Long time Ketchikan Pediatrician
David Johnson retires
Pictured: David and Jenny Johnson
Photo Courtesy PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center ©2016

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Ketchikan: Long time Ketchikan Pediatrician David Johnson retires - Long time Ketchikan pediatrician, David Johnson M.D. has retired. Friday (December 30, 2016) was his last day at PeaceHealth Ketchikan. On the bright side, he and his wife Jennifer Johnson RN will stay in Ketchikan.

Dr. Johnson came to Ketchikan 46 years ago as an officer in the US Public Health Service fresh out of internship and assigned to the Indian Health Clinic located in then Ketchikan General Hospital. He picks up the story:

“Our clinic was where most of radiology is located now. After two years I left for pediatrics residency at the University of Washington and Children’s Hospital in Seattle. I returned to Ketchikan in July 1974, and worked for 31 years at the Ketchikan Medical Clinic, a private clinic that was located across from the US Post Office. Since 2005 I have worked ‘part time’ first at Callisto Clinic and continuing when that clinic became part of PHMG Pediatrics," said Dr. Johnson.

Johnson said, “There have been many changes in those years. When I arrived in 1970 we had one ECG machine in the hospital, no pulse oximetry, no ultrasound, or computers. When I returned in 1974, I was one of ten private physicians who took ‘city call’ in a rotation to cover the emergency room for patients who presented without a physician, since we had no emergency room physicians. “ In those days the Emergency Room was two rooms near the soon-to-be-discontinued operating rooms at Ketchikan Medical Center." - More...
Tuesday PM - January 03, 2017

Southeast Alaska: State crime lab confirms confiscated pill is fentanyl disguised as oxycodone; First time extremely potent synthetic opioid found in this form in Alaska - Following the recent arrest of an individual for driving under the influence of drugs in Juneau, one of the items found in their possession was a pill that appeared to be a 30 mg oxycodone tablet. Testing at the Alaska State Crime Lab, however, revealed the active ingredient in the pill to be fentanyl rather than oxycodone. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is much more potent and can be lethal in very small doses.

This is the first time that a counterfeit prescription opioid tablet made with fentanyl has been identified in Alaska; however, many other states have been seeing these counterfeit tablets for months.

The distribution of counterfeit tablets represents an important public health threat, and the general public should be made aware of the significant risks to life and health when purchasing what appears to be prescription medications from any source other than a legitimate pharmacy. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to distinguish a counterfeit pill from a legitimate one.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. - More...
Tuesday PM - January 03, 2017

FISH FACTOR: Fishing Picks and Pans for 2016 By LAINE WELCH - The start of 2017 marks the 26th year for this weekly column that targets news for and about Alaska’s seafood industry. The goal is to make all readers more aware of the economic and cultural importance of our state’s first and oldest industry.

Today, Alaska fishermen and processors provide 65 percent of our nation’s wild-caught seafood; it is also Alaska’s most valuable export to more than 100 countries around the world. The seafood industry puts more people to work throughout Alaska than oil/gas, mining, timber and tourism combined.

The bulk of Alaska’s fishing fleet of nearly 10,000 vessels is made up of boats under 50 feet. Each is a small business that supports several families. For fishing towns like Kodiak, Cordova and Homer, where 500 to 700 vessels are homeported, those boats are the majority of our downtown store fronts. I call it a mall in a marina.

Southeast Alaska: Juneau Welcomes First Baby of 2017 - The first of baby of 2017 born in Juneau is Matthew James Albrecht. Matthew was born just two minutes before midnight, January 1, 2017 at the Bartlett Beginnings Family Birth Center.

Parents Annie and Greg Albrecht with baby Matthew.
Photo courtesy Bartlett Beginnings Family Birth Center

Matthew made his entrance not long after his parents, Annie and Greg Albrecht, arrived at the hospital, weighing in at 6 pounds 9 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. Matthew will join his siblings and Bartlett Beginnings alumni Eliza, 5 and Oliver, 3, at home in the Juneau Valley. - More..
Tuesday PM - January 03, 2017

Ketchikan: Luke Dossett to Receive Eagle Scout Award - On Friday, January 6, 2017 Luke Dossett, 17, son of Josh and Mary Dossett, will be honored at a special Eagle Scout ceremony at 6:30 pm at Holy Name Catholic Church Parish Hall. Local Eagle Scouts, Scouters, Scouts and friends of Luke are invited to attend.

To earn Scouting’s highest award, Luke had to earn 24 merit badges, serve as a leader in his troop, and complete a major community service project.

Luke’s service project was to repair and replace the sub flooring of Studio A at Ketchikan Theatre Ballet. With the help of local scouts, leaders and members of KTB his project logged over 375 man hours. Luke was also able to raise over $1500 to offset the costs of the repair.

Luke has been a member of Troop 4, chartered to Holy Name Catholic Church, for over 7 years. He has served as assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader and is currently junior assistant scoutmaster. He has been a member of the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of scouting, for 3 years. He was recently elected as the Vice Lodge Chief of the Great Alaska Council and has been awarded the OA Founder’s Award. He has attended a National Jamboree, Scouting Adventures to the Bahamas and Canoeing down the Stikine, along with numerous leadership and Boy Scout camps in Alaska and Washington. - More...
Tuesday PM - January 03, 2017

Ketchikan: Newly Branded Rodeway Edgewater Inn in Ketchikan - The new Rodeway Edgewater Inn in Ketchikan has been branded and is open to guests. The hotel is operated by HMC Hospitality and located at 4871 North Tongass Highway in Ketchikan.

Ketchikan Rodeway Edgewater Inn located at
4871 North Tongass Highway in Ketchikan.
Photo courtesy Ketchikan Rodeway Edgewater Inn

“We are excited to be joining the Choice family and branding the Edgewater Inn. With a fast track plan the Edgewater will brand as a Rodeway and then transition into Clarion. The transition will bring an enhanced guestroom product, updated lobby and the addition of a workout facility. The Rodeway Inn and Clarion brands always deliver great value to travelers which allows them to relax and focus on what’s most important – their trip,” said Darlene Heavlin, Executive Vice President, HMC Hospitality.

The Ketchikan Rodeway Edgewater Inn property features 46 guestrooms, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast with coffee, complimentary shuttle to and from Airport Ferry Terminal, free local calls, flat screen TV’s with free premium channels as well as a Restaurant, Lounge and Marina. The property is conveniently located to the Airport Ferry Terminal, Downtown and shopping.

This hotel will participate in Choice Privileges, the rewards program offered by Choice Hotels International, Inc. membership is free and offers points good toward free nights, airline miles, gift certificates and more while staying at more than 6,300 Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria hotels & suites, Mainstay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brand hotels as well as the Ascend Hotel Collection member hotels. - More...
Tuesday PM - January 03, 2017