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Monday
October 27, 2014
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High Mountain View
A view of Ketchikan, taken October 1st, from Gravina Island's High Mountain communications site.
Front Page Photograph By GREG ENTERS ©2014
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Southeast Alaska: UAS Chancellor Announces May 2015 Retirement - Today, University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor John Pugh announces his retirement scheduled for May 29, 2015. Since August 1999 Pugh has been at the helm of the state public university with campuses in Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. Today’s announcement marks the completion of a 28-year career at UAS that began in 1987, including service as the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Dean of Faculty.
“I have enjoyed being a part of a dynamic, growing institution over the years,” said Pugh. “My public service career spans 45 years with the U.S. Air Force, the State of Alaska, and the University of Alaska. I have had the pleasure of working with many excellent administrators, professional staff, and faculty throughout my career. However, UAS Chancellor is the best position I have held. I strongly believe in the importance of higher education to the future of Alaska. It has been an honor to be a part of the building of the University of Alaska system.”
Pugh has also served on statewide and regional task forces, commissions, and boards. “All in all, I feel that together with my dedicated colleagues I have accomplished much.”
“John Pugh is an Alaska higher education landmark and a tireless UA leader for the Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan campuses. We will be challenged to find another chancellor with the same love for his university community of students, faculty and staff,” said University of Alaska Pat Gamble. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Alaska: Governor Parnell Signs Native Languages Bill - The Native languages of Alaska’s indigenous people became official languages of the State of Alaska on Thursday during a bill signing ceremony held in conjunction with the 2014 Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention in Anchorage.
Governor Sean Parnell signed House Bill 216 – legislation designating 20 Native languages as official languages of the State of Alaska. The governor signed the bill before hundreds of cheering Alaska Natives gathered for the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage.
“Alaska Native young adults and students throughout the State have demonstrated remarkable success in revitalizing Alaska Native languages,” Governor Parnell said. “This bill reinforces that effort and recognizes the vibrant, existing Alaska Native languages of the State of Alaska. I am proud of those who have kept these languages preserved, as they strengthen the traditions and heritage of our Native people.”
The 20 Native languages include Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik, Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Alutiiq, Unangax, Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Gwich'in, Tanana, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian.Passage of the bill was a priority of the members Alaska House Minority Caucus and Alaska Native people from across the state.
The prime sponsor of the bill was District 34 State Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka). The Sitka Democrat spoke during Thursday’s signing ceremony.
“Language is our cultural DNA, it's our way of understanding the world. The extinction of a language is an immeasurable loss to a culture. The loss of Native languages demanded action and so we started something that became very, very big and it feels very good because it became such a collective movement.” - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014 |
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Ketchikan: $23.8 million award aims to engage rural Alaska students in biomedical and health careers By MEGHAN MURPHY - A $23.8 million, five-year award from the National Institutes of Health to launch a new undergraduate program that will engage students from diverse backgrounds, especially those from rural Alaska, in biomedical research has been awarded to the Universtiy of Alaska Fairbanks.
The Biomedical Learning and Student Training program aims to foster students’ interest and success in biomedical and health careers. The BLaST program will be funded through the NIH’s Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity initiative. It is one of 10 BUILD initiative programs nationwide. The programs seek to learn how to attract students from diverse backgrounds into the biomedical research workforce and help them become future contributors to NIH-funded research. BUILD is part of the Diversity Consortium — a $240 million commitment to enhancing the diversity of the NIH-funded workforce.
Collaborators include University of Alaska Southeast (campuses in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka), Ilisagvik College in Barrow, and the UAF College of Rural and Community Development (Bristol Bay Campus in Dillingham, Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue, Interior-Aleutians Campus in Fairbanks, Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel and Northwest Campus in Nome and the UAF Community and Technical College). - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Alaska: Treadwell to AFN: Youth and Native Votes Trending Upward - Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell told delegates at the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) convention Friday to keep working to increase voter participation, a priority Treadwell promised to maintain until his term ends on Dec. 1.
Treadwell released statistics showing that voter access, as well as participation among youth and Native Alaskans, had increased significantly in the last four years.
“In the 2012 primary election, less than 10% of 18-24 year olds cast a ballot, but in 2014, 20% of voters from the same age group participated,” Treadwell said. “In Alaska’s Northern and Western legislative districts, where over 60 percent of voters are Alaska Natives, voter turnout increased nearly seven percent between 2010 and 2014. That’s a great improvement and a positive trend.
“I’m most proud that the Division of Elections has more than doubled the number of early voting locations since 2012, by establishing 128 polling places in time for the 2014 election cycle. This year’s ballots will be the most widely available in state history. That’s due to the collaboration of the division with AFN and Native corporation CEO’s.” - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Alaska: Alaska No Longer Highest In Worker Comp Rates in Nation, now 5th - For the first time since 2002, Alaska’s workers’ compensation premium rate ranking has dropped in the biennial Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking published by the State of Oregon.
Alaska ranks fifth behind California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. In 2002 Alaska ranked 15th, but by 2004 Alaska was second and then first in 2006, holding the first or second spot until 2014.
“Alaska no longer has the highest workers’ compensation premium rates in the nation,” Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Dianne Blumer said. “Over the past few years, the Parnell Administration has worked with the Alaska Legislature and other stakeholders to help Alaska business owners hold the line on costs." - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
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Alaska: Proven technology remains viable disaster communication tool By JOHN BUDNIK - Whether an earthquake strikes, a tsunami reaches shore, a wildfire scorches the forest or a man-made emergency has occurred, a near century-old form of electronic communication continues to prove its worth relaying critical information during catastrophes alongside today’s state-of-the-art tools.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District recently constructed a new 102-foot-tall radio tower to enhance the high-frequency radio capabilities during a disaster. High-frequency radio allows global communications with outside partners when all other means of contact have failed.
Photo by John Budnik
High-frequency radio has withstood the historical evolution of telecommunications and remains a relevant means to transmit information over long distances. The mode is used by emergency management organizations and amateur enthusiasts, also known as ham operators. Therefore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District upgraded its capabilities in July with a new antenna.
“Technology is always changing,” said Ed Luteran, quality management assistant and high-frequency communications specialist for the Alaska District. “You want to make sure you can match other stakeholders so contact can remain during a disaster.”
The district installed a 102-foot-tall radio tower to support the Emergency Management Office. While replacing an older 30-foot-tall structure, the new apparatus is equipped with two aviation lights and a motor for rotating the 72-foot-long boom of a 2,100 pound directional antenna.
“This upgrade will help the Alaska District remain operable during a crisis and to communicate with our headquarters and other responding agencies when normal means of contact have failed,” said David Spence, chief of the Emergency Management Office.
The Alaska District assists the Federal Emergency Management Agency in responding to a full range of major disasters. In particular, the district provides public works and engineering recovery support as constituted by FEMA’s national defense framework.
Also known as shortwave radio, high-frequency waves travel at the speed of light. These waves reflect off the ionosphere in the atmosphere and back down to earth. Transmissions can be received globally. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
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Columns - Commentary
DANNY TYREE: Halloween In The Time of Ebola - "Ewww!" said my wife, when I told her that BrandsOnSale.com is marketing leftover "Breaking Bad" meth lab hazmat suits as Ebola Containment Suits this Halloween, at $79.99 a pop.
These suits are just part of a trend (call it tacky, insensitive, creepy, gross) that includes Zombie Robin Williams masks, partygoers dressed as disgraced former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (dragging around an inflatable wife), groups of friends dressing up as doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 passengers and the guy in Boise, Idaho with the decapitated Pres. Obama in his front yard.
Yes, folks are obsessed with costumes "ripped from today's headlines," no matter how fresh the wound they exploit. At least in the good old days when someone ripped a costume from the headlines, they dressed as a City Councilman Scheduling Hearings For The Proposed Sewer Bonds Issue. Correct me if I'm wrong, but kids in 1945 weren't chanting, "Trick or treat, smell my feet, this simulated Bataan Death March is really neat."
The reality of today is getting closer and closer to the satire of yesterday. Remember 1977 when Dan Aykroyd on "Saturday Night Live" portrayed huckster Irwin Mainway? Mainway's Halloween wares (Invisible Pedestrian, Johnny Human Torch, Johnny Combat Action Costume with real M-1 rifle and Johnny Space Commander mask, i.e. a plastic bag with a rubber band) don't seem so outlandish in today's climate. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
TINA DUPUY: Decriminalize Poverty; End the War on Drugs - Conspiracy theories are easy to make up. They all follow the same formula: An omnipotent force wills it, everybody is in on it, it takes place perfectly and no one else will tell you this. Throw in some cherry-picked numerical clues based on arbitrary weights and measurements, and there it is: fodder for the conspiracy grinder. Dead celebrities are still alive, random horrible events were planned meticulously and the government is hyper-competent and malicious.
Spend one afternoon on any community planning committee and see how easy it is to get people to work together to do anything—let alone something vast and secretive. Organization is a hard trick to pull off. Just ask former Secret Service director Julia Pierson.
The only problem with the mythology of conspiracy theories and their popularity is they can often muddy and cloud actual conspiracies. The times coordination does work spectacularly well.
One recent example is the television doctor, Dr. Oz, hawking fake diet pills to hordes of loyal fans. The "studies" for the weight loss pills were fudged, the pills were manufactured and promises were made up. Then the product was advertised to desperate people using a trusted TV personality. It's not an easy scam to pull off, but it actually happened. Hundreds of thousands bought snake oil from a dude whose name is the same as the phony wizard in the fictional Emerald City. What are the odds?
Consumer product fraud is not as insidious as the biggest conspiracy ever perpetrated against the underclass of poor people and minorities in this country: The War on Drugs. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
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Political Cartoon: Hazmat Suits For Toxic Campaign Ads
By RJ Matson ©2014, Roll Call
Distributed to subscribers for publication by Cagle Cartoons, Inc.
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 Playing Politics with Health Care By Biil Walker - Last November, Sean Parnell denied basic health care coverage to thousands of Alaskans when he announced Alaska would not participate in Medicaid expansion to allow anyone with an income of up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for insurance coverage. An Alaskan making $18,580 or less or a family of four making less than $38,330 would have qualified. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Now More Than Ever Alaskans Should Trust Bill Walker On The Gasline By Stephen McAlpine - When it comes to the natural gas pipeline project, the best thing that can happen for Alaska is having a new governor who will give the Parnell administration’s deal a fresh look. When gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker says that the oil and gas producers are currently in the driver’s seat, he is not exaggerating. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Why Republicans Should Vote for Bill Walker By Rick Halford - I have been a Republican for fifty years, spending about half of that time in public office. My service included four years in the State House and 20 in the Senate, during which I served as House Majority leader, Senate Majority leader, and Senate President. I concluded my time in public office as Republican National Committeeman. As a legislator, I got to know Bill Walker, both as a strong advocate for an LNG project and as a municipal leader. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Walker left a few thing out... By Joe Balash - Bill Walker left a few things out of the story during his stroll down memory lane. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Respect: A native Value By John Moller - At the top of each of our native/tribal values is Respect. Our Governor no sooner stepped off the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) stage following his address to the AFN when our AFN President started criticizing him for not working with the native community. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Re-elect Governor Parnell By William Hopkins - In 2009 the previous administration removed the Kennicott from service two weeks of every month, crippling service to Yakutat and to the westward run along the Alaska Peninsula to Dutch Harbor. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2914
Re-elect Sean Parnell Governor By Andrée McLeod - It’s been said that it’s wiser to deal with an undesirable but familiar situation than to risk a change that might lead to an even worse situation.
- More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Vote Bill Walker and Byron Mallot By Andy Rauwolf - I have known Bill Walker for close to five years, and the more I get to know him the more convinced I am that when he becomes Governor it will be the best thing that has happened to our state since the oil pipeline went into service. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Vote Walker and put Alaska First. By John Harrington - Five years ago, I met Bill Walker for the first time. I was impressed. He is authentic and knowledgeable, with concrete plans to grow this great state of ours. I am pleased to promote his candidacy for Governor. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Bill Walker for Governor By Paul Radford - I am a big fan of Bill Walker and Byron Mallott’s Unity ticket for many reasons, but today I want to talk about the threat to our Permanent Fund. Our present Governor has committed us to deficit spending of $7 million PER DAY out of Alaska’s budget reserves, and his ten year plan projects continuing deficits with no relief in sight. Our reserves will be gone long before ten years, but it seems as if he has no other plan to increase revenue than to hope big oil companies will start producing more on the North Slope when it suits them. Just weeks after big oil companies spent $14 million in advertising to defeat Ballot Measure 1, Exxon Mobil told state regulators not to expect an increase in oil production on the North Slope … so much for hoping! - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Pro Walker By Bob Fultz - How do you really ever know what makes one tick and where they get their drive to succeed? For me the first place I look is the way they were raised and then getting to know their story. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Vote for Walker Nov. 4th By David Streit - As we draw near to Election Day my family and I wanted to take a moment to say “Thank you” to Mr. Bill Walker for making a difference in our state this campaign season. Because of you Bill, we Alaskans have a rational home team choice this November. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Vote for Forrest Dunbar By Linda Sharp - Young's Congressional staff are pedaling fast to cover for him. He is either way too pompous and self-righteous, or slipping mentally. The effect is the same. He should be out of office. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Fire Don Young By R.K. Rice - Don Young used to just seem like a bumbling embarrassing, powerless, senile old grouch. Now he has gone to another level. Just plain EVIL. Parents of children who tragically take their own lives, are already filled with guilt, the unanswerable question why, and a terrible unrelenting sadness. Thanks Don for making it worse, for these thousands of friends and families, who are living with this tragedy. How could anyone in their rational mind, or anyone with a heart, vote for you? - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
False charges against Stevens seated Begich By Andy Rauwolf - LEST WE FORGET: Eight days after being found guilty in a federal corruption trial, Senator Ted Stevens was narrowly defeated by Mark Begich. Prior to sentencing the charges were dropped due to prosecutorial misconduct, including false testimony submitted by two of the Federal prosecutors and the withholding of evidence by the prosecution that would have cleared Stevens. The six Federal Prosecutors involved were cited for criminal contempt. The youngest of the six, Nicholas Marsh, was found hanging in his basement in September of 2010. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Let's vote for Dan Sullivan By Alan R. (Rudy) McGillvray - The reasons I say "Let's vote for Dan Sullivan." are multitudinous, but I am going to focus on the 3 men from Fairbanks who have failed to realize that to re-elect Mark Begich is going to destroy Fairbanks. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
What's at stake for Southeast Alaska By Emily Chapel - Alaskan’s love fish! Instead of “mama” or “dada” my son’s first word was “fishy” – and I was okay with that. During the summer months, we regularly spend long hours on the boat, fostering our love for fish. I am sure we are not alone in these pursuits. Our community’s sentiments around fish are summed up in Ray Troll’s piece “Fish Worship, Is it Wrong?”. Since it is such a beloved resource and lifeblood, it is also important that we know the potential pressures that may create changes to the way we utilize, and see fish. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Chere Klein for House By Wynn Hopkins - The privilege of voting is a sacred trust. Both HD36 candidates are exemplary citizens who have had long-standing positive influence here. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Vote Chere Klein November 4th By Kathleen Yarr - Candidate Dan Ortiz called Southeast Alaska, (District 36) a special place. He's right; it is a pretty place. Economically, however, it's not so pretty. The gap between people who have government salaried and benefitted positions or government-funded, non-profit salaried and benefitted positions and people who don't is widening, and I'm curious to know what he's going to do about this problem. Everyone cannot work for the government. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Dan Ortiz: Leadership By David Mitchel - I have observed Dan Ortiz coach, teach, parent, and be a leader in our community for 20 years. He has an unrivaled integrity, excellent work ethic and firm convictions. Dan has the intelligence and communication skills to strongly represent our district. He is his own man and doesn’t want to blindly follow a series of partisan policies that divide our country and just don’t make sense for Alaska. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Voting for Dan Ortiz By Joel and Ann Jackson- One Person Makes a Difference: In 1986 I took Ketchikan High School business class learning about the stock market and investing. I joined the Air force in the winter of 1987 and following the lessons learned in my business class I invested in stocks. After finishing my service I was able to use the money I had invested to help buy a home and start my path towards the American dream. The man who taught me and encouraged me was/is Dan Ortiz. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Vote for Ortiz By Judity McQuerry - I am supporting Dan Ortiz for Alaska State House. Dan is running as an independent sending a message that party labels and unquestioned party loyalty do not make for good government. His only interest is what will be BEST for Southern Southeast. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Legalizing Marijuana? By Lucy Mahan - As I sift through the points and counter points of legalizing marijuana, a few questions remain unanswered. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Who is blowing smoke now? By Chris Snyder - There has been a lot in our local press regarding ballot measure #2, but the tone of the letters has been quite one-sided. I suppose this makes sense given the currently illegal status of marijuana. There are a lot of people who, given the nature of their employment or position in the community, don't feel safe going on the record. This is a shame because it limits honest debate and allows the prohibitionists to play REALLY fast and loose with the facts. Well...I've never urinated on command for anyone but my doctor and I'd like to point out some of the liberties the "No on 2" folks have been taking. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
Marijuana infused candy presents danger to children By Kalie Klaysmat - With Halloween coming on, and the November election just days away, it is a good time to consider the dangers that will be presented by marijuana edibles should ballot measure 2 succeed. Today, marijuana edibles have come a long way from the homemade brownies of the 1960s. Edibles have become commercialized and are being manufactured as lollipops, gummy bears, candy bars, fudge and any number of other child attracting forms in addition to the more familiar cookies and brownies. If ballot measure 2 passes, marijuana edibles will present a real and present danger to Alaskans. - More...
Monday PM - October 27, 2014
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