Daily Sitka Sentinel from Sitka, Alaska • Page 3

Daily Sitka Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, Monday, March 25, IMS, AUCTION BOARD Two Sheldon Jackson College representatives rush to take down bids during the Time, Treasures and Talent auction Saturday, a feature of the To Test Job Sharing TM FAIRBANKS (AP) About a dozen teachers have applied to share their jobs and work part-time this fall in a Fairbanks pilot program to test jo.b- Crew Faulted In Plane Fire FAIRBANKS AP) Improper actions by the flight crew of a Air North DC-3 in ,1983 contributed to an emergency aboard the plane when one of its engines caught fire, the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded. The twin-engine plane on June 23, 19)83, was carrying 19 people frohi Fort Yukon to Metro Field, a private airport in south Fairbanks, when thetife broke Air the 'plane descended near Little Peak, the fire went out and the plane landed uneventfully at the field. But the NTSB noted that passengers complained there was long delay between the fire's outbreak and corrective action by the crew. The agency's report also cited poor communication between the cockpit and the cabin, and a lack of emergency equipment on hand at Meitro Field. The NTSB said causes of the incident included loose, fuel line fittings, improper emergency procedures and poor supervision by the pilot and poor coordination by the copilot.

Air-North was taken over by another firm that went bankrupt. Youth dorps To Hire Teens Young Sitkans between 15 and .18 years of age who are looking for some work this summer will have a chance to learn more the Youth Conservation Corps, with an information session and film to be featured 2 p.m. Saturday at the Visitors Center of the Sitka National Historical Park. Both interested teenagers and parents are invited to attend and ask questions, said Stu Buchanan of the U.S. Forest Service.

The Forest Service and the National Park each expect to have seven positions this summer, which will last eight weeks, from mid- June to mid-August. The corps employees will be paid $4.20 an hour to work on such projects as trail construction, maintenance, and campground maintenance. "We already have a few applications," said Buchanan. "And we hope to have recruiting done, by mid- April. "It's a good program, I think the kids have good time, and it allows a job opportunity that are kind of tough to come by around Those with questions can telephone Buchanan at the U.S.

Forest Service, 747-6671, or Ernest Suazo at the national park, 747-6281. Photo a Winner A photo of a seiner, taken by Robin Sergey, took first place in a photo contest sponsored by RC Photo in conjunction with the Herring Festival in Sitka over the weekend. Other place winners were Christine Swanson, second; Amy and 'Brian Massey, third; and another photo by Bergey, fourth, School Lunch Menu WEDNESDAY: chefs salad, roll, butter, chicken noodle soup, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Pudding Pops, milk. sharing in the local school district. From those Personnel Director Rick Cross says he may recommend four or five teams for participation.

The ultimate decision rests with Superintendent Kenneth Burnley, who is to get the recommendations by April 1. The job-sharing pilot program was part of the school district's negotiated contract with the Fairbanks Education 950 teachers in this district; Those selected will begin their shared jobs this fall. Applicants have a choice of splitting teaching time 50-50 or 60-40. Classroom elementary teachers were from the pilot program because it was believed it would be too A As for the total teachers sharing a job cannot exceed the district's benefits cost for one full- time teacher, said Cross. That means the two teachers will be able to choose no benefits, or partial benefits by paying some 1 -of the costs concept of job sharing is especially appealing to those workers with young children or who don't desire a fulMime job, school officials said.

RIl to Use For college's WintersEnd festival. More than 2,000 attended, and Sheldon Jackson officials estimate more than $4,800 was raised for the college. (Sentinel photo) Brower Hurt In Accident ANCHORAGE (AP)--Former North Slope Mayor Eugene Brower was hospitalized over the weekend after he was injured in a snowmachirie accident about 45 miles southeast of Barrow. A spokesman at Public Health Service hospital in Barrow said Brower was "in pain" when admitted, but the spokesman would not detail Brower's condition late Sunday. Helicopter pilot Randall Crosby said he picked up Brower late Saturday.

Crosby said he was diagnosed as having a fractured collarbone and a possible fractured jaw. Brower was with three brothers when the accident occurred, Crosby said. Brower apparently was thrown off the snowmachihe when it hit a hard object in a frozen riyerbank: He then was struck by the sled the machine was towing. Crosby said Brower's brothers told him they had been at the site of Uieir land; allotment, building a cabin. The accident occurred as the four were making their way back to Barrow.

Brower's brothers took him to a nearby cabin where they radioed the North Slope search and rescue helicopter. Brower was voted out of ice in October. Since then, his three-year administration has come under federal and state scrutiny for possible fiscal improprieties. ANCHORAGE (AP) The Alaska Railroad plans to spend $68.1 million to modernize its aging system and bring it into compliance with federal safety standards. The three-year spending plan, unveiled at a board of directors meeting Thursday, includes $35 million for 15 new locomotives, 115 train cars and other heavy equipment.

Renovation of the Whittier Marine Terminal will be another priority. General Manager Frank Turpiri said the improvements could be financed entirely out of the railroad's profits. No loans or bond issues would.be needed, even though the railroad will be spending more than $21 million in each of the next three years, he said. "We're rather excited about the possibility of modernizing the railroad and being able to do it with our own revenues," Turpin told the board. Under federal ownership, most of the system's major improvements had to be paid for through congressional appropriations.

And in recent years, when the government was negotiating to sell the railroad to the state, Congress was to spend much money on it. In 1983, only $16.1 million was spent for improvements, and about half that much in 1984. In January; the government sold the railroad to 'the state for $22.3 million. The state expects to spend $14.2 million this Under state the board must try to run the railroad as a profit-making corporation, and eventually try to turn it over to private owners. Tuprin said the three-year plan is the most aggressive capital expenditure program in the railroad's 62-year history.

According to his scenario, the railroad's profits will increase as it grabs a greater share of an expanded freight market. Those profits will offset continued losses on passenger operations, according to railroad projections. Profits are expected to total nearly $60 million during the three-year Finance Manager Marvin Yetter said the railroad will draw on its cash reserves to pay for the rest of improvements. Nevertheless, the railroad is expected still to have a surplus of $1.4 million by 1988, he said. Profits from the railroad must be invested in new equipment or safety improvements, Turpin said.

The railroad has set aside $15 million to bring the line up to the standards required by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The railroad was exempt from OSHA regulations while the government owned it, said spokeswoman Vivian Hamilton. Teleconference Set On StateAffairs Bill Public comment is sought on three House bills now before the House State Affairs Committee. The bills deal with mandatory use of seat belts, leave of absence due to pregnancy, birth, adoption and child care and relating to child care centers in state buildings. Those wishing to comment on any of the bills may attend a teleconference 3 p.m.

Wednesday at the Legislative Information Office where copies of the bill are available, also. BPWtoMeet Sitka Business and Professional Women will meet for a no-host dinner and a talk on investments at 6:15 p.m. tonight at the Sheffield hotel. The program, to begin at 6:45 p.m. will focus on investment options for women with annual salaries under $25,000 and how to maintain a financial plan.

A roundtable discussion will follow. TV Show Set A program on Alaska's bottomfish industry will air on Cable Channel 4 at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. House OKs Insurance Regs Air Carriers; Truckers C)ut By BRUCE SCANDLING Associated Press Writer JUNEAU (AP) House lawmakers passed a bill Friday that would set up liability insurance rates for in-state air carriers, re-establishing regulations scrapped when voters abolished the Alaska Transportation Commission in November. But most of a vigorous debate sparked by the measure centered on what the bill doesn't include.

Several Republicans--who comprise the House minority complained that the bill doesn't contain any insurance or inspection regulations for Alaska's trucking industry. Those regulations were also dumped when the ATC was abolished, but the House Transportation Committee worked for weeks this session to reestablish inspection and insurance guidelines for truckers. House leaders scrapped that part of the bill at a House Finance Committee meeeting earlier in the week, an action that drew an angry response Friday from Rep. Walt Furnace, R-Anchorage; "It has simply taken all that language out," Furnace said. "In two days we have wiped out all that hard work." He called the action a "miscarriage of justice." House leaders, however, said they pulled language regarding the trucking industry because it will be tackled later this session in a Senate bill working its way toward the House.

"One of the things we're trying to do is separate these (air and truck) carriers," said Rep. Al Adams, D- Kotzebue and chairman of the House Finance Committee. "The truckers will be dealt with later (in the Senate bill)." Friday's vote sets minimum liability insurance rates for air taxi services and small airlines conducting business only within Alaska. The bill does not address safety since those are required of all air carriers by the Federal Aviation Administration. In-state air carriers must supply liability insurance worth at least $100,000 for every passenger on board, according to the measure.

That's the same rate set by the ATC before it was abolished. Rep. John Sund, D-Ketchikan, tried and failed to amend the bill by raising minimum liability rates to $300,000 per seat. He said increased coverage would better protect accident victims, and their families. "Most of the time, you're talking about death, not just injury," said Sund, who acknowledged he owns a small percentage of a Ketchikan air taxi service.

"If you can't afford the difference (between $100,000 and $300,000 rates), you shouldn't be flying," Sund said. Several lawmakers said the higher insurance requirment would protect consumers from "fly-by-night" air- charter owners. Adams, however, said higher rates would simply be passed along to consumers, especially in rura! Alaska where residents fly frequently with small airlines and charter companies. IN ANCHORAGE: Friday's floor debate was underscored by a series of amendments unsuccessfully promoted by Rep. Andre Marrou, a Homer Libertarian who was one of the co-sponsors of the ballot initiative that abolished the ATC.

Marrou repeatedly urged his colleagues to turn down the air carrier measure. He said the-bill and the upcoming Senate to regulate Alaska truckers controverts the will of the people. "This bill would greatly fly in the face of what the people have already adopted," Marrou said. "If they were smart enough to elect us, they were smart enough to pass that ballot initiative." Almost 117,000 Alaskans voted last November to scrap the ATC. Other lawmakers, however, said Friday that even though the agency was abolished, the legislature still has the responsibility to make sure Alaska's roads and airways are safe.

And that must involve some regulation and inspection, they said. Former Coach Sues ANCHORAGE (AP) A high school football coach suspended from his job two years ago has sued the Anchorage School District, claiming the suspension was illegal. Former East Anchorage High School coach Robert Durado was suspended March 24,1983, after the Alaska School Activities Association notified the school its football team would be bai red from the 1983-84 season. The school district later ruled Durado had allowed ineligible students to play on the school's football squad and suspended him from coaching and banned him from participating in any East High athletic program for two years. "I really believe they just put me out to dry because they wanted to get football back in at East," he said.

The association later amended its ruling so the school was allowed to compete. East High was placed on probation and barred from postseason play for a year. It also was fined $1,000. Durado, East High's head football coach for 16 years, now is a job coor-i dinator at the district's SAVE I cam- He is asking for back pay. Galls Meeting The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center will meet 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday in Room 142 of Blatchley Junior High. Sitka Boat Financing Package payments for the first three months Includes financing first year's premium for hull irteurance Includes Credit Life, Accident and Health insurance over with IV down percentage rate adjusted annually includes loan fee for loans $25,000. fixed rate available on loans under $25,000. (Good through May 1, 1985) TERMS AND LOAN AMOUNTS Under $10,000 5 year term Tvearterm 10 year term $25,000 and over 15 ycar term (floating rate) ALL LOANS SUBJECT TO APPROVED CREDIT B.M. Behrends Bank loan officer Dave Simons will be in Sitka at the Shee Atika Lodge from 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. on March 28, 29 and 30 to accept applications for our SPECIAL BOAT LOAN PACKAGE as well as for: Housing Loans Business Loans Car Loans and Consumer Loans Call collect, 586-6800 Extension 215 for advance appointment the B.m. Behrends Bonk 234 Seward Street Juneau, Alaska 99801.