Entries in Dermot Cole for January, 2009
Tanana Valley fair faces money trouble; campaign sign law needs attention in Juneau
•The Tanana Valley State Fair is facing cash flow problems that led to the layoff of four of its five staff members, but the fair will go on this summer, the president of the board says.
•While many owners believe they should be able to put up signs for their favorite candidates on their own property near major streets and roads, state law says no.
The presidential letter that Bartlett never read
•Every state honors two of its most prominent citizens with statues in the U.S. Capitol. The two Alaskans cast in bronze for their contributions are the late Sen. Ernest Gruening and the late Sen. Bob Bartlett. •This is the last day that the Fraternal Order of Eagles will be open on First Avenue, as the property is being sold. The Eagles are looking for a new roost. •A malfunction on the National Weather Service recorded forecast produced the startling news Tuesday that the high was 356 degrees and the low was 40 below.
Palin's office says D.C. trip features 'nonpartisan and high-profile events'
It turns out that Gov. Sarah Palin is planning to attend the “Alfalfa Club” banquet in Washington, D.C. Saturday. The only Alaskan in the Alfalfa Club is former Sen. Ted Stevens who entered as a “sprout” in 1989.
Palin needs to take bigger role in picking projects for federal bill
The governor doesn’t have to use the hated word “earmark,” but she should take the lead for Alaska to make sure that our state gets a fair share from the stimulus package in Congress.
Paper, cardboard, wood chips considered for power potential
Growing your own takes on new meaning in the world of renewable energy. Two local projects that may receive state grants worth $4.7 million would turn carbon-based plant matter into heat and electricity.
State faces $1 billion paper loss in emergency reserve fund
The decision to make more aggressive investments with the money in the Constitutional Budget Reserve last spring has proven to be a costly one for Alaska.
Economic slowdown adds to pipeline's fiscal uncertainty
The economic slowdown is leading to more pessimistic comments about the prospects for the gas pipeline that Alaskans have talked about for nearly 40 years.
Japanese walker still headed north
The Japanese adventurer who is trying to pull a trailer to Prudhoe Bay is continuing his slow walk on the Dalton Highway.
State Fish and Game sees no threat to Nenana gas exploration from wood bison plan
Bob Stephenson and Randy Rogers of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game don’t agree with Doyon that an Endangered Species Act listing for wood bison could threaten the Native corporation’s bid to explore for natural gas near Nenana.
Fairbanks author releases new sci-fi book
Fairbanks author David Marusek, who has made a name for himself in the world of science fiction, has a new novel out.
Wood bison plan threatens Nenana gas exploration, Doyon says
•The plan to introduce wood bison to the Minto Flats could complicate or kill efforts to look for natural gas near Nenana or build a natural gas bullet line, according to a report from Doyon, Ltd.
Library roof leaks, but books stay dry
No books have been damaged, but there are leaks in the roof of the Noel Wien Library. The leaks, in two different parts of the building about 150 feet apart, appeared when the weather warmed up.
West Valley students attend inauguration
Among the hundreds of Alaskans in Washington, D.C. this week for the inauguration festivities there are about 26 West Valley High School students, plus three teachers and additional parent chaperones.
Renewable resource grants would boost wind farms, other local projects
The first proposed grants from a $100 million state renewable energy fund would boost wind farm efforts in Healy and Delta, as well as other local projects.
Inauguration marks new era, speaker says at King holiday awards banquet
The inauguration of Barack Obama Tuesday as President of the United States is a giant step toward opening the “nation’s great vaults of opportunity,” according to the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday banquet in Fairbanks.
Channel 7 back on air
Channel 7 finished its transmitter overhaul and returned to the air Friday. If you are using a converter box to pick up the digital signal, you will have to run another scan.
Driving hazards create problems along Railbelt and beyond
Driving conditions are challenging today on the Richardson, Parks, Steese, Elliott, Alaska and Dalton highways, as well as in Fairbanks.
Slow down: State issues travel advisories
All roads in Interior Alaska are more dangerous than normal today. Braking conditions are bad and many motorists are going too fast. The state Department of Transportation, which expects to spread 400 cubic yards of sand and gravel today with four trucks, is highlighting the worst of the trouble spots.
Alaska Range helps warm things up
The January heat wave in Interior Alaska owes something to the “adiabatic process.”
Moving targets: Retail store delays building plan; Lathrop puts off switch to academy structure; temperatures rise by 100 degrees
•Target puts its plans for a Fairbanks store on hold for 2009. •Lathrop High School delays implementation of its proposed "academy" structure until 2010. •Most of the local TV stations are to stop their analog signals tonight at 6:25 p.m. for three minutes, testing the digital transition. •Eielson hits a January record of 50 above this morning, 100 degrees warmer than it was nine days ago. Central warmed to a record 45 today, 97 degrees warmer than it was three days ago. It was 54 at Birch Lake, 52 in Salcha and 44 at the airport, with nary a negative number in sight.
Deal reached on Healy coal plant with GVEA
•A settlement announced today between GVEA and the state may mean that an end is at hand to a confrontation that has dragged on for more than a decade. •John Jackovich is leading an effort to build an ice rink in front of Samson Hardware. The Garden Island skating rink should be ready by Feb. 1. •The state issued an advisory today warning Fairbanks drivers to slow down because the warm air has added a fresh layer of ice to every road. Wind gusts of 70 mph are expected in the mountain passes of the Alaska Range tonight and Thursday. Gusts to 105 mph are expected in Turnagain Arm.
Alaska Range gusts of 75 mph predicted for tonight and Thursday
•The warm air from the tropics flowing over and though the Alaska Range is creating gusts of up to 65 mph that may rise to 75 mph tonight in the passes, the National Weather Service says. •Lathrop High School will provide an update on its proposed restructuring plans at 6 p.m. today in Hering Auditorium. •We expect an announcement today settling the long-running controversy over the Healy experimental coal plant, with a plan to get it back in operation.
Channel 7 ready to stop analog TV this week
The first local test of the change to digital TV broadcasting is to occur this week, when Channel 7 shuts down its main analog transmitter Wednesday at about 10 p.m.
Students want malamute as top dog
Students at the Polaris K-12 school in Anchorage want to recognize the malamute as Alaska's official dog.
Dozens of cars passed without stopping to aid stuck motorist
At about 12:30 p.m. today on the Steese Expressway between Farmers Loop and Seekins, there was a car stuck in the snow and people driving by paid little or no attention.
Ohio representatives pick up campaign to retain Mount McKinley
•The name "Mount McKinley" has again received federal protection with the start of the new Congress, heading off any "Denali" discussion. •In the hills in parts of the Interior, temperatures could hit the freezing level or higher by the middle of next week, a breathtaking change from the ice fog. It was 60 to 63 below in Tok early Friday. •The fireworks display in honor of the 50th anniversary of statehood will not happen this weekend. •Prefiled bills from Juneau would: Make the malamute the official state dog, exempt Alaska from Daylight Saving Time and add a second verse to the Alaska flag song. •Don's Barber Shop is closing after Saturday in its current location next to what used to be Samson's. Don Bent is looking for new digs.
Healy coal plant continues to generate arguments, if not power
•Andrew Halcro has a long post on his popular blog today that can be summarized as: GVEA evil. Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority virtuous. •The National Weather Service says the high temperature should be 10 above by Wednesday in Fairbanks. It was 47 below overnight at the airport.
Warm-weather thinking penalizes top skiers
Canceling a ski race because it’s too cold is like stopping a swim meet because it’s too wet.
GVEA power usage climbs near record
•Demand for power from GVEA is increasing and may approach or exceed last winter’s peak this week. •Urban and Vienna Rahoi celebrate 69 years together and Urban's 90th birthday today. •If you need a tow truck, be prepared to wait hours or days. Some companies are booking jobs for Thursday or Friday.
Thompson Drive marks — crop circles they are not
Look for a high temperature of 25 below by Saturday, climbing to 15 below by Monday, the National Weather Service predicts.
Warmer weather by the weekend?
The latest forecast this morning holds out hope for a warming trend by the end of the week. Maybe.
Ice fog and the Fairbanks winter
The floating crystals in ice fog are about 5 to 10 millionths of a meter across, light enough that they remain suspended for a day or two while drifting to the ground.
Eisenhower welcomes 49th state 50 years ago today
"Gentlemen, I think that all of us recognize this as an historic occasion. Certainly for myself I feel very highly privileged and honored to welcome the forty-ninth State into the Union."
Fairbanks Youth Soccer Association looks to rebound from Seattle company's failure to pay debt
As Mr. Dooley said, "Trust everyone, but cut the cards." That would have been good advice for the Fairbanks Youth Soccer Association and hundreds of other sports groups across the country that trusted a Seattle businessman.
Surprise! Forecast calls for colder weather today
It was 56 below in Chalkyitsik this morning at 8 a.m., 54 below in Eagle and 53 below in Fort Yukon, a sign of things to come for Fairbanks.
As clouds vanish, look for temperatures to descend once more
The heat wave that rolled in with the clouds on New Year's Day is expected to vanish into thin air by the weekend.
Alaska entry wins Rose Parade award for depicting 'life in USA'
The Alaska float in the Tournament of Roses Parade today won the trophy for the “Best Depiction of Life in the USA – Past, Present or Future.” It featured 40,000 roses and 15 orchid stems.
New Year's Day heat wave--almost
Warmer weather is on the way to these parts of the Frozen North, the National Weather Service says today. But the heat wave won't last long.
