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Daily Sitka Sentinel from Sitka, Alaska • Page 5

Location:
Sitka, Alaska
Issue Date:
Page:
5
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

State Seeks Solutions To Fishing Problems Police Blotter ANCHORAGE (AP) Gov. Tony Knowles has wrapped up visits to Ketchikan, Pelican, Petersburg and Sitka to talk with fishermen and processors about the plight of the salmon industry. The governor is scheduled to travel to Cordova and Kodiak later this week, and also plans visits to Dillingham and Bethel. "In a way, we're the victims of our own success," Knowles told Alaska Tish Radio in Kodiak. The world is awash in salmon, and there's no end in sight, the governor said.

As more fish companies fold, many others are putting fishermen on notice that they're cutting back on fishing fleets and fish sales. Some big processors are saying they won't be buying any pink salmon this year. The Knowles administration wants to be proactive, but not a great deal can be done immediately for Alaska's salmon industry, said Bob King, a spokesman for the governor. Knowles has urged Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to use more canned salmon in federal feeding programs, King said. The state also may help clear the way for more factory trawlers to get into the salmon business if that leads to some new food products, he said.

"We'd hope they wouldn't just come in and compete on the traditional markets, but instead look at new product forms," King said. "At our meetings in Southeast, there were lots of discussions about different ways to package and market the fish. kind of innovative steps that are taken along those lines would be helpful to the overall industry," he saidl. During last week's meetings with Knowles, a number of fishermen asked to what extent Alaska hatcheries were adding to the worldwide salmon glut. "These decisions were made a long time ago when the outlook was very different and this problem wasn't even anticipated," King said.

"But actually changing (hatchery) production this year wouldn't have any impact on supply for several years to come because a lot of the fish are already out there and have yet to come back." The state and the Alaska fishing industry have nearly $100 million invested in hatchery projects and'no sweeping policy changes likely would be made unless everyone involved is brought to the table, King said. Many Southeast fishermen said at the meetings that any reduced production from Alaska easily would be filled by farmed fish from other areas. They suggested it was more important for Alaska to maintain its share in the world salmon market. King said the governor agrees that Alaska should follow the lead of such salmon producing countries as Norway and Chile. They're preparing to tough it out for their share of the market and new products.

"That's the way to go," King said. "In this battle, it doesn't do any good to retreat because others are advancing on all different fronts. "There is a lot of short-term, concern, but Alaska's got a different It's got wild fish that don't have the fixed costs that hatcheries do runs are healthy and strong. "People say we too much fish. I agree with those who say we just don't have enough markets.

That's where we should be focusing our attention." Pacific Salmon Treaty Mediator Steps Down JUNEAU (AP) A mediator over Pacific Salmon Treaty disputes has called it quits, leaving American and Canadian fish experts on their own in smoothing out long-standing differences over their salmon quotas. Christopher Beeby turned in his resignation to the U.S. State Department on 'Wednesday, said state officials and. spokesmen for Alaska's congressional delegation. bassador to France, took on the task last October as go-between for the United States and Canada on the 1985 treaty that set guidelines for salmon quotas in British Columbia, Alaska, Washington and Oregon.

His departure came as no surprise to people involved in the talks, since Beeby had said if he could not bring the two sides together within three to four months, he would move on, said Chuck spokesman for U.S. Sen. Frank Murkowski. 1 "He made it clear it was not a long-term commitment," Kleeshulte said Friday. "The fact that he's leaving doesn't mean anything particularly other than that the problems in the salmon treaty remain unresolved, which means we have to look for a solution before the fishing season starts again." Beeby made some suggestions on resolving salmon disputes, but little progress has resulted from the mediation.

"We had had hopes he would have been able to bring both sides a little closer together," said Steve Hansen, spokesman for the U.S. House Resources Committee chaired by Rep. Don Young of Alaska. "It's no fault of his own that it didn't work out." Quarrels over treaty allocations have gone on for years. Canada com- plains Alaska fishermen catch too many salmon spawned in British Columbia waters, while Alaska has pushed for new methods of calculating quotas based on actual abundance of fish rather than set numbers based on spawning surveys.

The dispute escalated last year when Washington, Oregon and Canada sued to force Southeast Alaska fisKermen.to ease.ufrcm salmon' catch. A'tederal judge'ordered; an early end to the commercial chi- nook season, siding with officials in Canada, Oregon and Washington who said overfishing in Alaska endangered salmon stocks throughout the Pacific Northwest. Bob King, spokesman for Gov. Tony Knowles, said state officials were disappointed that Beeby had quit but were hopeful that Alaska and British Columbia members of the Pacific Salmon Commission would be able to pick up where the mediator left off. The commission oversees treaty issues.

"It's best resolved within the Pacific Salmon Commission," King said. "We still hope the negotiations can continue." An official for the Canadian fisheries department in Ottawa did not return a telephone call seeking comment. State and federal officials said they hope to see progress in treaty talks before the summer fishing season begins so the salmon dispute does not wind up in the courts again. "There's always concern and a little bit of tension or urgency this time of year," said Trevor McCabe, a fisheries specialist for Sen. Ted Stevens.

"The bottom-line is the long-term issues still need to be resolved." Habitat, Sport Fisheries Edge Ahead in Battle ANCHORAGE (AP) Sport anglers, commercial fishermen and state biologists say habitat was the big winner in a 15-day Alaska Board of Fisheries meeting that ended Saturday without completing its Cook Inlet agenda. But sport fishing interests and commercial fishermen were equally disgruntled with the board's choices in splitting the salmon catch. Sport Anglers say they still don't have their fair share, and driftnetters said they face significant financial losses because of restrictions in a crucial July fishing period. The board will meet in November to complete work on Cook Inlet proposals. "The board is clearly trying to implement strategies for the growing demand for sport fishing," said Doug McBride, regional supervisor for sport fishing for the state Department of Fish and Game.

"We're clearly breaking new ground in trying to manage in-river fisheries." A new board policy calling for no net habitat loss gives Fish and Game latitude to stop fishing in areas where there is severe bank degradation. "The desire here was to put more fish in-river for sport fishing at any cost," said Tneo Matthews, executive director of United Cook Inlet Drift Association, a commercial fishermen's group. The board's decision to add restrictions for a key fishing period in late July and to shorten the central drift fleet's season by several days could cost driftnelters 8 to 10 percent of their gross income, Matthews said. Fish and Game Meeting Planned The Sitka Fish and Game Advisory Committee will meet 7 p.m. March 5 at the Centennial Building.

Representatives for conservation, guides, subsistence, charter, hand troll and power troll will be elected. Following the election an update on ling cod and rock fish issues will be given. The meeting open to the public. Board to Meet Members of the Sitka School Board will hold a work session with the Facilities Utilization Task Force at 7 p.m. on March 5 in the district office board room.

The following calls were logged by Sitka police by 8 a.m. today: March 1 Police provided traffic control while a driver removed her vehicle from Seward Street, where she had lost a wheel. A man reported his vehicle had been hit by an unknown driver on Race Street. Damage was estimated at $1,000. A resident said her neighbor's dog had barked at half-hour intervals for 10 hours the previous day.

The dog's owner was advised of the situation. A kitten found in a Lincoln Street store was impounded. A Division of Family and Youth Services worker reported a possible case of sexual assault. A SAFV shelter worker reported a possible sexual assault. A resident reported the theft of a 25hp Yamaha outboard engine from a storage room on the Sheldon Jackson College campus.

The worker who reported it said the owner may have taken it. A mother reported she was assaulted by her 12-year-old daughter. Police are investigating. A woman said her former boyfriend had called and threatened to shoot her with his rifle. Three officers went to the woman's home, but nobody answered the front door or the phone.

Police entered the trailer, which was unlocked, and did not find anyone but saw a rifle with ammunition. Officers attempted unsuccessfully to locate the woman throughout their shift. Police responded to a call that a domestic argument was in progress, but there was no one home. The fire department received a call a half-hour later with a report of a heart attack at the same address, and police were dispatched to assist, but there was no one home. While officers were at the residence, a pizza delivery car and a cab arrived.

Police decided the calls were hoaxes. Officers arrived on the scene of a fight at 11:49 p.m.. on Etolin Street, but the fight was over, A man who had participated was intoxicated and said he did not know the name of the man he was fighting with. He did not want to cooperate with police, officers reported. March 2 Officers checked a residence where a woman said she heard knocking on her daughter's window at 1:14 a.m.

Officers did not find any footprints in the snow near the window, nor did they see anyone in the area. "A 1 womarij reported someone in a byildirig tiers was playing the piano at 6:58 a.m. and causing a disturbance. The piano playing stopped soon after she called the police, she said. A veterinarian reported that a number of drugs had been stolen from the new clinic on Jarvis Street sometime between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Missing were a bottle of nitrous oxide, 12 bottles of liquid Valium, and 300 tablets of a codeine- based drug. Police are investigating. A man reported his bike had.been stolen from his residence in the 1300 block of Halibut Point Road. A woman reported her neighbor's dog runs at large, attacks the newspaper carrier, defecates in yards and chases cats. She signed a citation against the owner.

A driver stopped at the direction of officers investigating a previous accident (see separate story) was struck by another vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle, David E. Jenny, 40, was cited for failing to exercise care to avoid a collision and driving with a license suspended. An island resident reported a building on Kasiana Island had been vandalized. All the windows had been broken, there was graffiti on the walls and trash on the floors.

Window replacement costs were estimated at I ,000 to $2,000. Police checked on a report of all- terrain vehicles on Spruce Street at 6:47 p.m., but there was none when police went to check. Police were unable to locate people reported to be knocking on windows Amnesty to Meet Amnesty International will hold its monthly meeting 7 p.m. March 6 in the Centennial Building's Davis Room. The group will discuss sponsoring an individual prisoner of conscience in addition to its regular letter writing campaign.

C.A.P. to Meet The adult Civil Air Patrol will meet 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the Civil Air Patrol building at the airport. For more information call 966-2477. Meets Tonight The Family Support Group for Families of Children with Special needs meets 7 p.m.

tonight at the Center for Community, 700 Katlian St. Those seeking more information may call 747-7825. Pool Closed Blatchley pool will be closed today for maintenance, a news release from the Sitka Community School stated. outside a Lincoln Street apartment building at 11:59 p.m. March 3 A man said he had been assaulted by his sister-in-law, who had been drinking with his wife.

He said he was hit in the face. Police saw several scratches on his face. The man said he not want to pursue criminal charges but wanted police to have a record of the incident. He said he would find another place to stay for the night. A youth home worker reported a youth had left sight-and-sound supervision of his mother, against a court agreement.

The information was passed on to other shifts. Police secured the animal shelter on Jarvis Street after a window and door were found open. Officers, responding to the report of a fight on Katlian Street, were told three men had been attacked by others. Police are investigating. Police told a resident giving a loud party on Peterson Street at 2:36 a.m.

to keep the noise down. A bus company employee reported three buses had slashed tires. Damage was estimated at $900. In Court James H. Kenney, 50, was fined $300 for negligent driving.

He was charged originally with driving while intoxicated, but pleaded no contest to the lesser charge and was found guilty by the court. Shawn Tisher, 25, was sentenced to 10 days in jail, suspended, for failing to give immediate notice of an accident. She pleaded no contest to the charge and was found guilty by the court. She was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $431.60. She will be on probation for 18 months and is to remain in compliance with the treatment program ordered in a previous sentence.

She was found to have violated the conditions of her probation when she committed a crime, tested positive for a controlled substance and failed to contact her probation officer as directed. She was sentenced to 280 days in jail, suspended. She will be on probation for 979 days and is to continue in compliance with aftercare recommendations. Sitka Police Sheila M. Ludwigson, 29, was charged with driving while intoxicated.

Walter F. Jenny, 38, was charged with assault in the fourth Dormand Clare McGraw III, 17, was cited for minor consuming. Two Injured in One-car Accident By Sentinel Staff Two girls were treated for apparently minor injuries Saturday afternoon after their vehicle flipped over in a ditch on Halibut Point Road near Cascade Creek Road. Tonia Puletau, 16, the driver of the 1988 Hyundai, and her passenger Starla Wiley, 13, were treated at Sitka Community Hospital and discharged shortly after. The accident report stated Puletau was headed inbound on Halibut Point Road and had P.VP.S frnm thp road while talking to Wiley.

When she looked back at the road she saw a pickup truck stopped in front of her, waiting to turn left onto Cascade Creek Road. Puletau went off the right side of the road to avoid a collision and her vehicle turned over. Damage to the vehicle was estimat- 3d at $4,000. Puletau was cited for failing to vvear a safety belt. Emergency Calls At 1:50 p.m.

Friday an ambulance was sent to the airport and a patient was taken to Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. At 9:18 p.m. Friday an ambulance was sent to 202 Observatory Street, but it was a false report. At 8:52 a.m.

Saturday an ambulance was sent to the front of Cathedral Arms Apartments, but no assistance was needed. At 9:33 a.m. Saturday an ambulance crew was sent to 602 Cathedral Arms and a patient was taken to Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. At 3:03 p.m.

Saturday two ambulances and a tue truck were sent to the 1800 block of Halibut Point Road and two patients were taken to Sitka Community Hospital. At 12:05 p.m. Sunday an ambulance was sent to 514 Halibut Point Road and a patient was taken to Silka Community Hospital. At 6:37 p.m. Sunday an ambulance was sent to 417 DeArmond Street and a patient was taken to Sitka Community Hospital.

Sitka Hospital Discharged Friday from Sitka Community Hospital was John Franceschini. Bridget Brady was admitted Sunday. Coast Guard Medevacs One A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter Friday medevacked an 82- year-old Craig man who had fractured his hip. He was picked up at the Klawock airport and taken to Ketchikan, where an awaiting ambulance took him to Ketchikan General Hospital. Daily Sitka Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, Monday, March 4,1996, Page 5 Coast Guard Matches Up Oil That Killed Seabirds ANCHORAGE (AP) Coast Guard investigators say they've matched the fuel of a Japanese-owned freighter with oiled birds found on St.

Paul Island. Officers with the Coast Guard and the Alaska State Troopers were planning to board the 300-foot Panamanian-flag MV Citrus to collect additional evidence, said Lt. Guy Theriault of the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office in Anchorage Friday. The ship was in Dutch Harbor, he said. "We'll be looking at logs, fuel logs and pollution equipment to determine what happened," Theriault said.

"If our investigation shows these are the guys responsible, we'll make them post a bond before they can leave port." The ship already had been ordered to Dutch Harbor to correct several safety problems found last month when a fishing vessel punched a hole in the Citrus' hull, Theriault said. That incident occurred Feb. 16, when the vessel off St. Paul. The fishing vessel Omnisea was involved, Theriault said, apparently while crab were being transferred.

But the hole in the Citrus was in a cargo hold, not a fuel tank, he said. The Coast Guard dropped two pumps to help the Citrus stay afloat, and the Coast Guard cutter Sherman came alongside and helped the crew patch the hole below the waterline, officers said. But Coast Guard inspectors who boarded the Citrus found health safety problems, Theriault said. The ship had 30 metric tons of rotting crab aboard, quite a bit of oil on the floors and bulkheads in the engine room, and sewage was backing up into the ship's hospital, Theriault said. In addition, one of the life rafts was missing.

Nearly a thousand dead birds have been found on St. Paul Island, and dozens of injured birds were flown to Anchorage for treatment as a result of the spill. The owner of the ship, Kyoei Kaiun Kaisha faces civil penalties under federal water pollution laws, and could also be assessed the cost of the clean-up and investigation. The Coast Guard's Central Oil Identification Laboratory in Groton, worked day and night to analyze dozens of samples collected from various ships to match the chemical "fingerprint" of the oil on the birds with that of the ship or ships from it spilled, Theriault said. The lab is continuing to check other samples to determine if any other ships were involved, he said.

Flame is Lit in Eagle River For Arctic Winter Games EAGLE RIVER, Alaska (AP) -With the Chugach Mountains and a near full moon as backdrop, about 1,500 athletes and coaches were welcomed to this Anchorage suburb Sunday night for the official opening of the 1996 Arctic Winter Games. Temperatures dipped into the mid- teens as fur- and fleece-clad spectators began filling the stands at Chugiak High School. It was standing room only, with fans rimming the edce of the field. Fireworks erupted overhead as teams from Alberta, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, Russia's Tyu- men region, Greenland and Alaska entered the field. Russia's Team Magadan was delayed and will arrive Monday, organizers said.

Palmer resident Roy Samuels said he was eager to see his son Joe, 15, play in the basketball competition for Team Alaska. "The whole family's here," Samuels said. "To me, it's just like a mini-Olympics." Cindy Solberg said she and other organizers wanted me ceremony to be festive but uniquely Alaskan. Two ju- nior skiers from the area lit the flames that will remain burning throughout the games. The athletes' coaches and their cultural representatives began arriving on charter flights Saturday evening.

About 40 volunteers worked in shifts registering and welcoming the teams before handing them bags of Alaska souvenirs and sending them on buses to their assigned villages -mostly schools in the Chugach-Eagle River area. About 2,400 local volunteers have spent months planning and organizing for ihe event, which runs through March 10. The Arctic Winter Games began in 1970 as a forum for athletes north of the 55th Parallel to compete against another. Athletes will compete in such outdoor events as alpine skiing, a snowshoe biathlon and mushing. Indoor events included volleyball and wrestling.

Traditional Native sports originally were a way for northern hunters to keep fit during the winter. They include the head pull and high kick. Anchorage Businessman Green Selected as Alaskan of the Year ANCHORAGE (AP) Anchorage businessman Perry Green has been selected as the 1996 Alaskan of the Year. Green, co-owner of David Green Master Furrier, joins the ranks of Alaskans who have been honored for their contributions to the state, including musher Joe Redington, former governors Jay Hammond and Walter Rockfish, Longline Fishers to Meet Members of the Sitka Rockfish Workgroup will meet to discuss limited entry proposals at 4 p.m. on March 5 at the NSRAA building, 1308 Halibut Point Rd.

Also on March 5, at 6 p.m., the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association will hold a brief membership meeting to elect officers and to discuss 1996 IFQ regulatory changes. Both meetings are open to the public. Alaska Day Group to Meet All interested persons are invited to attend the Alaska Day Festival Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m. on March 5 in the Centennial Building. Volunteers for the annual event are being sought.

For more information call 747-3748. Hickel, and Sen. Ted Stevens. Green was cited for his service on more than 50 boards and commissions and other volunteer efforts said, Jay Page, President of the Alaskan of the Year Committee. Green has brought recognition to the state through his business and as a champion poker player, said Page.

Green has traveled throughout Bush Alaska for more than 40 years to purchase furs. "I really care about Native villages and what happens to them," Green said in a prepared statement. "I'm a very strong advocate for rural Alaska and am concerned about the problems these people face. Voting is done by a panel of 70 people from around the state, including past recipients of the award. A banquet honoring Green and the winners of several other awards is scheduled for March 30 in Anchorage.

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Every Saturday Sunday at McDonald's Notice I existing channel! -Work is apftjn In progress. Be aware of cnnstmr.tinn equipment in the project area. Request minimum wake. A new floating dock extends S.W. from the existing Thomsen Harbor floats 250 feet into Western Anchorage, The Tug "Waldo" is monitoring VHP channels 16 and 13 during work hours.

Questions should be directed toSitka harbor master (747-3439) or contractors project office (747-5720). Thank you for your cooperation..

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About Daily Sitka Sentinel Archive

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Years Available:
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