Alaska Ear

When last heard from in October, Frank was going to deliver "Renegade: Sarah Palin's Hachetman" in three months. Then he lost his partners in the enterprise and seemed to disappear.

Why would anyone care about one more tell-all, if that's what it is?

Here's Ear's answer: Frank doesn't have to interview a lot of prevaricating ex-players to know what really happened. He was in the middle of everything and reportedly has the e-mails to prove it. For those who don't remember, Frank was head of boards and commissions and best-known as the enforcer who, among other things, tried to get Trooper Wooten fired.

THAT'S ALL, FOLKS . . . Right-wing radio mouth Eddie Burke checked in to say he's resigned and his last on-air appearance was Thursday. Rumors had been flying for weeks but, according to Eddie, management kept telling him not to listen to them. The station seems headed for a schedule of piped-in stuff as a cost-cutting move, he said, so his squawk show is history for the time being.

What's next? Any number of people are happy to tell Eddie where to go; he says he and his wife are headed for a vacation Outside.

WHAT RECESSION . . . The annual Koahnic/KNBA art auction, held Thursday at the Dena'ina Center, had its usual success as a fundraiser featuring the city's tony set bidding against one another. Well-heeled earwigs say the high bid for the evening was $23,000 for "Remembering our Loved Ones Spirit Bird," a carving by Yup'ik artist John McIntyre. Jerry Neeser (Neeser Construction) bested Calista's Mathew Nicolai, who opened the bidding at $10,000.

SHELDON WHO? . . . There's a new guy making the rounds -- campaigning and fundraising -- apparently planning to challenge Don Young, Congressman for Everyone Who Voted for Him, in the Republican primary.

Ear was not inclined to pay attention. Most years someone emerges from the mist to impale themselves on Don's perceived vulnerability. But Sheldon Fisher is a former ACS and Sprint executive, a lawyer who reportedly has lots of money; plus, political pro Jim Lottsfeldt and company is running his campaign. So who knows what's really going on.

BUYER'S MARKET . . . An Earwig reports the Legislature is adding another religious institution to its portfolio, in a manner of speaking. They've authorized purchase of a Christian Science church building located half a block behind the Capitol at Fifth and Main. Word is it's intended as the new home of Legislative Finance.

Hmmm. Does the building have a steeple? Will it be rechristened Church of the Almighty Dollar?

OVER THE TOP . . . For pure fun, check out the insult competition between Sarah Palin and U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a Florida Democrat she's campaigning against. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Sarah showed up in Orlando last Friday and said some snarky things about Grayson. Nothing that horrible as far as Ear can tell.

Grayson then fired off a return volley of insults, in which he "praised" Palin for wearing clothes she had paid for herself, for having a hand large enough to fit Grayson's entire name on it and for getting through an hour-long program without quitting.

And so on. For the whole screed, check the links in Erika Bolstad's post at adn.com's politics blog. Or just Google; it's all over the Web.

A QUESTION . . . What lawmaker needs to remember to pull down the shades in his office when he decides to canoodle? Everyone involved is single, so scandal's not an issue. Just taste.

POLICE BLOTTER . . . Here's another glimpse of life in the Aleutians, filed March 9 in the ever-popular Unalaska police blotter:

"0202 Drunk Disturbance -- Two more quibbling roommates required police assistance in settling their differences. An inebriated man made an unusual racket while stumbling into the room with a pizza. The noise disturbed his roommate, whose ire was not alleviated by offers of a slice. The bickering boys engaged in minor pushing and shoving. They ... were turned over to plant security."

Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Message Sheila at 257-4341 or ear@adn.com. Find Ear online at www.adn.com/ear.