out Sept. 29. During overhaul, unanticipated mechanical problems were discovered with the ship's steering system.
Customers who want to receive last minute schedule information are advised to call 465-3940 or visit www.ferryalaska.com.
DOT director charged with DUI, assault
FAIRBANKS - A regional head of the Department of Transportation has been charged with drunken driving and assaulting two Alaska State Troopers.
Northern region director Andrew Niemiec, 43, was arrested Saturday night after driving his vehicle into a ditch along the Parks Highway, officials said.
Niemiec was arraigned Sunday and pleaded not guilty to one count of driving under the influence, two counts of fourth-degree assault on a police officer and one count of resisting arrest.
Niemiec is accused of driving with a breath-alcohol content almost three times the legal limit and fighting with two troopers as they attempted to handcuff him, according to the criminal complaint.
Iditarod scrambles to recoup losses
ANCHORAGE - The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is facing perhaps years in the red because of heavy investment in the Iditarod Insider Web site.
The Web site offers daily video clips and updates throughout the race. It also had live streaming of events, including the race start and finish, virtual trail fly-bys and video archives.
"We were problem solving and troubleshooting, when the effort should have been solely focused on the marketing," said Stan Hooley, executive director of the Iditarod Trail Committee. "Unless you make the public aware of it, it's pretty difficult to have a project like that break even."
The organization is facing a $600,000 shortfall in its $3.8 million budget, due to the costs of the Web site and too few winter raffle tickets sold, according to the Alaska Journal of Commerce.