Editor's Message: Thank you for your patience as I recover from a recent fall and also as I help a very old friend who is in poor health and in need of my assistance at this time. SitNews will be updated in the near future. Thank you for your understanding. Mary Kauffman

Fish Factor: Alaska's deckhands work force largely unaccounted for By LAINE WELCH - A project that aims to collect labor data on Alaska's deckhands will be on the agenda when state lawmakers convene in January.

An estimated 20,000 deckhands work onboard Alaskan fishing boats, but as self employed workers, they don't provide typical wage and employment data to the state. That's left a whole work force largely unaccounted for in terms of its economic input and importance.

"The people who work as crew members on fishing boats are one of the only groups of laborers in Alaska that are not counted in some way by the state. It's high time this important sector of the industry gets credit for what they do," said Jan Conitz, director of the labor data project for the AK Dept. of Fish and Game.

"All we know is that someone buys a crew members license. We don't know if they fish, what fisheries they fish in, how many, how long - any of that kind of stuff," said Geron Bruce, assistant director of the commercial fisheries division, who has spearheaded the project.

"You can't really estimate the total economic impact of commercial fishing unless you know something about the earnings and employment patterns for the crew members, who are such an important part of the work force. And we don't have any of that information," he added.

The lack of data also has kept deckhands on the losing end of quota systems that dole out shares of the catch. - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Southeast Alaska: Corps re-issues tailings permit for the Kensington mine - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, issued a modification Friday to a permit issued in 2005 to Coeur Alaska, Inc. The Corps' action will allow work at the Juneau-area gold mine to resume.

The Corps reviewed more than 8,500 public comments before issuing its decision to extend the 404 fill permit originally issued to Coeur Alaska in 2005. The renewed permit requires the mine developer to complete construction of the tailings facility on Lower Slate Lake by July 31, 2014. It also updates the project plans and tables to accurately reflect wetland mapping updates and corrections, minor variations from construction activities authorized under the initial permit, subsequent modifications and other on-site construction requirements.

The tailings facility is the final piece developer Coeur Alaska needs to complete before the mine can begin commercial production. Coeur hopes to begin initial production early next year.

Development of the mine is expected to provide millions of dollars in taxes and other revenue to the Juneau area. Kensington is a major gold project about 45 miles northwest of Juneau. It holds an estimated 1.5 million ounces of gold. The mine has been under construction since 2005. Couer has invested more than $300 million. During construction, the mine provided jobs for some 400 Alaskans. Once the mine is in full operation, it will employ approximately 200 workers. - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Washington Calling: D.C. protests loom ... world population soars By LISA HOFFMAN - Washington has been relatively quiet since the anti-war movement fizzled and the Bush administration decamped. But word now comes that the first protest demonstration of Barack Obama's presidency lurks right around the corner.

On September 12, the "Taxpayer March on D.C." will take to the streets and, if recent health care town hall meetings are a portent, it's likely to be an angry and noisy event.

The protest is sponsored by Freedom Works, a conservative outfit dedicated to cutting government spending and debt. Democrats are denouncing the group for fueling fears and ginning up outrage over health care reform, and inciting disruptions at town hall meetings coast-to-coast. Also on board is the "Tea Party" anti-tax movement.

Organizers say more than 2,000 folks registered for the event in seven days, but otherwise have no estimate yet of expected attendance. The march will come just four days after Congress returns from its recess, Sept. 8. - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Pacific Northwest: Mysterious crop circles appear in remote Wash. town By JONATHAN MARTIN - Mysterious crop circles are appearing in the wheat fields of a no-stoplight town in Washington state for the second year.

Wilbur, a wheat town (population 960, located 65 miles west of Spokane) is on the way to becoming the Northwest's hub for the extraterrestrial-obsessed. For the second time in three years, crop circles have mysteriously appeared in wheat fields, generating curiosity, jokes and coffee-shop debates of the "Big Question."

The most recent crop circles appeared in late July on a remote hillside of the Haden family wheat farm just south of Wilbur. Five rings of declining size, plus one circle, were crushed into ripe wheat.

"This is the one where they put the spaceship landing pad down," said Keith Haden, pointing to the circle, and struggling to keep a straight face.

His friendly skepticism is the prevailing local mood. Depending on your belief in the supernatural, crop circles are either a mysterious sign of extraterrestrial contact or a clever hoax that has risen in popularity since the mid-1970s. Southern England has been ground zero, but at least three formations have been reported in eastern Washington state farmland since 1993.

Before Haden's formation, the most recent and celebrated was an elaborate set of nine circles found in June 2007, amid 120 acres of green wheat northwest of Wilbur. That sighting was widely reported, and the Llewellyn farm was soon inundated with out-of-state tourists in saris and tinfoil-covered helmets, scientific researchers from the University of Washington and -- in at least one case -- a group of naked dancers. Billy Burger, a local institution, put an Alien Burger and Invasion Fries on the menu.

"I thought the less you said, the more it would go away," said Jim Llewellyn, owner of the farm. "But the next thing, there were planes flying overhead and people all over the place. It spread like wildfire.- More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Health - Fitness: New research links alcohol and six types of cancer By ANDRE PICARD - People who consume, on average, more than one alcoholic drink daily face a significantly higher risk of developing six types of cancer, according to sobering new Canadian research.

The study, published this week in the journal Cancer Detection and Prevention, is one of the most detailed examinations ever done of the relationship between drinking and cancer. It found that moderate and heavy drinkers of beer and spirits are markedly more likely to develop cancer than teetotalers or occasional drinkers.

"The heaviest drinkers had the highest risk, whether you look at the quantity consumed or the duration of drinking," said Andrea Benedetti, an assistant professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at Montreal's McGill University. "And the risk was really driven by beer and spirits."

Wine drinkers seem to have a slightly lower cancer risk, although Benedetti cautioned that the numbers are not solid enough to draw conclusions. "The wine part is tantalizing but a bit exploratory," she said.

In the study, a heavy drinker was one with 180 or more "drink-years" -- a calculation of the average drinks per day multiplied by the number of years of drinking. For example, someone who consumes 10 drinks daily for 18 years has accumulated 180 drink-years, as has someone who consumes three drinks a day for 60 years. - More...
Monday - august 17, 2009

Health - Fitness: College students aren't the only binge drinkers By RAY MARTIN - A significant percentage of people older than 50 are binge drinking, and experts fear the trend could cause severe health problems in the near future for baby boomers who continue their heavy drinking habits, according to a new study by Duke University Medical Center researchers scheduled for online publication Monday.

Twenty-two percent of men and 9 percent of women 50 to 64 reported drinking five or more drinks at one time during the last month, according to the survey, which will be published in online edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study showed 19 percent of men and 13 percent of women in the same age group engaged in heavy or at-risk drinking -- two or more drinks per day.

In the 65-and-older age group, 14 percent of men and 3 percent of women engaged in binge drinking, researchers found. Titled the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the research is touted as one of the largest surveys of substance use among people older than 50. - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Public Meetings & Info Ketchikan Borough Assembly Agenda and Information Packets Ketchikan City Council Agenda & Information Packets Ketchikan School Board Agenda & Information Packets Gravina Access Project SEIS Alternatives Development Gravina Access Website Ketchikan Ship Calendar 2009 pdf Jobs Ketchikan Police Reports AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Today's Forecast Satellite Today's Weather Images Marine Forecasts Ketchikan Weather Data Current AK Weather Map CLASSIFIEDS Publish Publish Your Ad Click Here CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES Announcements and       Help Wanted For Sale / Free Stuff Garage Sales Homes / Apts/ Property Pets Wanted Lost & Found Publish Your Ad Commercial Ads May - June 2009 Front Page Archives 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 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 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 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 More Front Page Archives

News releases By Ray Massey - I appreciate that SitNews publishes news releases verbatim from many organizations, including ours (Forest Service). I see it as a public service as long as attribution is given. - More...
Tuesday - August 18, 2009

Best investment By Charlotte Glover - As the City of Ketchikan continues negotiations with the IBEW and begins to look at the 2010 budget, I want to remind the City Manager, City Mayor and City Council where their money goes. - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Are There Two Logjam Creeks? By Eric Muench - Sitnews is a valuable addition to the local news and opinion exchange. I appreciate its publisher and her great source of information of all kinds. Its continued accuracy and impartiality in news articles is important to us all. That is why I write this critique. - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Lands of the First Peoples By Dale Albertson - One cannot make an argument against the history of the people. And, even though "others", claim a hundred or even hundreds of years of possession, and have practiced genocide, we still persist. Our possession goes back at least 10,000 years, your scientists have proven that for all to see. Truth is Truth, and not open for argument or discussion. Land to our people is sacred, and we are the caretakers. In most cases we allow almost anyone to live in our lands, there is plenty, however we do not accept: greed, avarice or forceful behavior into what is not yours to begin with. We do not exact huge taxes or demand outrageous fees for this, only that you honor the land and use its resources wisely, not to line your pockets, and not care for all as we would. - More...
Monday - august 17, 2009

Early morning noise By Lisa Martin - I've been back in Ketchikan for two years now. I know exactly what the fuss is about. I have never seen so much domestic violence, drug abuse, and pill popping individuals in my life. Maybe it's a smaller town and you see it around you on a daily and nightly basis...or hear of it. - More...
Monday - august 17, 2009

Irresponsible journalism. By Weston Davis - Encouraging people to take plants home from one state to another, or from one country to another is at best a bad idea, and at worst is a form of ecological sabotage.(Not to mention illegal.) - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Bail Em Out! By Al Johnson - Following has been sent to our congressional members as an observation as a result of the current FooFa on many governmental failures being brought to the public pallet. - More...
Monday - August 17, 2009

Re: Arrested Citizen By Alan R. (Rudy) McGillvray - I hereby retract almost everything I wrote about Robert Gates and his arrest on his own property. From what I now understand, Gates immediately began berating the police officer for even showing up; leaving the officer no choice but to arrest Gates for disorderly conduct. - More...
Monday - august 17, 2009

Election Time Again By Jackie Williams - It is that time of year again; Elections for City Council, Borough Assembly and School Board are coming up on October 6, 2009. The folks elected to these seats will be making decisions for all of us the next three years, except one (1) for one-year. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

MEMORIES By Linda Brownstein - I thank you Dave Keifer, old friend for writing such a true, beautiful, sad story about our friend Pat. I remember walking behind you on your first date with Charlotte as you both giggled down the Pine St. Hill together. I thank you Ketchikan, Alaska for being the place in my life that grounds me with some of my life's most precious memories and dearest friends. Thank you to the real White Cliff School-where tucked away in the corner of the first floor--always busy...never quiet...soil/gardening and paint stains always on the carpets...it was always happenin' in my Kindergarten classroom there. Thank you to Pat Doherty--my student there who pushed me to learn that fish don't just just have fins...even when you are just a kindergartener...they have adipose fins, dorsal fins, anal fins,pelvic fins and pectoral fins...and I watched him as he carefully copied the letters of the names of these fins as he labeled his salmon chart/diagram, writing the words before he could really spell or read...proud as can be that his mom Susan, the fish biologist, brought that fish in a bucket to class that day. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Tongass Tribe Land -101 By Don Hoff Jr. - We are the lineal descendants of the Taan ta Kwaan means Sealion People or known as Tongass Tribe (hereinafter the Tongass Tribe or Tribe ), a traditional and historical Alaskan Native Tribe indisputably recognized by all Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribes in Southeast Alaska. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Logjam By Charlie Reynolds - I got the impression that Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Audubon Alaska and the Alaska Wilderness League are dictating to the Forest Service and the timber industry (what's left of it) how to run their business. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Palin got it right By Rep. Don Young -On July 24, Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts took to The Washington Post to attack former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's opposition to the Waxman-Markey cap-and-tax legislation and her overall energy philosophy. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

On the lighter side By Ed Marksheffel - Ah....... you've got to love Ketchikan. While driving South of our Fair City the other day I noticed a politically correct sign at the bottom of the driveway for our Bayview Cemetery - it read "Not a Through Road" instead of saying DEAD END. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Man arrested for breaking in his own home By John T. Flood - It seems convenient to blame the cops for everything, except when they show up to save your life or the lives of one of your loved ones. If they show up because it appears someone is breaking into a home and the person becomes beligerent then they had every right to arrest the subject, I would expect to be arrested if I was beligerent towards a police officer even if I was on my own property. If he had shown his identification at first instead of becoming belligerent, then I'm very sure he wouldn't have ended up in handcuffs. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Early Morning Noise By Damon Hampel - I know first hand what Ms. Lewis is speaking of. Not only do I agree with everything mentioned I would like to add to the list open threats, vehicle damage, property damage, litter, and drug use. Many businesses and homes have had windows broken, electricity tampered with, and doors broken by individuals. And all anyone has to do is walk from the tunnel to First City Saloon to see the vehicle damage and litter. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

RE: Early morning noise By Dawn Lawrence - I am not sure what area of town you live in, but here in the Carlanna area it is the same. So, trust me, you are not alone! We also hear the mid-week parties with people standing outside their homes obnoxiously talking loud and blaring music, dogs barking until 1 am while their owners are inside watching TV and are too occupied or just too inconsiderate to get off their butts and quiet their dogs, etc. etc. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Presidency In Disarray By Donald A. Moskowitz - President Obama is in disarray and heading in many directions, thereby diluting our efforts, our energies, and our resources needed to move this country forward. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

RE: Great Horned Owl By Jacy Pierson - Thank you so much Pat. That is the second owl I have seen since I moved to POW in 1994. What was really nice was that we saw a second one that night! - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Bathrooms at Kayhi during events By Marie-Jeanne Cadle - My husband and I recently enjoyed a fun evening at Gigglefeet marred only by the filthy women's restroom that was out of paper in one stall. I wish I could say this wasn't the norm at events but it is. I understand event sponsors pay a great deal for the use of facilities at Kayhi. It seems the restrooms would be cleaned for the event and toilet paper and soap dispensers refilled as part of the service for the payment ­ much like tires on a new car. Something you don't even think to ask for because it should be standard. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

No guns on Census Form By A. M. Johnson - I answered my own inquiry. Found the form for Census online. No gun question and no question on being a Citizen. - More...
Friday - August 14, 2009

Please continue to be careful with fire By David Hull - The summer of 2009 has been a great one! Let's keep the memories pleasant ones. Please, be very careful with any type of fire. Whether you are camping out, having a day at the beach or just cleaning up around the yard, careless use of fire can spell disaster. North Tongass VFD has responded to several reports of controlled burns that had gotten out of hand. The department has also responded to a few beach fires where people had left a smoldering cooking fire and it flared up. We have been lucky this year as none of the fires caused any real damage. Many may remember the fire a few years ago near Point Higgins School. That fire costs several thousands of tax dollars to bring under control and put out. It will take a long hard rain to lessen the true fire danger. We know it's coming, we just need to be patient. - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

Questions about firearms on census? By Al Johnson - I have been asking Senator Murkowski's office for a copy of the forthcoming census format or confirmation that there are question(s) regarding firearms on the form, and that the question of being a honest US.Citizen is not. - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

Early morning noise By Christina Lewis - Every morning I wake up only because some drunken people are arguing or yelling around my home. I have seen just about everything looking out my window -- people getting beat up, peeing, etc. Mind you this is around two or three in the morning. I am a single parent who needs her critical sleep to take care of two active girls, work, cook, clean, etc. - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

Health Care By La Shaine Reynolds - Let me start by introducing myself, my name is La Shaine Reynolds and what I have e-mailed you is what is in our health care package that the President is trying to get passed. I am sending this to every newspaper that I can in the U.S.. I am also sending this to CNN, Headline News, Fox, and where ever I can send this. Everyone deserves to know what they are up against. And I am exercising my freedom of speech. - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

More on National Health care legislation By A.M..Johnson - As the Congress is returning to their individual states for the August recess and with Senator Murkowski slated to be in Ketchikan,during the recess it is timely that as many of her loyal constitutes be aware of a summation of the current Health bill contents. - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

Great Horned Owl By Pat Long - Thanks to Jacy Pierson for the wonderful picture of the Great Horned Owl. We are used to seeing, and seeing pictures of eagles and ravens, ducks and swans, etc. But it is rare to actually see one and be able to get such a great picture to share with others. - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

Man arrested for breaking in his own home. By Alan R. (Rudy) McGillvray - This is about the arrest of that Cambridge professor alleged to be breaking into a home in Cambridge Massachusetts. It is a point that no one, in the drive-by media, the right-wing radio talk show host has mentioned; NO ONE HAS NOTICED. - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

Painted buses By Pat Long - Did I read that the borough assembly members were discussing and considering painting all the buses because of the success of the downtown shuttle? How much did money did they put out for the shuttle painting? - More...
Saturday - August 08, 2009

The rainiest place By Chuck Lakaytis - I always thought that the town of Ketchikan was there because of a chance meeting. - More...
Saturday - august 08, 2009

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