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Gas-saving competition starts in May

Fairbanks environmentalists are continuing a friendly competition in which businesses and agencies reduce their gasoline use and reduce air pollution into a second year.

The annual Don’t Be Fuelish competition starts May 1 and is open to organizations of any size. Organizers will hold an informational meeting Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Northern Alaska Environmental Center.

During the voluntary competition, co-workers carpool, bike, walk, jog or take the bus to and from work. Participants record the miles they otherwise would have driven.

When the contest ends Sept. 30, the group that saved the most miles per employee wins.

Last year’s pilot program ran for only three months, not five. It drew participation from three organizations — the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and the Fairbanks federal building. The federal building won, saving an average of 44.8 miles per employee, according to Lori Hanemann, a local issues coordinator for the environmental center.

In total, last year’s competition saved 16 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, according to Hanemann. This year’s winner will win the “Old Fuel Can prize,” she said. Anyone interested in signing up for the competition or attending Thursday afternoon’s informational meeting can contact Hanemann at 452-5021, extension 27.

Winter stays late, more snow possible

Don’t put the skis and snowmachines away yet.

Mother Nature served up a late dish of winter over the weekend with anywhere from 1 to 8 inches of snow in the Tanana Valley and cooler temperatures are expected to prevail through the weekend, meteorologist Cary Freeman at the National Weather Service in Fairbanks said.

“There’s another resurgence of cold air coming in this weekend,” he said.

About 2 inches of snow fell around Fairbanks over the weekend, though some places got more than others. There were 8 inches of snow reported at Chena Hot Springs Resort about 60 miles east of Fairbanks, and a total 5 inches of snow was reported at Coldfoot, about 250 miles north of Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway, Freeman said.

The Department of Transportation issued a travel advisory for the Dalton Highway on Monday because of poor visibility due to drifting and blowing snow.

While temperatures may creep above freezing today or Wednesday, chances are that high temperatures will drop into the 20s again Thursday when a mass of cold air moves east from Russia, Freeman said. Low temperatures will be in the teens, he said. The normal high at this time is 38 degrees and the normal low is 13.

There is also a chance of more snow throughout the week, though no serious accumulations are in the forecast, Freeman said.

Geese fail to arrive at Delta Junction

There still have been no reports of Canada geese at Clearwater Lake in Delta Junction, which means it will probably be at least another week before the first geese of the season arrive at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in Fairbanks.

Last year, the first geese were reported at Clearwater Lake on April 8 and at Creamer’s Field on April 13. The average first arrival date for geese at Creamer’s Field is around April 12.

The fields at Creamer’s Field were plowed on a week ago in anticipation of the birds’ arrival and volunteers helped the Borealis Kiwanis Club spread grain for the soon-to-arrive geese at Creamer’s Field on Saturday.

Eielson begins Red Flag exercises

Interior residents might see more military aircraft flying overhead in the coming days.

Red Flag exercises at Eielson Air Force base began Monday and are scheduled to continue through April 19.

Pilots of small aircraft should stay updated about conditions during the exercises. They are encouraged to use the Special Use Airspace Information Service at 1-800-758-8733. In Fairbanks the number is 372-6913, or Eielson Range Control can be contacted on VHF radio at 125.3 mHz.

Those who are bothered by noise from the exercises can call 377-2116 or 1-800-JET-NOISE.

More Red Flag exercises are scheduled for June 9-10 and October 6-17. Northern Edge 08 exercises are scheueld for May 5-16.

Railroad emergency tour stops in Fairbanks

The Alaska Railroad Emergency Response Whistle Stop Tour rolls into Fairbanks today.

The tour is meant to train emergency responders in dealing with hazardous materials and train accidents, but a mobile fair is also open to the public. Experts will be on hand at the Depot Track from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. to provide advice in dealing with natural disasters and avoiding railroad hazards.

Sponsors are also offering a door prize drawing with entries including Summer Season Rail Tickets.

The tour will also be in Fairbanks on Wednesday.

For more information visit www.alaskarailroad.com, click on information, then community and finally Emergency Response Whistle Stop Tour on the left hand side of the page.

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital seeks teachers

The Interior Alaska Area Health Education center is seeking two secondary teachers for job shadowing and project development at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

A stipend is paid and after completing the two-week session, teachers will earn University of Alaska Anchorge professional development credits.

Teachers will learn more about the health care environment and learn how they can impact students’ career decisions.

The deadline to apply is April 18. The application is available online at www.northstar.k12.ak.us. Contact Tania Clucas at 458-6416 or tania.clucas@bannerhealth.com.

UAF professors win Murdock grants

Two University of Alaska Fairbanks professors have been awarded $15,000 grants from The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust as part of its Partners in Science Program.

Professors Larry Duffy and Gary Laursen will partner with high school teachers on reseach projects. Duffy will be working with Lathrop High School Science teacher Wendy Ehnert, and Laursen will partner with Marshall science teacher Wayne A. Woodgate.

The program’s primary goal is to provide high school science teachers with opportunities to work at the cutting edge of science, to revitalize their teaching and help them appreciate the use of inquiry-based methods in science writing.

Gov. Palin orders flags lowered for Linck

ANCHORAGE — Gov. Sarah Palin has ordered flags lowered to half-staff in memory of Alaska Stewart Linck.

She was the former territorial legislator who died at her home last month. She was 97.

Palin said in a statement Monday that Alaskans are forever indebted to Alaska Linck for her devoted service and her pioneering spirit.

Linck settled in Fairbanks. She served in the Territorial Legislature from 1943 to 1947.

Flags will fly at half-staff in her memory this Wednesday.

Cruise industry says it can’t meet standards

KETCHIKAN — Alaska’s cruise industry says it can’t meet certain wastewater discharge standards set by a new state permit.

John Binkley, president of the Alaska Cruise Association, says cruise lines are being singled out. And he says that the standards are unattainable.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation last month issued the wastewater discharge permit in response to a 2006 ballot initiative.

Gershon Cohen, a co-sponsor of the Citizen’s Cruise Ship Initiative, says the industry can do better. But he says it hasn’t done anything to improve its wastewater treatment in the two years since voters approved the initiative.

Gov. Palin confirms fifth child will be a boy

JUNEAU — It’s a boy.

Gov. Sarah Palin confirmed Monday that her fifth child, due May 18, will be a boy.

Palin and her husband, Todd, have not yet selected a name for the child, but are getting plenty of ideas offered by Alaskans.

The boy will be the couple’s second son, following in the steps of 18-year-old Track.

The first couple’s three daughters are Bristol 17; Willow 13; and Piper, 7.

Anchorage assemblyman suffers heart attack

ANCHORAGE — Family members say Anchorage assemblyman Paul Bauer is recovering at a local hospital following a heart attack.

Bauer suffered the heart attack Sunday, a day before his 53rd birthday.

The outgoing assemblyman has undergone surgery to insert three stents, used to prop open blood vessels.

His wife, Deborah, says Bauer is expected to make a full recovery.

Just last week, Bauer lost his re-election bid to challenger Mike Gutierrez in the East Anchorage race.

Bauer had been a part of the Assembly’s conservative majority for years.

Deborah Bauer told the Anchorage Daily News she partly blames the stress of the election for the heart attack.

Lawmakers want filmmakers in Alaska

JUNEAU — Alaska is one step closer to getting in the film business.

The House Finance Committee passed a Senate bill Monday designed to provide tax credits as an incentive to the film industry in exchange for producing movies in Alaska.

Many lawmakers say they are tired of watching Alaska theme movies and television shows filmed elsewhere.

They say it happens because other states offer tax breaks to production companies visiting their states. Alaska does not.

Senate Bill 230 by Senate Majority Leader Johnny Ellis, an Anchorage Democrat, could change that.

Ellis’ bill is headed for the House floor, where debate can’t take too much time. The session ends Sunday.

Man attacks bar customers with bear spray

KODIAK — A Kodiak man will spend five months in jail for twice attacking bar customers with bear spray.

At his sentencing, Daniel Pement read an apology he sent to bar patrons. In it, he says the separate incidents on February 9 and 10 at the B&B Bar were fueled by his alcohol consumption.

On Feb. 9, he was escorted from the bar after accusing a bartender of taking $5 from him. Pement returned 15 minutes later and sprayed customers with the bear spray.

Police talked to him later that night and confiscated the bear spray, but were called away on a more urgent matter.

Then on the following day, police arrested him after responding again to the bar, where Pement returned and sprayed patrons with another can of bear spray.

Man indicted on crack cocaine charges

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Attorney’s office says a man has been indicted on charges of distributing crack cocaine.

Officials say Derrick Wayne Johnson of Anchorage distributed five grams or more of crack on more than two occasions.

The 36-year-old faces two counts brought by the federal government and is now entitled to a fair trial.