Interior/Alaska in brief — March 28
Published Friday, March 28, 2008
Nonresident labor rose in 2006
State officials reported almost one in five workers in Alaska in 2006 were “nonresidents,” a statistic that indicates the state could be experiencing a labor shortage.
Researchers at the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development estimate 19.9 percent of workers in Alaska were nonresidents in 2006, up from 19.1 percent the previous year. Those workers earned 12.9 percent of total wages in the state, also higher than the previous year, the department reported this month.
“Wages are leaving our economy, and Alaska is losing spending power to other states,” Gov. Sarah Palin wrote in the March issue of Alaska Economic Trends. She said the state has traditionally spent only the “bare minimum” investing in work training programs, something the state and Legislature are trying to change through a handful of measures.
Community patrol numbers up
A restructured Community Service Patrol has taken a load off Fairbanks police officers by responding to hundreds of reports of people intoxicated in public, city police Chief Dan Hoffman reported this week. Hoffman told City Council members Monday that the program, which removes chronic drinkers from downtown streets, responded to almost exactly as many reports as police officers in the first two months of the year — 364 to 354, respectively.
The patrol program had made more responses by this time last year, when the program was run by the Fairbanks Native Association, but the numbers represent “continued improvement from earlier efforts” and is saving the city money on public safety costs, Hoffman wrote in a report to the council.
New Pearl Creek principal selected
Kate LaPlaunt has been chosen as the new principal of Pearl Creek Elementary School. She will be replacing Mary Short, who is retiring.
LaPlaunt stated in a press release that she looks forward to encouraging the use of technology in education.
LaPlaunt has worked in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District since 2001. She taught sixth grade at North Pole Middle School and is a reading teacher at Ticasuk Brown Elementary School.
No damage reported from earthquake
FAIRBANKS — A moderate earthquake was felt widely in several south-central Alaska communities, but there have been on immediate reports of damage.
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says the magnitude 5.2 quake was centered about 50 miles southwest of Homer. It occurred about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
The quake was located at a depth of 43 miles.
Gatewood named to suicide advisory council
ANCHORAGE — Governor Palin has named Bernard Gatewood of Fairbanks to the state’s Suicide Prevention Council.
The council advises the governor and the Legislature on ways to reduce suicide and its effect on individuals, families and communities.
Gatewood will serve a four-year term.
Gatewood has 25 years of experience in human services, including education, mental health and juvenile corrections.
He is a 20-year veteran of the state’s Division of Juvenile Justice and is a past member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Health and Social Services Commission.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of La Verne in California.
Orthodox Church reinstates Alaska bishop
KODIAK — The Orthodox Church in America’s Holy Synod of Bishops has withdrawn the mandatory leave of absence for Alaska diocese leader Bishop Nikolai Soraich.
The Holy Synod of Bishops said in a statement posted on the church’s Web site Thursday that it is aware of the concerns of clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Alaska, and will do what it takes to restore peace.
An official investigation is expected to begin next week, involving the church’s bishops from Detroit and Philadelphia. Their report is expected in May.
This month, the church’s leader placed Nikolai on a mandatory leave of absence and ordered him to leave the state as it investigates allegations that he abused his office.
Soraich has argued the church does not have the authority to remove him from his position without first going through procedures outlined in the Church Canons.
Comments
Shame on me for feeling a state Income Tax would help keep some of the money that leaves with people who work here but, do not live here. It sure would help out the property owners!
I can agree with were you are coming from but the real answer is in providing the training to have skilled laborers who live here. Back in the eighties we had alot of vocational training through programs at Hutchison Career Center, automotive, culinary, most of the trade work. these classes where offered to the community and if you where in high school you could elect during your junior and senior year to have a half day over at 'hutch' learning some life skills. If you go ask someone who is in a hiring position over at, say Seekins for example, you would hear that they have to hire from outside because there are just not enough skilled diesel mechanics, or whatever. Same with a lot of buisness's that rely on skilled labor, there are not enough around and there is no where for them to get the training without a huge investment from the company that hires them in the resources needed to train them effectively. If we as a state dont like that 1 in 5 workers is from out of state than tell your representatives at every level that you want more training available and more education for these things.
(P.S. about Seekins,if you knew me, you would know THAT is one particular buisness i would NEVER shop but I use them as an example of what is needed because they are one of the larger employeer's in town of skilled laborers)
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