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From our friends at the Ketchikan Daily News comes a powerful reason why Gov. Sarah Palin should save the state hundreds of millions of dollars and veto projects in the excessive capital budget.

“It’s like Christmas in spring,” the Ketchikan newspaper said of the legislative largesse.

“The state Legislature approved $69 million in capital projects for Ketchikan, Saxman, Hollis, Coffman Cove and Thorne Bay, plus $12 million for Craig, Klawock and other Prince of Wales Island communities and $16 million for Metlakatla.”

“And what do we say: Thank you very much.”

“This isn’t what we expected,” the newspaper said. “It’s beyond our dreams. Although not beyond our wildest dreams.”

It’s beyond my wildest dreams that Palin would allow this to stand.

What Ketchikan didn’t dream of until its legislators got hold of the capital budget is that they would get nearly $100 million for towns with a combined population in the 14,000 range.

But hold off on the Ho-Ho-Hos.

The last thing the state needs is Christmas in spring.

The capital budget is way out of balance, with Fairbanks getting one-fourth or one-fifth of the amount per capita bestowed upon Southeast communities and the Bethel region because the co-chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee — Republican Bert Stedman and Democrat Lyman Hoffman — were among the legislators who played Santa Claus.

The Legislators Gone Wild, both Democrats and Republicans, failed to produce a reasonable capital budget.

And Fairbanks was singled out for punishment because we had just one member in the coalition that controlled the Senate — Joe Thomas — and two-fifths of the Senate minority — Gary Wilken and Gene Therriault.

In this session, Fairbanks didn’t even have a place at the trough, such was the domination by free-spending lawmakers from elsewhere in Alaska.

With judicious vetoes, the governor can restore some regional balance.

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GOOD CHOICE: Brian Rogers will do a fine job as UAF chancellor.

A proven manager with exceptional problem-solving skills, Rogers has a strong background in education, business and public policy in Alaska.

He has earned the respect of people across Alaska, both inside and outside of the university system.

UA President Mark Hamilton made a good choice, selecting a leader who works hard and can provide the guidance UAF needs.

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HAPPY HUNTING: Fairbanks is tied for 31st place with Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on the list of the top 200 U.S. communities for hunting and fishing as identified by “Outdoor Life.”

Kenai is No. 42 on the list.

The towns were judged on quality of life and the hunting and fishing opportunities in the vicinity, the magazine reports in its April issue.

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CANCELED: The Fairbanks Drama Association canceled its production of “A Raisin in the Sun” because it could not cast the play, Peggy Ferguson says.

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WALKING: Take a walk and help raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis.

The MS Walk is set for May 3 at 10 a.m., with registration starting at 9 a.m.

The course is from Pioneer Park to Barnette Street, north to the Chena River and back to Pioneer Park. It will be followed by a picnic.

“It is important to remember, it is not a race. It is a walk and anyone can do it,” said Laura Graham.

“It’s a day of fun and coming together where every dollar raised helps change the lives of Alaskans with MS,” she said.

For more information call 347-7845. About 150 people made the walk last year.

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NEW STORE: Bailey’s Furniture, which has stores in Anchorage, Wasilla and Soldotna, has added Fairbanks to the list. It has set up in the old Tip Top Chevrolet building on South Cushman.

The plastic is expected to come off shortly, and I understand the Holiday Inn Express off the Johansen Expressway will open sometime next month.

Meanwhile, Hampton Inns has submitted plans for a new hotel on the north side of the Johansen.

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TUNED IN: Lisa Sporleder received the Spirit of KUAC award for her work on behalf of the public radio station.

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LITTER PATROL: If you are 14 or 15 years old and looking for summer work, considering signing up for a five-week stint on the Fairbanks Youth Litter Patrol. The pay is $7.15 an hour and interviews are set for May 3.

The first crews take to the roads during the last week of May. Upwards of 20 teens may be hired this year.

Apply through the Fairbanks Job Center in the state building on Seventh Avenue Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only 50 applicants will be interviewed.

For more information call Rose Todd at 456-4248.

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SPEAKING OUT: The author of “Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation” is to speak today at 5 p.m. at Fairbanks Lutheran Church on Cowles Street.

Barbara Rossing is a professor of the New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. Her trip is sponsored by three local Lutheran churches.

Rossing believes that the rapture, an idea promoted by many fundamentalists, is a theological and political racket that distorts the Bible.

The theory, as portrayed in the “Left Behind” series, glorifies violence and encourages fear, she believes.

The proponents of the rapture predict that at some point in the future, all Christians alive on Earth will be instantly taken away to meet the Lord, while everyone else will be left behind.