Entries in Dermot Cole for July, 2009
Dry heat and smoke mark July
•Cooler weather is expected today, as the driest summer month and one of the warmest months in Fairbanks history ends on a smoke-filled note.
"A weather front will usher a cooler airmass into the area today," the National Weather Service said, "with temperatures much closer to seasonable levels as we start the first weekend of August."
•The Parnell administration is siding with GVEA critics and raising objections to a voluntary experimental pre-pay program for electric service. Health and Social Services Commissioner William Hogan said that people on public assistance may sign up for the program and run out of money before their checks arrive.
Smoke advisory extended for Fairbanks
The National Weather Service has extended the dense smoke advisory until midnight.
Great American smokeout
•It is fair weekend in Delta Junction. The 30th annual Deltana Fair starts Friday and continues through Sunday. •If you don't have to breathe much, the smoke seems like fog. Except when it gets in your eyes. Conditions are expected to improve tonight. By about midnight the winds are expected to be blowing 10 mph from the northeast, pushing the smoke back to the southwest, the National Wether Service says. •The Fairbanks Youth Soccer Association canceled 19 soccer games tonight. The rec tournament games are to be rescheduled Friday. •The Division of Motor Vehicles is shipping a new printer to Fairbanks so that the DMV will again be issuing licenses Friday morning.
July could be driest and one of warmest in Fairbanks history
•With almost no precipitation this month, July could end up as the driest summer month in Fairbanks history and one of the two or three warmest months on record. •The Evergreen 747 Supertanker is to drop fire retardant and water on the Minto Flats South Fire Thursday, displaying its capability for those who fight wildfires in Alaska. The plane arrived in Fairbanks Tuesday.
Evergreen 747 Supertanker displays firepower
An Evergreen Boeing 747 Supertanker that can carry 20,000-gallon loads of water to dump on wildfires flew into Fairbanks this afternoon. The company has had the plane on a tour of France, Spain, Germany and Alberta since mid-July. The plane flew from Edmonton to Fairbanks today.
William Shatner reads Sarah Palin
William Shatner was on The Tonight Show Monday, giving the poetic treatment to part of former Gov. Sarah Palin's resignation speech.
Campbell takes office as "temporary substitute for lieutenant governor"
The state revised the temporary job title accorded to Craig Campbell when he was sworn in Sunday. But it would be better to follow the law, under which he is not yet lieutenant governor, but "temporary substitute for lieutenant governor."
Palin says media should 'quit making things up'
In her farewell remarks as governor, delivered before a mostly supportive crowd of several thousand at Pioneer Park this afternoon, Sarah Palin declared her support for the military, the second amendment, hunting, smaller government and the gas line, among other things.
She reserved her main criticism for "some in the news media" and said they should "quit making things up."
Substitute for Lt. Gov.
The announcement from the state said Craig Campbell will become lieutenant governor Sunday when Gov. Sarah Palin resigns and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell steps up to the top job.
But to be accurate about this, Campbell is going to have to wait awhile before becoming lieutenant governor.
GVEA pre-pay plan set for hearing Monday
•A state regulatory commission is holding a public hearing Monday in Fairbanks on plans by GVEA for what the utility calls a voluntary "pre-pay pilot program."
•The federal government has given Alaska until Sept. 30 to decide if it wants the $28 million in energy funds rejected by the governor. The state does not have to adopt a statewide energy code.
•The "cash for clunkers" program applies in Alaska, Sen. Lisa Murkowski says. But so far there are no approved disposal facilities listed on the government Web site for Fairbanks. Alaska was inadvertently left out of the list entirely, but the early word is that there are approved disposal yards in Anchorage, Juneau and Kodiak. I can think of several Fairbanks disposal sites for clunkers. Murkowski's office is checking into the problem.
Nenana plans sale for Mayrand memorial
The community of Nenana is planning a rummage sale and car wash Saturday to raise money for the Joshua Taylor Mayrand Memorial Fund.
Smoke gets in your eyes
Expect the smoke to get thicker, the National Weather Service says, The smoke blanketing Fairbanks is from the Wood River fire about 30 miles south of Fairbanks International Airport.
Senior games to open Friday at Big Dipper
•The opening ceremonies for the Alaska International Senior Games will be at the Big Dipper on Friday at 6 p.m. Registration for some events will still be available on Friday.
•Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat, is to officially start his campaign for governor Wednesday in Fairbanks at noon at Veterans Memorial Park on Cushman Street. That's according to the Interior Democrats.
Historic TV tower cut down, while Google Maps car checks out Fairbanks
While a crew from the Nolan Brothers company continued to take apart the old TV tower on the roof of the Northward Building, a Google Maps camera car toured the city streets to record views of Fairbanks today.
U.S. chamber backs higher federal gas tax
While Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell is pushing the Legislature to continue a suspension or repeal the state's 8-cent gas tax, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is calling for an increase of about 10 cents in the federal gas tax to build and fix the nation's crumbling roads.
Parnell should look to using gas tax to help deal with road maintenance backlog
Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell said today that legislators should expand the special session to extend the suspension of the eight-cent-per-gallon fuel tax or repeal the tax permanently. I've got another idea: The soon-to-be governor and the Legislature should start a statewide transportation program and use a state fuel tax to help cover the cost.
Native contracting preferences face review
While Alaska Native Corporations are lobbying to defend a federal preference that has been worth billions to the companies, a Senate hearing Thursday is to deal with assertions that the program is ripe for revision.
Weather service predicts smoke will begin to clear out
The National Weather Service says we can expect some showers today and winds that will help clear the air.
North winds may bring fresh air
I actually told someone today I'd rather have 50 below weather than this smoke. She disagreed, saying that she could go for nothing colder than 30 below. And she promised to remind me of my comment next winter. But there is good news in the forecast by Wednesday.
Willow leaf 'blotch miner' hits trees
The leaves on willow trees are turning brown throughout the Fairbanks area because of a pest known as the willow leaf blotch miner.
20 Alaskans donate about $8,500 to SarahPAC
Of the 709 identified contributors to Gov. Sarah Palin's political action committee, about 20 are Alaskans. They gave a total of about $8,500 of the $312,000 the committee collected in itemized contributions during the first six months of the year. But the committee also raised $420,000 in contributions of less than $200, for which the donors are not identified.
SarahPAC raises $733,000
Gov. Sarah Palin's political action committee raised $733,000 in the first six months of the year.
State revenue commissioner says AGIA critic misses mark by more than $1.5 billion
Revenue Commissioner Pat Galvin says that a former state economist is off by more than $1.5 billion with claims that the "triple damages" section of the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act could cost the state $2.5 billion.
Economist says gas line plan may cost state up to $2.5 billion
A former state petroleum economist from Anchorage predicts the Palin administration plan for a gas pipeline may "assure the project's failure" and "ultimately cost the state nearly $2.5 billion."
Local Lions honor Beers, Zimmer
The Fairbanks Host Lions dedicated a shelter Wednesday in Danby Park in honor of Clarence Beers and Bill Zimmer, Lions of long standing in Fairbanks.
Pollution level rises with wildfire smoke
The "fine particulates" dispersed by the wildfire smoke have increased the pollution level above the national standards for clean air.
Fairbanks sets temperature record
Fairbanks set a record high temperature this afternoon for July 8, topping the previous mark of 88. The temperature hit 89 and if it reaches 90, it would be the first time in 15 years it's been that toasty.
Toolik Lake dancers perform 'Farthest North Thriller'
Wearing hoods, breakup boots and mosquito nets, two dozen of the best dancers at the Toolik Lake research camp performed an "Arctic Thriller" in memory of Michael Jackson.
Alaska Airlines starts baggage fee
The Alaska Airlines baggage fee went into effect this week, along with what the airline says is the first "baggage service guarantee" for a major carrier.
Palin should propose ethics law changes
Before Gov. Sarah Palin quits, her administration should propose changes to repair the state ethics law that she championed.
"I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law," she said to a national audience during her campaign for vice president.
Signing the bill two years ago this week, Palin said the measure was "a good first step toward changing the culture of politics as usual."
Now she says the law has become the "weapon of choice" to use against her in the "politics of personal destruction."
Governor says she's not a quitter
"I am not a quitter. I am a fighter," Gov. Sarah Palin said in one of a series of interviews she held Monday in Dillingham. In an interview with the Anchorage Daily News, she said she is resigning because the administration would otherwise be paralyzed by a corrosive political environment until the next election. "With Sean in the governor's seat it won't be the politics of personal destruction, I don't believe," Palin told the Daily News.
Palin changed line of succession Friday
•Gov. Sarah Palin changed the official order of succession on the day she announced her plans to quit, according to the governor’s office.
•If Gov. Sarah Palin's "higher calling" is to pursue a career on cable TV, a writer for a show biz magazine says Fox News could be a "perfect match." Other reports say that Palin could get $50,000 or $60,000 for a single speech in the Lower 48.
Parnell says he's "disappointed" with Murkowski's comment on Palin
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell says he's "disappointed" that Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was "deeply disappointed" that Gov. Sarah Palin decided to "abandon the state and her constituents" by quitting. Parnell said that "what the governor did was actually look out for Alaskans in this."
Palin says 'sacrificing my title helps Alaska most,' rips mainstream media in Facebook posting
Gov. Sarah Palin said while it's "honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make."
Why is Palin leaving now?
Gov. Sarah Palin spoke for more than 15 minutes Friday and gave many reasons why she doesn't want to run for re-election.
But she didn't provide a compelling reason for why she is quitting before her term is complete.
Palin drops bombshell by saying she will quit governor's post in late July
In her prepared remarks today, Gov. Sarah Palin said, "Hi Alaska, I appreciate speaking directly TO you, the people I serve, as your Governor."
Palin resignation throws open 2010 race for governor
Gov. Sarah Palin's shocking decision to leave office this month means the 2010 race for governor in Alaska is wide open. While Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who takes over for Palin July 26 at a picnic in Fairbanks, is a likely GOP candidate, his loss to Rep. Don Young in the Congressional race shows that he may have trouble becoming the front runner.
Palin says she is not retreating, but advancing in a new direction
As she announced her decision to resign her office today, Gov. Sarah Palin said a good point guard in basketball knows when to pass the ball.
Palin to resign at end of July, says Parnell to be sworn in as governor in Fairbanks July 25
Gov. Sarah Palin said today she is stepping down from the governor's office at the end of July. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell is to be sworn in as governor at the governor's picnic at the end of the month in Fairbanks, KTUU in Anchorage said.
In her statement, Palin said she knows "when it's time to pass the ball for victory" and that she is passing the ball to Parnell.
Palin said she polled her family and the response was 5-0 that she should work from "outside the governor's office."
She said it hurts to make this choice, but she is doing this for Alaska and her family.
"I'm taking my fight for what's right for Alaska in a new direction," she said.
She quoted Gen. Douglas MacArthur and said she is not retreating, but advancing in a different direction.
Palin to step down
Gov. Sarah Palin said today she will resign from her office. We'll have more details shortly.
Palin announcement coming
The news networks are speculating that Gov. Sarah Palin is either not running for re-election or resigning. An announcement is expected shortly. The governor sent out an announcement earlier this morning saying she would make an announcement at her home in Wasilla.
GOP insiders trade claims
Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post has more on what he calls the "war of words" between conservative Bill Kristol and conservative Steve Schmidt about the McCain campaign and comments regarding Gov. Sarah Palin.
Alaskan Independence Party and Palins
CBS News has a story about e-mails exchanged during the last few weeks of the McCain-Palin campaign and dueling interpretations of Todd Palin's membership in the Alaskan Independence Party and whether the party supports secession.
GOP leaders fight over Palin story
The lengthy negative article about Gov. Sarah Palin in Vanity Fair has led to a bitter exchange between the man who managed John McCain's campaign and GOP activist Bill Kristol, one of Palin's biggest fans.
