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Ketchikan: Vessels To Be Moved From Casey Moran Harbor By Aug. 11th - The City of Ketchikan Port and Harbors Department has sent letters to all boat owners at Casey Moran Harbor requesting removal of their vessels from the harbor by August 11, 2006. Notices have also been posted on boats.

With the vessel removal deadline set at August 11th, Chris Brewton, Ports and Harbors Director, said it is the desire of Ports and Harbors to have the Casey Moran Harbor empty of all vessels by August 14th in order that work can begin on the Berth 3 project. - More...
Monday - July 31, 2006

National: Rice Says Settlement of Israel-Hezballah Conflict Taking Form By DAVID SHELBY - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she has achieved the basis of a settlement to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hizballah and expects to see the U.N. Security Council act on a proposal within the week.

"Based on what we have accomplished, and the urgency of the situation, we will call for United Nations Security Council action this week on a comprehensive settlement that includes three parts: a cease fire, the political principles that provide for a long-term settlement, and the authorization of an international force to support the Lebanese army in keeping the peace," she told reporters prior to leaving Jerusalem July 31.

Speaking to an audience in Miami, Florida, July 31, President Bush said the necessary conditions for a sustainable long-term settlement include the extension of Lebanese government sovereignty over its entire territory, the introduction of an international stabilization force and an end to Iranian and Syrian support for Hizballah.

"This approach will make possible what so many around the world want to see: the end of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel, the return of the Israeli soldiers taken hostage by the terrorists, the suspension of Israel's operations in Lebanon, and the eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces," he said. - More...
Monday - July 31, 2006

National: Is the recent heat wave a clue to global warming? By JANE KAY - Thermometers have spiked throughout much of the United States, Canada and Europe, and scientists are predicting more intense, longer and more frequent heat waves in the future.

While leading climate scientists have been reluctant to link regional heat waves with rising temperatures in the world's atmosphere and oceans, they say the recent weather patterns are consistent with computer projections for global warming.

In the United States, the first six months of 2006 were the hottest recorded in more than a century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center. Canada reported the hottest winter and spring since it started keeping track about a half-century ago, while England, Germany and France are sweltering, and the Netherlands is recording the hottest month since temperatures were first measured 300 years ago.

"The current heat waves throughout much of North America and Europe are consistent with the predictions of our global climate models," said physicist John Harte, a professor and researcher in the University of California's Energy and Resources Group and the Ecosystem Sciences Division. - More...
Monday - July 31, 2006

Fish Factor: Salmon handling practices, a reality check By Laine Welch - A statewide "reality check" has been occurring every five years since 1991 to monitor salmon handling practices among Alaska harvesters, processors and tender operators. The project, which includes surveys and extensive site visits, reveals some interesting attitudes and trends.

"It's really the only thing out there to help track what's going on with the fleet and the industry," said Randy Rice, Seafood Technical Program director for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, which conducts the program. The actual work is done by Anchorage-based Dittman Research and Graystar Pacific Seafood, and this year was funded by the state Commerce Department.

The tracking reveals that from 1991 through 1996, salmon handling practices improved, followed by some backsliding through 2001 by both fishermen and processors, said Graystar's Steve Grabacki.

"There was less willingness to deliver fish in a timely fashion, chill fish, and upgrade boats to improve quality. For processors, it was a matter of how long they handled the fish or let it sit before processing or freezing," he explained. Grabacki said the big drop in salmon prices seemed to spawn an attitude that "quality doesn't pay, so why bother."

But that negative outlook has turned around more recently. "From 2001 to 2006, there has been a recognition that fish prices are not going to magically bounce back, that there is a whole different competitive market, and we need to change our behavior in order to get better prices. There is a willingness to do something different and it's reflected statewide," Grabacki said.

He added that one of the most notable trends over the past 15 years is in the number of fishermen who are selling their own catches. "It was very noticeable from 1996-2001 and there has been a huge increase in direct marketing and self-processing fishermen through 2006. Far more fishermen are taking their fate into their own hands and getting permits to do so," Grabacki said.

A glance at the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game's "Processors & Buyers: Intent to Operate" data for 2006 shows 478 names listed under the Catcher/Seller (CASO) category, and 225 in the Direct Marketer (DMCP) category, from a total of 1,203 entries. For 2005, the listings were 588 under CASO and 190 under DMCP, from 1,400 entries.

The data can change daily and don't reflect fishermen in several other related categories, a spokesman for the state Commercial Fisheries division advised.

There have been similar "spikes and subsidings" in fishermen's self-marketing interest over the past 20 years, according to ADF&G deputy director, Geron Bruce. "We'll have to watch it over a longer time frame to see if it is really a trend or a cycle we've seen before," he added. - More....
Monday - July 31, 2006

Match of the Month: July "Little Brother" Robert and "Big Brother" Blake enjoying a moment after touring the "Fire Safety Trailer" on Tongass Dock, July 4th, 2006 Photo by Nancy Coggins Ketchikan: Match of the Month By NANCY COGGINS - A glimpse into "Big Brother" Blake and "Little Brother" Robert's match within Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Alaska - Ketchikan (BBBS of SEAK - KTN) reveals a pair who has a lot of fun. Bowling and arcade games are their favorites, which may be partly because Robert gets a chance to play hide-and-seek. Also, there's that pizza "treat," and Robert sees how many hot red peppers he can eat! - More... Monday - July 31, 2006

Alaska:  Bears take over popular Alaska fishing spot By KATE PESZNECKER - Bird Creek has gone to the bears.

They are roaming among fishermen, they are stealing fish, and they are drawing a crowd.

Alaska state troopers have visited the wildly popular fishing mecca almost every night for the past two weeks, responding to complaints and fears about hungry and unafraid grizzlies, said Greg Wilkinson, a trooper spokesman. The bears have been spotted from the Seward Highway bridge upstream to where the creek angles out of sight.

"And the problem is, the place is just packed with fishermen," Wilkinson said.

The 160-space parking lot at Bird Creek fills up daily. The stream teems with pink and silver salmon. It's a perfunctory 25-mile drive from Anchorage. Anglers haul in fish after fish, lining the banks at times nearly shoulder to shoulder - combat fishing in full bloom.

The bears seem to have caught on to this constant source of salmon.

And that's causing trouble.

On Wednesday night, about 9:30 p.m., witnesses said one antsy angler fired a handgun into the air to scare off three grizzlies loitering nearby. A second man took issue with the gunfire and the two adults quarreled, said Jonathan Ward, who was fishing nearby and within earshot. - More...
Monday - July 31, 2006

Viewpoints Opinions/Letters MURKOWSKI JET TIME QUALITIES By Pete Ellis - Monday TIME FOR THIS GENERATION TO STAND UP FOR ALASKA By Eric Croft - Monday Cowards Of Our Own Destiny By Don Hoff Jr. - Monday Ketchikan O.B. Floor By Tracey Scadden - Monday Consolidation can be for the better. By Robert McRoberts - Monday Murkowski's jet By Victoria Canul Dunne - Friday If You Want My Vote By Samuel Bergeron - Thursday Ketchikan Concrete Classic By Tracy Mettler - Thursday Picturesque City By Bill Thomas SR. - Thursday Four years is enough By Charlotte Tanner - Thursday Don't forget your year-round customers By Jean Bland - Thursday Protesters & Baseball By Scott Kline - Thursday The Government is Here to Help By Alan Lidstone - Thursday Tax or Not to Tax or even Tax Higher By Marvin Seibert - Thursday Intertie By Norma Lankerd - Wednesday Nouri al-Maliki By Mark Neckameyer - Wednesday All Stars selection By Vanessa Ohlson - Wednesday Breakfast of champions By Judith Green - Sunday The most picturesque city in all of Alaska By Jay Hamilton -Sunday Who's eating the "cash cow"! By William Schultz - Sunday Mixed Messages By David Blasczyk - Friday Bostwick Timber Access Road By Chuck Moon - Friday Munching on the Cruise Ship Ballot Initiative By Gregory Vickrey - Friday Do Your Part! By Kara Steele - Friday Taxes By Anita Hales - Friday THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL By Allan Cline - Friday More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter Political Cartoonists Political Cartoons Ketchikan Arts This Week Today's Forecast Ketchikan Weather Data Current AK Weather Map City Police Report AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Classifieds & Announcements July 2006 Click on the date to read the stories published on that day. 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 31            Front Page Archives

Alaska: Cougar Ace's initial survey complete; life of naval architect lost in accident - A four-man salvage team was able to access and survey the Cougar Ace yesterday, determining that at least some cargo remains in place and that the vessel remains stable. However, while conducting the survey, one of the team members fell and died from injuries sustained in the fall. 

The team attempted to board the vessel from the Makushin Bay but were unable to climb up the structure. They successfully accessed the vessel using the Coast Guard cutter Morgenthau's HH-65 Dolphin helicopter. The salvage team commenced a survey of the vessel's engine room and some of the cargo decks. After the survey was completed and the team was disembarking the Cougar Ace an unidentified member of the team, a naval architect, slipped and fell. He was knocked unconscious. The other team members conducted CPR on the scene. He was immediately medevaced to the Morgenthau. After conducting CPR for over an hour, he was pronounced dead by the Coast Guard flight surgeon. A safety assessment is underway.  

The Cougar Ace left Japan on July 22, with 23 people on board. A Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter and crew from Air Station Kodiak, working with two Air National Guard Pavehawk helicopters with rescue crews from Kulis Air National Guard Base, sucessfully hoisted the twenty three crewmembers of the Cougar Ace to safety last Monday night, July 24th.

The Cougar Ace, a Singapore homeported vessel, carrying 4,813 vehicles was en-route to Vancouver B.C. when it began taking on water and listing at 90 degrees 230 miles south of the Aleutian Islands on Sunday, July 23rd.The Singapore flagged vessel, a 654 foot car carrier, is owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. The amount of fuel on board has been confirmed as 142,184 gallons of Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) 380 and 34,182 gallons of marine diesel. Previously reported amounts were the amount of fuel taken on before departing Asia.

According to the Unified Command, the initial salvage survey was successful. The team looked at the number one and nine decks. The team determined that the cargo on the number one deck, the highest deck, remains in place. Cargo on the ninth deck has also remained in place. The engine room is intact and there is no sign of water. There are a total of fourteen car cargo decks on the Cougar Ace.

The Cougar Ace was at last report 140 nautical miles south of Amlia Island in the Aleutian Island chain. It has been adrift since approximately 1 a.m. Monday. The vessel is being pushed by the wind at about one knot. Since about 4 p.m. Wednesday the vessel was on a mostly northern route. Friday it took a east course. It is still on that course. 

The 378-foot Coast Guard cutter Morgenthau is on scene monitoring the Cougar Ace for signs of pollution and tracking its movement. A non -recoverable sheen has been noted emanating from the bow section of the vessel in the vicinity of the bow propulsion system. The sheen extends approximately 25-75 yards. - More...
Monday - July 31, 2006