Daily Sitka Sentinel from Sitka, Alaska • Page 6

Page 6, Sitka DaUy Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, Thursday, August 23,1990 Merculief Resigns as State Commerce Chief JUNEAU (AP) Another commissioner has abandoned the ship of state as the Cowper administration sails into its final three months. Larry Merculieff, commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, announced Thursday that he has resigned to become city manager in his native St. Paul on the Pribilof Islands. Gov. Steve Cowper named an assistant commissioner, Jane Angvik, to replace Merculieff.

She is a former Anchorage assemblywoman and past president of the Alaska Native Foundation. Merculieff is the fourth commissioner to leave the administration since Democrat Cowper announced in March 1989 that he would not seek re-election to a second term. Lennie Gorsuch left the Department of Natural Resources recently to take over as executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute; William Demmert will leave the Education Department next month to take a one-year teaching job at Stanford University in California; and John Andrews left the Administration Department in November for unspecified personal reasons. Most commissioners, as political appointees, are replaced when a new governor takes office. Cowper praised Merculieff, who joined the administration in December 1988.

"He developed a successful program to promote regional economic development, established the state's venture capital fund and created a one-stop shopping network for those interested in investing or doing business in Alaska," Cowper said. Merculieff said he had planned to stay with the administration until the next governor takes over in December, but that was before he went home to St. Paul earlier this summer. "Many, many of the local people approached me to help with the various challenges they have facing them, and asked me to come back as soon as possible," he said. The challenges include trying to create a cash economy based on the development of services to the Bering Sea fishing fleet, he said.

"They're having mixed success. For example, on St. Paul there's a 60 percent unemployment rate, and a lot of social problems are starting to manifest themselves as a result." He said he also wants to work to save the major species that are under threat in the Bering Sea, including sea lions and harbor seals. Merculieff said he plans to take over the city manager's job in mid- September. Angvik, 42, joined Commerce and Economic Development in June 1989.

She has been in charge of the department's economic development activities, including oversight of the Business Development and Tourism divisions. She was the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce's manager of the Alaska pavilion at Expo '88 in Brisbane, Australia. After the fair she followed up on trade leads for Alaska companies in fisheries, timber, mining, oil and gas development, and tourism. "Jane knows her way around both Alaska's urban business community as well as the rural areas," Cowper said in a news release. "As a result, she's well-equipped to continue our efforts to encourage the growth of small businesses in Alaska, especially in the smaller communities." Angvik was a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in the 1986 primary.

She lost by fewer than 3,000 votes to incumbent Stephen McAIpine. Groups Move to Halt Fishing in Glacier Bay JUNEAU (AP) Longtime state prosecutor Laurie Otto was named director of criminal prosecutions Thursday by Attorney General Douglas Baily. Otto replaces Larry Weeks, who recently was appointed to the Superior Court bench in Juneau. As chief of the Law Department's Criminal Division, she will oversee 68 attorneys about 100 other employees in 13 communities. Otto, 37, has worked for the Law Department on and off since 1976.

She has been an assistant attorney general in Juneau since October 1988. "In addition to solid experience in criminal prosecutions and all aspects of the criminal justice system, this job requires sound judgment and a thorough understanding of Alaska's cultural diversity all attributes which Laurie possesses," Baily said in a news release. Baily said he asked Otto to ensure as her first priority that the Anchorage district attorney's office "is running smoothly and providing quality prosecutor services." The Anchorage office was criticized after the failed prosecutions of several high-profile cases earlier this year. Those cases included the criminal oil-spill trial of former Exxon Valdez Capt. Joseph Hazel wood, and the sex-abuse prosecutions of former Anchorage policeman Frank Feichtinger and former high school teacher Gordon "Satch" Dwayne McConnell, the Anchorage district attorney who oversaw those cases, was transferred to the Law partment's Civil Division in June.

No replacement has been named. Otto said she plans to go to Anchorage and discuss the operation of the office with the staff before making any changes. "I just don't know enough yet about the specific situation in Anchorage to know what needs to be done," she said. She said she was looking forward to the new job. "I think it's going to be real interesting, real challenging.

Criminal law has a significant effect on people and that's why I'm interested in it." Otto's duties over the past two years included working with the Legislature on criminal issues, including oil-spill legislation and a proposed rewrite of the legislative ethics law. She also supervised paralegals and legal interns statewide. From 1982 to 1984, Otto was district attorney in Bethel. She also has worked as an assistant district attorney in Anchorage, in private practice and for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. She earned her law degree at the Lewis Clark College Law School in Portland, and has served on several legal boards and committees, including the state Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Alaska Supreme Court's criminal rules committee.

Otto began her new job immediately. She will be based in Juneau. The job pays about $71,000 a year. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -Two environmental groups said Wednesday they are suing the National Park Service to stop commercial fishing in Glacier Bay National Park and limit the number of boats allowed to enter it. Noise from too many cruise ships and tour boats may be harming endangered humpback whales, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S.

District Court here by the Anchorage based Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Englewood, American Wildlands. The groups also called on the Park Service to enforce a ban on commercial fishing in national parks. The lawsuit calls for a 20 percent reduction in the number of cruise ships, tour boats and private vessels entering the Southeast Alaska bay. That would cut the number of cruise ships to 89, a level agreed to by the Park Service in 1982 when it appeared noise was keeping whales away the area. Since then, the number of cruise ships visiting Glacier Bay has increased to 109 this year.

The Park Service was allowed to increase cruise-boat visits by 20 percent, said agency spokesman John Quinley. Two extra ships were allowed in this year because of a dispute over permits, he said. The environmental groups say the Park Service should return to 1982 levels until it has studied the impacts vessels are having on the humpbacks. "They are gambling with an endangered species," said Wayne Hall, president of The Alaska Wildlife Alliance. The group says the number of whales visiting the bay in recent years has varied greatly.

Hall said the Park Service "should be doing everything we can to guarantee that vessels are having no impact, not engaging in destructive testing." Commercial fishing boats also compete with whales for fish stocks in Glacier Bay, Hall said. The Park Service acknowledges that commercial fishing is illegal in a national park, but hasn't taken action yet to stop it, said Quinley, who hadn't seen the lawsuit He said the agency informally is drafting a proposal to allow commercial fishing to continue for seven years in the bay while the studies fishing's effects. agency News Notes from Sitka 9 Past EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one of a continuing series on early-day Sitka by Alaska historian Robert DeArmond. BY ROBERT N. DeARMOND Sitka happenings during September and October, 1897, as reported by The Alaskan, the town's weekly newspaper.

--Captain Greenleaf of the AGGIE, THE AVIS -DOT GARAGE SALE Attention ALPS Federal Credit Union members! Once a year for one day, the finest cars of the Avis rental fleet go on sale at special savings for members only. It's a supermarket of 1988, '89 and '90 models, direct from the Avis garage to yours! All cars in excellent, like-new condition Complete maintenance history file for each car Up to financing available O.A.C. Free limited power train warranty Pre-approved financing available call ALPS Saturday, August 25, 1990 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only! ALPS Federal Credit Union 1541 Sawmill Creek Blvd.

Sitka, Alaska Call 966-2404 for information. AVIS CAR SALES who brought the Duke of Abruzzi and his mountaineers down from Yakutat, related to the editor that while he was anchored in Disenchantment Bay he was surprised when the Indians told him how easily and fast the Klondyke can be reached from there. Wanting to see for himself, he started early one morning with a guide and by noon they had passed the summit From there it appeared to be a vast rolling grassland ahead and the guide said they were close to a stream on which he could float his goods the balance of the way. When the climbing party returned, the duke said that his telescope confirmed that the country is devoid of high mountains and is one in which railroads or wagon roads into the Interior could be cheaply constructed. Next spring Captain Greenleaf plans to go to the Klondyke by this route, which is only 185 miles in length from the head of Disenchantment Bay.

(Compiler's note: Whether the captain a pipe dreamer or just a prankster is known; nor is it- known whether he did try to travel to the Klondike via Disenchantment Bay. A good many other men did try that route, to their great sorrow and disillusionment) --Dr. and Mrs. C. D.

Rogers will leave on the TOPEKA for Juneau where he will open a medical practice. They have been residents of Sitka since 1890 and since 1894 he served as Clerk of the District Court, a position that also made him the ex-officio Secretary of Alaska. In the latter capacity he acted as governor when the governor was out of the District --With the change of administration, the departure of the PENTA, and the attractions of the Klondyke region, Sitka is losing many long-time residents. In addition, the District Court is holding more and more of its sessions at Juneau instead of Sitka. That fact is taking Mrs.

A. K. Delaney and her daughters, Miss Alma Delaney and Mrs. Katharine Terrell, to Juneau where Judge Delaney, who was recently replaced on the District Court bench, will establish a law practice. --T.

V. Smith, Joe Oaks, Chris Olsen and an Indian named Charley brought the schooner SITKA to port with 180 barrels of salmon from the Cape Edwards area. --Sitka's new U. S. Commissioner, Judge Caldwell W.

Tuttle of Indiana, arrived on the QUEEN. He is accompanied by Mrs. Tuttle and their son, Ransome. --Albert D. Elliott, recently appointed Clerk of the District Court and ex-officio Secretary of Alaska, arrived on the mail steamer.

--Not all the gold is in the Klondyke. On her last trip the DORA brought $20,000 in bullion from the Apollo Mine on Unga Island. --The Sitka Public Schools opened on September 6. Miss Cassia Patton teaches School No. 1 and Miss Flora Campbell is the teacher at School No 2.

--The Rev. Fr. P. C. Bougis, came over from Juneau and is holding regular services at the Roman Catholic Church.

--Among the passengers leaving on the westward mail boat DORA were 25 prospectors who are going to Woodcut by Dale N. DeArmond try the Yakutat route to the Klondyke described by Captain Greenleaf. The men hail from Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Chicago and Ireland. --Collector of Customs J. W.

Ivey has read the "riot act" to Alaska merchants and warned them that the past practice of smuggling liquor to Alaska in shipments of dry goods and groceries must stop. During a recent visit to Juneau Collector Ivey seized more than 300 gallons of liquor. Miss Florence Session? of Chicago arrived on the last mail steamer and on September 25 was married to J. A. Becker, Sitka mining rifoimedlthe -x.

ju3 Word been received- from San Francisco that the PINTA will be condemned and the USS WHEELING will take her place here. Commander F. M. Symonds will be in command: Dr. Sheldon Jackson and Bishop P.

T. Rowe, both of whom have been traveling in Western Alaska, returned here on the DORA. The little steamer brought 95 passengers, many of them miners from the Turnagain Arm area of Cook Inlet, and they are said to be carrying some $150,000 gold dust Many of them plan to go to the Klondyke: The new Russian house next to the Orphanage has receiyed a coat of paint Hugh Patton, father of Mrs. Brady, has completed the annual assessment work on the Aurum lode adjoining the Stewart mine at Silver Bay and has bonded the property to E. Otis Smith for $10,000.

Called to Juneau for jury duty at the next term of the District Court were George J. Beck, Thomas F. McGuire, E. A. Kent, Hugh Patton, Reuben Albertstone, H.

L. Bahrt, Ryland J. Becker, Edward Chamberlain, Fred E. Frobese, Oscar Holm, W. L.

Metcalf, W. P. Mills, James M. Shields, H. V.

Warne, Hi M. Woodruff and Henry Wilde. B. F. Brightman and Leonard Brightman were called from Killisnoo.

--Ed deGroff has built a roof over the sidewalk in front of his store. (Sitka's first marquee?) A. H. Solberg has built himself a little shoe shop at the east end of the Brady Building which is sometimes called the Old Russian Trading Post Henry Woodruff says that next year he will not come down from the mines until after the jurors have gone as he does not like to be summoned to Juneau. --John Kaznakoff left on the last steamer for Skagway.

He plans to bring back some horses and to enter the drayage B. K. Wilbur has returned to the Presbyterian Training School 'after a three months' vacation during which he visited his former home in Pennsylvania where his family operates the Chocolate Company: Alaska Railroad Not Laughing At 'Humorous' Campaign Ad ANCHORAGE (AP) In his uphill battle for a second term, Anchorage Mayor Tom Fink has tried to lighten his tough-guy image with some humorous newspaper ads. But down at the Alaska Railroad, they're not laughing at Fink's ad depicting a grinning mayor tied to the railroad tracks with a text that says "Some people will do anything to get rid of Tom Fink." Alaska Railroad chief Frank Turpin wants Fink to stop running the ad. Turpin even provided a sample letter he wants Fink to submit to editorial pages pointing out the dangers of trespassing on railroad tracks.

Turpin said on Wednesday he worried the ad might influence children I guess you might say some little kid might try that on his sister," he said. Railroad officials think the ad undermines their efforts to keep people from trespassing on the railroad. fy-.