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Forum sheds light on youth problems

The Youth Gang Awareness, Suicide Prevention and Domestic Violence Symposium will be hosting a community forum from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at JP Jones Community Development Center.

The forum will feature Matthew Dovel, Steve Stosny and Michael Walker-Jones, the three guest presenters from the symposium. The symposium provides an overview of the many social, emotional and physical challenges to youths and families such as suicide risk, substance abuse, depression, domestic violence and gang awareness.

For more information, contact Montrean R. Jackson and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools at 452-2000 ext. 3555.

Grant to fund rural obesity program

A $1 million federal grant is being used by the University of Alaska’s Interior Aleutians campus to address obesity in rural Alaska.

Officials said obesity among Alaska Natives is higher than in other cultural groups.

That’s what led the Interior Aleutians campus to apply for the money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund a nutrition education program.

Sarah McConnell, who worked on getting the grant, said obesity in Native populations can be attributed to a shift in diet from traditional to processed foods.

Alaskan wins dental aide award for Native program

ANCHORAGE — A national award has been given to the clinical site director of a dental health aide therapist training program run by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

Mary Williard is the 2008 recipient of the Distinguished Educator Award presented by the National Rural Health Association.

The training program aims to bring dental health care to rural Alaska Native communities.

Williard’s award will be presented in New Orleans in May at the national association’s annual rural health conference.

UAA gets $1 million pledge from foundation

ANCHORAGE — The Atwood Foundation has pledged $1 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Department of Journalism and Public Communications.

The pledge, to be spread throughout a five-year period, will go toward endowment of the Atwood Chair of Journalism.

The Atwood Chair of Journalism was created in 1980 as a beneficiary of the Atwood family. Bob Atwood was the publisher and editor of The Anchorage Times.

The Atwood Chair has boasted Pulitzer Prize winners and leading journalists from the New York Times, The Associated Press, the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. Those holding the Atwood Chair teach journalism courses and serve as advisers to students.

The current Atwood Chair is Julius Strauss, a former correspondent for The Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom.

Kenai city leaders to flesh out moose plan details

KENAI — Kenai city leaders are going to hear more on plans to reduce the number of moose hit by vehicles each year on the Kenai Peninsula.

The collisions frequently end in the death of the animal, costly damage to the vehicles and often injuries to drivers and their passengers.

Gary Olson, chairman of the Alaska Moose Federation, plans to address the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday on mitigation efforts being planned around the state.

The efforts are targeting high-incidence zones. Measures include creating moose trails away from highways.

Coast Guard concludes Alaska Ranger hearing

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard has concluded its hearing on the sinking of the trawler Alaska Ranger in the Bering Sea.

The Coast Guard said it could take several months for the final report on why the ship sank March 23, taking five lives.

The Seattle-based ship flooded through the rudder room and went down. The Coast Guard and a nearby ship rescued 42 members of the crew.

Earlier sessions of the hearing, conducted by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board, were held in Dutch Harbor and Anchorage.

The final witnesses were a naval architect and the mate on another ship who spoke with the Alaska Ranger shortly before the sinking.

Anchorage man pleads not guilty in nurse’s death

ANCHORAGE — An Anchorage man pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges related to the death of his neighbor, Anchorage nurse Mindy Schloss.

Charging documents say Joshua Wade stole Schloss’ car and shot her in early August. They say the killing “involved torture and serious physical abuse.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Crandon Randell said Wade entered his plea at an arraignment Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.

Randell said a trial date has not been set.

Wade was indicted last week by a federal grand jury.

Court documents state Wade also is accused of stealing $1,000 from Schloss’ bank account using her debit card and personal identification number at two separate ATMs.

Schloss was found dead last fall in a heavily forested area in Wasilla after a six-week search.