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Ketchikan: Washington Man Indicted For Murder of Ketchikan Doctor By MARY KAUFFMAN - The Ketchikan District Attorney's office announced Friday that 32 year-old Jordan Joplin was indicted by a Ketchikan grand jury for the murder of Dr. Eric Garcia.

Joplin was previously charged with theft in the first degree in April 2017 for allegedly stealing expensive items form Garcia's home and taking money from Garcia's bank account. In the most recent indictment, Joplin is charged with murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, and again with theft in the first degree.

According to the complaint filed on March 31, 2017, Joplin requested the Ketchikan Police Department to conduct a welfare check on Dr. Garcia. Joplin identified himself to the Ketchikan Police as a close friend of Dr. Garcia's who stays at his home when he visits Ketchikan. Joplin indicated that he has never been employed or lived in Ketchikan and only travels to Ketchikan to visit Dr. Garcia.

On March 27, 2017, officers of the Ketchikan Police Department discovered the body of Dr. Garcia in his Ketchikan home during a welfare check initiated at the behest of Joplin. On the date the body of Dr. Garcia was discover, Joplin was in possession of a truck belonging to Garcia, the key to the vehicle, and a set of keys to Garcia's home.

Subsequent investigation revealed that multiple items had been removed from Garcia's home. Ketchikan Police learned that Joplin had been in Ketchikan to visit Garcia on March 16, 2017, and that he left on March 17, 2017. Ketchikan Police later discovered that Joplin shipped approximately 4,415 pounds of household goods and personal affects through a local Ketchikan freight company to a Maple Valley, Washington address. Footage from the freight company showed Joplin using Dr. Garcia's truck to make four trips to the shipping location. Garcia was not in the truck with Joplin.

With a search warrant, three shipping containers were intercepted and held at Alaska Marine Lines facility in Seattle, Washington. The search revealed the containers held the missing items for Garcia's home as well as other documentation with Garcia's name. Recovered items identified as being stolen included high value distilled spirits, a portion of the collection of watches inside a display case, a portion of a coin collection, a flat screen TV, a desk top monio9r, tow laptop computers, one tablet, and miscellaneous household items. During the search of all three containers the only name identified on boxes or documents was tat of Eric Garcia. According to an earlier report by Seattle's KIRO7.com, Joplin allegedly stole more than $1 million in belongings from the Ketchikan home of Dr. Garcia including a gold and coin collection worth $500,000.

Ketchikan Police also executed search warrants for Garcia's financial records which revealed that approximately $37,000 of bank transfers had been made out of Garcia's account beginning March 16, 2017 to accounts associated with Joplin. - More...
Saturday AM - July 22, 2017

Alaska: NOAA locates wreckage of crab fishing vessel off St. George Island - Two NOAA ships, en route to scientific missions in Alaskan waters, helped locate the missing fishing vessel Destination at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation. The Destination and its six crew members were lost February 11, 2017, while fishing for snow crab northwest of St. George, Alaska.

NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson, a fisheries survey vessel homeported in Kodiak, conducted the first survey from April 30 through May 1. The Dyson used its multibeam echo sounder to search the area around the last known position of the Destination. While the ship was not able to positively identify any contacts as the Destination, it did narrow the search area.

A second survey by NOAA Ship Fairweather, a hydrographic survey vessel homeported in Ketchikan, was conducted on July 8 and 9. The Fairweather used its multibeam sonar, designed for seafloor mapping and object detection, to locate the Destination in approximately 250 feet of water. 

With the wreckage and debris field located by NOAA ships, a U.S. Coast Guard dive team aboard Coast Guard Cutter Healy will use a remotely operated vehicle to investigate the wreckage later this month. Imagery from the ROV will provide visual confirmation of the wreck site and become part of the Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation, which holds its public hearing August 7-18 in Seattle.  

“The Marine Board appreciates NOAA’s help in locating the wreckage of the F/V Destination,” said Cmdr. Scott Muller, U.S. Coast Guard, chairman of the Marine Board of Investigation. “The vessel location is an instrumental piece of our investigation. We have a long partnership with NOAA to support the safety of those on the sea and appreciate their assistance in this and past investigations.” - More...
Saturday AM - July 22, 2017

DAVE KIFFER: THE AUTUMN LEAVES - For the record, the first leaves began to congregate on our driveway right around the solstice, the official beginning of summer, the third week of June.

Yes, winter seems to coming a little earlier than normal in Our Fair Salmon City.  But that is to be expected since apparently summer decided to take a pass this year.

This, of course, is rather distressing turn of events, or fine kettle of fish, as my mother used to say.

Speaking of which, what the heck does that even mean?

She always said it a negative way. Something that was unfortunate, awkward, ill-timed or unexpected was always a "fine kettle of fish."- More...
Saturday AM - July 22, 2017

DANNY TYREE: Parking Is Such Sweet Sorrow - Believe it or not, my only college-era clash with school authorities erupted because the campus was experiencing growing pains. Your cash-strapped author received a ticket for parking on the grass when I simply couldn't find an authorized parking spot in time for class.

So, I guess it was only natural that my interest was piqued by a USA Today article about America's parking crisis. The AVERAGE American motorist spends 17 hours a year searching for parking spots. The quest adds up to an estimated $345 per driver in wasted time, fuel and emissions. (Of course, in urban areas such as New York City, the problem can be five times worse.)

It's a frustrating stalemate. Retailers, government offices and entertainment venues refuse to provide adequate parking or convenient hours. ("How were we to know those dadgum horseless carriages would catch on?") Motorists refuse to utilize mass transit or carpooling. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has hinted at asking the Israelis and Palestinians to help the feuding parties find a non-nuclear answer. - More...
Saturday AM - July 22, 2017

MICHAEL REAGAN: Fake Republicans - OK, Republicans of the Senate, we get it.

You've proved again how collectively spineless you are on your efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare.

You've proved yet again that when it comes time to put your incumbent rear-ends where your over-promising big political mouths are, many of you choose to chicken out at the last minute.

After seven months you 52 Senate Republicans and your 241 teammates in the House haven't been able to get it together to repeal, replace or even repair Obamacare.

Now it's time to pay the price for your seven years of fake politics.

Next week Senate leader Mitch McConnell is planning an up-or-down vote on the motion to proceed on the bill to repeal Obamacare.

If that vote happens, voters and the media will see exactly which of you Republican senators have been faking it, and which ones haven't. - More...
Saturday AM - July 22, 2017