River Otter
Front Page Photo By MIKE SMITH

Southeast Alaska: TROUT UNLIMITED PRAISES SOUTHEAST ALASKA’S RECORD SALMON HARVEST; Salmon bounty a testament to the region’s habitat and careful management - A new report indicates that 2011 was a record year for commercial salmon fishermen in Southeast Alaska, home to the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest. Phenomenal returns, high prices, healthy weights and strong demand combined to make it an exceptional year for the region

According to newly released data from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Southeast Alaska produced the largest salmon harvest in the state in 2011. Fish and Game officials say the value of Southeast Alaska’s overall salmon harvest last summer topped $200 million, eclipsing Bristol Bay’s harvest valued at $138 million. Bristol Bay – often dubbed the salmon capital of the world -- is usually the state’s most lucrative salmon-producing region.

“The fact the Tongass outpaced Bristol Bay is pretty jaw-dropping. It’s a testament to what good natural habitat and careful management can bring to fisheries that employ one in 10 Southeast Alaskans and pump a billion dollars into our regional economy every year,” said Mark Kaelke, Trout Unlimited’s Southeast Alaska Project Director.

The overall dockside value of all public salmon fisheries in Southeast Alaska – excluding tribal and private, non-profit hatchery cost recovery fisheries – totaled $176 million, the highest since Alaska became a state in 1959, according to Fish and Game.   - More...
Friday - November 11, 2011

Alaska: UFA PUBLISHES FISHING ECONOMIC FACT SHEETS TO HEIGHTEN COMMUNITY FISHERY AWARENESS - The statewide commercial fishing umbrella association United Fishermen of Alaska, representing 37 fishing associations, has released a set of data sheets for major Alaska communities and boroughs. The group is seeking to provide UFA groups and members with economic information to illustrate the industry’s significance in their communities.

UFA is alarmed at the lack of public awareness about the economic contributions of the fishing and processing industry across Alaska.

“These statistics are important not only to our member organizations and coastal communities, but for talking points to assist  professional fishermen in  advocating at public meetings, in correspondence, and even in conversations with their neighbors,” said UFA President Arni Thomson. “Commercial fishing and seafood processing is increasingly forgotten in discussions about the relative importance of Alaska industries among policymakers and the public. Many fishermen may leave their local community to fish in other regions for as long as four or five months out of the year, and much of the processing employment is in remote areas out of sight.  Out of sight, out of mind.  UFA feels it is vital to our mission to bring this information out in a way that is clear and useful to help illustrate what the fishing industry brings back to the state of Alaska and its communities. Fishermen armed with the facts and figures about the value of their fisheries need to become ambassadors for their industry,” Thomson concluded. - More...
Friday - November 11, 2011

Ketchikan: Shay jailed on more child-abuse images - In what continues to be described as an ongoing investigation, Deputy Chief Josh Dossett said , John “Jack” W. Shay was charged with an additional 80 counts of Possession of Child Pornography yesterday.

Two of the charges stem from a homemade video in which at least one scene involves 80 year-old Shay and a yet unidentified pre-pubescent female.  The remaining charges stem from printed images found in Shay’s residence during the search warrant.  

Long-time Ketchikan resident Shay was ordered by a Judge to remand himself to the Ketchikan Correctional Center by 4:00 PM Thursday.  Bail was set at $100,000.00 with a third party requirement.

The investigation first began last week when detectives of the Ketchikan Police Department were called to a local computer repair shop due to a report that images of prepubescent children involved in sexual acts were found on a computer. - More...
Friday - November 11, 2011

Ketchikan: Ketchikan Indian Community to Hold Annual Meeting - Ketchikan Indian Community will stage their annual membership meeting Saturday November 19th at the Ted Ferry Civic Center.  The event will take place from 10am-5pm and KIC members are encouraged to attend.  This annual get together draws upwards of 300 KIC members.

The theme of this year’s meeting is:  “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.  Featured speakers will include Past Tribal Council President Dave Jensen.  His remarks will center on KIC’s genesis as well as its rich history. 

Norman Arriola will address KIC members with “State of the Tribe” remarks centered on KIC’s current standing and its accomplishments in 2011.  Arriola currently serves on the Tribal Council as its President.

Tribal Council Vice-President, Verna Hudson, will present the membership with future plans and projects that will benefit not only KIC members but the entire community of Ketchikan. - More...
Friday - November 11, 2011

Alaska Science: Discovering a new dinosaur in northern Alaska By NED ROZELL - There’s a new kind of dinosaur out there, and it lived in Alaska.

The newly discovered Alaska dinosaur, Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum, on what was Alaska’s North Slope about 70 million years ago.
Illustration by Karen Carr.

Its bones, long turned to stone, are part of a cliff in northern Alaska. That’s where dinosaur-hunter Tony Fiorillo brushed dirt away from a portion of its massive skull – something that most of us would mistake for a rock.

The year was 2006. It was August and summer had fled the Colville River, if it had been there at all. Fiorillo, who visits Alaska each summer from Dallas, where he works at the Museum of Nature & Science, remembers climbing from his tent with a heavy head every morning. He later learned he was working with pneumonia.

On one wet, miserable day, Fiorillo was clinging to a hillside above the river, spading the soil gently with a trowel. Noticing an unusual lump, he picked up a brush to gently whisk the dirt away. Suddenly, an entire skull came into focus, and he felt a warm flush of discovery. - More...
Friday - November 11, 2011

Columns - Commentary

DANNY TYREE: Veterans Day: Is It Enough? - "What have you done for us lately?"

I don't think the average American military veteran has the time or the temperament to spend 51 weeks a year asking such a question, but a reasonable person could hardly blame him if he did.

Veterans Day can be like Mother's Day or Father's Day - an occasion to heap praise upon individuals whom we spend the rest of the year ignoring, tolerating or circumventing. A week's worth of bumper stickers, newspaper interviews, special discounts and grade school essays soon give way to the daily grind.

I don't think our veterans are expecting a "We're not worthy!" routine from civilians (as in Wayne and Garth kowtowing to Alice Cooper in the "Wayne's World" movie), but there are lots of little ways to show appreciation during the year.

Are you glad for the religious freedom we enjoy in this country? Don't take it for granted. Go out and be the most gung ho (insert your religious affiliation or non-affiliation here) you can be! - More...
Friday - November 11, 2011

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