Our view: Energy proposal

Senate Energy Committee Chairwoman Lesil McGuire of Anchorage says in a written statement that the intent is to "streamline and consolidate" Alaska's energy programs. She and leaders of a House committee putting forward the same bill say they want to work on the idea over the interim.

It's hard to get too excited about a proposal to create more bureaucracy.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, for example, has developed a deep level of expertise on gas pipeline issues. Why tinker with that and move it to a new home inside government?

And there's no logic to the idea of combining weatherization -- which is basically fixing up a house -- with gas pipeline planning.

But still, the legislators are right to try to power up Alaska's efforts to create an effective statewide energy plan.

A key question to ask is whether the Alaska Energy Authority, which has multiple responsibilities including state energy planning, has enough staff to accomplish its goals. In particular, the energy authority reviews and recommends funding for scores of alternative energy projects around the state.

It may well be understaffed.

It's too soon to write off the idea of making a new department just focused on energy. But we shouldn't build more bureaucracy unless there are compelling reasons, which are not evident up front.

BOTTOM LINE: Legislators should approach the idea of creating a new state department of energy with skepticism.

'Bring me home'

Rachel Block had no trouble commanding everyone's attention as keynote speaker at the POW Remembrance Ceremony on Friday at Bartlett High.

"Today, 67 years ago, I was tortured," she said to begin her talk.

Rachel Block was 14 when she, her brother and two sisters were captured and imprisoned by Japanese soldiers who were looking for her father, a veteran of the Spanish-American War who was working with U.S. forces.

She said her captors mangled her hands and pulled her toenails out. She said that after her third shout of "God help me," she felt no pain. She and her siblings were beaten, starved and left to the torment of anthills. The ants, she said, didn't bother them -- proof enough to her of the strength of the 23rd Psalm.

She endured imprisonment for four years, until American forces liberated the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila.

On Friday, when students and guests filled the Bartlett theater to honor Rachel Block, her fellow former prisoners of war and those still missing and their families, she spoke with conviction to the students.

"Believe in yourself ... believe in God."

She said she was here on the stage Friday "standing on His promises."

"Do the right thing," she said.

And she had a surprise for Alex Spector, Alaska chief of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In a small wooden basket on a white cloth was a worn GI dog tag for Cpl. Douglas W. Thompson of Fargo, N.D. She found it on display in the World War II museum in Valencia, on the Philippine island of Negros, during a recent visit.

She said it spoke to her, and the words she heard were "bring me home." Cpl. Thompson is buried at an American military cemetery in Manila. She said he'd been captured, beheaded and burned. She didn't know how his dog tags came to be in the museum, but she persuaded the owner to part with one of the two tags. Now she hopes the VA will help her find the family.

She wants to do for him what every POW, MIA and their families long for. Bring him home.

-- Frank Gerjevic