03/10/1998 04:35 PM House MLV

SB 211 - RENAMING VET MEM BRIDGE IN KETCHIKAN                                  
                                                                               
Number 0095                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIR MASEK announced the first order of business would be SB 211              
"An Act renaming the Gravina Veterans' Memorial Bridge as the Ralph            
M. Bartholomew Veterans' Memorial Bridge," sponsored by Senator                
Taylor.                                                                        
                                                                               
JOE AMBROSE, Legislative Assistant to Senator Robin Taylor, Alaska             
State Legislature, came before the committee.  He read the                     
following statement into the record:                                           
                                                                               
"Back in 1989, as Senate Bill 37 was moving through the House, an              
amendment was added designating the bridge to be built across the              
Tongass Narrows at Ketchikan as the Gravina Veterans' Memorial                 
Bridge.                                                                        
                                                                               
"This amendment was offered at the suggestion of Ralph Bartholomew.            
Ralph was a life-long resident of Ketchikan, a noted civic leader              
and a veteran of World War II.  He was also the leading proponent              
for the construction of a bridge connecting Ketchikan with its                 
airport.                                                                       
                                                                               
"Ralph passed away this fall and the community would like to see               
the bridge renamed as the Ralph M. Bartholomew Veterans' Memorial              
Bridge."                                                                       
                                                                               
Number 0239                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE IRENE NICHOLIA asked what the current name of the               
bridge is.                                                                     
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER responded that it is the Gravina                 
Veterans' Memorial Bridge.                                                     
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLIA asked who was Gravina.                                 
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER pointed out it is the name of the island.                
The bridge is to be built across Tongass Narrows to Gravina Island.            
                                                                               
Number 0285                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER moved and asked unanimous consent to move SB
 out of committee with the attached fiscal notes and with                   
individual recommendations.  There being no objection, SB 211 moved            
out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans'                   
Affairs.