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SitNews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska
Thursday
August 12, 2010

August Sunrise
Front Page Photo By MIKE GATES

 


  

Alaska: Investigators on scene of Alaska crash - Investigators were searching Wednesday for a reason why a plane crashed in Alaska, killing five people, including former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, officials said.

Autopsies also were expected to be completed by the end of the day Wednesday, CNN reported.

Nine people were on board the amphibious DeHavilland DCH-Z3T Otter when it crashed Monday night near Dillingham while en route to a fishing resort.

The cause of the crash hadn't been determined by late Tuesday, but Maj. Guy Hayes of the Alaska National Guard said weather will be considered a factor.

"Poor weather always remains a factor when you are out here ... weather can change drastically," Hayes told CNN.

The other fatalities were pilot Theron Smith, 62, of Eagle River, Alaska, lobbyist William Phillips Sr. of the Washington area and GCI executive Dana Tindall, 48, and her daughter Corey Tindall, 16, both of Anchorage, Alaska.

The injured were identified as William Phillips Jr., 13, the son of Bill Phillips Sr.; Sean O'Keefe, 54, his son, Kevin, and lobbyist Jim Morhard of Alexandria, Va. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

Ketchikan: Waterfall Committee Awards $25,000 to the KGH Foundation - The Waterfall Committee, gave the Ketchikan General Hospital Foundation $25,000 at their annual dinner last Friday night. The Waterfall Committee was formed eighteen years ago by Nancy Murkowski to help meet the need for breast cancer screening in Alaska, particularly in rural areas.

"With the ongoing support of the Waterfall Committee, we reached this year's Gift of Healing goal," said Kendall Sawa, KGH Vice President for Patient Care Services, who chaired the campaign to fund a minimally invasive surgical suite. "Year after year, we are appreciative of the grants from the Waterfall Committee to our local and State communities towards technologies that benefit residents in the State of Alaska when it comes to cancer care, treatment, and diagnosis. Meeting this year's Gift of Healing target will better enable us to keep pace with new technologies that enable minimally invasive procedures, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities." - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

Ketchikan: KGH Moves Some Departments to Plaza Mall - Ketchikan General Hospital will be moving its Education, Community Relations and Marketing & Communications departments to the new KGH Annex on the second floor of the Plaza Mall. Those departments were originally moved to the Plaza in February 2009 when space at the hospital was needed for the new PeaceHealth Sleep Center.

"When we moved our folks over last year, it was temporary," said Michael Hatfield, KGH Director of Facilities. "But, the longer they were there, the more we realized the mall location could actually provide some additional benefits for us." - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

Southeast Alaska: Energy Self-Sufficiency Demonstration Project Starts up in Angoon, Promises to Cut Energy Costs by Sixty-Five Percent - A demonstration project is underway in Angoon focusing on energy self-sufficiency in Southeast Alaska's rural villages. 

A large number of rural communities in the region and the state are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, such as diesel and heating oil-unsustainable resources that have caused much economic hardship in rural Alaska and around the world. The project aims to demonstrate how energy efficiency and renewable energy can cut energy costs in rural communities by up to 65%. The project will also result in a documentary film that will be distributed in Southeast Alaska and via the Internet.

A group of project partners, headed by the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Central Council), hosted a meeting in Angoon and the house of Peggy and Kelly Williams was selected to be the project's focus. The Williams, elders whose home was chosen based on a combination of need, interest, and favorable site characteristics, will receive a complete retrofit of their home including new insulation, new siding, new appliances, and even solar panels and a small wind generator to offset some of the house's energy needs with renewable energy. The work will be completed in September.

"I'm very excited to participate in this project," said Peggy Williams. "It'll be nice to live in a warm house, reduce my energy consumption, and be able to get some of my power from the sun." - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

Southeast Alaska: Out in the Rain - "Out in the Rain" presents its August and September events. The program, "Out in the Rain", brings people together to do something fun in the woods or waters that surround our communities, and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world.

On August 22 Out in the Rain will go with certified SCUBA instructors snorkeling in the ocean to look at our amazing underwater world. Gear will be provided to share, or people can bring their own. We will leave from the Craig Rec Center, Third and Spruce in Craig at 12 noon. Bring warm clothes to change into and a towel.

On September 4 Out in the Rain will do an all day canoe tour of the Snakey Lakes near Thorne Bay. People should bring a canoe or kayak, clothes appropriate for the weather, a PFD, and lunch. We will leave from the Craig Rec Center, Third and Spruce in Craig at 8AM. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

Alaska: Akutan's Geothermal Exploration Paying Off - The City of Akutan is in hot water, but that's a good thing. The first of two geothermal energy exploration wells has produced water in excess of 360 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the project's geotechnical team, the early results point to a geothermal resource that could put Akutan on the fast track for developing Alaska's first large-scale geothermal power system.

"The community has decided that renewable energy is our future," said Akutan Mayor Joe Bereskin. "The results from our first test well make me optimistic that the future will be here sooner, rather than later," he added.

Akutan is a volcanic island 730 miles west of Anchorage in the center of the Bering Sea fishery. The City hosts North America's largest seafood plant, owned by Trident Seafoods. The plant processes more than three million pounds of fish products per day, making Akutan the second-largest fishing port in the United States, based on pounds delivered. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

Ketchikan: 2010 BLUEBERRY CONTEST WINNERS - The Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council has announced the winners of the various contests held during the 2010 Blueberry Festival held August 6th - 8th.

The Council also extended their appreciation and thanks to the many organizations, clubs, groups and individuals who devoted time and energy to helping to make the 35th Annual Blueberry Arts Festival a fun and successful community event. The Executive Director of the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council Kathleen Light said, "We couldn't produce the Blueberry Arts Festival without you!" - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

   

Columns - Commentary

DAVE KIFFER: Remembering Uncle Ted - I will always remember Ted Stevens asking me to show him my "new toys."

Remembering Uncle Ted

Deanna Garrison of KRBD interviews U.S. Senator Ted Stevens during his visit to Ketchikan in October of 2004.
SitNews File Photo by Dick Kauffman

In the early 1990s, when I worked at KRBD, Senator Stevens would always visit the radio station on his thrice yearly visits to Ketchikan.

Now, public broadcasting is not exactly the favorite forum of old "conservative" war horses like the Senator we all called "Uncle Ted." But Sen. Stevens loved public broadcasting.

Because like so many other things that we have in Ketchikan, he was responsible for it.

Although it probably would surprise the anti-Stevens crowd out there, he was a technology junky. That's why I was shocked when late in his last term, the liberal blogosphere made a big "who-haw" out of the fact that Stevens couldn't really explain how the internet works. He may have been an old-timer, but he knew more about technology than a lot of us whippersnappers.

Rather, I remember the two of us poking our heads under cabinets in the air room so he could look at the wiring and remark on the "new fangled" electronics that was operating the station. He was excited about KRBD's new equipment that year because he had pushed through a federal budget "earmark" just so that several of the public radio stations in Alaska could get those "new toys."

He was definitely a vacuum tube kind of guy, but I bet that if he was on a desert island with a bunch of wire, he'd have eventually been able to string together something to get a message out.

Stevens loved "technology" so much that he was willing to buck his own party time after time to make sure that public broadcasting got its funding and - even better - Alaska had a world class radio and public broadcasting system.

It was he - in the late 1970s and early 1980s - who funneled several million dollars to the state to make sure that many of the villages and smaller towns - like Ketchikan - had public radio and television stations.

And woe unto those who tried to cut funding to public broadcasting. Back in the late 1990s when the Republicans controlled Congress, some folks in the Senate tried to "zero out" public broadcasting. Stevens - then head of the Senate Appropriations Committee - essentially threatened to "zero out" billions of dollars in federal capital projects in their districts. Public broadcasting funding continued. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

      

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

letterThank you for your hospitality and kindness By Bill Walker - Last weekend, Donna and I made our fourth trip to Southeast this year and were fortunate to travel to POW.  The trip began like an adventure novel.  As a life-long Alaskan, I have grown accustomed to preparing for the unexpected.  When we were told that poor weather required that we fly into Hollis instead of Craig, I knew we were in for an adventure.  The flight over by float plane was non-stop breathtaking beauty and flying into Hollis gave us the opportunity to have a scenic 30 mile drive across the Island to Craig.  It's been eight years since my last trip to POW but I was reminded that it is one of the most beautiful places in Alaska. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010

letterStop the Free-Wheeling Spending By Sam Bergeron - The Ketchikan policy makers at the City and Borough have too much power. They can indenture us for life with 4 votes. The White Cliff building sale, then the subsequent lease backs to the Borough for $42,000.00 a month, with an escalation clause, is but one example. On the City side, the Berth 4 construction and 30 year lease, is another example of both bodies going way beyond the scope of what their powers should be. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010

letterWhy Can't We Have Fair Elections in Ketchikan? By Robert D. Warner - For a number of years I have been wondering why Ketchikan cannot have fair and honest elections. All too often there are direct attempts to confuse the voter. Such practices are discouraging and likely are primary reasons for low voter turnout. This current vote on the public library is an excellent example. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010

letter Library Location Can't Recreate The Past By Eric Muench - Ketchikan must make a far reaching decision in the August 24 primary election. Should our needed new library be built in a location favored by the City Council, or should it be forced into a restricted area of downtown? - More...
thursday PM - August 12, 2010

letterWalker for Governor By Andy Rauwolf - Sometime in the next ten years oil will stop flowing from the Alaska pipeline. Oil revenues comprise over 80% of our state operating budget. Experts now say that an in-state gas pipeline is the best alternative for our state. Bill Walker is the only man running who has the plan and the know-how to get an in-state gas pipeline built in time to offset some of the revenues which will soon be lost. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

letterMurkowski has been a champion for patients with ALS By Linda (Teal) Kreider - I have been going to Washington DC since 2006, when my father Mel Teal, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. My friend, and former Ketchikan resident, Jenny (Gore) Dwyer and her husband, Pat, who also has ALS, have joined me as well. Jenny was recently named "Advocate of the Year" for ALS, and Senator Murkowski was there to see her get the award. Senator Murkowski and her staff have always taken the time to listen, and I greatly appreciate all that she has done for Alaska, especially her continued support for ALS. Without her support, we would have never seen the ALS Registry Act passed. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010

letterJoe Miller for U.S. Senate By Andy Rauwolf - I've noticed many signs in and around Ketchikan supporting Lisa Murkowski. Many are in yards of friends and fellow conservatives I've known and seen eye-to-eye with for years. Her state campaign manager is doing a great job and is a friend of mine, and until a couple of years ago I would also be sporting her signs on my property. But I have to question her voting record. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010

letterNeighborhood swimming pools By A.M. Johnson - Enjoy looking for solutions other than throwing big bucks at them, I came across this "Out of the Box" solution.Use your imagination! We could have these throughout the Borough. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010

letterChloramine By Linda Corwin - Many people across the lower 48 and in other countries consider Chloramine to be a Pandora's Box. I have listed here only some of the things that have been observed after chloramination of water supplies. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

letterAre we invaded by bedbugs? By Jose S. Garcia - When I came home today, I was surprised that a two-page letter was hung on every door of the Tongass Towers Condominium which gave notice to report any infestation of bedbugs in the area. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010

letterKayhi not meeting school standards By Chas Edwardson - When you read Ketchikan High School's explanation on why they missed the AYP (adequate yearly progress) for schools, all you need to do is eliminate economically disadvantaged youth and native kids and you're on easy street. But wait a second -- Metlakatla is full of native kids are they not??? All three of Metlakatla's schools made the cut. The Prince of Wales Island School District is the most economically distressed area of the state and seven of eight schools made the cut (Daily News August 7-8 weekend edition). Not all of the POW schools are exclusively either native or non native it's a general mix. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterLibrary Vote Aug. 24 By Heidi Ekstrand - I spent quite a bit of time talking with people at the Blueberry Festival this year and was encouraged by the huge level of interest and support for a new library building in Ketchikan. We are far past the question of "do we need a new library?" and are poised on the brink of "let's get this thing built." - More....
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterPublic Library By Don Hoff Jr. - I've been reading the debates on the public library for some time now... here is what I know. The present library was designed to add additional floors for growth. It would be common sense to add an upper floor to the existing library and would be affordable to the taxpayer. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterJoe Miller for U.S. Senator By Jim Rasmussen - After several months of reading, talking to who-ever would listen,letters,phone calls and e-mails to our elected representatives I have decided to vote for Joe Miller for U.S. Senator. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterI Choose Joe Miller for US Senate and Why; Choose to Be Informed By Sandra Rusin McCray - Southeast Alaska Timber Industry Retooling and Restructuring Act, introduced by current Senator Lisa Murkowski/Co-Sponsored by Mark Begich was introduced April 2, 2009. This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterTime for a change By Alan Stein - I'm not one of those naïve people who believes Lisa Murkowski's millions on media is a reason to vote for her. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterOhhhh my aching Back! By James Schenk - For years, no all my life I have been very active as a Journeyman Electrician, Scuba Diver,Hard hat diver, fisherman, hunter, sportsman while in high school. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterChloramine By Susan Pickford - There is much more to be concerned about with chloramine than just the fish and dialysis patients. While those are certainly urgent concerns the acute and long term health ramifications for the general population are much more dire. I can tell you that the information below is the concensus of the scientific community, the subject of over 50 peer reviewed studies by the top water chemists in the country and not even wholely disputed by the EPA. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterRE: It's A Matter Of Money By Robert S. Jones - Yes, it is a matter of money, but wasn't the Ketchikan Public Utility employee out of line for divulging information regarding Electrical Disconnects for nonpayment to a non Ketchikan Public Utility employee? - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterGiggleFeet 2010 By Judith Green - What a great and grand way to start the Blueberry Arts Festival weekend - enjoying a Friday night full of Ketchikan talent along with some fun. - More....
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterInformation wanted By Doris Tobin Bordine - I'm Emery Tobin's daughter and am struggling (pleasantly) writing a book about my grandpa August Tobin's gold rush experiences plus a memoir of my folks' and my lives in Ketchikan. - More....
Monday PM - August 09, 2010

letterIt's a Matter of Money By Sam Bergeron - Today in the mall I ran across a friend who works for Ketchikan Public Utilities. He told me today he was disconnecting 30 electric customers who could not afford to pay their electric bills. 30. That's 30 families with no electricity. I may be stepping out on a limb here but I think these families can't afford any more taxes, fees and expenses other than keeping themselves fed with a roof over their heads. - More...
Friday - august 06, 2010

letterThe White Cliff Factor By Ed Fry - After reading Mr. Dial's posting I can see where we are spending much too much in a tax base that will not support White Cliff's uses, bottom line is it is really expensive per square foot; renting for 5 years to collect some data would have been a better option in today's economy. - More...
Friday - August 06, 2010

letterOut of the Box By A. M. Johnson - Having just returned from a out of town trip, an acquaintance, Snapper Carson, accosted me at the post office in support of candidate Walker for Governor. Snapper expounded on Mr. Walker's support for resource development and being out spoken on many subjects favored by Snapper and myself. He indicated that a "Great Debate" is to take place during the Blue Berry Festival and that the Chamber of Commerce is taking questions to be asked. I declined to accept his invitation to submit questions to the Chamber on the basis that (1) there is no Great Debate in political gatherings. (2)The Chamber while well intended,is charged with going along to get along so it would be doubtful that an "Out of the Box" question would see the light of the day. These political gatherings are "Position Poppycock" designed to not upset anybody and appear as middle of the road moderate. - More...
Friday - August 06, 2010

letterChloramine in City Water By Kristine Bellanich - From what I understand, beginning this month, Ketchikan Public Utilities will begin working towards adding chloramine to the city water supply. As an FYI to those who do not know what chloramine is, it is a mixture of chlorine and ammonia. - More...
Friday - August 06, 2010

letterThe Library ... Again By Patrick Jirschele - I know, everyone is tired of hearing about the library, and I did take some cheap shots with my "Ten Best Reasons" letter. But there is still a lot of bad information being repeated by folks in decision making positions who should be more knowledgeable. - More...
Friday - August 06, 2010

letterUSCIS Office in Ketchikan By Betty Constuble - I so agree with Mr. Jose Garcia's letter. We very much need a USCIS office in Ketchikan. - More...
Tuesday - August 03, 2010

letterRE: The Whitecliff Factor By Penny Eubanks - As the Plaza Manager at the time of the RFP (request for proposal) for the Borough offices, I noted right off the get go the apparent slants. I found it quite interesting to remember that in September of 2007, I believe it was, The Ketchikan Daily News reported on Dawson's purchase of Whitecliff building. In that article, Dawson himself noted that they were planning to remodel the building for Borough offices. Mind you, this was PRIOR to the January 2008 date that the Borough actually put the RFP out! Oh by the way - Dawson did not pay the $50K downpayment until the VERY day the RFP went out for public bid!!! Does something stink here? (Who is taking another bite out of whose apple?!) - More..
Tuesday - August 03, 2010

letterDetailing WITH Insurance By Nelson Hays - I have had several people ask me if the letter Terry Miles posted last week about a detail job gone wrong was AT my shop, and I want to clarify - IT WASN'T ME! The description of the business as a "detail" shop with a young owner made many people suspect me, but I assure you it was another company. - More...
Tuesday - August 03, 2010

letterBike Safety By Marie- Jeanne Cadle - I would like to respectfully request that bike riders signal when coming up on walkers or more slow moving riders, perhaps even telling them on which side they will pass. I am excited to see more and more bike riders out and about, but riders need to remember they are almost silent and are usually moving much faster than those they are passing. - More...
Tuesday - August 03, 2010

letterThe Whitecliff factor By Rodney Dial - Mr. Thompson, I agree with your letter and share your frustration with the way the Whitecliff project has progressed. Here is my take on the issue as I see it over the last several years: - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterStill want to know... Still no Answers. By Marilyn Blair - It's nice to see that a shareholder would take all that time to go to Cape Fox Corporation (CFC) and research years of archives to learn so much about my time with CFC and things that transpired during my time as a board member of Cape Fox. But, Eric, you give one board member way too much credit! You make it seem as if I brought all those proposals to the board when I didn't. LOL! Sorry, just couldn't help but find it all so humorous. Really, IF I was so powerful, believe me, all Cape Fox Shareholders would be rich right now! - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letter Service Ketchikan with USCIS Office By Jose S Garcia - It is lamentable to note that Legitimate Permanent Residents (LPRs) takes the cudgel in spending their own money to go to Juneau to avail of the applications for US Citizenship (N400). - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterAmnesty won't work: Secure our borders By Clarence E. Hill - Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterRE: Drainage (and the purpose of government); and bear stuff too By Vanessa Nowland - I bet if SitNews had a "like" button similar to Facebook's there would be a lot of "thumbs up" for Mr. Hofeling's opinion letter. I recall getting the exact same response from the city when we lived on Ketchikan Lakes Road. It wasn't until my husband fell on the glacier that covered our road, injuring his ribs and the ambulance almost took out a utility pole trying to get to us that they started paying any attention. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterThankful By Joey Tillson - A while ago, I posted a letter on SitNews stressing the importance of community and how this is my home. The many events over the course of a year have put many of us all in stressful, hurtful times. But I will tell you and stress it again, what I love about this town is the sense of community you will NOT find anywhere else. No matter what walk of life each of us has stumbled into, we are still community. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterSkate Park By Connie Williams - Is the Borough experiencing the same song and dance about a skate park as it did in 1997-1998? Lots of folks, talking to assembly members and parks and recreation staff about the importance of supporting the youth and giving them something to do. Government officials were hearing it in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. The problem I saw was you had many folks in favor of the project, but in reality, only a few, by comparison actually utilized the facility for what it was intended. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterSitNews By Lou Ann Richardson - I just wanted to send out a couple thank you's. First to Sitnews editor Mary Kauffman for her dedication and committment to keeping Sitnews current and relevant. Thank you Mary, we know it's often challenging. Second, to the various photographers who take the time to find those special moments in this grand place and then share them with all of us here on Sitnews. I always look forward to seeing what the front page has in store from day to day. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterRE: Bailey Bay Hot Springs By Linda Beaupre - In regards to Bailey Bay Hot Springs, my husband and I tried to hike up to the hot springs last summer. Unfortunately the trail we found was in a sorry state of disrepair. The rope crossing the creek was frayed and loose (and dangerous!) and a large landslide had taken out the entire trail right after the waterfall, ending our journey since we had no way of circumventing the landslide. Large parts of the trail was nothing more than mud pits. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010

letterBack to old tricks. By Glen Thompson - I haven't written Sitnews in a while but the issue is simply too important to let slip by. When I was elected to the Assembly, the Borough finances were in shambles. We had less than $1 million in General Fund reserves, we had a Schoenbar project that was in serious trouble and under water by several million dollars. Thank heaven we had a Land Trust Fund with a few million savings in it that we could borrow to fill the gap. Had the Legislature not come through and reimbursed us to the tune of $6 million, we would be in a fine pickle still! Our mill rate was approaching 7 and we were having trouble funding basic services and schools. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterDrainage (and the purpose of government) By Dustin Hofeling - Living in a rain forest, drainage is a problem we all have to face sooner or later. I live on Deer Mountain Court, which is a road that has been forever plagued by drainage problems. I plan to put to fix the drainage issue on my property - what home owner wouldn't want to do this? But it will do no good unless the city fixes the drainage issue on the street that they built and paved. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterBailey Bay Hot Springs Should Remain Public By Mike Sallee - Many of the people in the Ketchikan area have enjoyed Bailey Bay Hot Springs - known to some as Shelokum Hot Springs.  It is a picturesque and remote hot springs nestled next to excellent trout fishing on Lake Shelokum, just north of Bell Island Hot Springs. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterWhat Happened to our SkatePark? By Bobbie McCreary - Monday night I appeared in front of the Borough Assembly during public comments. I passed out a letter from Taira Wilhelm (Kayhi grad 2008) along with the recent Sitnews letters. I explained I would take only a little of their time as this was a special meeting to address the White Cliff building. I explained that day as I left the Youth Center building project on Park Avenue and drove up Schoenbar towards the bypass I passed by Walker Field. I looked at the fenced lot with a truck and a few pieces of miscellaneous equipment in it and said (out loud, actually!) WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO OUR SKATEPARK? - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterSupport Bill Walker for Governor By Radford, Harrington, Fultz, Carson, Radford, Bakk, Cooke - We listened to gubernatorial candidate Samuels on the radio this week. Ralph talked about the decline of oil output, which provides 90% of our State income, but we didn't hear any plan to replenish this lost revenue. He would like to see more oil drilling in Alaska. Wouldn't we all, but does anyone seriously think we can count on that to pay for our State government in the near future? He mentioned cutting State spending, but we are talking about 90% of our income disappearing! He supports a natural gas bullet line which he says will provide cheap energy to Alaskans, but the figures all show that a gasline carrying only the small amount Alaskans would use would be far too expensive to provide low cost fuel. Also, there are no permits, rights of way or environmental studies done for a bullet line, which puts construction ten years in the future. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterAlaska Lifeline: Walker for Governor By Barb Lander - Reality Check! Think oil and gas issued aren t important to us in SE Alaska? Oil production is approaching a critical low that will mark the end of the pipelines viability. No oil flowing through the pipeline no oil revenue. The massive cuts in services AND new taxes needed to keep this vast state even barely functioning are staggering. Alaskan life as we know it is about over! - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterFaces of the Sea By Judith Green - We in South East communities are used to artists giving us photos, drawings, paintings, and writings based on the culture of this great land. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterJapanese Knotweed By Jane Collins - I have had this awful weed behind my shoe shop here in Northampton, UK for the last 4-5 years if not longer. It will NOT go away, despite everything I try to do. We are now using a powerful chemical that my husband uses on his farm to see if does the trick so it is just a matter of waiting to see the result. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letterJapanese Knotweed Removal By Samantha Quinn - I was reading the letters regarding the Japanese knotweed problem some are having and found this information on Wikipedia.com on it's removal. I hope this helps! - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010

letter RE: Cape Fox Corp. Lack of Respect for Shareholders By Eric Trout - TO CAPE FOX SHAREHOLDERS: Marilyn Blair's letter is just another attempt to twist the issues while protecting her real personal interests. We all know there are two types of politicians, the ones who tell the truth and fight for what's right, the other politicians who twist the issues to benefit their own personal interests. Marilyn has been in the Cape Fox Board room for over 15 years I would say she has a history and experience in twisting issues. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letterWater Street Sidewalks By Chris Elliott - We have a one-way tunnel with a road going the other way around it. Now we have parallel sidewalks on Water Street. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letterSkateboard Park By Norm Noggle - I would like to second Vicky's suggestion to develop a skateboard park in Ketchikan. I agree that the existing half pipe at the rec center is very limited in developing skateboard riding skills. I would suggest that if there are a solid number of kids who want a qulaity skateboard park, then they need to organize (with adult assistance) and begin identifying the assets and barriers involved in the development of such a site. Some of the concerns that need to be addressed include: - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letterRe: Skate Park By Keith Woodard - Although I haven't really followed the skate park issue, I can sympathize with you Vicky. I know what it was like growing up as a bored teenager in this town with seemingly little to do. And I'm really saddened that as much community spirit this town has and as much as people would like to help the youth here, there still hasn't been a new skate park built among other things. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letterRE: Skate park By Lexie Jones - I'm a 24-year-old who thinks we shouldn't always be looking for handouts! - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letterDoing Business without insurance By Terry Miles - Recently, I took my motorcycle, that happens to be a custom chopper into a local "Detail" shop here in the Ketchikan area, to have it cleaned and detailed. The bike is worth about $75k... it's a custom.  - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letterConcerned about Japanese Knotweed By Melinda Stewart - Browsing Sitnews this morning I saw the letter posted on Rotary Beach. Reading the description and looking at pictures online of knotweed, it is EXACTLY what I have growing in my yard!! - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letter Goodbye, Don & Lois Kralis By Bill Sullivan - I was saddened to read of the passing of Don and Lois Kralis. They will be missed. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

letterAdhere To Immigration Laws By Donald A. Moskowitz - The federal government, working with the border states, should provide the personnel and resources to secure our borders. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010

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