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Tuesday
November 19, 2013
Main course or animal companion?
Diogenes is a great animal companion with personality characteristics like loyalty, the capacity for unconditional love and a whole lotta smarts. In the background is one of many peacocks he enjoys roosting and living with in their warm barn. Aside from being a popular Thanksgiving dinner dish, turkeys are very popular as pets. This beautiful old bird will live his life out as a pet.
Front Page Photograph By MARY KAUFFMAN ©2013
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Alaska: AFN will defend subsistence from State’s “reckless attempt to unravel the precedent set by the lower courts…" - The Alaska Federation of Natives issued a powerful response to the State of Alaska’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court in the legal case State of Alaska v Sally Jewell, Secretary of the United States Department of Interior et al, widely known as the Katie John Case. Alaska Federation of Natives is an Intervening Party in this case in defense of subsistence rights, and has been for over 18 years.
The State of Alaska’s petition asks that the Court overturn the federal rules promulgated in 1999 that define Title VIII of ANILCA’s public lands definition to include waters subject to the federal reserved water rights doctrine.
“Subsistence is not only a way of life… It is essential to our survival as a people, and no one has the right to ever take it away from us,” said AFN Co-Chair Tara Sweeney, “This latest action by the State of Alaska is an assault upon the people of Alaska who depend upon hunting, fishing and gathering to feed their families.”
The Alaska Federation of Natives issued the organization’s formal response November 5th at an open Press Briefing in Anchorage. AFN Co-Chairs Ana Hoffman and Tara Sweeney, Subsistence Committee Chair Dr. Rosita Worl and AFN President Julie Kitka delivered statements and then opened the floor to questions.
“We will vigorously defend the subsistence rights of our people by intervening in this case and any others that compromise our basic rights,” said Dr. Rosita Worl, chair of AFN’s Subsistence Committee. “For nearly two decades we have made attempts to resolve this issue at the State, Congressional and Administrative levels; and, the State has refused to participate in a responsible solution for Alaskans. This is not acceptable and must be stopped.”
Worl said, "The State of Alaska’s attempted overreach is a reckless attempt to unravel the precedent set by the lower courts and through administrative procedures. This should enrage not only the Native community, but all Alaskans. Too much time, energy and preciousfunding has been wasted in the State’s ongoing attacks on subsistence. Enough is enough."
According to a press statment, the Alaska Federation of Natives has been involved in the current Katie John case for 18 years. The AFN legal team has been assembled and will join with the the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior in vigorously defending the decision of the lower courts that extend ANILCA’s jurisdiction to federally reserved waters in Alaska, while concurrently perusing a congressional fix. AFN has established a Legal Defense Fund and will call on their members and others to help in this fight.
On November 4th, the State of Alaska filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court in State v. Jewell. The petition requests review of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision extending control over fishing and hunting to the federal government on state-owned navigable waters not only in, but also adjacent to federal lands.
Quoting an Alaska Department of Law news release, "the case involves fundamental questions of control and authority over navigable waters in the state. When Alaska became a state, it was granted the same sovereign rights as all other states, including title to the lands underlying navigable waterways within its borders, and the right to control those navigable waters and the resources in them. This right applies regardless of whether the waterway goes through federal land." - More...
Tuesday PM - November 19, 2013
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Southeast Alaska: Sealaska Announces December Distribution Totaling $11.7 million - The Sealaska board of directors has declared a distribution to be paid to tribal member shareholders starting December 6, 2013. Shareholders signed up with Sealaska for direct deposit will receive payment on December 6, with checks to follow shortly in the mail. Depending on type of stock ownership, shareholders will receive from $0.71 to $7.84 per share. The average share ownership is 100 shares.
“Distributions strengthen our communities through this economic infusion, some $11.7 million this distribution,” said Sealaska Board Chair Albert Kookesh. “Since inception, Sealaska has paid more than a half billion dollars total to shareholders and village corporations.”
“Sealaska’s purpose is to strengthen our people, culture and homelands,” said Sealaska President & CEO Chris E. McNeil Jr. “Revenue sharing between regional corporations contributes to advancing our purpose. The ANCSA Section 7(i) agreement mandates sharing 70 percent of resource development revenue with all regional corporations on a per capita basis. Sealaska has paid more than $317 million into that pool from our own natural resource management, and now we’re the recipient of resource development from other regions.” - More...
Tuesday PM - November 19, 2013
Southeast Alaska: 38th Annual Great American Smokeout Thursday - November 21st marks the 38th annual American Cancer Society‘s Great American Smokeout, a day highlighting the dangers of tobacco use and the challenges of quitting. The Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to use the annual date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. The number one thing tobacco users can do to improve their health and extend their life is to quit.
The SEARHC Tobacco Program, Sitka Community Hospital, and Sitkans for Health Coalition members will have a booth at AC Lakeside Grocery from 4-6pm on Thursday, November 21st, to share information about programs that assist tobacco users to quit the habit for the day, and for life. A drawing will take place with the grand prize of a frozen turkey, encouraging people to quit with nicotine replacement and support or “cold turkey”.
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Alaska, causing nearly 600 deaths each year. In fact, tobacco use causes more deaths each year in Alaska than suicide, motor vehicle crashes, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, homicide and HIV/AIDS combined. Reducing the use of tobacco in Alaska begins one person at a time. Smoke-free policies can also help people to quit tobacco, protect people from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure, and reduce youth initiation. - More...
Tuesday PM - November 19, 2013 |
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Southeast Alaska: Starfish Dying Due To 'Wasting Disease' - A mysterious disease that causes sea stars to decay and fall apart within a few days has become widespread along the U.S. west coast over the past several months. First reported off the coast of Washington in June, the disease known as "sea star wasting syndrome" has now been observed as far north as Southeast Alaska and as far south as Orange County, California.
Starfish Dying Due To 'Wasting Disease'
Photo courtesy University of California - Santa Cruz
Pete Raimondi, professor and chair of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, leads the Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Program, which has been documenting the disease at the group's long-term monitoring sites along the west coast and collecting reports from other scientists and citizens. According to Raimondi, small outbreaks of the disease have been observed for decades, but this one is particularly troubling because it is so widespread.
"We've never seen it at this scale up and down the coast," he said.
The disease has even hit sea stars in public aquariums that draw water from the ocean for their tanks, including UCSC's Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, the Vancouver Aquarium, and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary visitor center. - More...
Tuesday PM - November 19, 2013
 DANNY TYREE: Doctor Who: A Fiftieth Anniversary Primer - Although the "Guinness Book of World Records" identifies the British Broadcasting Corporation's "Doctor Who" as the world's longest-running science-fiction TV series, and although the 50th anniversary episode will be simulcast in more than 75 countries on November 23, a few of you may still be out of the loop on the Who experience.
With time running out, I present this primer as a public service.
The show's hero (referred to as The Doctor — not Doctor Who, as the title would imply) is a renegade member of the Time Lords, an ancient humanoid race from the planet Gallifrey. The Time Lords dedicated themselves to correcting time paradoxes, thwarting intergalactic schemes and regulating the age-old "Ewww! See if YOU think this milk is past its expiration date" game.
The Doctor and a succession of companions travel through time and space in the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space), a sentient time-space vehicle forever frozen in the shape of a blue British police call box. Visitors to the TARDIS invariably exclaim, "It's bigger on the inside than on the outside," which coincidentally is part of a Democratic scare tactic to derail the "Chris Christie in 2016" campaign. - More...
Tuesday PM - November 19, 2013 |
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 Support for Citizen's comment - KIC By James Llanos Sr - On 11-18-2013, several people rose and talked to the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) Council to make comments. Some commented on a need to provide better or more services, some about programs. Once speaker, David Jensen, rose and talked to the KIC Council about their responsibility and duties as Council people of the Tribe. He spoke about having a need for everyone to work together and that if they as individual Council persons exceed their authority, rules, regulations and Tribal laws then they are submitting themselves as being liable and subject to lawsuit as individuals. He is right, I have seen this in other Tribes across the nation. The Tribes lawyers are then unable to defend them as individuals since they go beyond their authority. - More...
Tuesday PM - November 19, 2013
Random Acts of Kindness By Julia Zink-Kubley -
I am along time resident of Ketchikan, born and raised here. It was on a cold and raining day this week while sewing in my Sew Suite and recovering from a (mild) case of the shingles that a young lady knocked at my door. She explained that it was her birthday and that to celebrate she was doing random acts of kindness. She handed me a large gift bag with necessary items in it. I thanked and wished her a Happy Birthday and waved to the group of friends down on the sidewalk. - More...
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
The Arctic Opens Up By Donald A. Moskowitz - The article "Icy Frontier" in the October 2013 Military Officer magazine outlines the need for the U.S. to become more involved in the Arctic region. - More....
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
Rain Gauge By Sheri Robertson -
It's incredible how much money Ketchikan individuals pay out for nonsense items and I believe this is one of them. Like paying $96,000.00 for a Rain Gauge, REALLY...????? - More...
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
Rain Gauge By Laura Plenert -
Perhaps the "$95,000.00 Rain Gauge debacle" will replace our spot on the map as the "bridge to nowhere" town. Nothing wrong with the old one. Thousands of people love it and have their pictures taken in front of. I'm betting they would continue to take their pictures in front of it. - More...
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
Rights of Persons with Disabilities By Debbie Nance - We’ve just celebrated Veterans Day where we honored men and women who fought to preserve freedom and the sovereignty of the United States. I am so thankful for what they do and have done.
It has come to my attention that our US Senators are considering passage of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and that both of our Alaska US Senators support the ratifying of this dangerous treaty. This treaty essentially threatens the sovereignty of the United States, one of the things that our Veterans fought hard for. This treaty would give the United Nations authority over US citizens. It would give the UN the right to make laws that would supersede US laws. - More...
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
The Philippines' Wild Wild West By Joey Garcia -
The recent rampaging typhoon, triple that of Katrina, name Yolanda within the Philippines area of responsibility,. or Haijan internationally, tested the 1,107 island group in their skills, not only with the present political scandal called the Pork Barrel Scam that up to the present, the Senate investigative arm called the Blue Ribbon Committee seemed helpless against a woman dubbed as the queen of this pork barrel scam operations, and the diplomatic covers of named 3 Senators and 12 members of Congress. - More...
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
Alexander Archipelago Wolves By Rebecca Noblin -
Thank you very much for your good story about our Alexander Archipelago wolf letter. I have one point of correction. You correctly note that we assert the wolf “is a unique Alaska subspecies of gray wolf.” But in the next paragraph you say, “Not everyone agrees that the Alexander Archipelago wolves are a unique species.” We are not arguing that they are a unique species, but a unique subspecies of the gray wolf. And as you go on to point out, the state of Alaska agrees that the Alexander Archipelago wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf. There is agreement all around on this point. - More...
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
Last U.S.lead processing smelter and Affordable Health Care Act By A. M. Johnson-
Recently a letter of concern regarding the eminent closing of the last U.S. lead processing plant due to overbearing EPA edicts was submitted to Representative Don Young requesting a response preferably by email as that is a requirement of the Representative's web site to facility submitting a letter to his attention. - More...
Saturday PM - November 16, 2013
The Skatepark is Happening! By Bob Fultz -
The Shane Howard White Memorial Skatepark is nearing completion. After years in the making, Ketchikan is about to become the proud owners of a 21st Century skatepark that meets the criteria of all skaters - skateboarders, inline skaters and scooters. Best of all, a 24/7 streaming web camera system will make use of the park totally transparent, available at any time—promoting safe and appropriate usage - accessible for your viewing pleasure by going to www.kyiyouth.org from the convenience of your computer or smart phone. Very nice huh! - More...
Wednesday AM - November 13, 2013
Thank you By Kathy Paulson -
I hiked the Carlanna Lake Trail this morning and was once again reminded how lucky we are to live here. Thank you to all involved in building and maintaining our trail system. I appreciate being able to hike so close to town. - More...
Wednesday AM - November 13, 2013
New Rain Gauge By D.A. Johnson -
I read with interest the plan to replace the rain gauge on the dock for $96,000.00. How a panel of local Arts people decided to hire some artist from somewhere overseas to paint it and erect it. Is this town INSANE? People talk about out of control spending on the Federal level, and it is right here in Ketchikan. - More...
Wednesday AM - November 13, 2013
Open Letter: Obamacare - NOT AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT - By Laura Plenert - I am a normal, average, healthy American/ Alaskan. I have paid for my own Health Insurance for the past 4 years as a conscience choice. It has gone up incrementally each year with NO changes in coverage. I CHOSE the plan, it suited me had everything I wanted/needed, it was affordable and it met my needs (I DO NOT NEED OR WANT PRENATAL OR CHILDBIRTH COVERAGE AND DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I WILL NEVER USE). - More...
Wednesday AM - November 13, 2013
RE: Affordable Care Act By Norm Noggle -
As we have seen, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act has been less than stellar. Yes, there are people who are going to pay more as the act stands now. Is that a good reason to throw out an entire law that has been voted on and approved by the Senate, House, and President. I don't think so. - More...
Wednesday AM - November 13, 2013
KTUU By Robert Finlay -
As a locum tenens practitioner, frequenting these communities, it has been only a negative experience I have had with GCI. They do not seem to play nicely with anybody. My AT&T iPhone doesn’t work due to greed, and despite paying dearly for the use of phone, and supposedly getting cable news, at least they did not replace KTUU with FOX NEWS. - More...
Wednesday AM - November 13, 2013
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