Explanation please! By Kasia Polanska - Recently, I was surprised to learn that the new Ketchikan Theater Ballet artistic director, who was hired just this past summer, would not be returning to the school after only a few months with KTB. When I called the KTB office to find out why, I was told that the reasons were unknown. According to the information that I have received since then, the now former KTB artistic director was fired by email, without warning, and without the possibility to discuss the reasons in person. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 12, 2014

Open Letter to the U.S. Postal Service By Damon Knight - The simple fact here, is that our mail delivery has gone from great, to good, to bad (and even horrific) since LOCAL mail sorting was stopped in Ketchikan. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 12, 2014

Postal Service Reform Bill By Donald Bodda - I have to agree with the bill for getting the US Mail delivered more promptly - it was a big win for Alaska. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 12, 2014

Rezoning By Marty West - I see merit on both sides of this argument. My question is – what does it mean to have a “heavy industrial” and “unrestricted development” zone? - More...
Wednesday PM - February 12, 2014

How Much Do You Care!!! By Bonnie J Abbott - I had some interesting things happen recently, after my letter in SitNews, I was approached by several, all said the same thing, but I knew none of them. Three different stores, in one week. What they said was surprising to me. What they said is how much they agreed and like my letters recently in SitNews and all said keep up the good work Bonnie! I haven't heard that much in my life so it felt good to have strangers approach me and let me know how much it meant to them. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 12, 2014

Property Taxes? By Dennis Gudgeon - Can anyone explain to me how my property value is able to go up $32,800. in one year's time when I haven't done any improvements to the property? - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Astounded by the Gov.'s Remarks By Glen Thompson - The following are my personal opinions and do not represent the Ketchikan Gateway Borough in any way: I just listened to Governor Parnell interview with KRBD in Ketchikan regarding an unplanned visit to our fair city.  I was astounded by his remarks.  After over six years of appeals to the legislature and the administrations of both Governor Parnell and Governor Palin, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough filed a last resort lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of state statutes that require a local contribution for schools. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Ketchikan Postal Services By Ron Haberman - I would like to take this opportunity to respond to a letter to the editor regarding the U.S. Postal Service written by David G. Hanger of Ketchikan and published on Feb. 3, 2014. First, the U.S. Postal Service’s goal each and every day is to better serve the changing mailing and shipping needs of American industry and the American public without burdening the American taxpayer. Contrary to Mr. Hanger’s statement, the Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies solely on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. To that end, the Postal Service has been very aggressive in reducing costs, including decreasing its annual cost base by $16 billion and reducing the size of its career workforce by more than 200,000 employees since 2006. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Postal Service By Norm Noggle - I haven't ever written offering my appreciation for the work of a politician. However, I must give thanks to Sen. Begich for his recent work to get our mail delivery system back in order. According to what I read today, he has a firm commitment from the Postal Administrator that our local mail will no longer be routed thru Juneau and sorting will be done in Ketchikan. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Postal Fix By Suzan Thompson - I'd like to thank Senator Begich for his quick intervention in the postal problems plaguing Ketchikan and other Alaskan communities. When a United States Senator listens to his constituents and acts quickly and decisively to fix a problem, government works. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Thank You By Rob Holston - To all of those who attended the Celebrate Life Banquet, Thank You. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Case Number 14-001: A request to rezone Low Density Residential acreage to General Commercial and Heavy Industrial By Karen Ramsey - I believe the initial zoning of this particular parcel as low-density residential was a mistake and thus am in favor of Paul and Theresa Hamilton’s rezone request being considered by the borough planning commission Tuesday, 2/11/14.  My husband works for P & T Construction, so the decision will have a direct impact on me and my family. Les Ramsey started working for P & T after having worked 15 years for South Coast, Inc., which shut down in 2002.  In the ensuing years, Les helped build the Third Avenue Bypass and the airport taxiway working for construction companies based in Juneau.  When P & T Construction of Ketchikan hired Les I was relieved because it seemed Les would enjoy secure local employment again.  P & T has a good, dependable employee in Les, and we appreciate his year-round employment.  We Ramseys are stable, hard-working, tax-paying citizens who would like to continue our humble lifestyle and plan for our future in Ketchikan. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Industrial Activity around Bear Valley By George & Sandy James - For a matter of record, we are against the rezone of 1000 block Third Avenue, Case #14-001. It seems every year our Bear Valley neighborhood has to come before the Planning Commission because someone keeps trying to rezone for heavy industrial. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Bear Valley rezoning By Brent Connor - While I don't know the Hamilton's real well, I do know who they are. They are some of the hard working people you see working projects all over the island, helping to improve quality of life for all of us. People like this are literally the backbone of the community. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Rezone #14-001 By Harlan & Megan Heaton - We support the rezone of case #14-001, from residential to heavy industrial and unrestricted commercial development, requested by Paul and Theresa Hamilton of P & T Construction Co. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

Regarding rezoning #14-001 By Kathy Paulson - As 20 year residents of Upper Main Street we also hear a lot of noise. On any given day at our house we can hear pile driving on Berth 1, the Lumberjack Show (cheering and chainsaws), cruiseships tying up at 5 a.m. (we also can smell their breakfasts if they are moored at Berth 3), back up alarms on tour buses, traffic on the 3rd Avenue Bypass, floatplanes, fog horns, generators on boats moored at the Casey Moran float, etc. - More...
Monday PM - February 10, 2014

CASE 14-001 Rezoning By Darlene Breitkreutz - I am totally in favor of rezoning the industrial area at Ketchikan's Copper Ridge Road. We also built in the area some 25 years ago and we KNEW there was an industrial zone nearby but we loved the area. Before P & T Construction, Lybrand had been on that property for years and he was burning, blasting, moving rock, and doing whatever he needed to do to make a living. People who have developed and built homes in the surrounding area did in fact know they were near an industrial area. - More...
Thursday AM - February 06, 2014

POST OFFICE BLUES By David G. Hanger - I realize that Darrell Issa and a handful of his right wing cronies, starting with the insane mandating of financing 75 years of retirements in advance, are doing everything in their power to destroy the U.S. Postal Service, but I do not see that as reason for local postal employees to enhance the prospects of that demise by providing such lousy customer service. - More...
Monday PM - February 03, 2014

Case Number 14-001 the Rezoning of Residential land in town to Heavy Industrial and Unrestricted Commercial By Theresa Hamilton - My husband and I purchased this property so that we could eventually develop the land for our future. Our construction business may be small, but we do work hard like everyone else and we depend on our land for our future. - More...
Monday PM - February 03, 2014

Rezone 14-001 By Ernest Hamilton- For the inquisitive in mind to consider and to those interested here are some facts concerning the request for rezoning and in rebuttal to the Ellis letter. If in fact the home was bought some 25 years ago then these people have been living with the continuous construction process while the now Copper Ridge was being developed. - More...
Monday PM - February 03, 2014

Drug informants get off scot-free! By Bonnie Abbott - I want to add something to my recent letter and apologize to KPD & Andy Bernstein for not adding in my letter that the KPD has no choice NOT to use informants because our town is so small they need to do so, to catch the big dealers!!! It's a cycle and I know they know it, but what else can they do? There is no other option! - More...
Monday PM - February 03, 2014

Rezone of Quarry area case number 14-001 By Peter Ellis and Roz Ellis - Wake Up, Wake Up all residents of the area surrounding the quarry where the city library is located. Hamilton has once again requested a rezone of some 14 acres from residential to commercial and Heavy Industrial. Just imagine what could appear if his request is granted. Did you choose to live in or near an industrial area? The subject area is not within the city limits and thus no permitting process is required. the Borough, according to the Borough Attorney, has no permit process either which permits Hamilton to do whatever he pleases if rezone is granted. - More...
Saturday AM - February 01. 2014

Drug Problem Worsening in Ketchikan By Bonnie J Abbott - I am replying to the letter thanking Andy Bernstein for his great work the last couple years in Ketchikan! I also believe he has worked very hard along with Charlie Johnson. These two work together and both deserve a thank you from many!! What I do think is that this man does not know, accordng to his letter, that his information is not correct, pertaining to the out of town scum that are giving drugs to our community, it isn't accurate. - More...
Saturday AM - February 01, 2014