DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORY …
April 9, 1967: The Boeing 737-100, a short- to medium- range narrow bodied airliner, was first flown on April 9, 1967. Joe Sutter, who was the father of the 747, and Jack Steiner began work on the design in November 1964, aiming to create an aircraft that could compete with the Caravelle, BAC 111 and the Douglas DC-9. The 737 series is the highest-selling commercial jetliner in history.
April 10, 1885: Dr. Sheldon Jackson was appointed General Agent of Education for Alaska, a position in the U.S. Bureau of Education. Three years later, Sheldon Jackson College was a small private college in Sitka, was founded.
April 10, 1953: The last day of the governorship of Ernest Gruening, who was governor of the Territory of Alaska from 1939 until 1953. One of the big issues he faced was a high rate of tuberculosis in Alaska, causing him to declare a state of emergency because of the 4,000 TB patients and only 289 hospital beds. The death rate was eight times the U.S. average.
ENOUGH ABOUT HISTORY…
April 10-13: Alaska Shield exercise with the Alaska Department of Homeland Security will test government and community organization preparedness for a terrorism attack that involves biological, cyber, explosive and hostage elements. The exercise takes place Wednesday to Saturday this week, involving 11 communities, five state agencies, 12 federal organizations and two nonprofit organizations.
Coming soon: Alaska RiverWatch field teams are scheduled to begin flying the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers within the next two weeks.
April 17: UAA Campus clean-up 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Gloves, trash tongs, and bags, and also free plants for the first 50 volunteers and barbecue lunch at 11:30 am for all participants. Free parking in west campus central lot during the event.
April 19: Arctic Man may start this week but save some fuel for Valdez Mountain Man Race for more hardcore snow machine racing. Hosted by Valdez Snow Machine Club.
May 22: A new ultra-low-cost carrier, Allegiant Air, will begin nonstop seasonal service between Bellingham and Anchorage. Allegiant will operate two-weekly roundtrip flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, throughout the summer. Must Read Alaska priced the tickets out at $67 one way to or from Bellingham.