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Wednesday
January 22, 2014
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Trident's Independence
Photographed at sunset recently...
Front Page Photograph By STEVE SPEIGHTS ©2014
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Ketchikan: GPS App Helps Locate Missing Hiker -The Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad's duty officer received a call from the Alaska State Troopers at 7:00 pm Monday, reporting a 77 year old male hiker from Nevada who was lost in the Ward Lake area. The troopers reported they had received a cell phone call from the man who said he had started down the Frog Pond Trail for a short hike around 3:30 pm. The man, whose identity was not released, reported he had taken a right off the main trail and had followed a flagged trail until he lost his way and was unable to find his way back to the trail. According to the Alaska State Troopers, the man reported he was disoriented, cold, and not prepared to spend the night in the woods.
Information provided by the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad said that cell phone contact with the lost hiker was intermittent and concern for his cell phone battery life prompted a request that he shut off his phone and follow a communication schedule.
Jerry Kiffer of the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad, said a command post was established at the Frog Pond and search crews entered the woods at 8:16 pm. One dog and 13 volunteers searched the area until 10:00 pm without success. Kiffer said with the assistance of the Alaska State Trooper Dispatch, the lost hiker was able to access an App on his cell phone that gave his latitude longitude and with the last 12% of battery power remaining on his phone he was able to give the dispatcher his position.
Search crews were diverted to his reported GPS position and at 11:50 pm made contact with the lost hiker. He was cold and wet but was otherwise uninjured. The man was assisted out of the woods and was returned to his vehicle at 1:40 am Tuesday morning.
Kiffer noted that the use of a cell phone was instrumental in this rescue operation which resulted in the man returning home that night instead of spending a night out, with the real risk of hypothermia. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 22, 2014
Southeast Alaska: Alleged Fugitive From Justice Arrested on POW - Paul Howard Koberger, a 46-year-old, of North Carolina was taken into custody today on Prince of Wales Island on an outstanding warrant from North Carolina.
The issued warrant was for the Felony charges of Sexual Offense Involving a Child in the First and Second Degree. Koberger was transported to the Craig Police Department Jail where he has been lodged pending arraignment and transport. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 22, 2014
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Alaska: State of the State, Gov. Parnell's big items: Building a gasline, paying down pension, and reforming education
- Read the Governor's State of the State speech...
Alaska: Democratic Leaders Share Vision for Alaska; Response to State of the State focuses on Economy, Education - Tonight, Senate Democratic Leader Hollis French and House Democratic Leader Chris Tuck (both D-Anchorage) offered their vision for Alaska in response to the governor’s State of the State speech.
“Democrats want to make Alaska a place where innovation and ideas flourish, our resources are put to good use, and where education is the highest quality,” said Tuck. “And as a result, the economy thrives and good jobs are plenty… On the economy, energy and education—we are ready to lead.” - More...
Wednesday PM - January 2014
Alaska: Senate Majority Responds to Governor’s State of the State Address - Members of the Alaska State Senate Majority released the following statements tonight in response to Governor Sean Parnell’s State of the State address:
“This is an exciting time to be an Alaskan,” said Chair of Senate Resources Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage Hillside/Turnagain Arm/North Kenai). “The recent developments have moved us that much closer to realizing a large scale natural gas project that would deliver gas to Alaskans and markets beyond. Being an equity partner means that we are part owner, part investor and part beneficiary of the profits. I look forward to diving into the Heads of Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding documents in the Senate Resources Committee next week in preparation for receiving the Governor’s legislation.” - More...
Wednesday PM - January 14, 2014
Alaska: Alaska Crime Lab Irregularities Under Investigation - The Alaska Department of Public Safety Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory announced last week it has discovered irregularities involving six controlled substance reference standards used in the testing of illegal drugs. Those six controlled substances are morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, opium, codeine, and amphetamine. Foreign matter was discovered in these controlled substance reference standards. An audit of the Crime Lab’s controlled substance reference standards is underway.
According to a news release from the Alaska Department of Public Safety, the irregularities found do not impact the Crime Lab’s ability to identify submitted suspected controlled substances or the scientific validity of past lab tests.
Investigators are working closely with the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals. The Alaska Department of Law is in the process of notifying defense attorneys who may have cases that involved these standards. Due to the "ongoing criminal investigation", no further information is available at this time. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 22, 2014
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Alaska: Trappers, ADF&G Produce Guide “Trap Safety for Pet Owners” - Pet owners living adjacent to or recreating on public lands are reminded that midwinter in Alaska means fur trapping seasons are open and in full swing. Pets running off-leash and not closely supervised risk having their toes pinched – or worse.
When pets do encounter traps or snares, owners must be prepared to act quickly. That’s why the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Trappers Association (ATA) have teamed up to produce a pocket-size pamphlet titled “Trap Safety for Pet Owners.”
The new pocket guide describes the types of traps and snares that may be encountered and provides illustrated instructions on how to free pets swiftly and safely.
Prevention is most important. Trappers should avoid setting traps close to homes and popular trails and trailheads, and follow the “Code of Ethics” in the Alaska Trappers Manual which includes not trapping on private lands without permission. Pet owners are reminded to keep animals leashed and under control and to be aware that traps may be set in areas where they recreate with their animals. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 22, 2014
Alaska: Ending the tobacco epidemic, still a challenge - It was 1964. The Beatles landed in New York, Mary Poppins was a hit movie, Ford introduced the Mustang, and the U.S. Surgeon General released the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health.
The fight to end tobacco use has come a long way in the past 50 years. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has cut smoking rates by more than half (from 42 percent in 1965 to 18 percent today) and per capita consumption of cigarettes by more than 70 percent. While smoking was allowed almost everywhere in 1964, today nearly half the nation’s population is protected by statewide and local smoke-free laws that apply to all workplaces, restaurants and bars. Reductions in smoking have saved millions of lives and are responsible for 30 percent of the increase in the life expectancy of Americans since 1964.
However, the battle is far from over. According to the CDC, tobacco use is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States. Smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, sickens millions more and costs the nation $289 billion annually in health care expenditures and lost productivity. About 44 million adults still smoke, and more than 3,200 kids try their first cigarette each day. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 22, 2014 |
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the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696
Sitnews reserves the right to edit.
 Focus on maintaining political clout By Tom Schulz -
All too often we only hear bad news in the media. The fact is that lots of good things are happening in Southeast Alaska thanks to work by our Senatorial delegation and some local representatives. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 22, 2014
Let me know when the war on drugs starts By Ken Lewis - Drug Problem? Come on people, problems should be solved not managed. What came first the drug test, or the American who chose not to do dope? With all due respect to those who think drug testing little pockets of certain types of employees is the solution to the problem, you're wrong. If drug testing were a solution to our state/national drug problem, DMV would be used and make drug testing mandatory to operate a vehicle. Time out, not fair, what about my rights, can you hear them marching in solidarity. Them being the ones not tested, who think its funny to see a highly paid ball players go down the tubes for failed Pee-Pee samples, and then excuse the coolness of the other entertainers and artists that blatantly use enough dope to kill a horse. - More...
Monday PM - January 20, 2014
State Legislative Seat By Peter Bolling - Dan Ortiz, a resident of Southeast Alaska for almost 50 years, is running for the District 36 House seat. I can think of no better person to represent the diverse communities of Southern Southeast Alaska. Dan has lived in Ketchikan and Hydaburg and his work has brought him often to Metlakatla and Wrangell. - More...
Monday PM - January 20, 2014
Delete some Federal Holidays By A.M. Johnson - There is little doubt among my acquaintance that I harbor fear from my Government. There is excess overreach by the Federal government into our personal lives far beyond what Natural Law represents. when something comes along that tugs at my frustration with a bit of common sense it is accepted with as a moment of fresh air. The Governor of Maine, Paul La Page is purported to have said in a public speech regarding following Federal laws. - More...
Monday PM - January 20, 2014
Open Letter: LAND USE; WATER RIGHTS By Rick Gustin -
To all Senators and Representatives who have supported HB77 or may support it's Senate bill counter part, I wanted to see if I could change your mind on how you vote regarding HB77. I understand the previously stated reasons for supporting this bill. I get that industry and perhaps some of the people in state government see our current permitting system as, complex, sometimes confused, perhaps at times overbearing and above all slow. I realize that many state employees and business leaders would like to see quicker more wide spread resource development throughout the state. This is seen as providing more jobs and more revenue for the state which is seeing declines in tax revenue and jobs in the oil industry. I totally get all of that. I also feel that there are many citizens of this state, that do not understand the permitting process, may not care about it, but do care about the natural resources that they use each year, (may take them for granted but will sure bitch like hell if they are gone). - More...
Monday PM - January 20, 2014
10% “Tithe” Tax By Stephen C. Eldridge -
Mr. Brooks and the FairTax machine continue to spew out mere propaganda! The “Fair Tax” is a Fraud – we need a 10% “Tithe” Tax! - More...
Monday PM - January 20, 2014
Stop wasting our time By James R. Donnell -
A 2011 study by noted economist Art Laffer estimates that U.S. taxpayers wasted 3.16 billion hours and shelled out $431.1 billion just to comply with the income tax code. This excludes the opportunity costs due to lost productivity, and it costs our economy $216.2 billion annually. - More...
Monday PM - January 20, 2014
WHAT CAN YOU DO? By Diane Gubatayao -
Last October, Dr. Andre Rosay from the UAA Justice Center released data from the Alaska Victimization Survey done here in Ketchikan. Shockingly, the results revealed that 50% of adult women in Ketchikan report being victims of domestic or sexual violence in their lifetimes. That means, statistically speaking, that one out of two women that might be shopping at the store, or attending a Kayhi basketball game, or living in your neighborhood, has been a victim of DV or SA. One out of two! Most of us know someone who has been a victim, and we often ask ourselves, “what can I do?”. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 15, 2014
Open Letter: Unemployment By Forrest A. Mackie - Attn: Lisa Murkowski and Don Young and all Alaska Yahoo politicians; I am an unemployed yahoo who worked the better part of my life working my way up to one of the best jobs at Ketchikan Pulp Company! KPC was the largest employer in this territory and later the state, and the fishing and the logging and the pulp industry were the largest revenue producers for 30 plus years!! Now I am 70 years young, and due to the whim of you politicians that I watch on TV, now I am constantly disgusted by what I see going on in the Whitehouse in the guise of politics. I am totally bewildered at what I see!! - More...
Wednesday PM - January 15, 2014
US Congess shows its True Colors By Michael Spence -
Having just read about the approval of the budget omnibus bill in which the US House of Representatives approved a "over 1 Trillion Dollar" spending bill out of which there is 520 billion dollars in discretionary defense related spending. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 15, 2014
There's a FIX to the U.S. decline in the Economic Freedom Index By Wiley Brooks -
The 2014 Index of Economic Freedom reveals that the United States has dropped out of the top 10 freest economies in the world. Five years ago the U.S. was ranked 6th. Now it is 12th. The FIX is called the FairTax. - More...
Wednesday PM - January 15, 2014
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