Ketchikan: Local clinics to combine offices - The Ketchikan Medical Clinic and Wilson Medical Clinic physicians and staff are joining forces. It was announced recently at the monthly medical staff meeting that Ketchikan Medical Clinic will move from its current location at 1101 Copper Ridge Lane into the Wilson Medical Clinic at 212 Carlanna Lake Road by June 1, 2007.

Local clinics to combine offices Drs. Andy Pankow , Diane Liljegren, Peter Rice, Madeline Borhani, and Herb Higgins

The new clinic will be known as the PeaceHealth Primary Care.

Drs. Andy Pankow and Diane Liljegren, Family Medicine physicians, as well as Drs. Madeline Borhani, Herb Higgins and Peter Rice, Internal Medicine physicians, will now be seeing their patients under one roof. While the physicians and staff will continue to provide the exceptional care that their patients have come to expect it is anticipated that the merge will allow for an even better patient experience as the staff are able to work more efficiently and provide backup and support to each other to better meet patient need. Ketchikan Medical Clinic patients will now share the close proximity to other services (lab, x-ray, physical and occupational therapy, etc.) - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Alaska: Governor Selects Bear with Salmon Design for Alaska's Commemorative Quarter - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today unveiled the final design for the Alaska commemorative quarter. The Governor selected the bear with salmon and the North Star. Mark Vinsel, Chair of the Alaska Commemorative Coin Commission, joined Governor Palin for the unveiling ceremony at the Alaska Mint in Anchorage. The design will be forwarded to the U.S. Mint, which will release the coin in fall 2008.

"This was a hard decision," said Governor Palin. "All of these designs are very fitting for Alaska. I heard from many Alaskans across our state who helped me decide which design best represents Alaska. I would like to extend a special thank you to all of the students and teachers who took part in this process, too. Their input was especially helpful."- More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Top Stories U.S. News U.S. Politics Alaska Ketchikan

Alaska: Missing Former State Representative Found Alive - Former Alaska State Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, reported missing after a boating trip in Auke Bay yesterday, was found hypothermic but alive at 11:15 am Monday on East Coghlan Island by a member of the South East Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search (SEADOGS).

Weyhrauch was reported missing after a boating trip in Auke Bay Sunday evening. The Coast Guard Cutter Mustang, a rescue helicopter from Air Station Sitka, a patrol boat from Station Juneau, and a Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel searched the waters of Auke Bay for Weyhrauch throughout the night.

The vessel Navigator reported Weyhrauch's abandoned pleasure craft adrift approximately one mile southeast of the Auke Bay ferry terminal at approximately 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening. The last known time and place Weyhrauch seen on Sunday was at approximately 5:00 p.m. after disembarking his son at the Weyhrauch's residence in Auke Bay. After disembarking his son, Weyhrauch proceeded toward Auke Bay Harbor for mooring. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Alaska: Alaska Enters Into Universal Health Care Debate - Alaska entered into the universal health care debate today with the introduction of SB 160, legislation to ensure equitable financing of health care by making insurance affordable to all Alaskans. SB160 is a bill introduced by Sens. Hollis French (D - Anchorage) and Johnny Ellis (D - Anchorage).

The cornerstones of the bill are the creation of the Alaska health care board, which will oversee the program, and the Alaska health care fund, which will issue vouchers to qualified individuals. The bill also creates the health care clearinghouse, which will connect individuals holding vouchers with quality insurance products, facilitating a relationship between Alaskans and private insurers.

This legislation requires that every Alaskan retain an affordable insurance plan that covers essential health care services. This not only protects the health and wellbeing of insurance holders, but it also protects the businesses and individuals who have chosen to invest in health coverage. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

National: A new day for same-sex couples in Washington state By SEAN COCKERHAM - Amid happy tears and rounds of applause, Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill that grants same-sex couples some of the same rights as married people, saying, "This is a very good moment for me."

The state law will take effect July 22. It gives gays, lesbians and unmarried seniors rights to visit a partner in the hospital, inherit property when there's no will and make decisions on matters such as emergency health care, funeral arrangements and disposition of remains. Domestic partners are to register with the Secretary of State's Office to qualify for the rights. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Northwest: Flying lab to test Pacific skies for dust from Asia By DAVID PERLMAN - Vast plumes of fine-grained desert sand and pollution sweep constantly from Asia across the Pacific and over North America, darkening skies along the way and affecting the weather and global warming, but scientists don't yet know to what extent.

This week, researchers plan to launch a flying laboratory they hope will give them an answer.

A team from the University of California-San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., began successful test flights last week aboard the government's newest high-altitude research aircraft. Within a few days, the team's leaders say, the Gulfstream V plane, financed by the National Science Foundation, will head to Anchorage, Alaska, and from there will fly over the ocean to Yokota Air Base near Tokyo on the first leg of its six-week mission capturing plume samples.

The plumes of particles, still poorly understood, are so huge that they are among the largest weather-influencing events on Earth. They are caused by a combination of factors.

Dust storms from fierce winds that whip the Central Asian deserts cast a pall over Korea, rise high into the atmosphere as they speed eastward, and often cause a yellow-brown haze over California, the scientists say. At the same time, millions of tons of dense soot and chemicals rise into the air from China's booming coal-burning industries each year, and they, too, add to the density of the plumes that reach North America. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

National: Congress begins investigating death of NFL star Tillman By ZACHARY COILE - Congress will open its first inquiry into the death of former football star and Army Ranger Pat Tillman with a hearing this week that is expected to focus on whether the Army deliberately destroyed evidence and ordered soldiers to keep quiet about key details showing that Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan.

A House committee wants to know why the Pentagon spun a tale of Tillman's death by "enemy forces" even though Army officials knew almost immediately that he had been killed accidentally by fellow U.S. soldiers.

The Defense Department turned over four boxes of uncensored documents to Congress on Friday - a victory for Tillman's family, who has complained that the heavily redacted Army reports on his death have made it difficult to find out who was responsible for the misinformation. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

National: Former military sites remain environmental time bombs By RUSSELL CAROLLO - From California to Washington, D.C., time bombs lurk beneath the surface - poised to contaminate wells, pollute waterways, jeopardize property values and endanger human lives.

More than 1,000 confirmed and suspected military sites, the largest number in the country, are spread across California. Many were abandoned decades ago but may still be contaminated with toxic chemicals, bombs and other munitions or even radioactive waste, a six-month examination by the Sacramento Bee found.

With so many sites, encounters with military debris and even munitions are becoming commonplace. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Public Meetings The Ketchikan School Board will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday - April 25, 2007 at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Download the Agenda & Information Packet pdf Viewpoints Opinions/Letters Basic Rules THE GREAT HARRY MARTIN SPRING COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AND OTHER WEIRD STUFF - By David G. Hanger - Tuesday PM Re: Roads on Gravina By Mike Sallee - Tuesday PM "Wilson Clinic" By Janet Spear Quick hits By Gregory Vickrey - Tuesday PM Devaluing Milk, Bread, and Human Life... By Martha Leftwich Info on Hays Surveys By Anita Hales - Tuesday PM Whatever happened to...... By Virginia E. Atkinson - Tuesday PM Civil discourse By Bill Thomas - Tuesday PM Sr. - Tuesday PM In Regard to Civil Discourse By Vicki Harsha - Tuesday PM RE: Politicians won't stand up to gun lobby By Thomas McDonald - Tuesday PM Sr. RE: New America By Mike Isaac - Tuesday PM Sr. Who Paid For The Gravina Road Poll? By Jerilyn Lester - Monday PM Renewable energy fund beginning of political commitment By Sen. Johnny Ellis and Rep. Bill Thomas - Monday PM RE: A new America By Ty Rettke - Monday PM Civil, dignified? By Carl Thompson - Monday PM Response to Virgina Tech Shootings By Sara Schroeder - Monday PM Civil discourse? By Jessica Mathews - Monday PM Out of control spending By Ed Fry - Sunday "Honesty and Character" By Al Johnson - Sunday Perpetuate Tribes Not Corporations By Don Hoff Jr. - Sunday KGB Budget Review By Glen Thompson - Saturday Do we need a new Public Library? By Judith L. Anglin - Saturday Civil discourse By Wendy Gierard - Saturday Thanks for making Ketchikan better! even at the Rock Pit... By Bobbie McCreary - Saturday Family Activities By Carl Webb - Saturday Explanations? By Charlotte Tanner - Saturday A new America By Mike Isaac - Saturday Integrity? By Rick Krueger - Saturday Virginia Tech Massacre By Gavin Piercy- Saturday "Family" By Julie Steiner - Wednesday PM Ketchikan School Board By Rick Krueger - Wednesday PM Penalties for dumping By Gavin Piercy - Wednesday PM Margaret McCombs Story By Carolyn Frye - Wednesday PM Earth Day By Tara Wilhelm - Wednesday PM Virginia Tech Shootings By Glenn A. Bell - Wednesday PM McCombs: Free to Roam By Amanda Chandler - Monday PM Jim Elkins By Taylor Gregg - Monday PM Honesty and character By Al Johnson - Monday PM Do We Really Need a New Public Library? By Robert D. Warner - Monday PM Ketchikan Garbage By Sonia Streitmatter - Monday PM World Port, Superintendent, Library... By Robert McRoberts - Monday PM Schools etc. etc. By Bill Thomas Sr. - Saturday Open Letter: TLMP By Robert Pickrell - Saturday DISCLOSURE APPROPRIATE By Pete Ellis - Saturday Faith By Gregory Vickrey - Saturday Chamber Lunch By Laura Plenert - Saturday New Library building By Signe Markuson - Saturday Thanks for Making Ketchikan Better! By Jerry Cegelske - Saturday "Do we really need a new public library?" By Robert Fruehan - Saturday Alaska Coins By Tom LeCompte - Saturday Swan death: What a shame By Amanda Martin - Saturday More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter Ketchikan Police Report Updated AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Today's Forecast Satellite Today's Weather Images Marine Forecasts Ketchikan Weather Data Current AK Weather Map CLASSIFIEDS Publish ad Please select the proper category before posting. CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES Announcements For Sale / Free Stuff Garage Sales Homes / Apts/ Property Pets Wanted Lost & Found Local Services Publish your ad April 2007 S M T W T F S 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30           More Front Page Archives

Jason Love: Aging - I'm at that age where things are starting to fall apart. Doctor Lynn said that my warranty must have expired.

I won't give my age for religious reasons, but let's just say that my pants are up around the navel. That's how you can tell a man's age: The beltline starts in adolescence around your knees and creeps ever upward until the paramedics finally pull the pants over your head and pronounce you dead.

Memory is also on the skids. Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you were there? I took it to the next level...

"Why the hell am I in Target?"

I wanted to ask a clerk, but they're never helpful that way. I shopped for two hours and still don't know if I got what I needed. So it goes.

My grandpa reached the age where you stop caring altogether...

"Grandpa, will you pass the yams? The yams? THE YAMS."

Oh, he heard us just fine; grandpa had simply moved on from passing yams. He also backed into traffic without a peek, figuring that he had lived so long he must be invincible.

I'm not there yet, but my math has gone from a B in trigonometry to this: Save $2.15 on four cans of tuna ... Four goes into ... Something cents per ounce ... Do I really NEED tuna? - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Tom Purcell: Distressed ­ American Sensibility - I will be 45 this week and it's official: I have turned into my father.

The world makes less sense to me every day. My fellow man puzzles me more every day.

I cite exhibit A: crappy stone walls. I know a woman who paid $10,000 to have a small stone retaining wall built along her driveway.

Now I used to be a stonemason -- I rebuilt close to 200 such walls during my high school and college years -- and I was shocked to learn that hers was a new wall. It was buckling and full of gaps. Not one stone was properly cut or faced.

It's the latest craze, she told me -- walls that have an old, authentic look. This is because people suddenly want the outside of their homes to look as "distressed" as the inside.

"Distressed furniture" is the latest trend in interior design. People are buying brand-new tables and dressers, bringing them into their garages, kicking and scratching them, then covering them in a lumpy, flaky paint. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Steve Brewer: Tackling the repository of stuff - Somewhere in your home - spare bedroom, attic, basement, garage - is the Repository of Stuff We Don't Use Anymore.

It's a mystical place of letter sweaters and souvenir ashtrays, baby clothes and broken crockery, Magic Eight-Balls and eight-track tapes, outgrown toys and outmoded phones and old jeans that will fit again after we drop 20 pounds (yeah, right).

Once in a blue moon, someone in your household will feel compelled to clean out this accumulated detritus. We could make better use of that space, the thinking goes, and we'll never, ever need this stuff again. Why not get rid of it?

This is an admirable ambition, but, as with so many things, it's easier said than done. Parting with your old stuff is a hard, dirty job that requires elbow grease, grit and resolve. Not to mention backache medication and frequent hot showers and, quite possibly, an expensive divorce.

At our house, the Repository of Unused Stuff was in our three-car garage. I don't want to say how much dusty stuff we had piled up, but there was barely room for two vehicles. You do the math. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007

Dale McFeatters: Bad neighbors make for good fences - The U.S. government, goaded by Congress, has made many demands of the Iraqi government, and now the Iraqi government, in the person of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, has made one of its own. He has demanded that the United States halt construction of a three-mile wall to surround a Sunni neighborhood to protect it from adjacent Shiites.

The enclosure is one of at least 10 planned as part of the nearly 3-month-old security crackdown. U.S. forces call them "gated communities," but the walls are dreary Jersey barriers and 12-foot-tall cement slabs.

Al-Maliki's office says the walls will further divide an already bitterly divided nation. The prime minister issued his order while on a tour of surrounding nations, and the confusion surrounding it makes you wonder how much he is in touch with what's going on in his own capital.

According to the Associated Press, Iraq's chief military spokesman said that al-Maliki was responding to exaggerated reports and that the barrier-building would continue. However, the U.S. ambassador said the American forces would respect the prime minister's wishes.

The walls are clearly an inconvenience to residents, who face loss of access to stores and markets, and lengthy detours. The Azamiyah wall will enclose a neighborhood of 15,000 and have only one gate for civilians.

And construction is only the beginning. U.S. forces plan to issue biometric IDs for all the residents, and fingerprint everyone who comes and goes. - More...
Monday - April 23, 2007