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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
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12:19 pm - I'm bad - gotta catch up a teeny bit -
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So the offer was accepted and last Thursday I took a couple hours off work to meet with the engineer and follow him around while he did his inspection. Some major work needs to be done in the little area where the washer and dryer are located. The plastic dryer vent pipe has to be replaced with metal, sheetrock needs to be put up around the water pipes. A few electrical things need to be repaired. I'm hoping it doesn't go over the $1,000 pre-negotiation limit.
Jim Douglas died last night. My heart is heavy and my lashes are occassionally wet. He had only three more days of work left before Christmas vacation and retirement. What a happy go lucky humorous man. Dixie has just got to be feeling a little lost right now after having him by her side for so many years.
Blain is back from hunting - didn't get anything. His daughter and her boyfriend had a fight with the boyfriend's sister on Sunday and that resulted in them moving back in with Blain. They are apparently on a wait list for housing, but none of those move very quickly.
Stephanie had her little girl. Boo's co-worker, Haddie, had her little girl. Crystal is pregnant. Sara is supposed to be finding out if she indeed is having a boy like she thinks.
My grandson, Avery, got a Facebook. So did Blain's mom. My son signed up for one, but I haven't seen him on it at all.
And I found out why I didn't get interviewed for the Yakutat position. Gotta finish that Bachelor's degree.
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| Monday, December 14th, 2009
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6:44 am - short blog on weekend
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On Friday Boo stopped by and left me the keys to Moby. She was on her way home sick. That was actually good for me. I was able to drive out with Steve’s paper and deliver it, then meet with Nathan and sign all of his. Dinner at Blain’s parents’ was nice. Birthday celebration for Kenny, whose birthday was Thursday, and Marnell, whose birthday was Saturday. Blain was chomping at the bit to get home where we got on the computers.
Saturday was a little sleep in. Pool – did terrible. 20 total points
Sunday – pool, Moby to Boo, Wee Fishee (roosters); stuff home, Blain’s computers, his make-up match, home; ferrets, cage, shower, Rob, computer, bed.
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| Friday, December 11th, 2009
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3:09 pm - Unbelievable - and the consumers just accept the prices..
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Hawaii only trails Alaska in gasoline prices
HONOLULU (AP) — The AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report finds Hawaii with the second highest gasoline prices in the country.
It says the state's average price of $3.36 for a gallon of regular on Thursday remained unchanged from last week.
The report says only Alaska had a higher average price of $3.39 -- also unchanged.
The average price in Honolulu was $3.24, up a penny from last week.
In Hilo on the Big Island, the price remained the same at $3.42.
And in Wailuku on Maui, it climbed 2 cents to $3.74.
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| Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
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6:54 am - In the News -
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So far, no Juneau student athletes have tested positive for drugs
Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich provided an update on the district's student athlete drug testing program at yesterday's school board meeting. (Tuesday).
He said there were 14 students tested at Juneau Douglas High School the week of November 30th and 19 this week. Four were tested at Thunder Mountain High School the week of November 30th and 13 this week.
Gelbrich says to his knowledge, as of Tuesday, there have been no positive tests.
The high school hockey and drill teams were the first to be randomly tested.
The voluntary program is now expected to be up and running at the end of January.
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The superintendent says the parental notification policy is under discussion.
Currently, parents are notified that their child is scheduled to be tested.
Parents are only called back if their child tests positive for banned substances.
Gelbrich explained that the current policy was formulated for basically two reasons.
First, they didn't want to double the amount of time spent in the communication cycle.
Secondly, they believe it creates a great opportunity for parents and their children to talk about drug abuse.
However, Gelbrich says it is a point of discussion whether they need to, in fact, call parents to tell them that the tests came out negative.
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Meanwhile Gelbrich told the board that he gets a comment at least every other day from a parent or student or community member that when they go into the schools there is a different atmosphere.
And he adds "that's a really good thing."
The superintendent says while staff and the community deserve credit, the people who deserve the most credit are the students themselves.
NEW - Removal of eagle's nest from airport property recommended
A recommendation to remove an eagle's nest from airport property is before the Juneau Airport Board of Directors at tonight's meeting.
Airport Manager Jeannie Johnson says the recommendation comes from a U. S. Agriculture Department Safety Officer.
The nest is on the west end of the float pond.
Johnson says there's a concern with safety with having birds of that size in the vicinity of the airport.
Members will also discuss the airport's capital improvement program and recommendations on what will be sent to the Assembly for funding.
The airport is undergoing its FAA certification inspection this week and Johnson says the inspector will address the board tonight.
The meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. in the airport's Aurora Room.
U. S. Supreme Court hears Weyhrauch case
MARK SHERMAN - Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U. S. Supreme Court appeared inclined Tuesday to rein in federal prosecutors' use of a fraud law against high-profile corporate executives.
The justices, hearing two challenges to the honest services fraud law, seemed to be in broad agreement that the law is vague and has been used to make a crime out of mistakes, minor transgressions and mere ethical violations.
Justice Stephen Breyer said he worries that the Obama administration's reading of the law makes criminals out of vast numbers of U.S. workers, including possibly employees who read The Daily Racing Form on the job.
"There are 150 million workers in the United States. I think 140 of them would flunk the test," Breyer said.
The court is hearing three cases this term in which defendants are challenging the use of the law against them. The 28-word law makes it illegal for officials, executives and others to scheme to deprive those they serve and possibly others of "the intangible right to honest services."
Former newspaper mogul Conrad Black, who has served nearly 22 months of a 6½-year prison term, and former Alaska legislator Bruce Weyhrauch, who has been indicted but not tried, are asking the court to throw out the prosecutions against them.
Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, convicted in 2006 on conspiracy, securities fraud, insider trading and lying to auditors involving the company's collapse in 2001, will have his case heard in spring. He attacks the law as unconstitutionally vague.
Prosecutors also have used the charge against former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others caught up in that scandal. One former Illinois governor, George Ryan, was convicted of honest services fraud, and another, Rod Blagojevich, faces the same charge, among others.
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman and ex-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy also are appealing their honest services fraud convictions to the Supreme Court.
Critics of the law include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The defendants appear to have a powerful ally on the court, Justice Antonin Scalia. Urging the court in February to take a case to resolve questions about the law, Scalia said it "invites abuse by headline-grabbing prosecutors in pursuit of local officials, state legislators and corporate CEOs who engage in any manner of unappealing or ethically questionable conduct."
Black and two other former executives were convicted of depriving the Hollinger International media empire of their faithful services as corporate officers. They say the honest services conviction must be overturned because they intended no economic harm to the company, which once owned the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Telegraph of London, the Jerusalem Post and hundreds of community papers across the United States and Canada.
Central to the case is $5.5 million that the defendants say were management fees they were owed and were trying to collect in such a way that they would not have to pay Canadian income tax. The government says the money belonged to the company's shareholders.
Weyhrauch wants charges against him dropped. Prosecutors allege that he failed to disclose he was in job negotiations with an oil-field operations company at the same time the state legislature was also considering an oil bill.
But Weyhrauch says disclosure was not required by Alaska law. He wants the court to bar a federal honest services fraud prosecution without an allegation of a violation of state law as well.
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On the Net:
Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourtus.gov
Samuels announces bid for Alaska governor
DAN JOLING -Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Former Alaska state Rep. Ralph Samuels says he will run for governor, presenting a formidable challenge to incumbent Sean Parnell in the Republican primary.
Samuels rose to become House majority leader during his six-year run as an Anchorage lawmaker.
He announced in June 2008 that he would not seek re-election.
Despite his leadership position, he found himself on the short end of votes as members in 2007 backed former Gov. Sarah Palin on natural gas pipeline legislation and oil tax bills.
After leaving the legislature, Samuels took a job with Holland America Line as vice president for operations in Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.
Parnell replaced Palin after she resigned in July and has largely maintained her policies.
Judge halts Tongass timber sale
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A federal judge in Anchorage has halted a timber sale in a roadless area of the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska.
District Court Judge John Sedwick issued an injunction Monday and ordered the U.S. Forest Service to halt the Orion North timber sale.
The environmental group Earthjustice says the project was devised more than a decade ago.
Since then, Earthjustice says, the costs of the timber sale have skyrocketed while the bottom has fallen out of Tongass timber markets.
The group says the project near Ketchikan would have cost taxpayers $1.6 million to build roads in the national forest, while generating only $140,635 from the trees.
Wood stove's chimney ignites ceiling
Capital City Fire Rescue responded to a report of a structure fire at Glacier View Trailer Park in the Valley this afternoon. (Tuesday)
Fire Marshal Dan Jager says when firefighters arrived on scene there was light smoke coming from the roof area.
He says the wood stove's chimney had ignited wood in the ceiling.
Jager says the damage was fairly minimal at about $2,800.
No one was injured.
The occupant was at home at the time of the fire and called the fire department.
Jager reminds residents that as the temperature drops and wood stoves and heaters get more use, chimney's should be cleaned and furnaces serviced.
Fire claims live in Kenai Peninsula town
The State Fire Marshall's Office is investigating a fatal residential fire that occurred Monday in the Kenai Peninsula community of Nikiski.
State Troopers and the Nikiski Fire Department responded that evening just before 8 p.m. to the residence on Thompson Trail.
Investigation revealed that a home on the property had burned beyond repair and that an occupant had died.
Positive identification of the human remains found in the fire will be determined by the State Medical Examier's Office, according to a Trooper dispatch.
Troopers say preliminary identification of the remains has been made and next of kin have been notified.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and remains under investigation.
Boy in stabbing case faces attempted murder charge
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A 16-year-old student suspected of stabbing a former girlfriend outside Service High School was arraigned Tuesday on an attempted murder charge.
Prosecutors say Nick Chamberlain stabbed the girl 29 times, bending the blade of a folding knife before he was chased away by a skier and others who came to the 17-year-old girl's aid Monday.
The girl was critically injured but listed as stable after surgery.
Chamberlain also was charged with first- and third-degree assault and tampering with evidence. The Anchorage Daily reported he was waived to adult status and ordered transferred from McLaughlin Youth Center to the Anchorage jail.
His bail was set at $250,000.
Chamberlain told police he had dated the girl for about nine months but they had broken up and that she was seeing someone else.
Prosecutors said he lured her outside the high school during a lunch break with the promise of a ring.
According to an affidavit filed in court by Assistant District Attorney Clint Campion, Chamberlain asked her to close her eyes. When she did, he took a knife from his pocket and "plunged it into the left side of her neck," Campion wrote.
"At one point, he admitted that the knife blade bent as he stabbed her in the skull, so he put that blade away and opened a saw-type blade, continuing to stab her," the court document said.
The girl suffered stab wounds from her head and neck to stomach, back and shin, according to the charges.
Police spokeswoman Anita Shell said Chamberlain also suffered wounds because the knife "folded in on his hands several times" during the attack.
Chamberlain was treated at a hospital emergency room before his arrest.
(Anchorage Daily News)
70-year sentence for Fairbanks bar shooting
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A man who shot another man in a Fairbanks bar, crippling him for life, was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
Twenty-three-year-old Richard Blevins apologized in court Tuesday to 22-year-old Skyler Twitchell who is confined to a wheelchair.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Blevins shot Twitchell last December at the Midnite Mine bar because he thought Twitchell had stolen his girlfriend.
More than a dozen friends and relatives of Twitchell spoke at the sentencing, which lasted two days. Most asked for the maximum sentence. Friends said he had enjoyed camping, rafting and skiing. A video played in court showed it's now a struggle for Twitchell to drink a glass of water.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Leak caused by pipe rupture
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A North Slope spill of an estimated 46,000 gallons was caused when a pipeline ruptured lengthwise along the bottom, creating a 2-foot-long opening.
A unified command of officials handling the spill say the rupture along the bottom of the 18-inch pipeline was caused by too much pressure in the line, likely caused by ice plugs.
The spill of crude oil, mixed with natural gas and water, occurred more than a week ago in the Lisburne field just north of the Prudhoe Bay oil field.
The pipeline was not in operation at the time. When it ruptured, residual material spilled on to the tundra.
A visual inspection of the BP-operated line was delayed until it was completely depressurized. Inspectors got a look at it Monday.
It is no longer leaking.
Begich health care amendment would help Juneau's hospital
An amendment offered by Alaska U. S. Senator Mark Begich to the heath care bill addresses rural heath care for hospitals in several states including Alaska and includes the hospitals in Juneau and Sitka.
His amendment reauthorizes the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Project which he says helps Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Mount Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka and Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.
The program provides reimbursements for Medicare-covered inpatient hospital services. It's for hospitals in areas with 50 or fewer acute beds and 24-hour emergency care.
The amendment extends the program for five years and recalculates the reimbursement rates to reflect current day costs.
The program is scheduled to expire in June.
The demonstration project was established by Congress in 2003.
Because it's a demonstration project, Begich says there will be no additional costs incurred.
Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO Shawn Morrow believes the amendment would preserve around $600,000 net revenue for the hospital.
Murkowski introduces Arctic deep water port bill
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) —Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has introduced a bill to study the possibility of building a deep water port in the Arctic.
Murkowski says the United States needs to be able to guard its territorial claims and its economic interests in the Arctic, especially with a decrease in seasonal ice.
Domestic violence shelter opens in Bethel
RACHEL D'ORO-Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A new shelter for battered women and their children is opening in the western Alaska town of Bethel, a $9 million facility operators call a crucial step in addressing the growing problem of domestic abuse in the largely native region.
The 30-bed crisis shelter, scheduled to open Friday, replaces a smaller facility run by the Tundra Women's Coalition and will serve clients from the commercial hub town and about 50 surrounding villages.
Coalition director Michelle DeWitt says there's an increasing need for more beds than the 22 that were squeezed into the old shelter.
She says the new shelter, funded by various private and government grants, also has far better security including more cameras.
Another air emergency declared
The City and Borough has called another air emergency for the Mendenhall Valley.
It was issued before Noon Tuesday.
The air emergency declared at Noon Sunday was cancelled just before Noon Monday.
Salmon still with minority caucus
Democratic Representative Woodie Salmon of Beaver says rumors of his defection to the Republican Majority Caucus in the State House have been greatly exaggerated.
He says a recent radio news report that was based on an interview with Juneau Republican Representative Cathy Munoz inaccurately stated he had joined the House Majority Caucus.
Salmon says he intends to remain with the 15 Democrats who make up the House Minority Caucus.
In a written statement Salmon said "I've always caucused with the Democrats and I'll be with them again in 2010. There are always rumors about people changing sides, but it's usually just talk. I've had a lot of calls and questions since that radio report, and I want people to know I'm staying put."
Salmon is one of four Democrats on the House Finance Committee, along with Reps Les Gara and Harry Crawford (both D-Anchorage) and new House Minority member Rep. Neal Foster (D-Nome).
Salmon represents House District 6, and he was first elected in 2004.
Anchorage Assembly okays budget plan
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Anchorage Assembly approved a 2010 city budget of about $421 million — slightly larger than the spending plan submitted in October by Mayor Dan Sullivan.
The Anchorage Daily News reports the budget passed last night on a 10-1 vote. Assemblyman Dan Coffey says the city needs to restrict spending and retrench after several years of higher budgets and property taxes.
(Anchorage Daily News)
$850,000 bus stop to open in Anchorage
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Sometime next month or in early February Anchorage will open its $850,000 bus stop.
It includes heated sidewalks, electronic arrival and departure boards and LED lighting.
The city defends the expense because the new downtown stop serves about 700 people a day.
KTUU reports a typical bus shelter might cost about $50,000.
ACS provides back-up for UAA...gift worth over $6 million
Alaska Communications Systems has given the University of Alaska a secure back-up system for the university's computer system.
The gift, which will allow continuity of university online functions should a major disruption occur, is worth an estimated $6.8 million.
It includes the secure physical location in Hillsboro, Oregon, and connections between the university and the outside world in the event of a disaster; and maintenance and all environmental systems required for such an off-site facility.
The gift agreement extends to 2015.
The gift comes at no cost to the university for five years, including maintenance at the Oregon facility.
Moderate earthquake hits Alaska islands region
ADAK, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey reports a moderate earthquake has struck in the Andreanof Islands region of Alaska.
The USGS says the magnitude 5.3 earthquake was recorded at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. It was centered some 30 miles south of Adak, a village on Alaska's Kuluk Bay.
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says the tremor was felt in Adak, but there were no reports of damages.
Iditarod reports $1M loss in funding
RACHEL D'ORO - Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The world's most famous sled dog race is feeling squeezed by the poor economy.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race says it has lost nearly $1 million in funding over the past year and that is forcing organizers to cut the prize money for the 2010 race by $100,000.
The Iditarod Trail Committee says in a press release organizers are facing a reduction of $455,000 in revenues after losing a media partnership and two sponsorship deals in the past month.
Organizers lost another media sponsorship as well as a significant cut in sponsorship money in late 2008 that reduced coffers by $485,000.
That meant a $300,000 reduction in prize money for this year's race, down from $925,000 from the previous year.
Race sponsors say that despite the new losses, the entry fee remains at $4,000.
Palin fans brave Montana cold to get books signed
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Hundreds of people lined up outdoors in Montana's bitter cold -- some of them overnight -- for the chance to meet Sarah Palin on Tuesday and get a signed copy of her new book.
Palin stopped for just a few hours in Billings before heading to Colorado Springs, Colo. for the next stop in her nationwide "Going Rogue" tour, which is hitting some of the major political battleground states from the 2008 election.
Kim Royce of Billings spent more than 15 hours near the front of the line, braving wind chills that hit 24-degrees below zero, to earn a few moments with the former running mate of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.
The 41-year-old nurse from Billings said afterward it was worth the frigid wait to meet a political figure who has excited many Republicans and drawn sharp criticism from her opponents.
NEW - Move on to sent food for Interior sled dogs
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Fairbanks residents are working to get food to sled dogs in the Yukon Flats.
A poor fall chum run in the Yukon River has put an estimated 200 dogs in danger of starvation.
Most of the dogs are in the 600-person village of Fort Yukon, about 130 miles northeast of Fairbanks.
An effort to get food to mushers in as many as seven Yukon Flats villages was set up by a coalition that includes Cold Spot Feeds and Second Chance League.
Alaska Guard taking bikes to Afghanistan
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Air National Guard will transport donated bicycles to Afghanistan where the bikes will be given to more than 20 disadvantaged children.
The Guard will load the bicycles onto a C-130 plane on Tuesday for the three-day flight to Afghanistan.
Guard officials say the bicycles, parts and tools were donated by various organizations and merchants, then refurbished by Off the Chain, a nonprofit group in Anchorage.
Group volunteers came up with the idea of giving the bicycles to children in Afghanistan.
Guard officials say the volunteers approached Lt. Col. David Glick, a pilot with the Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron, which flies personnel and supplies to the war-torn nation.
Judge dismisses sex assault charge against soldier
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a sexual assault charge against a soldier from Colorado, saying police had not established enough probable cause to take the matter to trial.
Weld District Court Judge Gilbert Gutierriez dismissed a first-degree sexual assault charge against 25-year-old Gilbert Torres last week.
Torres was arrested in July, shortly before his scheduled airborne assignment at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
Torres said Monday that the charge against him prevented him from leaving the state and he is no longer getting orders to go to Fort Richardson.
He is stationed in Fort Carson as an engineer.
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| Monday, December 7th, 2009
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3:51 pm - So glad I don't live or want to live in Anchorage - it's getting to big
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NEW - Girl stabbed at Anchorage High School
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A suspect in a stabbing at an Anchorage high school has been taken into custody.
KTUU-TV reports the suspect was apprehended about a half mile from Service High School just before 1 p.m. today. (Monday)
Police used a helicopter and a search dog to find the suspect.
The Anchorage Daily News earlier reported that a 17-year-old senior girl at around noon had been found injured outdoors behind the Little Gym, an annex to the school.
Anchorage School District spokeswoman Heidi Embley says the injured girl was taken to a hospital.
The school was locked down after the incident. Both interior and exterior doors were locked and students were kept away from windows.
Service High School is in a residential area of southeast Anchorage.
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| Saturday, December 5th, 2009
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1:54 pm
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Blain is getting ready to go hunting. There are just over 4 hours left on the condo offer to get a response from the owner. I put in my application for the Magistrate position in Yakutat and am fairly confident that I won't get it, but might possibly be interviewed. Jess and Gina got married on Tuesday. I owe my mom $1,000, I owe December rent of $735, I owe the storage unit people about $350. Sigh. I wish this house buying process would be over so I can start working a second job again.
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1:32 pm - Where do people come up with these ideas?
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The birdman of Glacier Highway
A Juneau man's house was raided this summer after a two-year-long investigation revealed he was illegally selling dead birds over eBay, according to documents filed in federal court.
Michael Patrick Duby, who has not yet been accused of a crime, has been the target of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service undercover investigation for nearly two years.
Samuel S. Friberg, the agent who investigated Duby's sales, was tipped off in November 2007 that an eBay member called "Shortraker" was using the online auction site to illegally sell bird feathers and skins to taxidermists around the world.
After receiving the tip, Friberg contacted the eBay Fraud and Investigations Team, which provided him with Duby's real name and contact information. (Duby owns FishHunter Charters, a sport fishing business in Juneau, and a shortraker is a reddish, bottom-dwelling rockfish that lives mainly in Alaskan waters.)\
According to an affidavit filed with Fish and Wildlife's application for a search warrant, Friberg, using an alias, sent an eBay message to "Shortraker" asking about some magpie skin and feathers listed for sale. Shortraker's response was signed "Mike."
In December 2007 Friberg bought five magpie skins and one snipe skin from Duby, usually for about $10 per skin.
Once, the envelope that arrived had a FishHunter Charters business card enclosed, and the return address on the packages was listed as SeaTac, Washington.
In February 2008, Friberg called Duby and asked about buying more magpies. According to Friberg's affidavit, Duby said that magpies are challenging birds to kill, that he hunted with a partner and that on a good day they could kill about a dozen, and that he could get any type of bird Friberg wanted. Duby also said he had been skinning the birds himself, and set a price of $10 per magpie.
Friberg again contacted eBay and informed the company that Duby's sales of magpie skins were illegal under federal law. The following day, eBay notified Duby that the skins would be removed from eBay.
According to the affidavit, the next time Friberg made contact, Duby said he could no longer sell magpie skins via eBay because the birds are protected in some states. Duby and Friberg arranged another sale without using the online service, and in March Duby sent Friberg four frozen magpie carcasses and 12 magpie skins in exchange for $200.
Earlier this year, eBay provided Friberg with records of all sales Duby conducted under the Shortraker account. The records show that between February 2007 and May 2009, Duby sold protected migratory birds including crow, snipe, and magpie.
They revealed that Duby had run a thriving international business as well, selling a variety of birds overseas: five valley quail to buyers in France and Canada, a crow to a London buyer, a chukar partridge to a buyer in Germany, and a ruffed grouse to a buyer in Sweden.
According to his eBay records, Duby also sold one black bear face to a buyer in Norway.
Friberg's affidavit states that Duby never had a permit to export black bear, and that he never submitted a wildlife declaration for any of the shipments to international buyers.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act outlaws the hunting of most migratory birds, with only a few exceptions. Magpies, snipe and crow, all migratory birds alleged to have been sold by Duby, are not among those exceptions.
When Friberg raided Duby's Juneau home, he took cardboard boxes full of magpie, crow, and snipe feathers and skins, as well as one desktop computer, three laptops, and two cameras.
Reached by telephone, Duby said that he can't talk about the case, but that he's waiting to see what charges are being brought forward.
Bruce Woods, a Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman, couldn't comment on the investigation except to say that it is ongoing and that Fish and Wildlife is working in cooperation with the Alaska State Troopers in Juneau.
Woods did say that he can't remember many investigations similar to this one, but that wildlife violations like this are more often committed with marine animals.
In the past year, Alaska residents have been sentenced to prison for illegal sales of walrus ivory and sea otter and seal pelts, as well as halibut harvested under a subsistence permit.
Duby has had at least one prior brush with the law over a wildlife infraction: In 2003, according to the Juneau Empire, he was fined about $7,000 after he killed a brown bear in a closed area on Admiralty Island.
Duby had purchased a resident tag and hunting license, though he was a resident of Washington State at the time. He forfeited his rifle and the bear hides, and his hunting privileges were suspended for three years
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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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| Sunday, November 15th, 2009
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9:39 pm - In the News -
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Mudslides menace downtown
Apartment building, several vehicles damaged by debris on Gastineau Avenue
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Story last updated at 11/15/2009 - 12:35 am
Residents of several city blocks evacuated downtown Saturday morning after a mudslide released above Gastineau Avenue, bringing snapped tree limbs and a torrent of mud and water down with it.
An apartment building and several vehicles were damaged as the debris came to rest four feet deep on Gastineau Avenue.
No injuries were reported.
Juliana Papp heard a tree snap then saw a mass of mud pressing against her bedroom window, the Strasbaugh Apartments resident said. She called 911.
"It started flowing in like chocolate cake mix," Papp said. "I started freaking out and screaming."
Papp threw on tennis shoes and a coat and left everything else behind.
"I didn't know if I should pack a bag or what," she said.
Next door, Evan Patterson was woken up by his roommate telling him to hurry and move his car.
"I was too late," said Patterson, who figures his 1998 Nissan is totaled.
The Pathfinder's front end was crushed by a tree limb and the bumper encased in mud.
Patterson and his 2-year-old black Lab, Shilo, lived in the house for only two weeks. He stuffed clothes, a sleeping bag and his toothbrush in a backpack, leashed Shilo and left the property.
It's not clear when he and Shilo can go home.
Nonstop rain saturated the ground overnight, making the hillside above Gastineau Avenue unstable, Capital City Fire Rescue Chief Eric Mohrmann said.
Reports of a second landslide to the south of the downtown neighborhood confirmed ground instability, and Mohrmann decided early Saturday to expand the evacuation for public safety.
Police evacuated residents in the 200 block of Gastineau Avenue, then began knocking on doors of homes and businesses south of Decker Way on South Franklin Street.
Residents of the Strasbaugh, Channel View and State apartment buildings were evacuated.
As many as 80 people were affected, police estimated.
By noon Saturday, 30 to 50 people had come through an emergency shelter set up at Centennial Hall, an American Red Cross volunteer said.
People also gathered at the Glory Hole on South Franklin Street, drinking coffee and using the Internet while police cordoned off surrounding streets.
The Glory Hole is a shelter and soup kitchen that serves Juneau's homeless.
A woman living in a car parked Friday night on Gastineau Avenue said she heard the mudslide at about 6:30 a.m. She did not want to give her name.
"It sounded like a falling tree," she said. She went to the Glory Hole when police told her to leave the area.
Although the homeless shelter is in the evacuation zone, the woman said she would not go to Centennial Hall.
Police closed the south end of Gastineau Avenue but otherwise only advised residents to leave the area.
"We are not forcing them," police spokeswoman Cindee Brown-Mills said.
Red Cross volunteers set up 40 cots at Centennial Hall but didn't know how many people would spend the night.
Hillside stability and property damage would be inspected this morning, Brown-Mills said, and an update given at a 10 a.m. press conference at Centennial Hall.
Saturday was the second time in less than three months that residents of Channel View Apartments were asked to leave their homes. The building was evacuated in August when a resident barricaded himself inside his apartment, causing a 20-hour standoff with police that ended peacefully.
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8:27 pm - another busy weekend - no yarn
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So all week the weather guys said we would be having snow this weekend. Les Schwab has been so busy the guy on the phone didn't even know what day it was! So I made an appointment with Capital Service for Saturday morning. Figured I could just wait at Foodland for the car to be done.
Boo picked me up after work. We went to her place to get her check, then to the bank where I deposited rent and she deposited her first state paycheck. Then I took her home and got the score sheet from Marlintini's. Blain was on both of his computers with EQ2. So I went back home, farted on Facebook and entered pool scores. The power went out for a minute, but he said it didn't even flicker at his place.
I went back to his place and watched friday night shows. Finally bed time. Set my alarm for the morning - have to remember to change it back for tomorrow. Anyways, it went off and I snuck out of bed. Got dressed in the dark and drove downtown. Streets were odd, had intersection control lights, but the street lamps weren't on. I was by the high school turns when Blain called and asked where I was. His power was out. Downtown power went out right after I gave my key to the service station man. Blain drove down to get me.
His power was back on when we got to his place. He made us breakfast. I did some Castle Age stuff on Facebook. The service station called at 10:15 - done with Moby. So Blain took me back down.
Got a hold of Faye - sure, would go to Wal-Mart, look at yarn. Stopped by the condo, unloaded two of the summer tires. Jess hauled me off to one side to talk. That was sweet, he wanted to make sure I was okay.
Picked up Faye and we started at Joanne's, than Hearthside. Then we drove to Wal-Mart. While there I suggested looking at the cars Affordable Auto. We ended buying her one at Skinner's. It's a 99 Isuzu Trooper, with 4wd. Nice!
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| Friday, November 13th, 2009
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11:20 am - In the News -
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"NOAA utilizing wind and seawater to help power and heat Fisheries building
There's a new addition to the roof NOAA Fisheries Auke Bay research facility in Juneau.
It's a wind-powered electrical generator.
The 30 foot spinning tower costs $6,500 and will produce 1.2 kilowatts of electricity.
That's a savings of about $600 a year in Juneau.
Facilities manager Jack Christiansen says it's a good test of small-scale wind generation in Alaska.
In other parts of the country, 1.2 kilowatts could mean a savings of up to $5,600 a year.
Called "wind spires" they have three vertical blades which spin silently when the wind blows.
Christiansen says they're different than propeller style generators which have over 60 to 80 feet tall.
Christiansen says in order to minimize the visual impact on the community, they chose the "wind spires" which can be less than 30 feet in height.
Two more wind powered generators will be placed on the roof of the Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute on Lena Point and one in downtown Juneau at the NOAA port facility.
NOAA has also been at work reducing diesel fuel consumption at the Auke Bay facility.
Christiansen says they've been burning about 120,000 gallons of diesel per year, but after modifying the building's mechanical systems they've reduced that amount by over 50 percent.
He says they reduced the air volume that was being moved thorough the lab facility, reducing diesel consumption by about 30,000 gallons a year.
The second step was heat recovery by combining all the building's exhaust flows and preheating the air coming into facility's air handling units. That reduced diesel consumption by another 30,000 gallons a year.
A heat pump system using seawater is also being installed.
Christiansen says once it's completed diesel consumption will be less than 25,000 gallons per year, for a total reduction of 75 percent.
The heat pump system will utilize heat exchangers, much like a refrigerator, to extract heat from sea water that comes from the wet labs in both the NOAA and University buildings before it runs back into Favorite Channel.
The heat extracted from the out-going seawater will heat the lobby and laboratories until the temperature dips below five degrees Fahrenheit.
Christiansen says Juneau's expertise has already been put to use at another NOAA marine research center under construction in La Jolla, California.
University receives grant to study geothermal resources near Nome
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy has given researchers at University of Alaska Fairbanks a $4.6 million grant to study the energy-producing potential of a hot springs on the Seward Peninsula.
Researchers want to evaluate the geothermal resources at the largely undeveloped site 37 miles from Nome.
Minor earthquake trembles in Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A minor 4.1-magnitude earthquake trembled in Alaska on Thursday evening.
The U.S. Geological Services says the earthquake struck 95 miles southwest of Anchorage and that it wasn't strong enough to cause a tsunami.
The earthquake was recorded at 6:30 p.m. Alaska time and shook 52 miles below the surface.
Soboleff to celebrate 101 years of life
Distinguished Alaskan and native leader Dr. Walter Soboleff turns 101 years old Saturday.
When asked on Capital Chat last year when he turned a hundred to what he attributed his long life, Soboleff said, "It's anybody's guess." He added, "We're each given so much time in this world. It just so happens I got this time and I'm grateful."
Soboleff says the greatest thing in the world is love. When there's love, there is peace, he says.
For his birthday, Soboleff's family are taking him on a cruise through the Panama Canal.
NEW - Moose scared off in Fairbanks after calf is killed by vehicle
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Police fired four beanbag rounds to drive away a cow moose after its calf was struck and killed by a vehicle in Fairbanks.
Police says the moose charged at officers and workers salvaging the calf Wednesday.
The moose went away, according to authoriites.
(Fairbanks News-Miner)
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| Thursday, November 12th, 2009
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6:33 am - Never a dull moment - especially with weather!!
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Wind gusts over night include one at 132 mph on Sheep Mountain
A wind advisory is in effect through nine this morning.
Gusts to 50 miles per hour are expected.
Meteorologist M. Mitchell in the Juneau Forecast Office says there were gusts to about 40 miles per hour at South Douglas. There was a gust to 46 at the Federal Building and it hit 49 miles per hour at the airport.
A 63 mile per hour was recorded at the Mt. Roberts Tram. There were gusts to 85 at Eaglecrest and a gust clocked at 132 miles per hour was recorded atop Sheep Mountain.
The Southeast winds are forecast to diminish to 15 miles per hour this afternoon.
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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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8:26 pm - races
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Airplane races?!?!? I never knew there were airplanes races. They are so cool!!! I fell asleep on Blain's couch waiting for the commercials to end, but the races were so - breathless! I want to know more!
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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, November 4th, 2009
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1:03 pm - In progress - not finished
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So Saturday I had to get up early and ignored the alarm. Blain woke me about 8 and sent me out the door. I went home, gave Sean kitty his medication and tried to go back to bed. Unfortunately, I gave Hazel a chance to sleep in my room. She was totally wrapped up in licking my hands or any other skin she could reach and in licking ferret noses through the cage bars. So I got up and put her in her kennel. Then the ferrets were awake, so I was able to nap until Blain called about 10 I think it was.
We all car pooled to Women’s league. Blain drove us. Mom met us there. There weren’t enough tables for Dillon and Blain to practice, which was a big bummer. Boo’s last game she ran out her balls to the last one and got Mom all proud and excited for her. Mom left right after Boo’s last game. We stayed until I had the score sheet, then off to Mom’s. Boo finished getting into her costume at Mom’s and Dillon put his on. Pictures are on my Facebook.
Short visit there, then home. Take care of Hazel, then over to Blain’s. Watched tv while he played on the computer. Then got up about 10:30 and came home.
Sunday pool was fun. Jess and Gina joined Blain, the kids and me. Then I went to Faye’s and we got her dressed, down the stairs and into her truck. We went to the store and she did her shopping. Erik was there. Then take her home, she was a bit tired and off to bed she went.
Monday back to work. Picked up milkshakes for Faye and me. Got to her place the same time she did. Carried her groceries for her up the stairs, visited a little. Then home, Hazel, and over to Blain’s and onto the computer there.
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| Friday, October 30th, 2009
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7:04 pm - Getting Faye home -
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Talk about weird
Okay, so at 11:30 Faye calls and says they are letting her go home, her oxygen tank was supposed to be there at 1pm. I arranged with the boss to take off at 12. I went and got the check for the joint account from Mum. I decided to risk the time to go out and cash it. I was just floored at the low amount of the balance. I really, really, have to step up the deposits back into that account.
Then I drove to the hospital. Got to meet Tammy, the BRH social services coordinator. Then the tank guys finally arrived and showed Faye how to operate it. The nurse brought in a wheelchair and off we went. Stopped at Tammy’s office to say good bye and make sure the tank guys deliver the walker to Faye’s place later.
I brought Moby up to the front door and it was surprisingly easy to get Faye and the tank into the front seat. We went over to SEARHC to get her meds and I was afraid at one point that she needed a wheelchair. Stubborn native woman that she is, she refused to use one, instead pausing to catch her breath. I suggested she sit and wait for me to bring Moby out of the parking lot and to the front door.
I called Jess again as we were passing Fred Meyer. He affirmed that he was meeting us at Faye’s to make sure getting upstairs went smoothly.
Jess got out of his car as I opened the back hatch to get Faye’s belongings. He went up to the passenger door as Faye was leaning sideways to get out. He stuck out his hand and quite seriously said “Hi, Faye, I’m Jess.” And she put out her hand, taking his, responding “Hi, I’m Faye.” And then Jess proceeded to take the oxygen tank from around her legs and help her out of the car.
I was just stunned when it appeared not to be a joke that they were introducing themselves. OMG – after all these years, it did not occur to me they had not met! Holy cow! I was just floored. I’ve known Faye for almost 9 years, I’ve had Jess in my life for 12. How could this be the first time they’ve managed to meet?
Faye had to stop and rest 4 times up the stairs. We kept telling her no one was in a hurry, take her time and catch her breath, be safe. Jess carried her tank and offered his hand when the left railing disappeared into the wall structure. I was behind with her belongings from the hospital. She quickly settled into the recliner. Jess bid his good-byes and headed off to work.
I stayed with Faye until the tank guys showed up with her 24/7 machine and installed it. One of the guys was Wilbur, from the pool league. I recognized his face, but couldn’t remember his name at the time. Once she was on that supply and they were gone, she was ready for bed. I made sure she was settled, assured her I would get her Ambien and bring her dinner from Safeway about 5:15, and then off I went.
I went to Ak USA and made Sean’s deposit. Really, really, really not happy with his veiled threat of not crediting any of the earnest money towards the back rent at all if I had an issue with his taking the $250 out of it to cover his taxes. Good heavens. Asshole. There, I said it. Now time to get on with the rest of my life.
More later.
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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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