MAY 9, 2008 - 1:17 PM
From Mat-Su reporter Rindi White:
Today's Mat-Su edition reports the findings of a management audit that examines the Mat-Su Department of Emergency Services, and the borough Division of Solid Waste, which oversees landfill operations.
Assembly members are in budget discussions now, and it's possible some of the audit recommendations will be adopted as part of the fiscal 09 borough budget. Read the audit for yourself here: Management Audit
MAY 9, 2008 - 12:03 PM
First Presbyterian Church: This church has an inspiring, worshipful décor accented by a wonderful stained glass window in the front of the sanctuary.
Exterior: First Presbyterian Church is located at 616 W. 10th Ave.
On April 6, I visited First Presbyterian Church (616 W. 10th, 272-6411) to see any evident changes since previous visits several years ago. Upon entering, I received a warm but official greeting from an elderly greeter. I made my way to my seat without further contact with any other members, except to be handed a bulletin.
MAY 9, 2008 - 11:48 AM
Here's a long reply that came directly to me, prompted by my notebook about liberal talk radio (which is on the blog here, a couple of posts down):
-- Matt Zencey
I read the above referenced editorial (SHE MEANS THE ALASKA NOTEBOOK ON LIBERAL TALK RADIO). I noticed, of course, you signed it. Did you win the straw pick among the editorial staff?
That was a quick and dirty attempt at sarcasm. Perhaps with more time I'd do better. My implication is that any one of your staff could have put his or her name to the editorial, as you are all liberals - ooops, sorry, progressives. I chose this rather lame opening, because I understand from my husband, who was listening to Dan Fagan's show, that you stated you were being sarcastic, not serious in this opinion piece. Upon hearing that I asked him if he had read it. He said he hadn't.
MAY 9, 2008 - 11:37 AM
From Mat-Su editor Joe Ditzler:
Dennis Brodigan, head of the Mat-Su Emergency Services Department, once referred to that part of the borough between miles 81 and 95 Parks Highway as "the hole in the doughnut."
Meaning that if you live in the Caswell Lakes area, roughly between Willow and Talkeetna, and your house catches fire, kiss it goodbye. There is no fire department there, and no fire service area to provide the financial support necessary to put firefighters in the field.
That may change. The borough is holding two open houses next week to discuss creating a fire service area.
Bottom line: Will you, who live there, pay in property taxes to create a Caswell Lakes fire department?
MAY 8, 2008 - 9:18 PM
The blog is gonna take a hiatus for a week or two, but there's plenty of Alaska-connected stuff still going on in the pucks world, so here's some things to keep an eye on (and links, in blue, for info):
On the NHL level, the only Alaskan left is Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Ty Conklin of Anchorage, who is backing up Marc-Andre Fleury as the Pens take on the surprising Philadelphia Flyers starting Friday in the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage made his debut at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Championships on Thursday, firing two shots and earning an even-rating in 12:38 of ice time in Team USA's 6-4 victory over Germany in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
MAY 8, 2008 - 8:56 PM
Here's the summary of arrests made by Anchorage police during the week of April 27. Click the link for the full list.
Weekly arrest report from the Anchorage Police Department
Week of April 27 - May 3, 2008
The Anchorage Police Department arrested 377 people this week.
Of those arrested, the majority were in the category of Driving Offenses.
Here is a summary of the arrests by major crime category:
Driving Offenses* 72
DUI/OUI 50
Drugs 8
Weapons Offense 3
Assault** 60
Sexual Assault/Abuse 3
Theft/Fraud 30
Crimes of Disorder*** 38
Warrant 71
MAY 8, 2008 - 7:15 PM
From Kyle in Anchorage --
The Health and Social Services Department’s duties include looking after the young, old and needy. It runs the state Pioneer Homes for seniors, distributes food stamps and oversees Medicaid programs.
Karleen Jackson, the commissioner since 2005, resigned this week.
Below are excerpts from a quick Q&A I had with Jackson this afternoon about her resignation. While Jackson said she and the governor’s team disagreed on where the Department should go over the next two years, she declined to give details.
I wasn't able to reach Gov. Sarah Palin.
Meantime, you might want to check out Economist Gregg Erickson's column from February, where he described tension between Jackson and some legislators.
Here’s the Q&A:
Why are you resigning?
Jackson: Well, I sat down with the governor and some folks in her office, and we chatted about where things have been, and what we’ve been doing the last couple years, and looking ahead and moving the department forward in the next couple years, because we’re sort of at the half time of the four year administration. And there were some differences of opinions between myself and some of the governor’s office staff on how to get where we’re going ...
MAY 8, 2008 - 4:17 PM
From Kyle in Anchorage --
Karleen Jackson, commissioner of the state Health Department, is resigning.
She sent this letter to staffers today:
Jackson
It has been an honor to serve alongside each of you as we’ve worked to promote and protect the health and well-being of Alaskans. However, the Governor has accepted my resignation and effective Friday, May 9, Bill Hogan will serve as Acting Commissioner for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Thank you for the numerous ways you have improved the health and social services programs in our state. I have no doubt that together you will continue to serve the public with ethics and integrity, promote clear and transparent government, and improve the health of Alaskans.
MAY 8, 2008 - 3:29 PM
At the end of April, the pro- and anti-Clean Water initiative groups and the state of Alaska filed their initial state Supreme Court briefs in their consolidated appeals of recent court rulings on the initiatives.
The court has scheduled oral arguments for June 16, according to attorneys involved in the case.
I'm attaching two of the briefs below. I cannot attach the Pebble Partnership's or Council of Producers' briefs because, at 2.16 MB, they are just over the maximum file size for this blog program.
I could e-mail them to whoever is interested.
MAY 8, 2008 - 2:50 PM
From Kyle in Anchorage --
Let's review:
-- Kohring’s lawyer – John Henry Browne -- tells the judge that Kohring had to hitchhike to work. The borrowed 1984 Ford truck with a loose door he’d been driving crapped out on him and a supporter came to the rescue. "He was offering his profound support and his prayers, and he called his wife and said, 'Put Vic on the prayer chain right now; he needs prayer,' '' Kohring said
-- Waiting for the hearing to start, the peanut gallery obsesses over Kohring’s new haircut.
Exhibit A: Kohring at a September hearing. (ADN photo)
Exhibit B: Kohring at court today. (ADN)
-- Browne tells the judge his client has been sleeping on the couch of his parents’ double-wide while former Veco chief Bill Allen – who played a central role in these corruption cases – is “driving around in his Lexus with $400 million in his pocket.”
-- After Browne compares his client to nice-guy Andy Griffith, prosecutor Joe Bottini said he never saw an episode of the Andy Griffith Show where Andy took money from somebody.
Griffith: No convictions?
-- Kohring won’t have to go into custody right away. He’ll be able to get surgery on his back, after suffering an injury in a car accident a week before the trial began. His lawyer was driving.
MAY 8, 2008 - 2:24 PM
From T.C. Mitchell, Mat-Su reporter
Here’s what a random sampling of Valley residents had to say Thursday about Vic Kohring’s 3 1/2 –year prison sentence on federal corruption charges:
“I wish they would’ve made it a little light on him. Out of all them, he seemed the most remorseful, like he didn’t know what he was doing there. But that doesn’t make it right, I guess.”
Cindy Murphy, Wasilla
“I was disappointed in his lifestyle. He wasn’t what he professed to be. Three years is appropriate. We all have to live with our consequences, but he never admitted he did anything wrong. He projected blame onto someone else, like he wasn’t solely responsible for his actions.”
MAY 8, 2008 - 2:06 PM
I was introduced to weight-lifting by my Mother and her friend when I was 12 years old. I saw how disciplined they were with their protein shakes and fancy weight-lifting gloves and I wanted to get in on the action. My Mom warned me that they were serious and if I wasn't going to to be, then I shouldn't waste my time or theirs. I begged and pleaded for a gym membership and in my whiniest, most annoying voice cried that I could in fact hold my own at the gym and I wouldn't be a nuisance to them.
Well it turned out that my dedication to the gym was not as disciplined as theirs. I still hear sarcastic remarks from my Mom about how unfocused I was at the beginning of my weight-lifting days. I here the same story to this day, "You almost dropped that weight on my head because you were too busy watching other people workout instead of spotting me!" I literally heard this just yesterday for the zillionth time.
MAY 8, 2008 - 1:24 PM
So far, I've only noticed a few reports of contributions to groups created to campaign on the Clean Water initiatives.
So how are the groups funding all those pro- and anti-mining ads and how much are they spending?
The first reporting deadline for groups isn't until July 28, 30 days before the August election.
At least some of the primetime ads that we've been seeing on TV may not need to be reported, according to the Alaska Public Offices Commission.
For example, the ads that the Alaskans Against the Mining Shutdown are running appear to be "issue ads" that do not tell people to vote up or down on a particular initiative, according to APOC acting director Chris Ellingson.
MAY 8, 2008 - 1:14 PM
From Kyle in Anchorage --
While Kohring and his lawyer looked to portray the former Valley legislator as an an everyman and victim railroaded by the government at today’s sentencing, prosecutor Edward Sullivan evoked one of the iconic images from Kohring’s trial:
He described a snapshot of Allen giving Kohring money, and Kohring asking what he could do for Allen.
The tape: Former Alaska legislator Vic Kohring accepts cash from VECO's Bill Allen in this March 2006 secretly recorded video.
“That one act alone says it all about Vic Kohring’s character and his conduct in this case,” Sullivan said.
MAY 8, 2008 - 12:44 PM
Remember all of the chocolate milk Mom made for you growing-up? Here is a way to give her one with a little boost.
This is one of my recipes that has been popular for years!
Death-by-Chocolate (creamy, delicate and good for the sweet tooth)
1 1/2 oz. Stoli Vanilla Vodka
3/4 oz. Dark Creme de Cacao
1 1/2 oz of Half and Half
4 drops of chocolate malted syrup
Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients and shaake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add a little chocolate stick in for stirring and munching.
Salut!
MAY 8, 2008 - 12:43 PM
Do you ever experience those moments of sheer joy where you think to yourself “I must remember this forever”? I think back to when I felt that initial flutter of life in my belly, or when I held my baby for the first time. I think of him sighing contentedly in my arms before I put him in his crib or gurgling delight while being rocked on his daddy’s knees. I think of first steps, first foods, first fits, and first words. I think mostly of facial expressions and deep blue eyes, and I will myself, to not forget a single moment.
Although, I know that time is notorious for ebbing away at the corners of these memories, I work to imprint them into the recesses of my heart. I want to be able to retrieve them when I need them. I’ll need them when my teenager is angry with me, or my young adult son is going away to college, or my daughter is getting married, or maybe even when the grandchildren are born. The point is that those memories can carry us through many tough times.
MAY 8, 2008 - 12:30 PM
Kohring and his attorney John Henry Browne talk to the media. (Bill Roth/ADN)
From Kyle in Anchorage --
Here’s the full statement Kohring read to the judge John Sedwick today, based on a written copy he handed out before the hearing.
When he actually stood up to speak, Kohring ad-libbed in a couple areas, but for the most part stuck to this script. As he talked, Sedwick listened silently and a guy in a black-and-white "proud to be Valley Trash" shirt searched for a seat.
I stand before you not to plead for mercy as others have done before me. Instead, I'm here to proclaim my innocence. I don't believe I received a fair trial last fall which is why I did not prevail in this court room.
MAY 8, 2008 - 12:12 PM
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A cow moose cleans bark off a pair of adjacent choke cherry trees while feeding in a front yard all day Sunday May 4, 2008 in Turnagain. Erik HIll/ADNJust wondering if anything can be done for our Mayday trees which two moose stripped of bark on Sunday. Ignoring the issues surrounding the Mayday, and we inherited them from the previous homeowner, can anything be done to save them now that the bark has been stripped all the way to the ground from a height of about seven feet?
MAY 8, 2008 - 12:07 PM
On the front page of the Daily News today is a story about the TV "Tougher in Alaska." The show premieres tonight on The History Channel. I'd suggest you watch it, it sounds like a good show.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.
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