03/18/1998 08:02 AM House CRA

HJR 62 - BRING BALTO BACK TO ALASKA                                            
                                                                               
Number 0042                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN IVAN announced the committee would hear HJR 62, Relating              
to bringing Balto back to Alaska, sponsored by Representative Ogan.            
He stated he believes that there is a draft committee substitute               
(CS), 0-LS1614/E, dated 3/10/98.                                               
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN moved to adopt the proposed CS.  There               
being no objection, it was so ordered.                                         
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN said there are some children in his district               
from Butte Elementary School who came up with the idea to bring                
Balto back to Alaska.  He informed the committee that Balto was one            
of the lead dogs on the final leg of the serum to Nome in 1925.                
Most of the time, Balto is in storage at the Cleveland Museum of               
Natural History.  He said he asked the kids to work on writing the             
resolution and he submitted their words verbatim in the committee              
substitute.  Representative Ogan pointed out the Mat-Su Borough has            
also agreed to introduce a resolution.  He stated he believes Balto            
belongs back in Alaska.  He informed the committee that Cody McGinn            
was the young man that came up with the idea.                                  
                                                                               
Number 0358                                                                    
                                                                               
CODY McGINN, Third Grade Student, Butte Elementary School,                     
testified from the Mat-Su Legislative Information Office (LIO) in              
support of HJR 62.  He stated that he would like to have Balto in              
Alaska because he helped to bring the serum to Nome in 1925.  He               
saved many Alaskan lives.  He is a hero to Alaska.  Mr. McGinn said            
he thinks that when people come to Alaska, they could see Balto                
here.                                                                          
                                                                               
Number 0419                                                                    
                                                                               
GIA HOMSTAD, Second Grade Student, Butte Elementary School,                    
testified via teleconference from the Mat-Su LIO.  She informed the            
committee she is eight years old.  She said even though she                    
understands that Cleveland saved Balto from a side show which was              
not treating him very well, she would still like Balto here in                 
Alaska.  He saved a part of Alaska (indisc.) all the way to Palmer.            
Balto is a hero to all Alaskans.  She said she believes that if                
Balto was able to choose between staying in Ohio or Alaska, he                 
would choose Alaska because his story started here.  Ms. Homstad               
respectfully requested that Balto be moved back to Alaska.                     
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN informed the committee he was born in Ohio and             
if he had to choose between Ohio or Alaska, he would choose Alaska             
as he has.  He said he believes Balto would do the same.                       
                                                                               
Number 0419                                                                    
                                                                               
KATIE PISKURA, Butte Elementary School, testified via                          
teleconference from the Mat-Su LIO.  She informed the committee                
members she is eight years old.  Ms. Piskura said she believes it              
is a good idea to bring Balto back because he was a hero in Alaska             
and saved many lives.  He has been in Cleveland for 60 years and               
she understands how Cleveland should keep him, but he should be in             
Alaska as people in Alaska love him.                                           
                                                                               
Number 0552                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE FRED DYSON made a motion to pass CSHJR 62(CRA) out              
of committee with individual recommendations.                                  
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JERRY SANDERS stated that he supports the resolution            
to bring Balto back to Alaska.  He asked if there are any arguments            
between Wasilla and Nome as it would seem Nome also would have a               
claim on Balto just as Wasilla would.  He asked if there has been              
any discussion with Nome students.                                             
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN said he doesn't believe there has been                     
discussion, but agreed that there should be.  He said if there is              
success in bringing Balto back to Alaska, maybe the students in                
Wasilla would be willing to share him.  He noted the Iditarod                  
headquarters are in Wasilla and the end of the race is in Nome                 
which is where Balto did his heroic deed.                                      
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE SANDERS stated that there should be some                        
correspondence with the children in Nome to come to an agreement on            
how this should be handled.                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN concurred.                                                 
                                                                               
MR. McGINN indicated he would be willing to correspond with                    
children in Nome.                                                              
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated he would forward some addresses of the              
schools in Nome to the school in Wasilla.                                      
                                                                               
Number 0791                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON reiterated his motion to move CSHJR 62(CRA)               
out of committee with individual recommendations.  There being no              
objection, CSHJR 62(CRA) moved out of the House Community and                  
Regional Affairs Standing Committee.