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National: After 25 years, the Wall still speaks to vets By JUSTIN THOMPSON - The first two Americans to die in the Vietnam conflict. The first of 58,000 more to come.

Retired generals, veterans, mothers, daughters, sons and widows began reading each of the 58,256 names etched on the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Wednesday, part of the memorial's 25th-anniversary celebration.

"The names have become the memorial," said Jan Scruggs, the veteran who in 1979 started pushing for the creation of the Wall. He is the president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Nearly 2,000 volunteers spent 65 hours through Saturday reading each name in chronological order, only the fourth time it has been done since the Wall's dedication on Nov. 13, 1982, when the names were first read across town at the National Cathedral. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

National: Veterans Day Honors Those Who Served in U.S. Military By RALPH DANNHEISSER - The November 11 holiday created to pay tribute to U.S. veterans of World War I has been expanded in more recent times into the annual Veterans Day, honoring all those who have served in the U.S. military.

This year, recognition of those who fought in World War II and in Vietnam will be a major part of observances in Washington and in communities across the country.

The earlier, more narrowly focused Armistice Day commemorated the end of fighting in World War I under the armistice implemented at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 -- "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Alaska: Maurice Bailey Presented Governor's Veterans Advocacy Award - The Veterans Day ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Headquarters at Camp Denali,, Alaska had a little more excitement than usual. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell and Maj. Gen. Craig E. Campbell, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, presented the Governor's Veterans Advocacy Award to Maurice Bailey from Wasilla.

Maurice Bailey, 68, served 20 years in the United States Army primarily as a helicopter crew chief. He served two full tours in Vietnam, and retired at Fort Wainwright, Alaska in 1976. Bailey is active with the many service organizations, perhaps most importantly is his contribution to the veterans community through Veterans Aviation Outreach, Inc.

Bailey recognized a need in the veteran community through his recreational flying. Veterans in remote areas of the state had difficulty reaching urban centers for VA appointments, funerals, and healthcare checkups. As a result, Bailey started the Veterans Aviation Outreach, Inc. in 2005 and began flying veterans from rural areas to urban centers. Bailey flew all of the missions by himself the first year and started gathering other veteran pilots to help him out. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Alaska: House Passes PPT Rewrite Bill; Clean and Open Process Results in Near Doubling of Tax - The Alaska House of Representatives, in a marathon session Sunday night to finalize changes to the state's petroleum profits tax (PPT), passed HB 2001 with amendments that nearly double the revenue oil companies will pay for production on the North Slope.

"I was pleased to see that the work done on the bill was done in a very clean, very open and transparent process," said Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez. "I believe the Governor is getting nearly everything she asked for, and in some areas more than she asked for."

"However, there are a number of the members of the House who are concerned that by raising the tax rates and reducing the available deductions and credits, we could cause the industry to not invest in Alaska. We will need billions of dollars in investment in the future to keep the Trans Alaska Pipeline flowing. There could be very serious unintended consequences to this bill." - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Fish Factor: Nation's biggest food bill leaves America's fishermen off list By LAINE WELCH - America's fishermen are getting the brush off from federal lawmakers as they retool the nation's biggest food bill.

The laws in the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill, which governs and bankrolls our nation's food growers and feeding programs, are revised by Congress every five years. The version they are preparing to pass this year leaves farmers of the sea and wild caught fish off the list.

"Wild fish does not qualify as an agricultural product," said Bruce Schactler of Kodiak, a fisherman turned expert at finding language in federal laws that plays against Alaska's salmon industry. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Dave Kiffer: It's A Wet World, After All! - Okay, this may not look much like work, but I'm on the clock here on this sandy beach in paradise, let me tell you!

You may remember that I am what used to be called a "rainmaker." I always bring my Ketchikan bio-clime with me at all times and frankly my work in Ketchikan was going very well.

So is was obviously time for a vacat. Uh, time to spread my horizons elsewhere, to find some other precipitation poor place and break another drought with a short term relocation.

Fortunately, I discovered that things were not going so well in this American tropical paradise. They were having a bit of a drought and some of the bougainvillea was getting a bit barren. On top of that, the good burghers of Kauai had decided to empty some old, poorly maintained reservoirs after one collapsed last year, so the situation was even direr than a normal dry patch. - More....
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Preston MacDougall: Chemical Eye on Chasing Arrows - When I first heard the expression "chasing arrows" I had no idea what it meant. It sounded like General Custer's brazen approach to fighting government-labeled insurgents in the American Middle West after gold had been discovered in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory. "Bring 'em on!"

However, rather than courting disaster, chasing arrows is one of the keys to averting it.

How so? Look at the bottom of virtually any plastic container, and there they are - three arrows that appear to be chasing each other in a square dance that's short a dancer. Less dynamically, this familiar symbol is officially called the SPI resin identification code, named after its developers - the Society of the Plastics Industry. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Rob Holston: ASPARTAME, FDA Blunder - You should check your cupboards now and get rid of every product that contains Aspartame. Oh, don't forget to have your reading glasses and a magnifying glass handy as this process involves a lot of fine print. The truth about aspartame is scarier than a Stephen King movie. The truth many times is and what I have to tell you is the truth.about ASPARTAME.

Because the FDA has failed to protect the American public from the proliferation of this horrific chemical compound, the public must become aware and through this awareness, institute a boycott of ALL products containing aspartame. Most Americans will recognize this substance as NutraSweet or Equal and will recall that it has been around since the early 1980's. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

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Year round business in Ketchikan By Marie-Jeanne Cadle - I just returned from a pleasant weekend in Sitka. One of the most enjoyable things about my trip was the many stores and galleries open and catering to locals even in the winter. Sitka's year round population is about 4000 people less then Ketchikan yet it manages to maintain a vibrant downtown core with a much larger variety of stores catering to the local population than we have here in Ketchikan. Yet we have more people. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Setting the Record Straight By Meredith M. Kenny - Alaskan Congressman Don Young has proudly served his constituents in the great state of Alaska for the last 35 years. As Alaskans had honored him with seniority in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 2001 to 2007 he was given the privilege of serving the American people as the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In doing so, he became responsible for taking the lead in penning the comprehensive Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act ­ A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Stop the blame game By Michelle Fry - This is in response to "If you really want to save the bears" by Denise Jausoro. While I do understand and sympathize with your situation I have to side with the bear on this one. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Airport By Rebecca L. Simpson - Recently family members/friends had to spend the night here in Ketchikan because of mechanical problems with Alaska Airlines. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Never Give Up By Ryan Arata - I was diagnosed with ALS at the Duke University in Durham, NC about November 2005. My progression seems to be slower than some others. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Almost done kickin' tires on a new oil tax By Sen. Kim Elton - Here we are, approaching the end of this special session, almost ready to drive a late model '07 off the lot after trading in our low-value '06 PPT Cruiser. - More...
Monday AM - November 12, 2007

Blessings of freedom and liberty are not free By Senator Ted Stevens - Veterans Day is a reminder that the blessings of freedom and liberty are not free but are paid for by the sacrifice and dedication of the courageous men and women in uniform who defend our nation. - More...
Sunday PM - November 11, 2007

Remember those who bravely serve By Congressman Don Young - This weekend, as we spend time with our family and friends let us remember those that have so bravely risked their lives, so that we may have the freedoms that we enjoy daily. Alaska is home to the highest amount of veterans, per capita, in this country, and I am very proud to humbly represent every one of them. Alaska is a state like no other that supports and respects its troops like no other. With five major military installations, we are home to countless military members and their families. - More...
Sunday PM - November 11, 2007

Remember the Sacrifices of Our Veterans and Their Families By Edward Brown - My family has many veterans. And we can thank all veterans today for their sacrifices. Our families' freedoms and our country's laws are supported by their efforts at home and abroad. - More...
Sunday PM - November 11, 2007

Invasive plant species By Victoria McDonald - Over the past few years in Ketchikan, I have noticed the explosive growth of a very beautiful plant ­ Japanese knotweed. I first encountered Japanese Knotweed when I walked around Lake Washington with a Seattle friend. She stated the plant had taken over the shores of the lake and was nearly impossible to get rid of. I thought this plant had not come north, but then I saw huge mounds of it on the side of the road in Ketchikan, north and south. Each summer the plant expands its range, pushing native plants, even salmonberries, out of the way. - More...
Friday AM - November 9, 2007

Realities locals have to face By Charles Edwardson - The jewelry stores are closed. The streets are clear (empty would be more accurate) and Ketchikan residents are few and far between (and it is not just because tour season is over). Locals do not frequent the downtown area for the most part. As I've worked on projects in downtown Ketchikan over the past decade this is a reality I have noticed. - More...
Friday AM - November 9, 2007

Boat Sinking at Ward Cove By Tony Alenskis - According to a recent news paper photo, the boat that sank in Ward Cove was seen listing to one side before it went to the bottom. I was wondering why the Harbor Master or Coast Guard did not put a pump onboard before it became an environmental issue. - More...
Friday AM - November 9, 2007

Thanks for finding my laptop By Kevin Gadsey - Some days I still question my move to Ketchikan - when I miss going to Wal-mart at 2 AM or having a good coffeehouse that stays open to midnight. I've never lived in a town this small before. Then there are days when I really enjoy the family-like atmosphere in Ketchikan. - More...
Thursday AM - November 08, 2007

Bus Stop Benches at the Library By Ronald L. Arnce - I have two young step-daughters that catch the school bus in front of the library. Taking them there every morning and meeting them in the afternoon, I observed that often the shelter area was filled with people just loitering causing the school children to have to stand outside. I have also observed drinking and loud arguments between people using the shelter. - More...
Thursday AM - November 08, 2007

Bears By Tom Carlin - I'm no fern fondler or anything but since I'm currently not in Ketchikan I read Sitnews to keep up with what's going on, and by the looks of it, it's BEARS. I live out north and we have our fair share of bears but we know that when the bears start coming out to bring our garbage cans in the garage and make sure not to leave anything outside that they would love to get their paws on. And we have no problems anymore. - More...
Thursday AM - November 08, 2007

Bears and Gators By Carolyn Simmons - We who live in Florida feel the same way about gators as you feel about the bears. Our nemesis is the many gators who live in the wild but are being forced out of their native land by developing encroachment of civilization. - More...
Thursday AM - November 08, 2007

Not the bears "fault" By Phil Round - Lock your doors. It's not the bears "fault." - More...
Thursday AM - November 08, 2007

Courtesy By Lisa Noland - I would agree with Scott Davis that being treated in on off-handed, careless manner when dealing with different businesses and/or organizations in Ketchikan is disappointing. - More...
Thursday AM - November 08, 2007

Global warming? By Barbara Seybold - I live in Big Lake, Alaska and there were more moose in our neck of the woods than I have seen since 1989. Last winter I would not drive at night because of the abundance of moose so go figure. What's up? - More...
Thursday AM - November 08, 2007

State Supreme Court's Decision By Taylor McDonald - In regards to Ms. Tillson's letter... what about the young girls who do not have caring, understandings parents? What if they have to deal with abuse or alcoholism? - More...
Wednesday - November 07, 2007

If you really want to save the bears.... By Denise Jausoro - The bears were cute when they were little. I even felt sorry for "BooBoo" after his mother was killed. I don't anymore. Halloween morning I discovered that a bear, probably two, had spent the evening in my 2000 Explorer, feasting on two cases of apples. Not satisfied with just devouring the apples, they destroyed the interior of my vehicle for no apparent reason. They are not cute anymore. - More...
Wednesday - November 07, 2007

War against ALS By Matt MacVane - I read Linda Kreider,s letter about ALS and her dad. It is a sorry story. My son Beau is 31 and was diagnosed with ALS in April of 2007. Beau spent 5 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, 3 in Iraq and 2 in Afghanistan in the elite Army Rangers. He is not doing well. The disease is terrible and just as Linda stated it robs one of the ability to talk and walk. - More...
Tuesday AM - November 06, 2007

The New Drum - Present Day Prophesy By George Miller - A few weeks ago I was writing a vision for this reaching this region with the Good News and was overtaken by another vision. It began with a deep, reverberating drum sound. The sound was coming more from deep time than deep geography, though it seems to shake the mantle of the earth. I began to sense pressure from generations of First -Nations People, who had been in some ways prevented from expressing worship to the Creator, Jesus, in the way HE had designed. There was deep increasing pressure to express worship and the drum grew louder and more intense. A great release is near, a break-out from bondage to dead religion, or mere ceremony. God is building a pent up passion to break out into true freedom in worship. HE will have His way. - More...
Tuesday AM - November 06, 2007

Ketchikan, Pribilofs, Ward Cove By Ralph E. Pray - I immensely enjoyed reading the snippets about Ketchikan, where Bev and I married (at Totem Park) in the late 50s, where our first son was born, and where we departed for the Colorado School of Mines in 1961. - More...
Tuesday AM - November 06, 2007

Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share Plan By Gov. Sarah Palin - "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality." - Max DePree

I rolled out Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share (ACES) plan, defining reality for legislators and Alaskans: our current oil valuation system, PPT, is of unreliable origin and we have devised a way to fix it. - More....
Monday AM - November 05, 2007

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