Ketchikan: Plane Crash, Gravina Bridge Top local stories in 2015 By DAVE KIFFER - A deadly plane crash and another chapter in “The Bridge to Nowhere” saga were the major stories in Southern Southeast in 2015.

DeHavilland DHC-3T (Turbine Otter) crashed on June 25, 2015 near Ketchikan, Alaska while on a sightseeing tour. Date of Photo June 27, 2015
Courtesy NTSB

A Promech turbine otter floatplane crashed above Ella Lake in Misty Fjords on June 25. The pilot and eight passengers – all passengers on the Holland America ship Westerdam - were killed. Officials are continuing to investigate, but no cause had been announced by years end.

In October, the state of Alaska Department of Transportation FINALLY announced its new preferred alternative for Gravina Access. In 2006, the state approved two bridges to connect Gravina and Pennock Islands to Revillagigedo. But that plan was cancelled by Governor Sarah Palin in 2008. After seven years, the state has now decided to improve the ferry terminal and make other minor changes for a total of $23 million. Most of the rest of the more than $250 million the state received from the Federal Government for the access project went to other projects in the state. Local officials expressed concern that the new “preferred alternative” does not improve access.

Jaxson Brown was the first baby of the 2015 in Ketchikan, he was born on Jan. 2, 2015.

Phyllis Sinclair, long time local float camp resident, quietly celebrated her 100th birthday in January.

There was about 2 inches of snowfall on Jan. 4-5. It was the only significant snowfall of the winter. There was another snowfall in late December, dumping up to 10 inches of snow in Clover Pass and Herring Cove, but the snowfall in most parts of the city of Ketchikan were negligible.

Klawock City Council member Sabrina Demmert, 35 , was charged with drug possession Jan. 2.

The Forest Service announced that long time Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole would retire in April. Cole has been with the Forest Service in Southeast since 1979 and has been Supervisor since 2003. He was replaced by Earl Stewart.

After being engaged for 13 years, Jared Barlow and Lisa George wanted a different kind of wedding. So, the Klawock couple chose to get married during the halftime of a Klawock/Kake basketball game in January. George is a former Klawock basketball player and her son is on the current team.

Longtime Ketchikan business, Murray Pacific got a new name in January. Longtime employee Dan Voelz purchased the outdoor and fishing supply store and renamed it Pacific Pride of Alaska.

Metlakatla hosted is first ever Academic Decathalon meet in January. Teams from Metlakatla, Ketchikan, Craig and Juneau took part.

Newly elected Governor Bill Walker held one of his inaugural balls in Ketchikan. The last governor to have an inaugural ball in Ketchikan was Frank Murkowski in 2002.

The proposed midnight to eight am closing of the Hyder border crossing made international news. Eventually negotiations between the United States and Canada led to the border crossing remaining open 24 hours a day for the time being.

Willie Smith, an employee at the Discovery Center, was named the winner of the meritorious service award for the Tongass National Forest.

Dive boat owner Joshua Wodyga was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide by a local jury. Wodyga’s crewmember, Levi Adams, died of carbon monoxide poisoning while diving for sea cucumbers in October of 2013. Officials contended that Wodyga did not propely maintain the air compressor that was being used when Adams died. Wodyga was sentenced to three years in prison.

Brandon Sample, 20, an inmate at the Ketchikan Correctional Center, committed suicide after being arrested on sexual abuse of a minor charges.

Rich and Kay Andrews, owners of Annabelle’s, were named Citizens of the Year by the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce. Last yeat, Annabelle’s hosted six fundraisers that raised more than $125,000 for individuals facing medical emergencies.

Other chamber winners were Pool Engineering (Business of the Year), Island to Island Veterinary Clinic (Entrepreneur of the Year), Ketchikan’s two Rotary Clubs (Community Service), The Monthly Grind (Event of the Year), Carol Shafer (Youth Leader of the Year), and Rachel Guyselman (Presidents Award).

The Eichner Family donated more than $350,000 to the Peace Health Ketchikan Medical Center for the creation of the Ken Eichner Healing Garden. Work began on the garden in April.

A Ketchikan man died of an accidental shooting in a gravel pit off Brown Mountain Road in early June, Samuel Mullenax, 22, was target shooting with friends.

Youth was served in fishing this summer. A 10 year old girl from Idaho, Lily Hornish, made the catch of the summer of with a 333 pound halibut in mid June. And Middle schooler Duseigneur Paolo, 14, won the Chamber of Commerce King Salmon Derby with a 40.3 pounder.

The Elsie Piddock won the first annual Race to Alaska in five days, 55 minutes on June 12. The entrants in the Victoria to Alaska race had to be motorless.. The winning team won $10,000.

Angela Morin finished second in two categories at the Pizza Man 2015 National Physique state championship. Morin was in the Masters Figure and the Open Figure B categories.

A student was expelled from Leask Middle School in Metlakatla in April after bringing a handgun to school.

For the third straight year, the Ketchikan High School girls softball team finished second in the state. Kayhi has now finished second four of the past six years. The Ketchikan boys baseball team finished 4th in the state. Three Ketchikan athletes made the all tournament teams, Leesa Murphy and Felicia Ruaro were selected for softball and Nathan Bonck was tabbed for baseball. Bonck was named the Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year.

Ketchikan High School men’s basketball coach Eric Stockhausen was named the state Coach of the Year.

For the first time in more than 30 years, both the boys and girls basketball teams won the Southeast Region and went to the state tournament.

Alex Pihl of the boys team and Eliah Anderson and Alexis Buggerstaff of the girls team were named to the all state team.

The Metlakatla Misschiefs finished second in the state 2A division. Craig High school finished 5th.

The usually nice weather from May through early July caused an algae bloom in Ketchikan waters that turned Tongass Narrows a shade of green that it usually only seen when there is glacial runoff near rivers like the Stikine and the Unuk. - More...
Monday PM - January 04, 2016