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SitNews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska
Friday
April 08, 2011

Front Page Photo by CINDY BALZER

Kingfisher
Front Page Photo by CINDY BALZER


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Southeast Alaska:
Revised Sealaska Lands Bill Introduced - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced revised legislation this week that would allow Southeast Alaska’s Sealaska Native Regional Corp. to complete the land selection promised to its shareholders nearly 40 years ago under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).

The Sealaska bill, originally introduced in 2007 and again in 2009, has undergone major revisions over the past year to reflect public comments gathered at town-hall meetings in Southeast communities, and from hundreds of e-mails and letters sent to Murkowski’s office. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, is a co-sponsor of the bill.

The measure introduced Tuesday seeks to complete the aboriginal land selections by Southeast Alaska Natives, while also protecting the rights of other Alaskans who have grown to depend on Southeast lands for their livelihoods. The Sealaska bill is intended to reduce environmental impacts to Southeast Alaska and does not provide additional acreage beyond initial obligation of ANCSA.

“This legislation is important not only to keep the legal promise the federal government made in ANCSA, but also to ensure the survival of the remaining timber operations in Southeast,” Murkowski said. “Without access to private timber, the remaining mills will disappear and an important part of the region’s economy will be forever lost.”

Under the bill, Sealaska would select from among 79,000 acres on Prince of Wales and Koscuisko islands to complete its land entitlement. While a large portion of Sealaska’s land selections will be designated for timber harvesting, some 4,000 acres will be set aside for tourism and other non-timber economic development. Another 3,600 acres of Sealaska’s selection will be preserved as sacred, cultural, historic and educational sites. - More...
Friday - April 08, 2011

Southeast Alaska: Sealaska Land Entitlement Bill Reintroduced - Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Don Young (R-AK) and Ranking Member Dan Boren (D-OK), on Wednesday introduced the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act.  This bipartisan legislation will allow the Sealaska Native Corporation to receive its remaining land conveyance under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971.  Rep. Young first took the lead on this legislation in the 110th Congress.

This bill allows Sealaska to move away from sensitive watersheds, select a more balanced inventory of second growth and old growth, and select most of its remaining ANCSA lands on the existing road system, preserving as much as 40,000 acres of inventoried “roadless old growth.”  

“While Sealaska is one of the Regional Corporations with the largest number of Native shareholders, they received the smallest Regional Corporation land settlement, at less than one percent of the total of all ANCSA lands,” said Rep. Young.  “Now, four decades since ANCSA’s passage, Sealaska is still without their full land entitlement.  

“I have traveled to Southeast Alaska many times since I last introduced this legislation (and as recently as two weeks ago), getting input from local communities and incorporating new ideas to make my bill more comprehensive.” - More...
Friday - April 08, 2011


Southeast Alaska: NOAA issues interpretive rule to clarify charter halibut limited access program - Charter halibut guides operating in Southeast Alaska (Area 2C) and the Central Gulf of Alaska (Area 3A) will not be required to have a charter halibut permit on board during a recreational halibut fishing trip if the guide is not being compensated to provide sport fishing assistance to the anglers on board.  

NOAA Fisheries issued a clarification Tuesday to a provision in the Charter Halibut Limited Access program.

With the publication of the interpretive rule in the Federal Register, a charter halibut permit is only required to be on board a vessel in Area 2C and Area 3A if both of the following conditions are met: (1) one or more persons on board are catching and retaining halibut, and (2) a guide on board the vessel is receiving compensation to provide sport fishing guide services.  

For example, under this rule, a guide would not need a charter halibut permit to take family or friends on a recreational fishing trip if the guide does not receive compensation. - More...
Friday - April 08, 2011

Alaska: NOAA Designates Critical Habitat for Cook Inlet Beluga Whale; Murkowski Sees “Bad Math” In Cook Inlet Critical Habitat Decision; Designation harmful, uncecessary - NOAA’s Fisheries Service today announced it is designating two areas of Alaska’s Cook Inlet as critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. Scientists estimate there are less than 350 Cook Inlet beluga whales left in the wild. This distinct population segment was listed as endangered in October 2008.

The critical habitat comprises 3,016 square miles (7,809 square kilometers) of marine and estuarine environments considered by scientists to be essential for the whales’ survival. These areas contain important biological and physical features for these cetaceans, such as feeding areas near the mouths of salmon streams. Not all of the current range of these whales was found to be critical.

The critical habitat designation, required under the Endangered Species Act, only affects activities that involve a federal permit, license or funding and which may affect critical habitat, such as construction and operation of oil rigs, port construction, dredging, or Environmental Protection Agency-authorized discharges into Cook Inlet. - More...
Friday - April 08, 2011

 


   

Columns - Commentary

jpg Dave KifferDAVE KIFFER: Alaskans Give Peace A 50-50 Chance - I had the pleasure of spending a few days “Outside” recently and naturally Alaska remains a “hot topic.”

Sure, there were the obligatory questions about our former governor, but those seem to be on the wane as folks Down South perhaps have moved on to another “it girl,” maybe that boffo Representative from Minnesota.

What folks seemed interested in, this time around, was all those “reality” shows about Alaska on the airwaves.  Sure there were questions about the “Sarah Palin, Superstar” traveling salvation show, but most were about the truckers, the fishermen, the state troopers, the bush pilots, and the other 710,000 shows about Alaskans (you didn’t realize that every resident of the state has his or her own reality show, what rock have you been living under?).

The general question was “hey, is it really like (insert show name here) up there?”

The automatic answer of course, is “yes.”

Even if the show is wildly over top and bears about as much relation to reality as I do to Sarah Palin, “yes” is the correct and only answer that you can give.

I learned that by answering similar questions posed over the last few years by outsiders about our former governor. The questioner really didn’t want to hear to truth, they just wanted to hear an answer that confirmed their preconceived notions. So the answer remains an emphatic “you betcha” every time a question is posed.

Because these folks truly want to believe that all Alaskans – and Alaskan situations - are larger than life and slightly unhinged. And that’s okay, because most of the time we want to believe that too.

So, it comes as a surprise to us. And to our reality show fans that, maybe things aren’t all that wacky in Alaska after all. - More...
Friday - April 08, 2011

      

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Questions, please contact the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696

letter RE: Opposition to Sealaska legislation By Rick Harris - Sealaska’s land legislation is about jobs, environmental protection and cultural preservation. It has broad support because it protects local jobs and conservation areas that are treasured by all residents of Southeast Alaska. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letterSEALASKA BILL NOT NECESSARY By Rebecca Knight - There is no credible justification for the Sealaska Lands Bill introduced again this week by Senator Murkowski. If enacted, the end result will be privatization of thousands of acres of cherished public lands including numerous so-called future sites, rights to several tidal, hydro and geothermal resources, use and access issues, and much more. That the corporation has been somehow prevented from making their final selections is the basic myth they perpetuate. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letterHere We Go Again By Myla Poelstra Here we go again... it's payback time for Senator Murkowski. We all knew this was coming when Mr. Byron Mallot and Sen. Albert Kookesh appeared at the announcement ceremony for the Senator's unconventional write-in campaign. Endorsements from across the aisle by these two men who have traditionally supported Democrats foretold of the next round of legislation that was sure to follow. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letter Vivian Phillips By Tony Hatano-Worrell - Vivian Phillips is more than just a great waitress. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letterResponse to the union picket By Max Swaim - I did not see the picket at the bottom of Jefferson, but I do have something to say about the people complaining about the unions. I myself was born and raised here in Ketchikan and I'm from a family of loggers, fisherman, and hard working men. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letter An Open Letter to the Ketchikan Community By The Board of First City Council on Cancer - First City Council on Cancer completed another wonderfully successful annual St. Patrick’s Day Auction on Saturday, March 12, 2011. This year’s auction total was $60,000. Once again our mission as an organization was fulfilled. We could not have accomplished that mission without the support provided by so many friends and volunteers. First City Council on Cancer is grateful for the many people who supported us this past year and who continue to support us year after year. We would like to recognize some of the additional community supporters and fundraisers: - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letterSick and tired of KIC members' complaints By Sue Allen - First of all Mr. Edwardson you forgot to mention you work for KIC, so yes of course you'll say it's a great place to work. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letterRE: Tired of KIC members whining By Tina Stephens - There are many services available from KIC, unfortunately many members are never offered the same treatment as other members who have found themselves in the same position. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letter KIC Complaints By Cynthia Taylor - In response to Mr. Edwardson's letter about members of KIC complaining. First Mr. Edwardson I am glad you are sometimes employed by our corporation as is several of your family members. Must be nice! In case the people didn't know this. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letterFront page photo by Jeremy Barry By MJ Cadle - Great cover photo! But I think it is a phenomenon called the green flash not northern lights. This phenomenon happens just after sunset as the sun goes behind the horizon, I have heard of it in the Caribbean, but never in Alaska though I do find reference online to it. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letter Abortion, Re-Cross Examination: Part Two By Rob Holston - This letter concludes my response to Laura Allen’s letter of March 24 re: abortion. You seem indignant that I cited Wikipedia as a source describing “viability”. Yet you offered no better definition and no source at all. I used this information in my letter, published March 7, 2011, because it seemed in complete agreement with what I had learned in my university classes in biology, anatomy and kinesiology. If you can site a source describing viability as an exact point of development along the continuum from conception to birth then you probably will find numerous pediatricians arguing that they can deliver babies with less weight, less gestation and less development who are viable. Indeed if any point is determined it will always be seen as arbitrary and the question will begged to be asked “Can viability exist 5 seconds before this chosen point? 5 minutes before? 5 hours? 5 weeks? - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letter COMMANDMENT By Justin Eckstein - Why is it that Muslims claim Moses was a a prophet and the 10 Commandments given to Moses by OUR HEAVENLY FATHER on Mount Sinai clearly gives OUR HEAVENLY FATHER's Commandment not to kill while they believe in killing those who will not convert, and killing for other various reasons under Sharia Law. - More...
Friday PM - April 08, 2011

letterSick and tired of KIC members' complaints By Charles Edwardson - As a member of Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) I am very tired of all the whining and complaining about KIC. 99.9 percent of the complaints are from our own membership. The entire community is grateful for KIC and the economic impact we have region wide. Everyone it seems is aware of our positive activities and how we distribute our resources community wide -- everyone it seems but our own KIC membership, who are one of the most privileged tribes in the United States of America. - More...
Tuesday AM - April 05, 2011

letter Sharia Law vs: Alaska Law By A. M. Johnson - In today's Ketchikan Daily News 4/4/11 editorial column the subject of Rep. Carl Gatto's bill to establish that all judicial actions within the State of Alaska will be conducted under the terms of the State of Alaska Constitution and the U.S. Constitution. The stated purpose of the bill (HR88) is to confirm that these two documents will be the ONLY factors considered in Alaska courts. - More...
Tuesday AM - April 05, 2011

letter Public unions By Rex Barber - Today 04/04/11 on the corner of Tongass and Jefferson I saw something that broke my heart. A group of people supporting public unions. I'm sure every one of those people had the potential to be a great American. But instead they chose to act like a bunch of European cry babies, selling their souls both to government and Government unions. I'm all for a fair day's wage for a fair day's work,nbut what is fair about being forced to join a public union or risk losing your job? - More...
Tuesday AM - April 05, 2011

letterCost of Living in Ketchikan By Terri Anderson - I have traveled around Alaska and yes you are correct about the cost of living in Ketchikan, I've seen the highest rents and utilities there, and the lowest amount of services for that money. - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

letter KCC performance By Judith Green - This weekend Ketchikan was once again treated to a wonderful live performance by our own talented community members, some from our outlying communities, and 3 professional string players from the State of Washington. We do not (yet) have a great nationally known music hall, but we do not lack for talent or enthusiasm for the performing arts and live performances. There is a specialness about live performance that one can only understand by being present. - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

letter Opposition to Sealaska legislation is diverse By Judy Magnuson - Southeast Alaska has been held in a state of turmoil and uncertainty for more than two years. This is when the majority of the public found out about the proposed Sealaska Bill and the far reaching impacts of this legislation. Once the public found out, and the issue was brought up at city council meetings all over Southeast, it created opposition to this legislation that spans across the full spectrum of people, user groups and communities in our area. - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

letter Know who you are By Lewis Amundson - Not all the the time do I know where I'm going, but I can say for sure I know where I've been. I'm an Alaskan and this is something I'm proud of. Our family has instilled something in us that set us apart from the rest of the states. We know that when people are in need we lend the hand to help, we stand up for what we think is right and we protect our family. - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

letter Sitka's Gift of Kazunoko By Jake Ingman - Japan is the major buyer of herring sac roe, called kazunoko. Kazunoko is traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve, often given as a gift. Kazunoko means many children and symbolizes fertility and family prosperity. In recent years, American fast food places have changed the taste of Japan s youth. Strong herring returns have produced more roe, while the demand in Japan has shrunk. Japan only wants half of this year's quota. Some see this as a reason to shut down this industry, but is that a good idea? - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

letter Abortion By Paul Jarvi - Thank you Mr. Holston for your thoughts on the matter of abortion and the reminder of " Thou shall not kill." I wonder if our heros in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world can keep faith with this commandment and still do their job protecting our country. - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

letter Re: Abortion: Re-cross Examination Part I By Cindi Davis - I just wanted to thank Rob for having the courage to stand up for the American citizens who are slaughtered every year. It is an unpopular stance and one that divides our nation, unfortunately. - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

letter America Must Lead By Donald A. Moskowitz - The Libyan people rose up against their dictatorial and murderous president, and asked for world help to overthrow the tyrant and establish a democracy in Libya, but the world, including the U.S., delayed taking any action.  The western world wanted to study the situation. - More...
Monday - April 04, 2011

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