Doyon subsidiary opens Wisconsin wireless services

Denali Spectrum Operations, a subsidiary of Doyon Ltd., has launched wireless service in the Madison and Kenosha, Wis., areas. Doyon is the Fairbanks-based Native corporation for Interior Alaska, and it owns a controlling interest in Denali, said Sharon McConnell, communications vice president for Doyon.

Denali is headquartered in Fairbanks and has its operations base in Chicago. The company is building a wireless network in Chicago that will be operational next year, McConnell said. The Wisconsin service is Denali's first venture.

In Madison and Kenosha, the wireless service is operating under the brand of Cricket Communications Inc., which is part owner of Denali. It covers 3,400 square miles and a population of 2.4 million. Cricket is owned by Leap Wireless International Inc., a publicly traded company based in San Diego, with service in over 20 states.

Norman Phillips Jr., chief executive of Doyon, said Cricket "has been a leader in providing affordable, unlimited wireless phone and broadband Internet services to new markets."

Eklutna approves dividend of $2.50 per share

The board of Eklutna Inc., the Native village corporation for Eklutna, recently approved a dividend of $2.50 a share, or $250 for a typical holder of 100 shares, the company said. The dividend was paid Monday. At the shareholders' annual meeting late last month, the following were elected to one-year terms on the five-member board of directors: Maria D.L. Coleman, Michael E. Curry, A. Debbie Fullenwider, Lee S. Stephan and Kim Zello. The directors then elected the following officers: Curry as chairman and president, Fullenwider as vice president, Coleman as secretary and Zello as treasurer.

Natural gas authority plans spending for spur manager

The Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority is spending up to $250,000 for a project manager to bridge the gap between years when data is being collected and major engineering occurs on a pipeline that could branch off a main pipeline and deliver North Slope natural gas to Southcentral Alaskans, according to Petroleum News.

The spur line is the centerpiece of the state agency's efforts to deliver gas to the state. As envisioned, the spur would run from Fairbanks to existing facilities at the Beluga River fields near Cook Inlet.

To sanction the estimated $1.5 billion spur line, ANGDA believes it needs to conduct around $50 million in engineering and project management work next year.

The project manager would help the authority define the work scope for that engineering effort, lead the process for selecting the contractor, and act as a liaison between ANGDA and the state government. The contract is set to begin Jan. 5.

ANGDA is expected to ask the Legislature for $50 million next month. If state lawmakers choose not to fund the project, ANGDA will most likely issue bonds.

Walgreens announces area store opening dates

Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, has announced when the three stores under construction in Anchorage will open next year. Its first store will open in Wasilla in June, next to the new Target store, the company said.

That will be followed in July by the opening of its two other stores: one at DeBarr Road and Creekside in East Anchorage, and the other at Dimond Boulevard and Northwood in South Anchorage.

Each store will cover 13,800 to 14,800 square feet and will employ 25 to 30 people, about two-thirds of them full-time with benefits, the company said. The stores will feature drive-thru pharmacies, heated sidewalks and heated disabled-parking spaces, the company said.

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