State Briefs
Sled dogs find new homes for holidays
FAIRBANKS - All but two of 14 sled dogs brought to the Fairbanks North Star Borough animal shelter have been adopted in time for the holidays.
Two 5-year-olds still need homes, said shelter administrator Barb Harris.
The dogs were brought to the shelter by a musher who gave them up for personal reasons. The dogs were adopted by recreational mushers and skijorers, Harris said. Two older huskies had to be euthanized.
Shelter staff got busy getting the word out that the dogs came from some top bloodlines, including dogs owned by George Attla, Joe Runyan, Bill Cotter and Roxy Wright. Attla and Wright are champion sprint racers. Runyan has won both the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. Cotter is a Quest champion and top Iditarod racer.
Most charges dismissed against youth
JUNEAU - Prosecutors have dropped a felony burglary charge and a misdemeanor assault charge against a 19-year-old Juneau man.
Ryan Judson had been accused of breaking into a Switzer Village home on Dec. 7 and beating a 20-year-old man.
But the district attorney's office later dismissed charges of first-degree burglary and fourth-degree assault.
Assistant District Attorney Doug Gardner said today "there was substantial witness-credibility issues, which led us to dismiss the charges."
Left standing is a charge of underage driving after drinking, a misdemeanor.
Trooper director retires
KENAI - Alaska State Trooper director Col. Randy Crawford surprised law enforcement officers gathered for a ceremonial badge-pinning in Soldotna on Friday by announcing his retirement.
During the pinning of badges on newly promoted Capt. Tom Bowman, commander of the trooper E Detachment in Soldotna, and Lt. Charles R. Bartolini, the audience was informed that Friday was Crawford's last day on duty.
Crawford had been director of the troopers since September 2000.
He began his career at the Soldotna detachment when he graduated from the trooper academy in November 1976.
He served in Soldotna four years and returned in 1987. After six years, he left again but returned as the detachment's commanding officer in March 1996.
Two and one-half years later, he went to Anchorage to become one of the department's two majors, eventually moving into the top spot in 2000.
No replacement for Crawford has been announced, according to trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson. Crawford declined comment.
Three die in crash
ANCHORAGE - Three people were killed and two others hospitalized following a three-vehicle accident near Big Lake.
Two cars collided head-on on the Parks Highway near the Big Lake Road junction at about 8:45 p.m. Monday. A third vehicle, a pickup, was unable to stop and hit at least one of the other cars, Alaska State Troopers said.
The dead were identified as Michael Mikkelson, 57, of Houston, Frederick Alley, 54, of Willow, and his wife, Alvera Alley, 51.
Investigators said Mikkelson was driving the Willow couple to the airport and was southbound on the highway when a 17-year-old girl lost control of her vehicle on the slippery road and slid into the other lane.
The girl, Caitlin Fisher, of Wasilla, was in guarded condition today at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. Her passenger, Tarrah Naczi, 15, of Wasilla, was in stable condition . The driver of the pickup truck, John Butcher, 16, of Big Lake, had minor injuries.
FNA director steps down
FAIRBANKS - Fairbanks Native Association director Annette Freiburger has resigned after two years in the top job, saying she wants to spend more time with family.
The association serves mostly Alaska Native clients, offering substance abuse programs, employment services and services for the elderly and children.
Freiburger, 51, plans to stay with FNA into February to give the agency's board a chance to find a replacement.
Freiburger said her family often has taken a back seat to her job managing the social-service agency, which has a $13.7 million yearly operating budget. FNA has an annual payroll of almost $6.4 million, employing 289 people.
Man whoe gave alcohol to teens in jail again
ANCHORAGE - A man convicted earlier this year of giving liquor to teens who were later involved in a fatal car crash is in jail again, this time for failing to complete community service work.
Prosecutors have asked the court to revoke the probation of Michael R. Hunter, 33, and impose the remaining 120 days of his sentence. Hunter and another man were convicted in February of furnishing alcohol to minors.