Entries in Dermot Cole for April, 2009
Teck Resources to sell Pogo stake for $245 million
Teck Resources said today it plans to sell its 40 percent stake in the Pogo Mine for $245 million to the Japanese firm, Sumitomo Metal Mining, that already owns a controlling interest in the property. Sumitomo is to take over as operator of the mine, the Reuters news agency said.
Fox Spring erosion leads to shutdown
•The Fox Spring will be closed for a few days. The sudden increase in temperature released so much extra runoff that the path to the spring was washed out, creating a sizable ditch. •The most disgruntled people at the GVEA annual meeting Tuesday were the five members who would have won from $250 to $1,000 had they stuck around instead of leaving early. I'm sure their friends let them know of their brush with good fortune after the fact.
Palin agrees to accept most of federal stimulus money
• Gov. Sarah Palin said today she "acknowledges" legislative action to accept almost all of the federal stimulus money, but her statement did not mention whether she agrees with the action. When I asked the governor's office for clarification, her spokeswoman said the governor has accepted $929 million of the federal stimulus money, while rejecting $28.6 million. •The Fox Spring was closed this afternoon because of ice and water. The culvert couldn’t handle the extra flow and the path to the spring has been dissected by runoff. It should be fixed in five to seven days after the runoff slows down.
Help the Tanana Valley State Fair by filling out this survey
A UAF student is conducting a consumer survey about the Tanana Valley State Fair. You can help her and the fair by taking a few moments to fill it out.
Cleanup Day yellow bags are in
•The yellow Cleanup Day garbage bags will be available starting Tuesday at the United Way office. You can stop by and pick them up at at 565 University Ave. from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cleanup Day is May 9, but the entire week should be set aside for that purpose. The tradition of holding a single day for Cleanup activities dates from the time when Fairbanks wasn't as busy on weekends.
For more information or to sign up for an area, call the United Way at 452-7211, ext. 26.
Firecrackers in sawdust insulation?
•I used to live in a cabin on Fifth Avenue near Cowles Street that had sawdust insulation. That doesn't qualify me as an authority on the history of Fairbanks buildings, but I was surprised to read the claim in the paper today that firecrackers were once mixed with sawdust to serve as a fire alarm in a house at that intersection. Sounds more like a joke than a "factoid." •The story on the value of the Permanent Fund today is a bit out of date. It says the value of the fund at the end of March was $28.3 billion. The fund value since then has climbed nearly $1 billion to $29.2 billion.
UAF seeks to cut energy use during power plant shutdown
•University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rogers is asking everyone connected with UAF to conserve energy during the next 30 days while the power plant is shut down for maintenance. UAF will be buying more GVEA power during this time, paying about six times as much per kilowatt hour. •Fairbanksan John Reeves, who doesn't mind a little controversy, has filed an application with the borough to put a nuclear power plant in Ester on a four-acre site off the Parks Highway. •Herb Kuss says he is retiring as city attorney in October after 30 years on the job. Nine mayors have held office during that time.
Baffled Barton, the smug Texas congressman
A Texas congressman who is mighty pleased with himself claims he “baffled” the Nobel Prize-winning Secretary of Energy with a basic question about where oil comes from. What's really baffling is that Joe Barton doesn't understand that the geologic history of Alaska is complicated.
Legislators trim UA funding request
•The Legislature approved a $12.9 million increase for the University of Alaska for the next fiscal year, but it's not enough to keep up with inflation and other factors that push up prices. Add those to the calculation and the appropriation translates into a budget hit of nearly $5 million, says Pete Kelly, the UA lobbyist.
Some good news in the Alaska Airlines $15 baggage fee to Lower 48
•Alaska Airlines announced it will start charging $15 July 7 for checking one bag to the Lower 48, but it will give passengers $25 off a future flight if the bag isn't delivered in 25 minutes. Who has the stopwatch? •Losses continue for Permanent Fund: The Alaska Permanent Fund lost nearly 5 percent in the third quarter of its fiscal year, but it could have been worse. •The Denali Park road will be open to Mile 30 Friday morning, weather permitting. It will cost you $20 to drive into the park. •The feds are picking up the legal bills for the six prosecutors in the Ted Stevens case who are now under investigation.
"Don't be Fuelish" competition rolling
The friendly competition to avoid "fuelish" behavior is again getting rolling in Fairbanks.
"Don't Be Fuelish" is an attempt to see who can save the most fuel by biking, walking, carpooling, running or riding the bus this spring and summer.
Aleutian volcano added more color to sunsets
The May issue of Astronomy magazine notes that an Aleutian volcano blast from last summer continued to give an extra reddish glow to sunsets throughout the Northern Hemisphere for six months and more. The recent eruptions of Mount Redoubt are not expected to have the same impact because the Kasatochi volcano released much more sulfur dioxide.
Private road behind Bentley Mall closed due to monster pothole
•The private road behind the Bentley Mall, which has some gaping holes under the water, has been temporarily closed near Office Max and the Splash and Dash Car Wash. The private snow dump on the east side of the road seems to the source of the water. •The sign in the borough parking lot says "Excavation Assembly Point."
Fairbanks school bus drivers face Teamster affiliation vote this week
The school bus drivers, mechanics and attendants are voting this week on whether to join the Teamsters Union, Local 959. The vote is set for Thursday in Moose Creek and Friday in Fairbanks.
Palin warns of being 'enslaved' to centralized federal government
Gov. Sarah Palin warned that the nation could be “enslaved” by excessive federal spending with debts to foreign nations, just as individual states could be “enslaved” to the federal government.
State releases pipeline update; Parks Highway and Richardson routes to be reviewed
The Palin administration released an update on its in-state natural gas pipeline work today following critical remarks from lawmakers Thursday night about a proposed $9 million expenditure. "The primary decision to be made is whether to pursue a route that follows the Parks Highway or the Richardson Highway," says a memo from Joe Balash, an aide to the governor.
Legislators try again to redefine $1 million Delta Junction loan as grant
•Another attempt to redefine a $1 million state loan to Delta Junction as a grant has surfaced in the closing days of the legislative session.
KUAC-FM still on reduced power
•KUAC-FM engineers are still trying to solve a transmitter problem that is worse than originally thought.
Wayne Ross birthday citation doesn't mean much
Hours before the Legislature rejected Wayne Anthony Ross as attorney general, the governor's office released a copy of a citation the Legislature approved unanimously last year honoring Ross on his 65th birthday. This might mean something except almost no one —not counting the people named in the citations— ever reads the hundreds of citations the Legislature approves unanimously.
Ross confirmation vote set for Thursday
Legislators plan a joint session Thursday to consider appointments by the governor. The most controversial may be that of Wayne Anthony Ross for attorney general.
Wood bison statement draws fire
•Mark Richards of Alaska Backcountry Hunters and Anglers says the latest statement from the Palin administration on the wood bison reintroduction effort is "very disturbing news to our organization." •The borough board of equalization began its work Tuesday night, hearing appeals from property owners who think their assessments are too high. •Cleanup Day is May 9. The friend who brought me a license plate he found on the bike path near the Peger Road bridge reminded me of this. The plate is FCA-894.
Palin says wood bison plan needs more study to avoid resource conflicts
The Palin administration is taking a go-slow approach on reintroducing wood bison. This may be good news for Doyon, which is planning to drill for natural gas near Nenana this summer and had warned that the bison plan could threaten any development plans. The governor has asked two state agencies to find places where the bison can roam that are not likely spots for oil and gas or mining.
Stevens sees need for legislative reform regarding prosecutors' duties
•Former Sen. Ted Stevens believes that federal laws about the responsibilities of prosecutors are in need of revision. He made the observation last week during the court hearing at which the case against him was dropped. •The BYU-Idaho Collegiate Choir is in town for benefit concerts tonight and Wednesday.
Palin plan to cut spending and substitute federal stimulus money draws cool response from D.C.
At least part of the unofficial Palin administration plan to cut state spending and use federal stimulus money as a substitute may not fly in D.C.
KUAC reports power problems, but still on the air; 'Tradition is Our Mission' set for 2009 fair theme
•KUAC-FM is on the air, but at reduced power because of an equipment problem. •"Tradition is Our Mission" will be the theme of the Tanana Valley State Fair this summer. •Gov. Sarah Palin committed a "terrible breach of respect" to the Legislature by yelling at an employee of the House Speaker, Mike and Tim Bradner report in their latest newsletter. •A traffic light is to be installed this week at the intersection of Van Horn and Lathrop. •The work on Cowles Street from 19th to 23rd Ave. is to start Tuesday with drilling wells to pump out ground water. •A Golden Days Jail reunion is planned for this summer. •Former Territorial Gov. Mike Stepovich is to receive an honorary degree from UAF May 10. Constitutional Convention delegate Vic Fischer is to be the commencement speaker.
Timing in Stevens' case continues to raise questions about prosecution
The Washington Post reports that in the case against former Sen. Ted Stevens the U.S. Justice Department "miscalculated by not seeking more time to prepare for the high-stakes corruption trial and fell victim to inexperience and thin staffing, which contributed to its alleged mishandling of witnesses and evidence, according to interviews with more than a dozen lawyers who followed the case."
Palin suggests cutting state spending to substitute $250 million from federal stimulus funds
Gov., Sarah Palin said she disagrees with the Republican and Democratic legislators who assert that they can find no major "strings" attached to the federal stimulus money. "The biggest, fattest string is that we are tying ourselves to the problem of the nation’s growing debt, $11 trillion of debt, that’s a big problem," she said at a news conference Friday.
Palin says she didn't call for Begich to resign, but supports new election
Gov. Sarah Palin says she wasn't calling on Sen. Mark Begich to resign when she said she agreed with a statement by state GOP chairman Randy Ruedrich.
The April 2 statement said, in part, "The Alaska Republican Party further believes that current Senator Mark Begich should resign his position to allow for a new, special election, so Alaskans may have the chance to vote for a Senator without the improper influence of the corrupt Department of Justice."
What a difference a year makes: State revenues on unprecedented downward slide
State oil revenue for the fiscal year starting in July is expected to decline to $3.2 billion.
That is down by $2.6 billion from this fiscal year, and a staggering $8.1 billion from the fiscal year that ended last July.
What the numbers show is that the state is headed for an enormous financial problem within three years or so.
Fairbanksan helps herd 'FLOCK!'
Fairbanks programmer John Pile Jr. has been in Scotland for the past year working with a small computer game company. The company released 'FLOCK!' this week for the Playstation3, Xbox 360 and the PC.
"It’s getting great reviews and was listed as the 'Most Anticipated Game for Xbox Live Arcade' by the Official Xbox Magazine," Pile says.
Utilities won't merge just yet
The proposal to merge the generation and transmission facilities of a half dozen utilities in the Railbelt is a huge and complicated undertaking. So it's not surprising that the Palin administration said today the utilities will work on this over the next year.
Searching for stolen tan Ford F150 last seen near University West
•A 2006 F150 truck containing the standardized tests for about 360 Fairbanks students in the IDEA program was stolen Monday night in University West shortly after dark. Most of the blank test booklets were recovered Wednesday at the transfer site near the university. But that's not important. What's important is this: The young lady who was knocked to the ground after having a gun stuck in her face is OK. She is five months pregnant and her husband is in Afghanistan. She was visiting Fairbanks for her dad's birthday. The stolen truck is a 2006 tan F150 with four doors and a tan shell on the back. The license plate is EYE467.
House praises Stevens, rips feds
The state House of Representatives approved a resolution today on a 34-1 vote that praises former Sen. Ted Stevens and rips the federal government.
The resolution shows "support for Senator Ted Stevens and severe displeasure and indignation with the federal government's deplorable investigation and prosecution of the Senator."
Borough battle lives on
The Deltana Borough proposal was rejected by a 10-1 margin nearly two years ago, but the controversy lives on.
Don Young to serve as Arctic Man 'chair'
Rep. Don Young's office says he will be the 'Honorary Chair' of the Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic this year. He plans to be there Thursday afternoon. The race is set for Friday.
Legislators played major role in putting billions into stocks last year
•Some legislators are saying that the Department of Revenue acted on its own in shifting billions of reserve funds into stock purchases a year ago, but it's clear that lawmakers had a hand in the decision. I'm not sure if this is a capital case of amnesia or what.
Clean feeders to save birds
• I received a call the other day from a reader who watched a redpoll feed outside her house and drop dead in about 45 minutes. The Alaska Bird Observatory says it has received several calls about redpolls acting in an odd manner. Dirty bird feeders providing a breeding ground for bacteria might be the problem. •Two major military efforts in Alaska would take a big hit under plans announced today by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. One is the proposed $1.4 billion cut in missile defense programs and the decision to put less emphasis on the Fort Greely complex. The other is the move to limit production of the F-22 Raptor, a fighter already deployed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage.
Palin letter accepts stimulus funds
Gov. Sarah Palin's letter to the federal government this week will allow the state to remain eligible for all of the money in the federal stimulus law. "It is possible that that there will be areas where the state will choose not to apply for funds," Palin wrote Wednesday. Exactly how much she will ask for remains to be seen, but legislators appear eager to accept every dollar.
Begich is not going to resign
Had Sen. Ted Stevens not been convicted last fall, he would have probably won the election against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.
But the Republican party and Gov. Sarah Palin are going to have to accept that Begich was elected to a six-year term. He's not going to resign.
The Stevens verdict
In his farewell speech last fall in the U.S. Senate, Ted Stevens said he didn't have a "rear-view mirror." "I look only forward. And I still see the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me," he said at the end of his 40-year career in Congress.
Palin appoints Fairbanksan as student regent
•Gov. Sarah Palin appointed Ashton Compton of UAF to the student position on the University of Alaska board of regents. Compton is a junior studying political science.
Stimulus funds and Alaska
•The state can not ask for a $20.7 million slice of the education money in the stimulus package, without accepting the other $93 million offered to the state, according to a new legislative analysis. •The closure of Nordale Road has been extended to April 15.
Loyal customers seek Don's Barbershop
•Don’s Barbershop closed in early January, but there are people roaming Fairbanks who hope to get haircuts from Don Bent.
•Our friend Tim Sander, who is at home in Fairbanks, is departing Monday for the monastery in Mt. Angel, Oregon. After the Saturday evening mass at St.Raphael's Catholic Church, there will be a farewell potluck at 6:30 p.m. at the church in Tim's honor. A lot of us would like to see him stay here where he belongs.
•A bullet line would be allowed along the Parks Highway where it crosses Denali National Park under a bill proposed today by Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The line would go through seven miles of the park.
Murkowski faults handling of Stevens case
"I was pleased with the news that the Justice Department will drop all charges against Senator Ted Stevens, but I am deeply disturbed that the government can ruin a man’s career and then say ‘never mind,’ Sen. Lisa Murkowski said today.
Palin blasts "questionable proceedings"
“Senator Stevens deserves to be very happy today. What a horrible thing he has endured," Gov. Sarah Palin said today.
The Stevens verdict
In his farewell speech last fall in the U.S. Senate, Ted Stevens said he didn't have a "rear-view mirror."
"I look only forward. And I still see the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me," he said at the end of his 40-year career in Congress.
Stevens expresses gratitude
Former Sen. Ted Stevens said he always knew that the day would come when the cloud over his reputation would be lifted. "That day has finally come," he said today.
