State Briefs
Skater's Cabin reservations available
JUNEAU - Reservations for summer noncommercial day use of Skater's Cabin will be available beginning Dec. 20.
The U.S. Forest Service stone-and-wood structure and picnic area on the west shore of Mendenhall Lake recently underwent renovation. The area includes grills, picnic tables, rest rooms, trails and parking, including two spots accessible to the disabled. The season is May 1 to Sept. 30.
The fee is $10 an hour, with a two-hour minimum and a maximum $100 charge. Reservations can be made at the Juneau Ranger District, 8465 Old Dairy Road, or by calling 586-8800.
Haines man killed in Thorne Bay fire
THORNE BAY - A Haines man is dead after a trailer fire Thursday night in Thorne Bay.
Alaska State Troopers said they received a call at about 10 p.m. reporting a fire in progress. When troopers reached the trailer, a wood stove was on fire and William Joe Walker, 42, was found dead in the bathroom.
Troopers say they think Walker was sleeping when a fire started near the only door to the trailer. They think Walker ran into the bathroom and turned on the shower in an effort to protect himself from the fire.
Alert dispatcher saves six lives
ANCHORAGE - Six people, including three children, were rescued early Thursday morning after a 9-1-1 dispatcher realized a caller and her family were suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fire officials said the six, including three children, ages 5, 7 and 9, were rushed to area hospitals. All six had recovered by Thursday evening and were released.
Anchorage Fire Department spokesman Tom Kempton said the 9-1-1 call came in around 7:55 a.m. A woman who lived in a trailer park on Dimond Boulevard complained she and her family had come down with flu-like symptoms, he said.
The dispatcher quickly realized something wasn't right, Kempton said. "The caller was very lethargic and disoriented," he said.
Instead of sending just an ambulance to the woman's aid, the dispatcher sent six vehicles, including a battalion chief and two ambulances. The team arrived at the victim's home about six minutes later.
"The firefighters on location verified a very high carbon monoxide level," Kempton said.
Carbon monoxide, a by-product of combustion, can be lethal if inhaled long enough.
Apparently, the pilot light went out on the family's furnace and after they relit it, around 6:30 a.m., the house filled with a light smoky haze and everyone got headaches and became confused, prompting the 9-1-1 call.
Man charged with kidnapping ex-girlfriend
FAIRBANKS - An Anchorage man has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and choking his 17-year-old former girlfriend, according to police.
Jacob Johnson, 24, came to Fairbanks in search of the teen, police said.
On Wednesday, Johnson visited a friend of the teen. Johnson told the woman he'd kill her and her unborn baby if she didn't take him to his ex-girlfriend, according to a witness.
After she took him to the home, he pushed his way in and ran upstairs to where his ex-girlfriend was, ordered everyone to leave the room and began choking the girl, according to police.
Johnson then dragged the girl outside and forced her into the car, according to the witness. The girl and another woman in the car eventually escaped and called police from a residence.
Johnson is charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count of assault, all felonies.