newsminer.com

10 YEARS AGO

Jan. 13, 1999 — Low market prices, which have idled or slowed development on some North Slope oil projects have not diminished progress of a proposed $12 billion to $15 billion natural gas pipeline project.

“Despite record-low oil prices the industry is seeing the North Slope (gas pipeline) sponsor group is proceeding as planned. We have had no change to our budgets.” said David Lawrence, chairman of the consortium studying the gas project.

The slope group eyes 2007 as the target date of completion.

Five oil industry businesses have committed $20 million for a 21-month investigation of the gas pipeline project. If initial design work proves favorable, the consortium plans to spend up to

$100 million during the next 45 months to bring the project to a possible construction decision.

25 YEARS AGO

Jan. 13, 1984 — The Fairbanks North Star Borough will begin charging grant recipients a percentage of their money for operating expenditures under a measure approved by assembly on Thursday.

The measure, which affects some 500 grants totaling $90 million, would bring in an estimated $775,000 to the borough.

50 YEARS AGO

Jan. 13, 1959 — Fairbanks police are hunting for the bank bandit who stole more than $14,000, which is fully covered by insurance. The robbery is called the biggest ever staged in Alaska.

The elusive bandit, who staged a daring holdup at gunpoint at the Alaska National Bank on Airport Road, faded into obscurity in the late afternoon darkness.

It’s the biggest manhunt in Fairbanks’ history.

The calm, gun-swinging highwayman walked into the Airport Way branch, cowered three women and one man then ran northward to Turner street with his market bag full of currency.

The bold robbery was pulled off when the building was devoid of patrons. To make matters more difficult for the authorities, bank employees disagreed to some extent on the man’s appearance. The holdup was over in a matter of minutes.

It was the first major robbery since statehood and the largest ever staged in the state of Alaska.

75 YEARS AGO

Jan. 13, 1934 — Fairbanks today experienced the third-coldest day in the history of the Local Weather Bureau. Sixty-one degrees below zero was recorded at 8:30 this morning. The lowest temperature on record here is 65 below in January 1906. The second-coldest is 62 below in January 1911.

Fair and continued cold is expected to last for tonight and Sunday. It was extremely cold over Alaska from Bethel to Kuskowim, where it was 40 below, to Fort Yukon where it was 71 below, making it the coldest place in the entire territory of Alaska this morning. Most of the territory is covered with ground fog. Along the Copper River, a blizzard is blowing and visibility is nil.