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KETCHIKAN— A Ketchikan judge rejected an initial plea agreement, then sentenced a man to nearly four years in prison for stabbing an 86-year-old World War II veteran during a theft.

James Eddy, 26, was sentenced Friday to three years, nine months in prison by Ketchikan Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens.

District Attorney Stephen West and public defender Sam McQuerry told Stephens that Eddy had agreed to plead guilty to assault and theft in return for dismissal of a robbery charge, with the condition that the judge impose a prison sentence of no more than two years.

West acknowledged that the July assault on Edwin Shelton was particularly serious. Shelton was walking near a store, carrying groceries, when he was attacked from behind. Shelton suffered a broken arm, a cut on his head and a stab wound to his shoulder.

West said that a robbery conviction would carry a prison term of seven to 11 years. He asked for a seven-year sentence with all but two years suspended.

McQuerry said Eddy had a history of deteriorating mental health and was determined to do anything the judge recommended to improve himself.

Stephens said he could not agree to a two-year cap on the sentence. He suggested both lawyers discuss another plea agreement or go to trial.

Both sides agreed to a new deal Friday afternoon — a cap of four years to serve.

Stephens imposed a sentence of six years, with all but three years and six months suspended for the felony assault, plus two years, with all but three months suspended, for the theft charge.

With good time and credit for time already served, Eddy could be released in about two years.

JUNEAU— The company developing the Kensington mine near Juneau has discovered a new vein of gold.

Drill tests conducted at the end of last year revealed the new vein. The discovery could develop into a major gold system, Donald Birak, Coeur d’Alene Mines’ vice president for exploration, said Wednesday. Idaho-based Coeur d’Alene Mines is developing the mine.

The tests represent a first phase of drilling. More work needs to be done before the company can say how much additional gold the mine might produce.

The mine 45 miles northwest of Juneau was thought to have 1.5 million ounces of gold reserves and an initial life of 12½ years.

Coeur’s new drill tests showed eight of 14 core holes intersected “very significant gold mineralization,” the company said, with assays ranging from 0.144 ounces per ton to more than 1.29 ounces per ton.

Tom Crafford, the state’s large mine coordinator, said the numbers are fairly impressive.

Development of the mine stalled after Coeur’s plan to dispose of mining waste in Slate Lake was challenged in court. The mine was allowed to proceed after the U.S. Supreme Court gave it the go-ahead. A tailings facility currently is under construction.

Production at Kensington is expected to begin later this year. The mine estimates production at 120,000 ounces of gold annually. The mine is expected to employ up to 300 during remaining construction and about 200 during operations.

Gold was selling Wednesday for $1,108 an ounce.

The Associated Press

KETCHIKAN– Utility workers in Ketchikan have discovered the body of a young man.

The body was found Wednesday near one end of utility catwalk crossing Ketchikan Creek. It is believed to be that of a man in his late teens or early 20s.

Police say there was no identification on the body, which was clothed in a heavy winter jacket and had been there for some time.

Police aren’t saying whether there was evidence of foul play.

The body is being sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Anchorage.

That’s the gist of a measure introduced by sponsored by state Sens. Bert Stedman and Dennis Egan, who wants to make clear the governor’s “duty station” — where he or she spends the majority of time to fulfill the office’s duties — is Juneau.

Former Gov. Sarah Palin ruffled feathers by limiting her time in the capital city.

Palin did a majority of her work at her Anchorage office while maintaining a a home in Wasilla. She sometimes charged the state when her children traveled, which sparked at least one ethics complaint, which was settled.

Her successor, Gov. Sean Parnell, has moved his family to Juneau for the session.

Stedman’s office says there are no provisions in law requiring a governor live in Juneau or stay at the governor’s mansion.

If a governor maintains a home elsewhere, and decides to live there, the bill would cut off a travel allowance when out of Juneau.

Associated Press

FAIRBANKS— Three mushers have dropped out of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.

The field for the 1,000-mile race has narrowed to 24 mushers after the withdrawal of Jason Mackey, Becca Moore and Ramey Smith.

The race begins in Fairbanks at 11 a.m. Saturday en route to Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Four-time champion Lance Mackey — a three-time Iditarod winner — and original Quest winner Sonny Lindner are among contenders who remain.

Also running are Zack Steer, Hugh Neff and Hans Gatt, a three-time Quest champion.

JUNEAU — The last time state lawmakers tried to add references to Alaska Natives and a message of unity to the official state song, it was divisive and failed. That was 2002.

Eight years later, supporters of adding a second verse to “Alaska’s Flag” believe the state’s indigenous people will finally get recognition.

“There’s a different mentality now,” state Sen. Albert Kookesh, a Tlingit and leader in the Alaska Federation of Natives, said Thursday.

A bill to officially add the verse is working through committees. The verse references Benny Benson, the Native boy who in 1927 designed the territorial flag that eventually became the state flag.

The first attempt to include the verse was in 1987, shortly after it was written by the late poet laureate Carol Beery Davis, a friend of the original song’s author and composer. The verse is widely known, taught and sung as part of the song; the Alaska Youth Choir sang it during the Legislature’s opening session ceremonies earlier this month.

Some of Davis’ friends and her daughter testified in favor of the verse at a Senate committee hearing Thursday; no one testified against it.

Davis’ friend Connie Munro pleaded with lawmakers to finally make the verse official.

“I don’t have many years left,” she said, after recounting how she encouraged Davis to write the verse decades ago.

KETCHIKAN — U.S. Forest Service staff are working on a plan that would establish allowable levels of guided recreation on 3.2 million of acres of national forest land.

Through a series of public meetings, Forest Service staff have developed a map of 28 recreation areas in the Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District. A public meeting to discuss the plan is scheduled for Thursday at the Ted Ferry Civic Center.

Lorelei Haukness, a wilderness and recreation specialist with the district, says the focus is on guided use of the areas, not unguided use. She says nearly all of the areas being looked at could accommodate more visitors.

ANCHORAGE — Alaska’s population grew just over 10 percent in the last 10 years.

That’s according to new statistics from the Alaska Department of Labor.

The department estimates the state’s population at just over 692,000 last year, leaving Alaska still as the nation’s 47th most populous state. But there has been a steady increase since more than 627,500 people were counted in 2000.

The state’s largest city got even a little bigger in 2009. The department says Anchorage’s population was 290,588, growing 2.3 percent — or nearly 6,700 people — last year.

JUNEAU– The Valdez Republican says the timing wasn’t right for a run. He also said he had trouble raising money.

Several Republicans had previously announced plans to run later this year, including Gov. Sean Parnell, who inherited the job last summer when then-Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly quit. The primary is in August.

Former state Rep. Ralph Samuels of Anchorage and Anchorage attorney Bill Walker are also seeking the GOP nomination.

Harris says he hasn’t yet decided on whether he’ll seek re-election to his current seat.