First Bank - Ketchikan, Alaska

Organized Village of Kasaan - Visit Kasaan, Alaska

Lighthouse Service - Ketchikan, Alaska - Tesoro Gas Station, Mechanical Services, Coooper Tires

Sourdough Tactical - Ward Creek Industrial - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska Travelers Accommodations, LLC - Ketchikan, Alaska

Creekside Family Health Clinic - Ketchikan, Alaska

Tongass Trading Co. Furniture House - Ketchikan, Alaska

Tongass Trading Company - Shop A Piece of History - Ketchikan, Alaska

Madison Lumber & Hardward - TrueValue - Ketchikan, Alaska

ReMax of Ketchikan - Ketchikan, Alaska

Gateway City Realty, Inc - Ketchikan, Alaska

Coastal Real Estate Group - Ketchikan, Alaska

Davies-Barry Insurance - Ketchikan, Alaska

Southeast Services - Chimney Sweep - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska Airlines - Pack More For Less

Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce - Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan Humane Society

Shop Local & Advertise Local with SitNews - Ketchikan, Alaska

arrowContact
arrowWebmail Letters
arrowNews Tips
arrowCopyright Info
arrowArchives

Quick News Search
arrowAlaska
arrowKetchikan
arrowSE Alaska

Columns - Articles
arrow Dave Kiffer
arrow Money Matters

Historical Ketchikan
arrowJune Allen
arrowDave Kiffer
arrowLouise B. Harrington

Ketchikan Arts & Events
arrowKetchikan Arts
arrowKetchikan Museums
arrowKTN Public Library

Sports
arrowKetchikan Links

Public Records
arrowFAA Accident Reports
arrowNTSB Accident Reports
arrowCourt Calendar
arrow Recent Filings & Case Dispositions
arrow Court Records Search
arrowWanted: Absconders
arrowSex Offender Reg.
arrow Public Notices
arrow AST Daily Dispatch
arrow KTN Police Reports
arrow Juneau Police Reports

Weather, Webcams
arrowToday's Forecast
arrowKTN Weather Data
arrowAK Weather Map
arrowAK Weathercams
arrowAK Earthquakes

TV Guide
arrowKetchikan

Ketchikan Phone Book
arrowYellow Pages
arrowWhite Pages

Government Links
arrowLocal Government
arrowState & National

 

SitNews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska

Front Page Feature Photo By LAURA JACKSON

Humpback Whale Bubblefeeding 
Front Page Feature Photo By LAURA JACKSON ©2017


Borough Election
OCTOBER 03, 2017

Unofficial Election Results
Click here to download

10,401 Registered Voters
Voter Turnout: 1,828
21 Percent Voter Turnout

Ballots to Count:
203 Absentee
7 Special Needs
145 Questioned
355 Votes to be counted
by Canvas Board on Wed. - Oct. 04, 2017

Ketchikan Borough Assembly
3 Year Term - 3 Seats Open

jpg Amanda (AJ) Pierce

Amanda (AJ) Pierce

862

jpg Alan Bailey

Alan Bailey

889

jpg Kevin Gadsey

Kevin Gadsey

568

jpg Joel W. Jackson

Joel W. Jackson

655

jpg Kent L. Colby

Kent L. Colby

651

jpg Susan Pickrell

Susan Pickrell

944

Ketchikan School Board
3 Year Term - 2 Seats Open

jpg Diane Gubatayao

Diane Gubatayao

1,297

jpg David Timmerman

David Timmerman

489

jpg Glen Thompson

Glen Thompson

1,123

Ketchikan School Board
1 Year Term - 1 Seat Open

jpg Bill Blankenship

Bill Blankenship

503

jpg Glenn J. Brown

Glenn J. Brown

952

Ketchikan City Council
3 Year Term - 3 Seats Open
3 Running - No Contest

jpg Dick Coose

Dick Coose

503

 

jpg Mark Flora

Mark Flora

577

jpg David Kiffer

David Kiffer

762

 

KGB Proposition 1: Special Sales Tax on Marijuana

YES: 1,235
NO: 579

City Proposition 1:Transportation Network Companies (like Uber)

YES: 276 (Prohibits)
NO: 594 (Allows)

 


Ketchikan:
Ketchikan General Election is Tuesday, October 3, 2017; SPECIAL BOROUGH TAX & ALLOWING TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS IN CITY ON BALLOTS - By MARY KAUFFMAN -On Tuesday, October 3, 2017, Ketchikan Borough voters will have the opportunity to vote on candidates for Borough Assembly Members, School Board Members, and a ballot proposition that is asking voters to approve a 5% Borough special sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products. The City currently levies a special 5 percent sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products as well as a 4 percent general sales tax. The Borough currently levies a 2.5 percent sales tax.

In addition, voters in the City of Ketchikan will have the opportunity to vote for three candidates in a non-contested race for City Council and one ballot proposition which if approved by the voters would allow the operation of transportation network companies such as Uber in the city limits of the City of Ketchikan.

There are 6 candidates running for three, three-year term seats that are open on the Ketchikan Borough Assembly. The candidates are Amanda (AJ) Pierce, Alan Bailey (running for reelection), Kevin Gadsey, Joel W. Jackson, Kent L. Colby and Susan Pickrell.

Three candidates are running for the two seats open on the Ketchikan School Board for three year terms. Candidates are Diane Gubatayao, David Timmerman and Glen Thompson.

Two candidates are running for the one seat open on the Ketchikan School Board for a one year term. Candidates are Bill Blankenship and Glenn Brown.

Borough voters who live within the boundaries of the City of Ketchikan or the City of Saxman will vote on additional races.

There are 3 candidates running for the three, three-year seats open on the Ketchikan City Council. The election is uncontested. Running for reelection are Dick Coose, Mark Flora and Dave Kiffer.

On August 21, 2017, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly adopted Ordinance 1839-Substitute-Amended, which established a 5 percent areawide special sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products. The special sales tax would be in addition to the Borough’s areawide sales tax of 2.5 percent. Thus Proposition 1 is on the Ketchikan Borough ballot.

Marijuana sales within the City of Ketchikan would be subject to applicable City of Ketchikan sales tax rates. The City currently levies a special 5 percent sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products as well as a 4 percent general sales tax. Ordinance 1839-Substitute-Amended provides that the amount of the City special sales tax on marijuana is deducted from the Borough special sales tax on marijuana sales within the City of Ketchikan, up to a maximum of 5 percent.

If approved by the voters, the special Borough sales tax on marijuana would become effective January 1, 2018. Unless extended by Borough voters, the tax would expire after five years. Proceeds of the tax would be placed in the Ketchikan Borough’s General Fund and would be appropriated by the Borough Assembly on an annual basis as they see fit.

If Proposition 1 passes, the Ketchikan Borough would levy a special 5 percent sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products with an offsetting credit for special sales taxes paid on such sales within the City of Ketchikan. In summary, Marijuana sales are currently subject to a 2.5% general sales tax rate outside the City of Ketchikan and a total sales tax rate of 11.5% within the City of Ketchikan. Adoption of this proposition would adjust those rates to a total rate of 7.5% outside the City of Ketchikan and retain the total sales tax rate of 11.5% within the City of Ketchikan.

The Ketchikan Borough estimates that the tax would generate approximately $30,000 to $50,000 annually. Legalized marijuana is a new industry in the Ketchikan Borough, and firm estimates of sales and tax revenue are unavailable by the Borough. The revenue from the tax would not be restricted for a special purpose.

If this proposition fails, the Ketchikan Borough would not collect a special sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products. These products would continue to be subject to the current Borough sales tax rate of 2.5 percent and the Ketchikan Borough General Fund would forgo the estimated annual revenue stream of between $30,000 and $50,000 collected through the tax.

City of Ketchikan voters will consider Proposition 1 on their ballot. This is on the ballot because the City Council for the City of Ketchikan passed Ordinance No. 17-1855 which would prohibit transportation network companies such as Uber or Lyft from conducting activities with the city limits, meaning any person or entity that uses a digital network to connect Transportation Network riders with Transportation Network drivers who provide prearranged rides. (Prearranged rides does not include car poor or van pool arrangements or transportation using a public vehicle for which a taxicab certificate of public convenience or public vehicle certificate has been issued by the city.) - More...
Sunday PM - October 01, 2017

Southeast Alaska: Alaska loses another fight on Roadless Rule By MARY KAUFFMAN - Environmentalists won a major battle in a long legal war over the Clinton administration's 2001 Inventoried Roadless Rule that limited road construction and logging in national forests. On September 21, 2017 the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the state of Alaska’s recent lawsuit to exempt the roadless rule for millions of acres of wild roadless national forest lands in Alaska from logging and logging roads. Alaska was joined by mining, logging, construction, road-building and utilities industries in challenging the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

The roadless rule was imposed by the Clinton administration just days before leaving office in January 2001. The rule prohibits timber harvesting and road construction on 9.5 million acres in the Tongass National Forest, an area nearly twice the size of New Jersey, and impacts every community and industry in that region. The rule also applies to 5.4 million acres of land in the Chugach National Forest in southcentral Alaska.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon dismissed with prejudice last Wednesday, Sept. 20th, finding the plaintiffs failed to prove that the Department of Agriculture had violated any laws, dismissing the 16-year-old case.

Alaska and the industries wanted to exempt from the rule from the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass with16.8 million acres is the nation’s largest of the 192 million acres in the National Forest system.

“While I am still reviewing this decision, I am deeply disappointed to see it handed down,” U. S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said in a prepared statement on September 25, 2017. “A judge can dismiss a case, but Alaskans cannot dismiss the negative impacts the roadless rule is having on our communities. The rule has decimated our timber industry and serves mainly to prevent the access needed to construct everything from roads and power lines to energy and mining projects. I recognize the damage this rule is causing, particularly in Southeast, and will pursue every possible legislative and administrative option to exempt us from it.”

Murkowski is chairman of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.

Congressman Don Young (R-AK) also issued a prepared statement commenting on the court's recent decision.

“The Clinton-era Roadless Rule was nothing more than a last-ditch effort to end the multiple-use mandate of federal forest lands – something that is required by law, but often ignored by the ivory tower elite,” said Congressman Don Young. “Not only did this rule violate the authorities granted to Alaska within ANILCA, it was done without proper consultation or consideration of the countless communities that rely on responsible resource development." 


Photos of the Month

Ketchikan: 2017 Cruise Ship Calendar (PDF) - Calendar Courtesy Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska

Ketchikan: Public Meetings

Ketchikan: Upcoming Events

Historical Ketchikan

arrowJune Allen
arrowDave Kiffer
arrowLouise B. Harrington

Ketchikan Weather

arrow Ketchikan's Forecast
arrow Weather History for Sept. 2017
arrow Ketchikan's Historic Weather
arrow Nat Weather Service KTN
arrow Ketchikan Tides & Currents

Search the News

arrow Ketchikan

arrow
Alaska

Young said, “At the same time Congress is being asked to address our nation’s inability to deal with catastrophic forest fires and the need for improved forest management practices – including access to protect at-risk areas or remove dead and dying trees – we see our hands being tied by this ill-conceive rule. If any reasonable form of Alaska’s timber industry is to exist in the near future, it’s imperative we restore Alaska’s exemption from the Roadless Rule – through legislation or administrative action – as quickly as possible. Regardless of the court’s ruling, I will be working to outline a path forward that exempts Alaska from a rule that continues to kill economies, destroy livelihoods and prevent responsible development. When the court fails Alaska, I believe it’s Congress' responsibility to act.”

Judge Leon wrote in the 45-page ruling: “Alaska seems to want this court to presume that, because the USDA conducted such a far-reaching rulemaking in an extraordinary short time period, the USDA necessarily did not satisfy NEPA’s [National Environmental Policy Act] goals of adequate public disclosure and informed decision making.”

Judge Leon rejected that argument, finding that the USDA “adequately considered” each concern in applying the rule to the Tongass Forest.

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, enacted by President Bill Clinton in 2001, prohibits the damaging development, including commercial logging and the construction of most roads. In 2000, the U.S. Forest Service was already maintaining close to 400,000 miles of roads, more than the country’s entire interstate highway system.

According to the National Resource Defense Council, the timber industry — and states like Alaska where the industry holds a lot of influence — has for years been challenging these protections, and environmental groups, including NRDC, have fought off numerous efforts to overturn them.

Alaska had sought to exempt the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest, America’s largest, from the Roadless Rule. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected that effort in March 2016. The court's recent decision in favor of groups represented by NRDC and Earthjustice applied to the nationwide rule — a huge victory for our pristine public lands, for the wildlife that inhabit them, and for future generations who will also be able to cherish them.

“This rule has weathered endless attacks by corporate interests and their allies,” says Niel Lawrence, NRDC’s Alaska director. “But it’s as enduring as the old-growth forest it protects. No rule has saved as much federal forestland from destruction. Now it has itself been saved, once again.” 

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had previously dismissed the case for exceeding the six-year statute of limitations.  An appeals court overturned that ruling, saying the clock started ticking when a federal court reinstated the rule in 2006, not when the rule was first issued in 2001. Alaska filed its challenge in 2011, seeking to overturn the rule on multiple grounds. Today’s lengthy and careful ruling finds that each of those claims lack merit.

Alaska has been fighting the roadless rule — and defending a 2003 exemption to that rule for the Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest — for years. In March, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the state’s appeal of a ruling striking down the Tongass exemption, ending that case.

“The Roadless Rule was adopted with overwhelming public support nationwide,” said Earthjustice attorney Tom Waldo.  “It protects 50 million acres of public lands that provide clean water for communities, habitat for imperiled fish and wildlife, and some of the best opportunities Americans have for fishing, hunting, camping, and other recreation.  Today’s decision should put to rest the long legal battle over this commonsense rule.”

"Today's [Sept. 20, 2017] decision provides a critical affirmation of the importance of the Roadless Rule in protecting our nation's and the state of Alaska's most essential intact habitat and forested lands,” said Meredith Trainor, Executive Director of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council.

Trainor said, “This precedent-setting decision should remind all Americans of the importance of protecting our public lands from attacks by industry groups seeking to undermine our most fundamental and cherished environmental protections. The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council is proud to have played a part in defending this vital rule."  - More....
Sunday PM - October 01, 2017



FISH FACTOR:
Chum Salmon Set Catch Records Statewide By LAINE WELCH - Chum salmon returned home to Alaska this year in numbers never seen before from Southeast to Kotzebue, and set catch records statewide and in many regions. 

Chums, also called dogs because of their long use as a prime food source for Alaska Native dog teams, are the most widely distributed of all Pacific salmon and occur throughout Alaska. The fish usually comprise about 15 percent of the total salmon catch, and this year’s tally of almost 25 million is the biggest harvest since 2000.  

At Kodiak, for example, a chum catch of nearly two million was 37 percent higher than usual and the highest take since 1995. Southeast Alaska’s chum catch topped 11 million, and at an average price of $.80 a pound, each fish was worth more than $7 to fishermen. 

Chums also helped push Norton Sound salmon fishermen to a record $2.8 million pay day, the first time the dock value has topped $2 million. At Kotzebue, two buyers showed up for the first time in three years and flew off with a half million pound chum salmon catch. And at the Yukon, fishermen harvested over one million chums for a fishery value of nearly $700,000.

 “It’s a great year to have a record catch. The market for Alaska chums could not be better,” said Andy Wink, a fisheries economist with the McDowell Group. 

“Some years you have a situation where there is not enough demand to soak up all that you produce and prices come down. We might see a little price affect because it’s a record year, but factors coming into this season were really supportive for chums,” he added. 

Topmost, the harvest in Japan, one of the largest chum producers, was down 30 percent in a run of several years’ bad catches. There is no backlog of fish is in U.S. cold storages, and higher priced farmed salmon has buyers looking for other options. Wink said wild chum salmon from Alaska, often marketed with the more upscale name of “keta,” fits the bill. 

 “Those high farmed prices raised the bar for everything else and it gets more people interested in doing something with keta, and it also benefits from all the sockeye promotions,” he said, adding that several big supermarket chains are doing a “salmon series.” 

“They will do promotions all season long and go from sockeye to chum to coho salmon,” he said. “That makes for a really nice progression.” 

The chum roe market also is ripe. 

Chum roe is the most valuable of all salmon and Japan’s harvest shortfall will boost demand for Alaskan supply. Wholesale prices for all salmon roe skyrocketed during the first four months of this year, according to Alaska Department of Revenue data.  For chum roe, the price averaged $20.03 per pound up from $15.44 at the same time last year. - More...
Sunday PM - October 01, 2017


 

Alaska: Scam Alert: Flooded Automobiles Flooding Markets - The Consumer Protection Unit of the Alaska Attorney General’s Office warns Alaskans that flood damaged vehicles in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma are expected to make their way to markets across the country.

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance warned that consumers in states which do not directly track flood damaged vehicles, such as Alaska, are particularly at risk. The BJA recommends that consumers educate themselves about a vehicle’s history before making any purchase decisions.

Overseen by BJA, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is designed to prevent concealment of flood damage and other vehicle histories. After past hurricane events, authorities reported truckloads of flooded vehicles being taken out of the impact zone where they were dried out, cleaned and readied for sale to unsuspecting consumers in states that do not brand flood vehicles. It is currently estimated that due to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, as many as 1 million flood-damaged automobiles could potentially be passed on to unsuspecting buyers in the coming weeks and months. 

The floods caused by or associated with these hurricanes have resulted in severe water damage to thousands of vehicles that can make electrical systems and airbag sensors prone to failure. Prior to purchasing a vehicle, NMVTIS allows consumers to find information on the vehicle's title, most recent odometer reading and brand history. A “brand” is a descriptive label that states assign to a vehicle to identify the vehicle's current or prior condition, such as “junk,” “salvage” or “flood” designation. By capturing into one system specific information from multiple entities such as state motor vehicle departments, insurance carriers, salvage auto auctions, automobile recyclers, and junk and salvage yards, NMVTIS offers states and consumers protection from title fraud and potentially unsafe vehicles. - More...
Sunday PM - October 01, 2017


 

Columns - Commentary

 

TOM PURCELL: Spending Other People's Money - I can't blame them, really. It's human nature to want something for nothing.

I speak of two tenants who recently moved into a rental unit I own. I made the mistake of renting the unit for one flat rate that included "free" utilities.

Since the tenants didn't have to pay directly for their electricity usage, they cranked the air conditioner day and night. There was no incentive for them to turn it off when they were at work during the day or away for the weekend.

Whereas the electric bill for that unit averages about $50 per month this time of the year, their electric bill came in just under $200 per month - for the simple reason that someone else (that would be me) was footing the bill.

I got to thinking about this concept recently. It is the reason our government is so bloated and our deficit and debt (we just exceeded $20 trillion in debt a few weeks ago) are so high.

This is because millions of Americans like the concept of spending other people's money to benefit themselves - or, to be more precise, they vote for politicians who promise to give them things using other people's money.

Of course, our politicians never use the word "spend" - they say "investment." But the dough they spend has to come from somewhere. It comes from you and me - from those who work and earn - and is transferred to those who want stuff.

I prefer to call it what it really is: bribery. Our politicians use our own money to promise things to other people who sell their votes to the politicians who promise them the most. - More...
Sunday PM - October 01, 2017

jpg MICHAEL SHANNON

MICHAEL SHANNON: Millionaires & Billionaires Fighting 'Oppression' - Oppression certainly isn't what it used to be. Instead of vicious police dogs, water cannon, billy clubs and Bull Connor, America is greeted with the sight of millionaires and billionaires kneeling in football stadiums trying to make white America feel guilty without so much as a Chihuahua yapping in the background.

And they aren't alone. The Opposition Media, celebrity culture, leftist pastors, educators, politicians, various groin activists and Hollywood were all united in condemning the USA for the alleged subjugation of blacks. The protesters had no compunction about attacking the president and insulting the flag.

If this is "oppression" it's news to Stalin, Hitler, Saddam and Kim Jong-Un. If I were a white supremacist, I think I'd demand my money back. From all appearances it's whites, conservatives of all colors and taxpayers who are being told to sit down and shut up.

Instead of being a lonely and dangerous stand against institutionalized brutality and "oppression" the "take a knee movement" has rapidly become this fall's Ice Bucket Challenge. The difference being the Challenge was a showy, self-involved effort on behalf of a real disease, while take a knee is a showy, self-involved effort on behalf of a grievance fantasy.

The left claims to own science, so let's look at the data. First of all the U.S. is one of the least racist nations on the planet. An investing and investment newsletter, with the credibility-dissolving name of Insider Monkey, performed an analysis of racism polls that included "responses of over 85,000 people from 61 countries" and found our country didn't even make the top 25 of the most racist countries.
- MORE...
Sunday PM - October 01, 2017


jpg Editorial Cartoon: Tax Cuts - Government Workers

Editorial Cartoon: Tax Cuts - Government Workers
By Sean Delonas ©2017, CagleCartoons.com
Distributed to subscribers for publication by Cagle Cartoons, Inc.

      

Real Time U.S. Debt Clock
http://www.usdebtclock.org/

U.S. Inflation Calculator
Easily calculate the buying power of the US dollar & inflation rate from 1913-2017

U.S. Energy Info. Admin.
Heating Oil & Propane Update

Public Meetings & Info

Ketchikan Borough Assembly

Live Video stream

arrow Live video stream of current meeting
arrowArchived videos
arrow Agenda and Information Packets
arrow Assembly Meeting Minutes

arrow Borough Records
arrow Calendar
arrow
Gravina Access Website

Ketchikan Planning Commission

Live Video stream

arrowLive video stream of current meeting
arrowAgenda, Information Packets & Minute

Ketchikan City Council

Live Video stream

arrowView a Video of Meeting
arrow Agenda & Information Packets

Ketchikan School Board

Live Video stream

arrowLive video stream of current meeting
arrowAgenda & Information Packets

Police Dispatches

arrow AK Troopers Daily Dispatch
arrow Ketchikan Police Reports
arrow Juneau Police Reports

Ketchikan

arrow Jobs
arrow Ketchikan's Forecast
arrowSatellite
arrowToday's Weather Images
arrowMarine Forecasts
arrowAK Weathercams
arrowKetchikan Weather Data
arrowCurrent AK Weather Map

 

CLASSIFIEDS

arrowPublish

Publish Your Ad
Click Here


CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES

arrow Public Meetings
arrow
Announcements
arrow Upcoming Events
arrow Boats, etc.
arrow Help Wanted
arrow For Sale / Free Stuff
arrow Garage Sales
arrow Homes / Apts/ Property
arrow Pets
arrow Wanted
arrow Lost & Found
arrow Publish Your Ad

Front Page Archives
Letter Archives
August - Sept.2017
S M T W T F S
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 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        

Viewpoints,
Opinions/Letters

Basic Rules &
Freedom of Speech

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

Sitnews reserves
the right to edit
.

Note: Please, no election letters of support or letters on Propositions after 10/01/17.


Opinion - Letter

Vote Tuesday, October 3rd By Glen Thompson - I had the pleasure of attending Chamber lunch last Wednesday and listened to the debate by six really good Assembly candidates. After careful consideration: - More...
Sunday PM - October 01, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Reject City Council’s effort to limit transportation options in Ketchikan By Joey Tillson - In June, Governor Walker signed a new law that gives you and me access to ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft in Alaska. For people seeking safe affordable rides, this means they’re now available at the push of a button on our phones. The new law also gives people like me an opportunity to earn needed extra money by giving my neighbors rides. - More...
Thursday AM - September 28, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Stand for the Flag By Rex Barber - Countless thousands have died fighting Americas wars since our revolution. They have been buried in American soil, died in foreign lands or slipped beneath the waves to a watery grave. The #1 reason you stand for the American flag is because those who have given their last full measure of devotion to America can no longer do so themselves. - More...
Thursday AM - September 28, 2017

Opinion - Letter

CLASSIC IDIOCY,
ELIMINATING THE ‘DEATH’ TAX
By David G Hanger - I do hope the following does not offend or bother our divine masters.

That said anyone who believes in eliminating the estate tax is an outright idiot, or an autocrat working to eradicate representative democracy. Without the estate tax the accumulation of massive wealth at a handful of nodal points, i.e. families, will result in the return of monarchy, i.e. rule by hereditary right, within three generations. - More...
Thursday AM - September 28, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Honoring our flag By A. M. Johnson - It is thought that the following videos states quite clearly the purpose of honoring our flag and the National anthem. Stand and Honor. Nuff said. - More...
Thursday AM - September 28, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Solving the health care issue By John Suter - The solution to government run health care for all of America is right under the noses of congress.  Congress says it wants the best medical program for America that can be delivered.  At no time do you hear of any complaints from congress on their government run health care program that they receive.  The reason for that is because their program is A-1 quality run for congress. - More...
Thursday AM - September 28, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Tweeting Away The Presidency By Donald Moskowitz - We currently have problems with countries who could threaten our national security.  - More...
Thursday AM - September 28, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Why We Need a Capital Budget - By Rep. Dan Ortiz - Last week, I wrote a letter to the editor outlining specific funds in the capital budget allocated to southern Southeast Alaska. District 36 fortunately received millions of dollars for local infrastructure projects. That being said, the state’s overall capital budget is still miniscule in comparison to previous years. Since 2013, it has been cut by over 55%. - More...
Monday AM - September 25, 2017

Opinion - Letter

No More Taxes By Lance Clark - Will the Governor and all his cohorts please STOP trying to take more of our money! We don't need new taxes, we need to live within our means. There is just no other way. You can't cure an addiction by giving in to it, and let's face it, the Governor and our State legislators are addicted to our money! They'll never have enough and will always come up with another reason to take more. - More...
Monday AM - September 25, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Capped Hybrid Head Tax By A. M. Johnson - Let me try to understand the intent of the Capped Hybrid Head Tax . if one is employed they are subject to paying a tax in some cases enough to offset the dividend check they will receive plus a scheduled amount based on levels of income. Okay. at the same time, those who are not employed, (Read Mail Box money recipients) will enjoy the full dividend amount and pay no tax. - More...
Monday AM - September 25, 2017

Opinion - Letter

The Graham-Cassidy Repeal Bill will be Terrible for Alaska: Tell Our Senators to Vote No By Ghert Abbott - It’s happening again. The Republican leadership in Congress is attempting to pass yet another bill repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As with previous repeal bills, the American Health Care Act, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, and the so-called “Skinny Bill,” the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill’s appearance is shrouded in obfuscation and secrecy. There will be no public hearings, no public input, and no CBO score, so the Senate will be voting on the bill with only the vaguest idea of what it will ultimately do to us. This is very much intentional. A full CBO score could have been made on Graham-Cassidy weeks ago, but the legislation was held back until the very last minute, so as to avoid the nasty headlines about inevitable coverage losses and premium spikes which helped sink all previous repeal efforts. - More...
Monday AM - September 25, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Changing the Epidemic of Veterans Suicide- By Verdie Bowen - September is Suicide Awareness Month and we can all play a role in preventing suicide, but many people don’t know what they can do to support the local Veterans, Service member, Guard or Reserve member or their families. - More...
Wednesday AM - September 20, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Capital Budget & District 36 Projects By Rep. Dan Ortiz - Alaska’s Fiscal Year 2018 Capital Budget, although small, has allocated multiple beneficial projects here in southern Southeast. The compromised version of this year’s capital budgetwill meet the minimum needs of the state and its residents in terms of infrastructure investment. - More...
Sunday AM - September 17, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Beware! USPS Will Not Go Up Hills! By Megan Heaton - We live at 5109 Surprise Beach Court, and like many of the property owners out in this area, we have been developing and building on our property. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 13, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Anti-this, anti-that By A. M. Johnson - With all the news reflecting 'Anti-this' and 'Anti-that' one becomes confused as to which category one fits. On one side is the world s most successful hate group. Democrats. This organization attracts poor people who hate rich people, black folk who hate white folk, gay people who hate straight people, feminists who hate men, environmentalist who hate the internal combustion engine and a whole lot of bratty college kids who hate their parents. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 13, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Mr. President, Don’t Settle for FAKE Tax Reform By Wiley Brooks - Mr. President, there is already a bill in Congress that meets your four principles for tax reform. Have Congress get it out of committee and send it over to your desk. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 13, 2017

Opinion - Letter

Japanese Military Build Up By Donald Moskowitz - As a counterweight to China and North Korea we should encourage Japan to build up its military capabilities.

Japan should increase its frontline military personnel from 250,000 to 350,000 and increase the number of tanks from  700 to 1000 and armored vehicles from 3000 to 4000. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 13, 2017

letter Webmail your letter or
letterEmail Your Letter To: editor@sitnews.us



E-mail your news tips, news
releases & photos to:
editor@sitnews.us

SitNews
Stories in the News
©1997 - 2016
Ketchikan, Alaska

In Memory of SitNews' editor
(1999-2006),
Richard (Dick) Kauffman

1932-2007

Mary Kauffman, Webmaster/Editor,
Publisher...
editor@sitnews.us
907 617 9696

 

Locally owned & operated.

Est. 1997
Est. Commercial 2005-2017
©1997 - 2017

 Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted or redistributed without written permission from and payment of required fees to the proper sources.

E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us

Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so, granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.

 

Ketchikan Indian Community - Ketchikan, Alaska

Dave Kiffer, Thank you for voting.

Glen Thompson: Thank you for voting

Otter Creek Partners, Registered Investment Advisor - Ketchikan, Alaska

Tatsuda's IGA - Ketchikan, Alaska
Weekly Specials
Online Shopping; Pickup or Delivery

Ketchikan Area Arts & Humanities Council - Wine & Cheese Fundraiser

Alaska Car Rental - Ketchikan, Alaska

Northway Family Healthcare - Ketchikan, Alaska

Schmolck Mechanical Contractors - Ketchiikan, Alaska

Southeast Services - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaskan & Proud Grocery & Liquor Stores - Ketchikan, Alaska

Great Western Service - Residentail Property Rentals - Ketchikan, Alaska - Bear Valley Apartments

Alaska Airlines - Travel Now Discount

Rendezvous Senior Day Services, Inc. - Ketchikan, Alaska

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center - Ketchikan, Alaska

AAA Moving & Storage - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska Airlines - Travel Tuesday

Groomingdales Pet Resort - BARK, a no-kill animal shelter - Ketchikan, Alaska

The Local Paper - Ketchikan, Alaska The Local Paper - Ketchikan, Alaska The Home Office - The Local Paper; Ketchikan, Alaska

The Local Paper is
available online.
Click here for this week's printed edition (PDF)

KRBD - Ketchikan FM Community Radio for Southern Southeast Alaska

Shop Local & Advertise Local with SitNews - Ketchikan, Alaska

“Hundreds of Alaskans have reached out to my administration saying health care costs are increasingly unaffordable,” Governor Walker said. “This law will provide relief from large premium hikes for

Preliminary Borough Candidate's List Preliminary Ketchikan City Candidates List Ketcikan Borough Election Information