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Thursday
June 27, 2013
Mother and Pup
This mother seal was photographed recently while patiently nursing her pup in the Bar Harbor area.
Front Page Photo By PATTY WHITESIDES ©2013
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Southeast Alaska: Innovation Needed to Reverse Falling Timber Harvests - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called on U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on Tuesday to take immediate steps to reverse declining timber harvests and return the Tongass National Forest to a working forest.
Murkowski, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, pressed Tidwell on the need to increase timber harvest in the Tongass to create jobs, stimulate local economies, and maintain the health of the forest.
“Southeast Alaska is now, and has historically been, a resource dependent economy directly tied to the federal land that dominates it. Yet over the past 20 years, the forest industry, once the second-largest industry in the state, has been in decline,” Murkowski said.
Ninety-five percent of Southeast Alaska’s land base is federally controlled. The Tongass – at 17 million acres – makes up 80 percent of that federal land.
Political and economic pressures, increased federal land withdrawals, a more stringent regulatory climate and environmental lawsuits have forced the closure of Southeast Alaska’s two pulp mills.
“The Tongass Land Use Management Plan push toward ecosystem management, and the reinstatement of the roadless rule, have also sharply reduced allowable harvest levels, leading to the closure of most of the sawmills in the region,” Murkowski said. “A single large sawmill in Wrangell and a handful of mom-and-pop operations are all that is left.” - More...
Thursday AM - June 27, 2013
Ketchikan: Coast Guard, good Samaritans assist fishermen aboard vessel taking on water - The Coast Guard and good Samaritans responded to a mayday call from the fishing vessel Arial, which was taking on water in Clarence Strait 30 miles southwest of Ketchikan, Tuesday.
Good Samaritans aboard the fishing vessels Secure and Tlingit Lady, along with a Station Ketchikan 25-foot Response Boat-Small crew assisted the six-member crew of the 58-foot seiner with locating the source of the flooding, making repairs and dewatering the vessel. The vessel was then towed into Gardner Bay by a good Samaritan vessel and the Response Boat-Small crew conducted a post-search and rescue vessel boarding. - More...
Thursday AM - June 27, 2013
Southeast Alaska: SUBSISTENCE FISHERY FOR SOCKEYE SALMON CLOSED IN FEDERAL WATERS OF HATCHERY CREEK DRAINAGE – Due to a low sockeye return, the US Forest Service Thorne Bay District Ranger is acting immediately to protect sockeye salmon in the Hatchery Creek drainage on Prince of Wales Island.
Effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, June 26 and extending through 11:59 p.m., Friday, August 23, that portion of Hatchery Creek from 100 feet upstream of the upper falls to 100 feet downstream of the lower falls, will be closed to all Federal subsistence fishing. Within the remainder of the drainage, fishing gear will be limited to the use of rod and reel or dip net gear and any sockeye caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. On August 1, 2013, users may subsistence fish for coho salmon in the vicinity of the Hatchery Creek falls. Gear is restricted to rod and reel or dip net, and any sockeye caught must be released. Fishing on, from, or within the fish pass at the upper falls is prohibited. - More...
Thursday AM - June 27, 2013
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Alaska: U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of the Voting Rights Act By Mary Kauffman - The United States Supreme Court in a 5 to 4 ruling on Tuesday issued a decision in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder, holding that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional. Section 4 contains a formula identifying jurisdictions that had to submit any changes in their election laws to the federal government for pre-approval or “preclearance.” This decision frees Alaska from the onerous requirement that it ask permission from the federal government before making any change to its election laws or procedures, no matter how small.
“The State welcomes [Tuesday’s] ruling, because it removes the taint of federal supervision of Alaska elections and gives the Division of Elections flexibility to respond to local needs and conditions without federal interference,” Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty said. “The State’s commitment to Alaska remains steadfast to ensure all Alaska voters are able to exercise their right to vote, free from race or language discrimination. We will continue to protect voting rights and to provide minority language Alaska voters with the assistance they require to express their political will at the ballot box.”
The court found that Section 4’s formula no longer accurately identifies jurisdictions in need of this federal supervision. The court therefore held unconstitutional the requirement that only covered jurisdictions - including Alaska - submit proposed changes to the federal government for preclearance. The prohibitions against discrimination in voting remain in place, and Alaska continues to be committed to ensuring that all its residents have equal access to the polls.
In Tuesday’s decision, the court emphasized that the preclearance requirement was a “drastic departure from the basic principles of federalism” that must be justified by “current needs.” The court ruling added, “Our country has changed, and while any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions.”
The court invited Congress to revise the Voting Rights Act to create a new coverage formula that would identify jurisdictions with current problems of voting discrimination.
Shelby Co., Alabama challenged the act in 2010 arguing that Congress's failure to modernize the law in light of the enormous improvements in minority electoral opportunities in the states covered by the law rendered it unconstitutional. - More...
Thursday AM - June 27, 2013
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Ketchikan: Gadsey Leaving SAIL For Ireland; Fong
new Ketchikan Program Director - After 6.5 years with Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) Ketchikan and almost 9 years with SAIL, Independent Living Specialist, Kevin Gadsey will be leaving employment with SAIL on July 2. Aaron Fong has been hired as the new SAIL Ketchikan Program Manager, and will work with Emily Chapel, Independent Living and Recreation Specialist.
Fong has a background serving people with disabilities and senior citizens. He worked for 2 years prior as a care coordinator on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, and before that in Seattle, WA, with a mental health focus from 2006 to 2011. Fong has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and was born and raised in San Francisco, CA.
“I look forward to continuing the mission of SAIL with Emily, inspiring personal independence, and carrying on and building upon all the fantastic accomplishments in Kevin’s tenure. I am very excited to be working for SAIL and contributing to the community of Ketchikan, overall. I am glad that my office serves Prince of Wales, so I may continue to advocate and make visits there in the future.”
Gadsey is leaving SAIL and Ketchikan to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Advocacy and Activism at the National University of Ireland in Galway.
“I hope to learn the skills to continue the fight for disability rights, human rights, in parts of the world that still lack community access options for people with disabilities and differences,” Gadsey said. “It is tough to leave Ketchikan, my friends, and my adopted hometown, but this degree option will allow me to continue my efforts to effect positive change in the world.”
During the past six years in Ketchikan, Gadsey advocated for more accessible sidewalks, and the City of Ketchikan installed or repaired dozens of curb cuts. His efforts directly led to the installation of small ramps on the airport ferry waiting rooms, and installation of access features in the locker rooms of the new Gateway Aquatic Center. - More...
Thursday AM - June 27, 2013 |
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 A Tale of Two Governments By Agnes Moran -
At its January policy session this year the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly tentatively set its property tax mill rate at 5.5 mills, a projected increase of 0.5 mills. The increase was built into the revenue side of the budget to offset expected reductions in federal funds. When property assessments came in approximately 6% higher than the previous year and sales tax proceeds exceeded projections, the Borough Assembly, after much debate, chose not to implement the 0.5 increase and maintained the mill rate at 5.0 mills. - More...
Thursday AM - June 27, 2013
KIC RECALL By Eliasica Timmerman -
So after hearing that there has been a petition for removal of the Ketchikan Indian Community council, I decided that I would look into it to see what the reasoning is. I wanted to see for myself and not listen to misinformation. I have seen the minutes from the meeting in January up until last month. I'm not sure who wrote that petition but it seems to me that some of the information in that petition is not correct. I am all for transparency!! - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
OceansAlaska Request By Norm Noggle -
I am all in favor for providing the requested two year funding request by OceansAlaska’s Southeast Alaska Mariculture Industry Initiative’s (SAMII). What a winning combination of increasing the Ketchikan labor force in a safe, clean, and sustainable industry. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
Herring Cove bridge By Judith Green -
It grieves me so read about happenings here on our island that are harmful and hurtful. So tonight as I sit in my little cottage and view (again) the folks, families, and couples walking across the road to get a view of the water, the fish, the eagles, the bears; or maybe the sunsetting over the water out here away from all the hustle and bustle of the day, I am encouraged and want to let you know. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
FairTax By Keith Whitcomb -
There are dozens of reasons why the FairTax would be better than our current system. Not just the abuses of the current regime. Let s start with our current system actually suppresses our economy. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
Multiple scandals By A.M. Johnson - With the current elected administration, keeping score on the multiple scandals continuing to come forward can be a full time job. Recently a written skit using two characters, attempts to bring into perspective the number of better publicized scandals exposed suggesting others follow. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
Bus Drivers By Judith Green -
We have some very great bus drivers on the blue line, green line and red line city/borough buses. Most are very friendly, very informative about life on the island, and very helpful to the local folks who ride the 'lines'. They take a personal interest in many of us passengers and accommodate as much as is possible within the realm of their rules and regulations. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
Open Letter to Alaska: Immigration Reform By Debra Heston -
We always hear from our fellow Blaze Bloggers and friends in general that we should all contact our Congressman and be heard i.e. send a letter, e-mail, or burn up the phone lines etc. Having decided to finally take a stand while still living in the greater DC area for the rest of the summer, we actually did contact our representatives in the House and Senate with a personal visit to their offices. This is what happened to us and what we thought of the undertaking. The later part of this letter addresses some of the reasons why it will affect people who consider themselves insulated from the affects of the proposed amnesty legislation. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
Open Letter: Man-made dangers lurking in unexpected places By Tina R. McPherson - Yesterday afternoon (June 16th), after stopping on Connell Lake Road, we let our dogs out of our truck to cool off in the river next to the road. The next five minutes proved nearly fatal to one of our dogs, as we saw him thrashing about with a beaver snare tightly wound around his neck. He was having difficulty breathing, and we had to pull his front paws up on a log to keep the noose from getting any tighter. The snare is made of cable, so a knife will not sever the line. We were fortunate to have a cell phone, we called the State Troopers who arrived at the scene and saved our dog's life. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013
RE: Taxation & Spending By Douglas J. Thompson - I just read Mr. Arriola's letter to the editor on the subject of local government and our various comments about it. I would like to clarify a few points. I have run for Ketchikan city/borough government (at the time they were combined positions). Out of seven running two of us chose to put forth concrete proposals of what we wished to accomplish upon election. So I am on record with positive solutions. In my letters due to limited space I often just assume the reader can figure out the right approach when the current wrong one is highlighted. I feel I have offered my services and as an American have the right to cry foul when I see it in government. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013
U.S.Immigration legislation By Al Johnson -
Mike Harpold submitted a 'Point of View' to the Ketchikan Daily News, encouraging our congressional members to look closely with a read of the Senate immigration legislation, which in his opinion lacks any real enforcement or assessment of the root problems that have plagued immigration law for some time. and make substantial changes to address these weaknesses. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013
Replace IRS With FairTax By Dr. Walter Wesley Snyder V - Now is the time, more than ever, for us, The People, to act and let our Congressperson hear our voice. The IRS' recent incident is a catalyst that We must use to remove unfair taxes imposed on us, The People. In fact, we should remove the IRS from the tax picture as it is only used for political and social control. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013
Sign up to vote on the oil-tax giveaway By Bella Hammond -
People across the state are gathering 40,000 petition signatures, needed by mid-July, so Alaskans can vote to reject or approve the recent oil tax giveaway. While it makes no sense to give away billions of state dollars for nothing in return, there is a larger issue -- another attack on the Permanent Fund. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013
Help Needed By Sandy Harris -
Karen Galloway needs your help. She was in an accident on May 27th and has 3rd degree burns from this accident. She has been unable to work since because of the severity of the burns and it is not known when she will be able to return to work. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013
Taxation & Spending By Ken Arriola -
Just to weigh-in a little on the Municipal Tax/ Budget issue as of late. To Mr's Hanger, Thompson, Dial, Plute and Johnson...... when your names start appearing on the election ballot, perhaps those Elected Officials and the Voters might start taking you seriously. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013
Thank you By Heather Muench -
The Ketchikan Humane Society wishes to thank the incredibly generous individuals and organizations who have been so supportive of us over the past two months. Since we rely entirely on donations to support our rescue work, our low-cost spay and neuter program, and our free feral cat altering program, none of what we do could happen without this support. Our goal is for every animal in Ketchikan and Southern Southeast Alaska to be loved and wanted. We have made great progress in reducing the numbers of animals abandoned or euthanized in our community every year. Because we are a 501(c)(3), all donations are tax deductible, and since none of our volunteers or foster families are paid, all monies can be used for care for animals. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013
Sealaska One Step Closer... By Dominic Salvato - I take exception to Congressman Young's comment concerning the Sealaska bill (S-340), Sealaska One Step Closer to Receiving Their Full Land Entitlement June 13, 2013 "The legislation will ensure that Sealaska Corp. continues to meet the economic and cultural needs of its shareholders"... - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013
Abortion By Glenn Mollette -
Celebrating family on these summer holidays or any day is always a special day. However, all holidays are tough days for many. While millions celebrate others wonder about what might have been. Some have lost a child while others made tragic decisions to end a life. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013
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