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Monday
August 13, 2012
Mega Yacht Luna
Owned by Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich, the motor yacht Luna arrived in Ketchikan Saturday morning. Abramovich, a Russian business tycoon and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC, was orphaned as a child and raised in his uncle's family. According to Wikipedia, he started his multi-billion-dollar business during his army service where he sold stolen gasoline to some of the commissioned officers of his unit. After the army, he first worked as a street-trader and then as a mechanic at a local factory. Abramovich is currently the 9th richest person in Russia.
Front Page Photo By CINDY BALZER
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Alaska: ALASKA LEADERS SUPPORT COASTAL INITIATIVE; Program Critical to Arctic, Statewide Development - A group of Arctic and Alaska leaders today endorsed Ballot Measure No. 2, which would re-establish Alaska’s coastal management program. Former Alaska Governor Tony Knowles, Alaska State Senator Donny Olson, and North Slope Borough Mayor Charlotte Brower spoke in support of coastal management at a press conference in Anchorage. Northwest Arctic Borough Mayor Martha, scheduled to appear, was traveling and unable to attend, but sent a text message supporting the coastal management ballot initiative.
“In the eight years of my administration,” Governor Knowles said, “the coastal management program enabled one of Alaska’s most active periods of new exploration for and increased development of oil and gas. The Northstar, Alpine, and Badami fields came on line, we opened millions of acres of federal land in the NPR-A. We saw continued production from the Red Dog and Greens Creek mines. The program worked well. It made sense then. It still makes sense today.”
Alaska’s coastal management program operated for thirty-four years until a political stalemate allowed it to expire. After the legislature’s repeated failure to renew the program, Alaskans launched a citizens’ initiative to bring it back. That initiative comes to a vote August 28, 2012 - More...
Monday PM - August 13, 2012
Ketchikan - Statewide: Less than 50% of Alaska's Public Schools Made Adequate Yearly Progress in the 2011-2012 School Year; Half of Ketchikan Schools Report Progress - Of 507 Alaska public schools, 236 schools – or 46.5 percent – made adequate yearly progress the last school year under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development announced today. The Department reported the percentage of schools making adequate yearly progress increased almost one percentage point from the school year 2010-2011.
Adequate yearly progress (AYP) is the cornerstone of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Under the law, schools and school districts are held accountable for showing progress in the percentage of students who score proficient on assessments in language arts and math. The national goal is that all students will be proficient in language arts and math by the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
Of the 10 schools in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, the Alaska Department of Education reported that half the schools met adequate yearly progress requirements. Those schools meeting requirements according to the Department of Education are:
• Ketchikan Ketchikan Charter School (Proficient in Language Arts 88%, Proficient in Math 87%)
• Ketchikan Ketchikan Regional Youth Facility (No information provided)
 • Ketchikan Point Higgins School (Proficient in Language Arts 93%, Proficient in Math 89%)
• Ketchikan Schoenbar Middle School (Proficient in Language Arts 84%, Proficient in Math 72%)
• Ketchikan Tongass School of Arts & Sciences (Proficient in Language Arts 82%, Proficient in Math 73%) - More...
Monday - August 13, 2012
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Prince of Wales: Logging accident results in death of Klawock man - An industrial accident on Prince of Wales resulted in the death of 36-year-old Billy Worley of Klawock.
The fatal industrial accident occurred Saturday at a logging camp near Nutkwa Lagoon. Investigation by the Klawock-based Alaska State Troopers revealed that Worley was working in a timber sorting yard when a seventy foot log, sixteen inches in diameter, fell on top of a logging cradle directly on top of him resulting in his immediate death. The next of kin were notified.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been advised of the accident and the body is being transported to Anchorage to the State Medical Examiner's Office. - More...
Monday - August 13, 2012
Prince of Wales: Roll-over takes life of Craig woman - Saturday at approximately 5:30 pm, the Klawock-based Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers responded to a single vehicle accident involving a fatality on the Coffman Cove Road.
Investigation by officials reported that a 2005 Jeep Cherokee had been traveling north on Coffman Cove Road at a high rate of speed when it drove into a ditch, over-turned several times and came to rest approximately 150 feet into the woods. During the impact, a passenger was ejected from the vehicle and found deceased on the scene. The passenger was identified as Kimberly Shurte, 28 years old of Craig. Next of kin were notified and Shurte's body is being transported to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Anchorage.
The driver and two other passengers in the vehicle, all sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries and were medically flown off Prince of Wales Island for medical treatment. - More...
Monday - August 13, 2012
Fish Factor: Coastal Management: Who's Buying Alaska's Primary Election? By LAINE WELCH - Alaska has more coastline than all of the other US states combined, but unlike all those other states, Alaskans have no say in how their coasts are managed or developed.
If Outside and foreign corporations have their way, that’s how it will remain.
A successful coastal zone management program has been in place since the 1970s, but the program expired last year when lawmakers and Governor Parnell failed to agree on its extension. Despite constant criticism of “the feds” always trying to butt into Alaska’s business, the state surrendered authority to guide and control development of its coastline to the US government.
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That didn’t rest well with the majority of Alaskans. Over 33,000 residents signed a petition to reinstate a coastal management program and to put the question to voters as a ballot initiative this fall. On August 28, Alaskans will decide if they want to have a voice at the table.
That’s brought out some big guns to defeat the pro-vote. Opponents say the ballot initiative is poorly worded and would create more bureaucracy and hurdles to coastal permitting decisions. the opposition is mostly non-Alaska based entities, according to the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC).
Disclosures from April through July show that $776,000 has been spent to prevent the coastal management initiative from ever making it to the ballot. Of that, 70% came from Outside and foreign interests.
Shell Oil of the Netherlands, for example, gave $150,000. Four Canadian-owned mining companies gave a total of $135,000, including Barrick Gold, a major backer of the Chuitna coal project at Upper Cook Inlet. An Idaho-based mining company contributed $75,000. Donations by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association also can be traced to its 15 member companies, 14 of which are based outside of the state. Those numbers are likely to go much higher when the next APOC report comes out on August 21.
“We assumed all along big Outside money would oppose our local voices, but we didn’t expect such a huge flood of non-Alaska funding. These mostly foreign companies are opposing Alaskans having a say in how our coastal lands are managed” said Terzah Tippin Poe, co-director of the Alaska Sea Party, a grassroots group formed to regain a coastal voice.
So far more than 200 Alaskans from across the state have donated a total of $64,000 to support a Vote Yes campaign. “Over 30,000 Alaskans signed the petition to get the initiative on the ballot, it has 280 co-sponsors, and is supported by the majority of Alaska’s mayors and hundreds of Alaska organizations,” said Sea Party co-chair Bruce Botelho said. “Our opponents may throw all kinds of big Outside money at us, but Alaskans know what’s right and what’s best for the state in the long term.”
Voting day is August 28 – early in-person and absentee voting begins on August 13. - More...
Monday - August 13, 2012
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 Alaska Coastal Management: "Yes" on Proposition 2 By
Anne Lucas -
We have an important choice to make at the August 28th Primary Election. I encourage you to support reinstating the Alaska Coastal Management Program by voting “yes” on Proposition 2. Here’s why: - More...
Monday PM - August 13, 2012
Support For Ballot Measure 2 By Eric Muench -
I object to the title and to much of the content of the Ketchikan Daily News August 4 Point of View article from Tom Boutin of the Juneau Chapter of the Society of American Foresters. It proclaimed foresters say no to Ballot Measure 2 . As a forester with nearly 50 years experience in Alaska I want to say that he does not speak for all foresters. The local Dixon Entrance Chapter, of which I am a member, and as far as I know, the other three Alaska chapters of the Society, have not taken a position on Ballot Measure 2. Privately I take a completely different position. - More...
Monday PM - August 13, 2012
RE: Foreign Interests Attack Alaskan Initiative By
A. M. Johnson - O- the howls of pain by the pro-Coastal Management crowd to outside money flowing in to encourage a 'No' vote. And where pray tell did the funding that destroyed our timber industry come from? - More...
Monday PM - August 13, 2012
Girl Scouts on Alaska Air Flight By
Susan Callender -
I was on a Alaska Air flight Saturday morning from Anchorage to Ketchikan. During one of the stopovers, several young girls who had been attending Girl Scout camp boarded the plane. I am writing to applaud these girls, their counselor, and their parents who were waiting at the Ketchikan airport. - More...
Monday PM - August 13, 2012
RE: Not for sale By
Paul Jarvi -
Thank you for Patti Mackey for your response to Mr. Shoemaker's negative letter. You set the record straight on the funding for your House Seat. Ketchikan needs you as a representative. You are known throughout the State as an advocate for Ketchikan. The fact that you received contributions all over the state is a positive. People see you as the next representative for our district. - More...
Monday PM - August 13, 2012
RE: Rights of People with Disabilities By
Kevin Gadsey - I am writing today as the Independent Living Advocate for SAIL Ketchikan to respond to Ms. Mitchell’s concerns about the possible ratification of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities by the United States Senate. - More...
Friday - August 10, 2012
Response to Campaign Contributions By
Patti Mackey -
Over the weekend, a letter to the editor by Jim Shoemaker was published on Sitnews.us and in the Ketchikan Daily News comparing campaign contribution reports filed by the Republican candidates for House District #33. The letter specifically calls out the campaign contributions I have received from outside of our election district. - More...
Thursday PM - August 09, 2012
Mountain Point Launch Facility By
Richard Rold -
I have launched many times at Mountain Point Launch Facility over the past years; even more so when I moved south in 1989. I do not remember the exact date Ketchikan Ports and Harbors started requiring people to pay launch permits and fees. I do however remember how much it bothered me; it was not a requirement for many years before. - More...
Thursday PM - August 09, 2012
Rise of Coastal Management Phoenix By
A. M. Johnson - Nice to see old faces return to the Ketchikan scene. I recall Ms. Troll being a what is now commonly referred to as 'Community activist or maybe organizer' in her early days as a resident she apparently continues very successful with what she does. Good to hear comments from retired Judge Schultz, happy to know that he and his wife chose to retire here in Ketchikan. - More...
Monday PM - August 06, 2012
Col. Archie Van Winkle By
Stephen C. McGowan -
I recall getting a brand new Rambler American Sedan, fresh from Warren, Michigan for use by Col. Van Winkle. I was working as a motor-pool dispatcher with the MP's aboard Camp Pendleton, USMC. Calif. The Col. advised me that it would be arriving soon. It came in on a Friday afternoon, so I polished it up and backed it into the cage with the Col's name on it. That evening a boot Lt. came into my office to get a vehicle for his shift as Officer of the day, for the MP's. He said he wanted the brand new sedan that had just come in. I informed the Lt. that the sedan was the Col's brand new vehicle, and that I couldn't let anyone use it, other than the Col. The Lt. said he was giving me a direct order to use the car. Well, I was just a Lance-Corporal, and being a good Marine I had to follow his orders. - More...
Monday PM - August 06, 2012
Warning: District 33 House Seat Not for Sale By
Jim Shoemaker -
Three GOP candidates – Agnes Moran, Patti Mackey, and Peggy Wilson – want to represent Ketchikan and Wrangell in the State House of Representatives.
The latest reports filed by those three candidates with the Alaska Public Offices Commission tell a crucial tale of campaign financing and outside special interests. Every voter in Ketchikan should take heed. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012
Rights of Person's with Disabilities Treaty By
Amanda Mitchell - The CRPD stands for The Convention of Rights of Person's with Disabilities. It is a treaty that is going to be voted on in the Senate to be ratified soon. I have done my own research and am horrified that we would even consider this. Basically, it is the same as The Convention on the Rights of a Child. However, it is giving the UN/government control over what is in the "best interests" of the disabled and disabled children. It supersedes any of our own fundamental rights like the right to self-govern, our laws and Constitution. And instead of "We the People" it gives further control over to government to do what "it" thinks is best. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012
Too Many Lifeguards By
Julie Yonker - I do not normally write any responses in the SitNews letters, I just read them. However, this time I want to make a comment. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012
School 1957 vs. 2010 By
A. M. Johnson - Too good not to submit for consumption! Here is a stark realization of how far we as a civilization have fallen!! We have deteriorated into a Nation of 'Wimps'. You read this stuff happening almost daily where once as in 1957, you grew up toughen to what life was going to present-Reality. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012
Re: Voter Turnout By
Joey Garcia - Regarding Ken Lewis' comments on voter turn-out, I simply disagree on his premise to somewhat disallow the PFD to non-voters. He should remember that PFD is not a right but a privilege given to Alaskans whether they answered NO in their PFD application but stayed outside Alaska for more than 180 days, an oversight for PFD to really check if the applicants are not committing fraud. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012
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