02/19/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 158                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  designating the  bridge  on the  George  Parks                                                                   
     Highway  directly north of  the Alaska Native  Veterans'                                                                   
     Honor  Bridge   as  the  Shirley  Demientieff   Memorial                                                                   
     Bridge."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
DOROTHY  SHOCKLEY, STAFF,  SENATOR ALBERT  KOOKESH, read  the                                                                   
sponsor statement:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Senate Bill  158 would name  the small bridge  in Nenana                                                                   
     directly north of the Alaska  Native Veterans' Bridge in                                                                   
     honor of Shirley Demientieff.   Ms. Shirley was a bridge                                                                   
     to  so many  and it  is only  fitting  that this  bridge                                                                   
     bears her name.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Shirley, a  Nenana native daughter, passed  away January                                                                   
     3,  2007 after  a  year long  battle  with lung  cancer.                                                                   
     Shirley was  a well-known community activist  and native                                                                   
     leader.   She is  best known  for her unbridled  support                                                                   
     for those in need.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     It  was noted  in the  January  8, 2007  edition of  the                                                                   
     Fairbanks  News-Miner,   that  Shirley  truly   was  the                                                                   
     "bridge  over troubled  waters  for so  many.   In  some                                                                   
     cases,  Shirley  took  it  upon herself  to  build  that                                                                   
     bridge, which for  some was the only way home."   A dear                                                                   
     friend stated,  "Shirley was all about  bridges; between                                                                   
     cultures, communities, and those in need."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     The Shirley Demientieff Memorial  Bridge will serve as a                                                                   
     reminder  of  her  tireless   work  in  bringing  people                                                                   
     together  from all walks  of life, for  the good  of all                                                                   
     citizens in this great state of Alaska.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson asked  if anyone was opposed to the  bill.  Ms.                                                                   
Shockley said no.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:10:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REVERAND  SCOTT  FISHER,  RECTOR,   ST.  MATTHEW'S  EPISCOPAL                                                                   
CHURCH,  FAIRBANKS,  testified  in support  of  SB  158.   He                                                                   
shared a  personal story about  Ms. Demientieff.   He thought                                                                   
she would  approve of  a small  sign on  the bridge  with her                                                                   
name on it.   He recalled her contributions  to the community                                                                   
and how  she bridged the  lines between various  cultures and                                                                   
communities.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:14:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ORIE  WILLIAMS,  PAST-PRESIDENT   AND  CEO,  DOYAN,  LIMITED,                                                                   
FAIRBANKS, testified  in support  of SB 158.   He  echoed the                                                                   
beliefs  of the  former  speaker.   He  highlighted her  many                                                                   
great qualities.   He spoke of her humility and  called her a                                                                   
great  role  model.   He  thought  she deserved  this  honor,                                                                   
although she would not have expected it.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman noted the fiscal note for $7,500.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:15:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman MOVED  to REPORT  SB 158  out of  Committee                                                                   
with  individual recommendations  and  with the  accompanying                                                                   
fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SB  158  was REPORTED  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation and  with a new fiscal note  by the Department                                                                   
of Transportation and Public Facilities.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:16:33 AM