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Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
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12:06 pm - Bummer -
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No more Santa letters from North Pole
The U. S. Post Office has put an end to North Pole's business and tradition of sending return letters to children who write to Santa Clause and discontinued the city's unique postmark.
Letters sent to the community will now be postmarked Fairbanks or Anchorage.
North Pole Mayor Doug Isaacson says the U.S. Post Office is "playing the Grinch".
Isaacson says it's his understating that there was an incident in New York that made postal officials concerned about the safety of children from organizations that provide return letters from "Santa".
He said post office officials never contacted him about how North Pole safeguards children from predators.
Isaacson says it's his understanding that under the new procedure a postal worker opens the Santa letter and then calls the sender to make sure it's okay for someone to send a reply.
The letter is then edited as a safety precaution and then sent to a group that provides replies to Santa letters.
Northwest U. S. Postal Service spokesman Ernie Swanson says the tiny North Pole post office was getting overwhelmed with 700,000 to 800,000 requests a year.
All letters addressed to Santa at North Pole, Alaska will now go to Anchorage.
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There is another North Pole in the U.S.
That's North Pole, New York, which is the Post Office at Lake Placid, New York.
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| Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
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6:10 am - Heart touching -
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A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.
He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and
set about nailing it to a post on the edge of
his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the
post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked
down into the eyes of little boy.
"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat
off the back of his neck, "These puppies come
from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."
The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then
reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a
handful of change and held it up to the farmer.
"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out
a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called.
Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran
Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.
The little boy pressed his face against the chain
link fence.. His eyes danced with delight. As the
dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy
noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably
smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat
awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward
the others, doing its best to catch up...
"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the
runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said,
"Son, you don 't want that puppy. He will never be able
to run and play with you like these other dogs would."
With that the little boy stepped back from the fence,
reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his
trousers.
In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down
both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made
shoe.
Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir,
I don 't run too well myself, and he will need someone
who understands."
With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and
picked up the little pup.
Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.
"How much?" asked the little boy.
"No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."
The world is full of people who need someone who understands.
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| Saturday, November 7th, 2009
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8:19 pm - Permafrost not so permanent with global warming
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NEW - Surface permafrost may vanish in Alaska
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska permafrost researcher says the state probably will see most of its surface permafrost vanish by the end of the century.
But University of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Vladimir Romanovsky says vast areas of frozen soil likely will remain deeper underground even as air temperatures increase.
Alaska's permafrost is being watched closely.
Unstable, thawing permafrost can cause damage to buildings and other infrastructure.
There are also climate implications. Thawing permafrost can release locked up greenhouse gases that may contribute to global warming.
Romanovsky says dozens of bore holes are being monitored to see how permafrost reacts to changing temperatures.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
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| Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
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6:03 am - busy and satisfying couple of days
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So it’s been a nice so far.
Friday night Blain and I went to watch Law Abiding Citizen. Good movie! Saturday I was going to meet with Melinda, but that didn’t work out. Gave Boo a ride to deliver her Pooh cake to her friend for a child’s birthday party. It was so cute, looked like a stuffed Pooh bear. Then I met Blain at his parents to start the oil change assembly line for the 5 cars. I was not allowed to come out and help. So I sat inside and showed Joanne all about Facebook. Then the guys were done, and it was time for me to leave for pool league. I left Moby at home for Jess to borrow and Boo picked me up.
I was afraid Mom wasn’t going to make it, but Boo found her at McDonald’s when she went to get something to eat between games. Boo won her first two games and lost the last 2, not a good way to start off her season. It’s easier to drop down than it is to climb up the charts. Boo stopped at Seong’s afterwards to pick up food for her roommates. That smelled really good. She dropped me off at home.
Rejoined Blain over at his parent’s place. He was playing cards with Brianna, Shilo and Joanne. His dad awoke and joined us while I was eating. I watched them play until it was time to go. Went home and crawled into a hot, hot bath. Mmmm!
Sunday morning was pool day. Blain woke me up. Took Hazel out. Then off to the Sandbar to meet the kids. The cute bartender was there, teased us about being late. It was Blain, Boo, Isaac, Dillon and I again. Boo set up drills for Isaac and it looked like that was helping. Dillon got down and did a few of them, too. Then we went our separate ways.
I went home, did some housecleaning. Found the new cable box remote by the stereo instead of where I thought I left it in my room. Then I plopped my butt in front of the computer and played the three Facebook Mafia and Pirate accounts the rest of the day, staying close to the restroom. Jess and Gina borrowed Moby to go shopping before he had to go to work.
Stayed up a little late. Was on the phone with Blain for almost 2 hours, sharing Mafia and Pirate news. It’s fun to chat with him about them, but most annoying that his strategies work better and he’s almost caught up with me. I shouldn’t be bothered by that. It’s just a computer game.
Monday got up early and met Jess and Gina at the cab stand. Took them to breakfast at Donna’s, then we went over to Cameron Plumbing to see about his getting the dispatcher job. The position has been filled, but they were interested in getting his resume for the accounts receivable position. Home and back to bed. I got back up about 11, got in touch with Blain about lunch and hopped onto the computer again. We met up at the Udder Culture for lunch, chatting about his morning and the growth of our crews on the games.
Then it was home for me and I turned off the computer to get the house ready for the kids to come over and carve pumpkins. Brought the pumpkins in from outside so they could warm up. Easier on Boo’s hands that way. Cleared off the table, turned it around. Took a file cabinet outside so there was more room. Took a set of shelves out of the bedroom for the plants to set upon so they are in front of the light and not on the kitchen table anymore. Called Dillon to bring over a cookie sheet for the pumpkin seeds. Set up everything but the knives, lol
6:15 and Boo arrived with a meat and cheese platter. Jess was running around trying to get ready for work. Dillon came over and the creativity began. Two hours later we had 4 pretty pumpkins beaming from the kitchen table. The kids decided the jack-o-lanterns would be safer at my place until Halloween night so left them all behind when they went home. Blain went home not too long after that and I followed him. Spent some time on his couch watching tv while he played on Mafia and Pirates. Then I went home, a little miffed at looking at his back for the rest of the evening. I could have stayed home for all the good that did. Oh well.
Yesterday I did remember to pick up Mom from Les Schwab when she dropped off her car. I had also picked up Jess and given him a ride home from work. Work went smoothly until lunch. Ran over the lunch hour, got 20 minutes. So no Retirement office visit. Made arrangements with the boss to take off early to get the time back. Afternoon to catch up on my reports from the morning, then a few papers I had to get out, then I grabbed up on my paperwork and went to Retirement. Called Faye on the way there, chatted with her a little bit. Got off the phone with her and called the assistance line to finish filling out my forms. Turned the forms in to Marty on the 6th floor. She was all excited about meeting her great-grandchildren today for the first time. That kind of excitement and hopefulness is contagious!!
Checked the mail. Rob saw me drive by and called me. Auto pilot, made a right turn to head out to the valley. Had to turn around at the Breakwater Restaurant to go back and pick up my mom – oopss. Took her back out to her car. Home, kicked the ball for Hazel, went to Melinda’s and worked on getting photos off her camera and cell phone. Phone was a pain in the butt. Then collected her vacuum cleaner and went home for Gina. Off to Costco to get toilet paper. Thank goodness Gina remembered the other thing I couldn’t remember – the cleaning cloths. Home, cleaned the litter box and ferret cage, gave the boys baths, ate the dinner that Gina cooked. Hopped on the computer. Then off to pick up Jess. Poor Gina is having a heck of a time finding the edge pieces to her white puzzle. Then back home, on the computer. Blain called again and we played together.
Then to bed where I attempted to fall asleep between the ferrets scratching their clean coats and the cat purring his head off! Last time I looked at the time it was 1:50am. My behind will be dragging today!!!
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| Thursday, October 15th, 2009
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6:45 am - This is cool - the family I got my dog from:
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Udland's selected as Coast Guard Family of Year
The Coast Guard Family of the Year is based in Juneau.
That announcement coming Wednesday from the National Military Family Association.
The association picked the family of Boatswain Mate Aaron Udland.
Udland's family consist of his wife Shannon: 15 year old daughter Sierra: 15 year old son Michael: another son named Michael who is 12: and a 10 month old daughter named Austin.
Udland is assigned to Station Juneau. He's a 1989 graduate of Juneau Douglas High School who joined the Coast Guard in 1997.
The association release says the Udland's are making a difference in Juneau.
It says the family's passion is the Relay for Life fundraiser for cancer research.
It says the family has turned volunteering into a whole family activity.
The release adds that the family loves to spend time together exploring the wonderful activities that Juneau has to offer.
The association also announced families for the other services. They include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
One of them will be named the 2009 Military Family of the Year on October 28 in Washington, D. C.
Udland says the association is flying all of the families to the event.
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| Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
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6:42 am - In the News - It was blowing pretty good!
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72 mile per hour gust clocked at South Douglas Tuesday, wind advisory in effect today
High winds will persist in the Juneau area today after starting to howl yesterday.
A high wind warning was in effect for most of the day. The threshold for that warning is 60 miles per hour.
Meteorologist Kimberly Vaughn says there were gusts up to 72 miles per hour at South Douglas.
The downtown area was spared a bit. It only reached 54 miles per hour atop the Federal Building.
Today won't be quite as windy, but a wind advisory remains in effect.
Gusts to 40to 45 miles per hour are expected, although they could reach 55 miles per hour in exposed areas in the downtown and Douglas areas.
Vaughn says the winds are expected to taper off this afternoon.
Aniak fire chief is dead; founded Dragon Slayers
The Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Aniak fire chief Pete Brown has died from cancer.
Brown, who was 64, saved lives up and down the Kuskokwim River and trained two decades of village teenagers to do the same.
He started the Dragon Slayers, a volunteer fire-rescue squad dominated by high school girls.
The group was featured in People magazine and on "Oprah."
Brown died Tuesday, just days after longtime friends held a farewell party for the chief who knew he didn't have much time left.
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| Sunday, October 11th, 2009
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7:15 pm - Weekend with family
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So I'm sitting on Blain's couch, listening to the Indy v Tenn game, watching Hazel chase her tail and feeling guilty that Jess worked a double shift last night and might have to work another one tonight.
And Blain has been happy to have the weekend with me. Went to Costco yesterday with him. Met the Mattress Ranch guy - he's very tall! Left Blain at home with Brinna and Shilo. Picked up my last paycheck and Jess's check. Delivered his. Boo picked me up there, pulling in ahead of me. She bought flowers from Safeway and we met Grandma in the dark down at Fisherman's Memorial. The electricity was out downtown and that was weird looking.
Dinner with Blain and his kids was fun. Shilo was very emphatic about not getting married to Brianna, although she is pregnant with his child.
Slept badly last night. My nose was stuffed and Blain did a LOT of tossing and turning. He made us breakfast. I went home for my sticks, letting Hazel out to relieve herself. Gave Gina the key to Moby and then Blain arrived to take me to pool. No Darren this week, but J did join us. Was nice that we all hung out to almost 3.
Then to storage unit and Schuck's and Costco and Radio Shack and home and now at Blain's doing my laundry.
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| Friday, October 9th, 2009
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6:23 am - In the News - eagle
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Bald eagle born in the Tongass passes away in Indiana at 22
BIRDSEYE, Ind. (AP) — A bald eagle from Alaska that spent much of its life living in captivity in Indiana has died at 22 years old.
The eagle came to Indiana's Lake Monroe from its nest in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska in July 1988.
It was to be released in the wild, but a damaged wing hindered its ability to survive outside captivity.
{I remember when this bird was sent down to Indiana}
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6:16 am - catch-up notes - danged knee
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So much to note. Home sick on Monday and Tuesday. Slept until 2 pm on Tuesday! Also started reading the Twilight series. Robert owns them all and was kind enough to lend them to me. Gina has the Eragon series waiting in the wings for me. Monday Boo’s car broke down in the pouring down rain, so I went out and rescued her. Tuesday I didn’t go anywhere. I think Blain was having withdrawals, he was not happy that I didn’t come convalesce on his couch.
Wednesday back to work, with a touch of bursitis yelling at me from my left heel. Went down the back stairs and landed on one of the steps too hard. Sharp pain in left knee. Went away pretty quick. Finished the day, checked the mail, walked Hazel through the neighborhood for the first time since Sunday. Went over to Blain’s. Knee was starting to bother me after Hazel walk. We went to the store and started shopping. I stood at the corner of produce and waited for him to wander around and get what he wanted in that area. He cooked us dinner and we watched our shows. CSI. Then his parents were at the airport. Twisted my knee putting on my shoe. Blain helped me off the porch, then I used both cars for support to get to my door.
Called Rob and had him come out and help me from my car into the condo. That was funny. He wanted me to hop!! You know how long it’s been since I’ve done any hopping?!?!? LOL. Gina told me last night she could hear me counting and it sounded like Sesame St. Anyway, straight to my room and PoSumOn balm onto the knee and back of the heel. Gina was on the computer, showing dress pictures to me while I read.
Yesterday was able to get up, dressed and out the door, wondering if I was going to be able to get all the way to work from my parking place. Thought about calling a cab for the short distance but didn’t want to wait for one to arrive. So skipped Heritage Coffee and went straight to work. Decided not to shortcut through REACH lot, didn’t want to deal with the stairs. Uphill SUCKED!! OMG that hurt. Survived the day. Had the retirement seminar, learned I could move funds from my SBS to my PERS to cover the growing indebtedness in there.
Hobbled to the car, straight home. Jess had taken Hazel out already. Changed clothes, grabbed my purse and didn’t even touch my pool case. Isaac had agreed to shoot for me. Told Jess I was okay to drive and off we went. One-legged up the stairs, sat on stool and the night started. Our opponents didn’t arrive until almost game time. The kids did great. One altercation when reminded them they can’t talk to their on-table player. J got a 40!!! He beat the gal on the other team who was also working on a 40. Gave her a 0. Wow, ouch. So we got our second win by just 3 points. Now it’s time to face the better teams.
Blain helped me go backwards down the stairs, Jess drove us home and helped me into the condo. Gina warmed us up some dinner and we all three ate at the table. That was really nice. Hashed over our matches and laughed and groaned together. Swapped observations on other players’ games. Then read a couple chapters in book 4 and crashed.
Oh, one more thing before I forget. I didn't get to see it, but on Wednesday there was a quadruple rainbow in Lemon Creek.
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| Monday, October 5th, 2009
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7:40 pm - No room for jokes around guns - In the News
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Mother of shooting victim calls to report son's passing
The Juneau man who accidentally shot himself Friday afternoon has died.
His mother notified us that Brandon Edge passed away at 4:30 Saturday afternoon at the hospital in Seattle.
Scooter Edge says her son would have been 25 years old on November 26.
She says he worked as a support manager at Wal-Mart.
She says her son was an organ donor and as a result has helped seven people.
In addition to his mother, Brandon is survived by his father Stephen and brother Connor.
Scooter says services will probably be held this coming weekend at Auke Rec. Details are still pending at this time.
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Police say they got the call from an occupant of a Lemon Creek area apartment at about 2:20 Friday afternoon.
According to police, the incident began with a group of adults planning to go shooting at a gun range.
Witnesses told police that four adults and an infant were in an apartment when the victim began handling one of the rifles.
Another adult was concerned about the infant and asked him to be careful because the gun may be loaded.
The man joked that there was one way to find out if it was loaded and, at that point, he reportedly put the barrel of the 22 caliber rifle in his mouth and pulled the trigger.
When police arrived, Edge was unresponsive.
He was rushed to the hospital and later medevaced to Seattle.
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2:41 pm - Home sick
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Home sick and isn't working out the greatest. Boo's car decided to die a long slow death today. She called me the morning seeing my car was home. Sick, in bed, talk to you later darling daughter. Then she called on the road - all the lights came on in her car after the radio freaked out. Then she called saying she was at NAPA and the car wouldn't start. She had to fax her reference to Douglas since she couldn't drive there. I called Max, he told me to have her call him. In the meantime, not knowing what I could do, I crawled out of bed and drove to Napa. She wasn't there. I called Blain and asked if she could fax something from his office and he said yes. Called Boo, where are you, you're not at Napa. Oops, sorry mom, at Western Auto. Drove to Western Auto. Car was running. Water on the floor in front of her seat. Called Blain - they have a wet vac, can come out there. I drove her car out there and she followed in Moby. She vaccuumed out the water, car started, lights all worked again. Lunch at Udder Culture. Head hurts, no strength to open my juice, so Blain did that. He went to work, I left the kids for home. Boo calls. Car won't start. Ugh. Went to get her. Had her turn the key. Tiny little clicks. Left it there, locked it up and took her home. Going back to bed now. I am completely out of energy, I can hear the blood rushing through my body and my head and throat still hurt.
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| Thursday, October 1st, 2009
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6:18 am - WWII Territorial Guards don't qualify as federal active duty?
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NEW - Senators urge Obama to reconsider militia stance
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's U.S. senators are calling on the Obama administration to reconsider its objection to federal retirement pay for World War II veterans who patrolled Alaska when it was a territory.
Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, urged the administration in Senate floor speeches Thursday to change its stance on a provision they inserted in the 2010 Senate Defense Bill to restore pay for 26 elderly members of the Alaska Territorial Guard.
Begich said one of the veterans died this week, leaving 25.
The pay was reduced in January after a law passed by Congress in 2000 was reinterpreted to no longer recognize the guard's service as federal active duty.
The administration says the action would establish a precedent of treating service by state employees as active duty to compute such pay.
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| Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
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6:44 pm - In the News --- frost, snow, avalanche protection, grizzly bear attack - all ALASKA!!
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NEW - Vehicle knocks boy off bike at Valley intersection
He's okay but a Riverbend Elementary School 5th grader was hit by a vehicle as he was riding his bike to school this morning. (Tuesday)
The school district's Kristin Bartlett says it occurred at about 7:45 at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Stephen Richards Memorial Drive.
She says the car was turning onto Riverside from the four way stop there when it hit the student, throwing him from his bike.
The boy was wearing a helmet and appeared to be uninjured, but the driver called police to report the incident and sent the student to the school nurse.
The boy's parents were taking him for a medical evaluation as a precaution, according to Bartlett
She says they're reminding students to be alert when crossing streets on the way to school each day.
And Bartlett says the school's police resource officer will provide bike safety lessons to students.
The accident remains under investigation by police.
Avalanche diversion structure to protect Snettisham tower
Alaska Electric Light and Power is taking measures to protect a Snettisham hydro plant transmission tower that was knocked down by an avalanche last year.
An avalanche diversion structure, uphill from Tower 4/6, is currently under construction.
That was one of the two towers hit by snow, ice and debris in the April 2008 avalanche.
The other tower hit at that time, Tower 3/5, was removed from its place on the line after getting hit again in January 2009.
The utility's Scott Willis says the diversion structure is composed of 5 pipe columns, 4 feet in diameter and 40 feet tall, arranged in a "V" shape with I-beams welded between them.
The massive structure is designed to split an avalanche around the tower.
A heavy-lift helicopter has been lifting all the steel pieces onto the mountain.
Willis says the only way to get the steel and workers to the site is by helicopter.
He says transportation costs and the massive size of the structure is why the project is estimated to cost $1.5 to $2 million.
Willis says that cost will be passed onto rate payers some time in the future.
The project is expected to completed by the end of October.
NEW- Sitka hunter fends off grizzly attack
SITKA, Alaska (AP) — A grizzly bear attacked a Sitka deer hunter, who managed to fend the animal off by clubbing it with the butt of his rifle.
Thirty-nine-year-old Karl Wolfe escaped with bites to his arm.
Wolfe was hiking up a steep mountainside in the dark Sunday morning near Sitka's old pulp mill.
The bear rushed Wolfe, bit him on his arm and knocked him to the ground between two trees.
Wolfe didn't have a round chambered in his .30-06 rifle but managed to swing the gun around and hit the bear with the butt.
The bear didn't go away. Wolfe says it swung around and came at him again.
Wolfe chambered a cartridge and fired a shot from the hip. The bear fled and Wolfe said he didn't know if he hit the animal.
Wolfe was treated for two puncture wounds.
Young bear caught downtown is first of season
Alaska Fish and Game Department personnel caught their first bear of the season Monday morning that will be transported out of town.
It was on that hillside below Calhoun Avenue next to Fireweed Place on Willoughby Avenue, according to Area Management Biologist Ryan Scott.
He says they got a call that the bear was caught in a wire fence. When they got there, they found the bear actually playing with the fence.
He says the young female is in extremely good shape and will be transported out of town.
Scott says they did try to catch a couple of other bears earlier, but with no success.
He suspects some have already denned up or are close to it, although some could be out until November as they fatten up for their winter hibernation.
So he says its important for residents to stow their garbage carefully over the next few weeks.
1st freeze of season reported overnight in Juneau....Monday's high warmest in the state
A freeze warning for Juneau, the first of the season, was in effect overnight.
Meteorologist Kimberly Vaughn in the Juneau Forecast Office told us before 6 a.m. that it reached a low of 30 degrees.
She says Juneau had six hours of freezing or below freezing temperatures by 5 am.
Even though overnight brought the first freeze of the season, yesterday's high for Juneau of 56 degrees was the warmest in the state.
It reached 55 degrees in Skagway and Sitka.
The high today is expected to be around 50.
First snow in Fairbanks spurs numerous accidents
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — More than a dozen crashes were reported between Friday and yesterday afternoon in Fairbanks when the first snow fell in the city.
Alaska state troopers also dealt with a couple of crashes yesterday.
A police spokeswoman told The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner drivers shouldn't wait to put on studded or winter tires.
(Fairbanks News-Miner)
Palin finishes memoir, 'Going Rogue,' out Nov. 17
HILLEL ITALIE - AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Palin has finished her memoir just four months after the book deal was announced. Her publisher says the release date has been moved up from the spring to Nov. 17.
Harper publisher Jonathan Burnham says the former Alaska governor invested herself deeply and passionately in the project. He says the book contains fascinating detail.
The 400-page book is the first for Palin, who has been an object of fascination since Republican Sen. John McCain chose her as his running mate during his 2008 presidential bid. The book will be called "Going Rogue: An American Life."
A huge first printing of 1.5 million copies has been commissioned by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins.
NTSB releasing report on Alaska Ranger sinking
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board says it will announce the probable cause of the sinking of the Alaska Ranger at a meeting Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
The Seattle-based fish processor went down in March of 2008 in the Bering Sea west of Dutch Harbor. Five of the 47 people on board died.
The board will release the findings of its investigation and make recommendations.
The investigation led the Coast Guard to make a recommendation in July that operators of ships with controllable-pitch propellers review the controls.
Survivors of the Alaska Ranger said the 200-foot ship started going in reverse after it began leaking in the stern.
Alaska pilot aborts Fairbanks takeoff
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A plane was taking off from Fairbanks when the pilot slammed on the brakes and aborted the liftoff because of concern an incoming plane was too close.
Passengers were shaken but unhurt Sunday in the incident reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Spokesman Allen Kenitzer says the pilot on the ground was not comfortable, although the jets were about eight miles apart and safe.
Both were Alaska Airlines planes. Spokeswoman Bobbie Egan told The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner the aborted takeoff was a pilot's decision based on safety training.
The plane underwent a mechanical inspection and took off about an hour-and-a-half late.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Agency agrees to deadline on listing ice seals
DAN JOLING - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A federal agency must decide within three weeks whether a seal dependent on Arctic sea ice should have additional protections.
A federal judge Friday approved a settlement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Center for Biological Diversity, which had sued to force a decision.
The settlement requires the agency to decide by Oct. 15 whether spotted seals merit listing as a threatened or endangered species due to threats from global warming and oil development.
The agreement calls for a decision on two other ice-dependent seals, ringed and bearded seals, by Nov. 1, 2010.
Ringed, bearded, and spotted seals off the coast of Alaska use sea ice in different ways for giving birth, rearing pups and resting.
NEW - Grand jury indicts Chignik Lake man
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 24-year-old Chignik Lake man has been indicted by an Anchorage grand jury on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of assault.
Anchorage District Attorney Adrienne Bachman says Edwin John Pedersen is accused of killing 22-year-old John Kalmakoff on Aug. 14. He's also charged with assaulting a man and a woman that day.
Alaska State Troopers say Kalmakoff died of injuries, including head trauma, suffered in a fight with Pedersen, who turned himself in to a local officer.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Pedersen faces a sentence of 10 to 99 years.
His bail remains at $250,000. He is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Naknek Superior Court.
Chignik Lake is a village of about 100 people 500 miles southwest of Anchorage.
Anchorage man gets 10 years for dealing drugs
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage man has received 10 years in federal prison for dealing drugs.
Prosecutors say 31-one-year-old Donteh Devoe on two occasions in 2007 sold crack cocaine to a government informant.
The total amount of crack cocaine distributed by the defendant was more than 13 grams.
United States District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess found Devoe to be a career offender because of his prior felony convictions.
Anchorage Police arrest man on child porn charge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage man accused of possessing child pornography was arrested shortly before he was to fly to Idaho.
Police say they began investigating 22-year-old Matthew Pierce when an undercover officer found an IP address at his home was sharing child porn.
NEW - Mount Redoubt volcano alert downgraded
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Mount Redoubt volcano appears to have returned to normal.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory downgraded Mount Redoubt's alert code and says the chances of the volcano returning to its prior eruptive behavior is unlikely.
Redoubt began erupting on March 22. In early April, a lava dome formed in the volcano's summit crater and began growing, leading to concerns that it could collapse quickly.
The dome has continued to grow, and experts say it will pose a hazard for some time. But they say the outward signs of lava dome instability have declined.
Experts say depending on wind and cloud conditions, sulfur smells could reach populated areas and steam plumes will be visible on occasion.
Barrow whalers land 4 bowheads on first day
BARROW, Alaska (AP) — Barrow whalers landed four bowheads on the first day of the fall hunt.
Whaling Captains Association President Eugene Brower said crews struck the whales Saturday just after first light. Two more were struck Sunday.
"It started out with a bang," said Brower.
The spring hunt was far slower, with whalers landing four bowheads total.
Barrow whalers are allowed a quota of up to 22 whales — or "strikes" — in 2009.
If a boat strikes a whale with a harpoon, but doesn't land the bowhead, that strike counts against the overall quota.
North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta is captain of the Saggan Crew that landed a 37-foot female bowhead.
"The ideal whale," he said.
It took up to seven boats three hours to tow the whale back to town, he said.
Itta said friends and family members had been baking at all hours to serve bread and Eskimo donuts along with heart, meat, intestine, kidneys and flipper to visitors. Some of the muktuk will be pickled and sent to relatives in Anchorage. Some of it will be frozen and eaten raw over the winter.
The Anchorage Daily News reports the hunt is a tradition of Arctic coastal communities and the source of a favorite subsistence food. Captains hold feasts in their homes after a successful hunt.
They save some for Thanksgiving celebrations at church and share with elders. Everyone who helps with butchering gets a share.
Barrow, population 4,100, is the northernmost community in the United States. Currently, whalers have been heading north of Point Barrow, to the Beaufort Sea, Brower said. That's where whales are moving west, migrating back to their winter grounds to the south.
The International Whaling Commission, which governs the world's large whale stocks, voted in 2007 to extend subsistence bowhead hunting in Alaska through 2012.
(Anchorage Daily News)
State flags to be lowered for former state representative
State flags will be lowered to half-staff today (Tuesday) in honor and memory of former State Representative Keith Specking.
Specking died September 19. He was 90.
He was elected to the State House in 1970 representing the Kenai Peninsula.
He also served as a legislative assistant to Governor Jay Hammond.
Specking served in the U. S. Army in Hawaii during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Flags will be raised to full-staff again Wednesday morning.
Families urge expansion of Denali KidCare
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A dozen families crowded into an Anchorage church Monday night to press state lawmakers and the commissioner of Alaska Health and Social Services to expand Denali KidCare.
Those in attendance say they and many other families can't afford traditional coverage and make too much to qualify for Denali KidCare — the Medicaid program run by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services,
Health Commissioner Bill Hogan told those at the meeting that the Parnell Administration supports expanding eligibility limits.
(KTUU-TV)
Native corporation poised for fight over government contracting
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Five Alaska Native corporations have launched a public relations campaign to fight congressional attacks on government contracting that has helped make them some of the state's largest companies.
The Anchorage Daily News says the corporations organized after Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri raised concerns about the Small Business Administration's program for minority-owned, socially disadvantaged companies.
(Anchorage Daily News)
Former News-Miner publisher dies at 75
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Paul Massey, the former publisher of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, has died while vacationing in Germany. He was 75.
Massey was the publisher from 1992 until 2000, introducing a Saturday edition and presiding over the newspaper's switch from afternoon to morning delivery. Marilyn Romano, his successor, said Massey emphasized public service and was a consistent presence at local functions.
Massey's daughter, Jennifer, told the newspaper her father apparently died in his sleep. The cause of death is not immediately known.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
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| Monday, September 28th, 2009
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6:57 am - In the News!! Frost warning
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NEW - 1st frost in Juneau's forecast
The first frost of the season is in tonight's forecast for Juneau...
Meteorologist Kimberly V says they figure it will dip to 32 degrees at the airport and the upper 20s in the back Valley area.
She says the average day of the first frost for the Juneau airport is September 29.
October 14th is the average first day of a killing frost when it dips to at least 28 degrees.
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| Friday, September 25th, 2009
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6:01 am - Oh no, not them.....
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Juneau Boys & Girls Club closes due to loss of funding
The Juneau Boys & Girls Club will shut it's doors at the close of business today. (Friday)
The local club's manager sent a letter home with kids yesterday afternoon stating that the Anchorage head office called to inform them that, due to a loss in funding, the Juneau club will have to close.
The Department of Justice usually awards the national organization about $40 million annually.
Of that amount, Alaska Boys and Girls Club officials say they usually receive about $2 million.
According to the Department of Justice, the program does not meet its mentorship requirements so the grant was not awarded.
Several other of the clubs 45 locations around the state will also close today.
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| Thursday, September 24th, 2009
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6:51 am - Tylenol recalls some children's medications
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Liquid products pulled for possible contamination of inactive ingredient
updated 5:08 a.m. PT, Thurs., Sept . 24, 2009
The makers of Tylenol have recalled more than 20 types of children's and infant's medications as a precaution against possible contamination. The liquid products were being voluntarily pulled from stores and warehouses because bacteria were detected in one of the inactive ingredients, the company said.
The ingredient with the bacteria was not used in packaged Tylenol products sold in stores, but was manufactured at the same time. The company did not announce whether any children had been sickened by the medicines.
The recalled products include: Children's Tylenol Cold MS Suspension 4 oz. Grape, Children's Tylenol Plus Cough & Runny Nose 4 oz. Cherry, and Infant's Tylenol Suspension Drop 1 oz. Grape.
The recalled products were made between April and June 2008. The recall involves only liquid Tylenol products.
Consumers with concerns about the recalled products are asked to call McNeil Consumer Call Care Center at 1-800-962-5357. Click here for a full list of the recalled lots: http://www.tylenol.com/page.jhtml?id=tylenol/news/subpchildinfantnews.inc
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6:32 am - FAMILY (I love this, have had it for years as a reminder)
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F A M I L Y
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
'Oh excuse me please' was my reply.
He said, 'Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you.'
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
'Move out of the way,' I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
'While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door. !
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.'
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
'Wake up, little one, wake up,' I said.
'Are these the flowers you picked for me?'
He smiled, 'I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue.'
I said, 'Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way.'
He said, 'Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway.'
I said, 'Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.'
FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?
Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU
Pass this message to 7 people except you and me ..
You will receive a miracle tomorrow.
Don't ignore and God will bless you
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| Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
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6:17 am - Wow.....
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Strip club to open near Safeco despite concerns of Mariners
SEATTLE (AP) — It's the Seattle Mariners versus the DreamGirls.
Now, the Mariners are dropping their legal fight to keep a strip club from opening near the ballpark.
In exchange, owners of the DreamGirls club have agreed to limit outdoor ads and signs.
DreamGirls will also provide private security outside the club.
The strip club is about 400 feet away from Safeco Field.
The Mariners had sued to block the place from opening.
The team argued the strip club would have a negative effect on families visiting the stadium.
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| Sunday, September 20th, 2009
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12:46 am - Funny
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So two funny things to mention about today. I didn't want to go to work, but the Creator rewarded me for showing up.
The first one was a call from a number that had just requested a cab about 10 minutes before. I thought maybe they were calling back to cancel it. Instead, this man asks me if it is 7 in the morning. I answered "No, its 638 in the evening" He said thank you, and as the phone was descending, I could hear him say "You F---ers!" and sudden laughter in the background. I had to laugh, too, at the poor guy catching them at their joke on him.
The other one was after work. Sometime since last Sunday Fred Meyer changed its hours to close at 11:00pm. Of course, I discover this tonight when I go to cash my little paycheck and get frozen dinners for work. As I am standing there realizing that they were closed, I heard some voices from the other door discover the same thing. I walked around as they reached the same conclusion as I - go to Wal-mart. I jokingly said I would race them there, and one of the said no way, his car was a Mustang. I responded that I just had a little Kia and figured that was the end of that. Sort of.
Well, I was able to pull out of my parking spot a little quicker than them, but still behind a mini van and we three sedatly travelled down the two lane road to Wal-Mart like little ducklings in a row. Until we got to the lights. The mini-van turned left into the first entrance to Switzer.
Wal-Mart has two entrances to the parking lot, the old one by Switzer which is straight ahead from the lights and the new one off the road to the highway which is a right turn from the lights. With it out of the way, I decided at the last minute to take the new Wal-Mart entrance. As I was dashing for a parking spot in the row closest to the door without handicap parking, I see the Mustang speeding across the parking lot from the old entrance. We were all laughing as we parked next to each other and I was the first out of my car. I told the other driver that I had changed my mind about coming in that entrance and the guys laughed some more, telling me that they were going to go the way I did until they saw I was going that way!
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| Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
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4:19 am - In the News - Swine flu and Afganistan
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Health officials confirmed Fairbanks boy died of swine flu
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP and KINY) — State public health officials report that the 10-year old Fairbanks boy who died Friday tested positive for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.
Lab specimens were analyzed at the state public health lab in Anchorage.
A confirmation of H1N1 virus was determined late Saturday night.
A school nurse sent him home around noon Thursday and the child was admitted to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital overnight.
After not responding well to treatment, the boy, who has not been identified, was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage and was pronounced dead late in the evening on Friday.
The boy was a student of Hunter Elementary School in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
Acting state Public Health Director Deborah Erickson says that "although most people who get H1N1 flu have a mild illness and quick recovery, this death is a sobering reminder that it can be a serious illness."
Dr. Beth Funk, an epidemiologist for the state, says there were no known underlying illnesses suffered by the boy.
A check with the Centers for Disease Control indicates that such a rapid deterioration is unusual, but not unheard of.
A second Fairbanks student was transported to Anchorage with swine flu like symptoms, but was recovering at Providence Hospital at last report. The child was of grade school age. The name of the school was not disclosed.
There was no known connection between the two cases.
Fairbanks school officials say they are being vigilant in guarding against the spread of swine flu, but there are no plans to close any schools.
An 11 month old child died last week at an Anchorage hospital, but Dr. Funk says there were underlying factors and they don't know yet what role the flu may have played in the baby's death. They're still investigating.
Health department officials say there are more than 400 confirmed cases of swine flu in Alaska.
Friday's death is the second in Alaska as a result of H1N1 flu.
H1N1 vaccine may arrive in Alaska first part of next month
State officials anticipate receiving around 35,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine sometime during the first or second week of October.
But Laurel Wood, the Immunization Program Manager in the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services said that's really not confirmed yet.
She said during Sunday's press availability that it will all depend on what's available nationally.
At that point, it will be decided to gets the vaccine.
The priority groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control include children and young adults who are six months through 24 years old; people with underlying medical conditions who are under the age of 65; pregnant women; and health care workers and emergency medical services personnel.
Texas paratrooper killed in Afghan action
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says a 34-year-old Army officer killed in an attack in Afghanistan was a Dallas man.
A Pentagon statement says 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews died Friday when his vehicle came under attack from rocket-propelled grenade fire and an improvised bomb.
The paratrooper was assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
The attack happened in the Paktia province along the Afghan-Pakistani border south of the Afghan capital of Kabul.
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