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Sunday - April 27, 2008
Veneer
Mill "Maintenance"? By Mary Lynne Dahl - Is
this the "maintenance" that Jerry Jenkins claimed to
be doing at the veneer mill site? It looks more like WWII to
me! Buildings have been stripped of their valuable components
and horrific piles of wasted lumber that could be given to the
community for wood stoves are laying around, in addition to whatever
else is in those piles. - More...
Sunday - April 27, 2008
Cha-Ching...
By Jackie Williams - The KGB needs new offices, and this is a
fact. The Reid Building is a health hazard, and this is a fact.
We the citizens are going to pay for it, and this is a fact.
- More...
Sunday - April 27, 2008
Gateway
By Ruth Bullock - As a former employee of Gateway Center for
Human Services, and a former Ketchikan resident, it saddens me
to hear of Gateway's apparent disintegration. It has been a couple
of years now since I worked there, and it sounds like things
have changed in that time. But I would like to comment on some
of what I was aware of during my employment at Gateway. - More...
Sunday - April 27, 2008
Getting rid of unwanted catalogs By MJ Cadle - I just want to share
with everyone website I have found invaluable in the last few
months in my efforts to cut down on the number of unwanted catalogs
I receive. - More...
Sunday - April 27, 2008
The Right Wing Conspiracy By Joel Galli - I've come to realize
that those on the right are, in fact, not stupid, as I previously
believed. - More...
Sunday - April 27, 2008
Friday - April 25, 2008
KPU
SALE AND LIQUIDATION By Pete Ellis - So who owns KPU? City
residents? KPU rate payers? Local government bureaucracies? How
much money are we talking about? -More...
Friday - April 25, 2008
Gateway
By Elisa Rossi Max - After reading a recent article about Gateway
Center for Human Services in which the clinicians were described
as people not doing their job, I feel compelled to respond. I
worked at Gateway from June 19, 2006 to April 4, 2008 as a Licensed
Clinical Psychologist. During that period, I was on-call at least
one week per month. The on-call days were not as the newspaper
indicated ( a full eight hour shift ), but instead were full
twenty-four hour shifts, beginning Friday at 5:00pm and ending
the following Friday at 5:00 pm for a total of one hundred sixty
eight hours. As clinical staff vanished, the on-call responsibilities
increased. In March 2008, I was on-call for fifteen days or three
hundred sixty hours due to clinician shortage! While on-call,
I could be awakened in the middle of the night and required to
go to the hospital to see a patient. I could not go out of cell
phone range since I had to be able to receive calls and go to
the hospital immediately. I could not go boating, fishing, or
hiking if it meant going out of phone range. I could not relax
when at a restaurant since I might have to leave suddenly. -
More...
Friday - April 25, 2008
Gateway
Board Plans Next Steps by Mike Youngblood - I read with disappointment
and dismay the article in the April 16th Ketchikan Daily News
concerning the status of and plans for Gateway Center for Human
Services. I feel I must respond to some of the points noted in
that article. - More...
Friday - April 25, 2008
Where are the energy answers By Mike Isaac - Thank you Mark Neckameyer
for pointing out what everyone else in the TV and print media
has not asked? What are their answers to the energy problems???
Not only is it affecting the price of food but the travel industry
is starting to take a big hit with airlines workers getting laid
off due to less people are traveling and rising fuel cost.The
cruise ship and hotel industry is also taking a hit. With all
that bad news I have heard very little about energy except for
John McCain on Sean Hannity's show state that drilling in ANWR
won't happen on his watch and the need to move away from oil
and invest in things like solar and wind power. The other two
people in the race have said little on this most important issue
but are big on change - More...
Friday - April 25, 2008
RE:
Bridge By Miles Kaste - Regarding Jerilyn Lester's letter,
can you give us some details about the "bridge maybe two"
that the "mainland is getting"? - More...
Friday - April 25, 2008
Thank you! By Stephanie Sherva - I want to say thank you
to the Walmart employees that spent Earth Day cleaning the road
along mile 4 on North Tongass highway. - More...
Friday - April 25, 2008
Thank you Schoenbar students! By Courtney Watts - I'd like to thank
all the Schoenbar students who helped clean up the garbage from
around the school, fields, city park, Park Avenue, bike path,
and along the creek. Your hard work on Earth Day really improved
the appearance and health of our area. We can now take pride
in our beautiful town especially along Ketchikan Creek. - More...
Friday - April 25, 2008
Wednesday - April 23, 2008
Special
Meetings??? By Robert D. Warner - Have any of you folks been
noticing how many "Special Meetings" have been called
recently by the Ketchikan City Council and the Gateway Borough
Assembly? It is my understanding that these "Special Meetings"
are held on the public dime and taxpayers pick up the tab. -
More...
Wednesday - April 23, 2008
Bridge
By Jerilyn Lester - Regarding Stephanie Scott's letter, here
is a really good reason. When the Airport was built on Gravina
Island instead of Revillagagedo Island we were promised a bridge
to get there and that was 30 years ago. The money was here for
the bridge until the down-southers and some from up here got
wind of it and the earmarks were taken off and Palin took it
and spent 199 million before the ink was dry to take the earmarks
off. How about the fact that the remaining 34 million was spent
on the mainland and didn't even fill a pothole here. -
More...
Wednesday - April 23, 2008
I
agree By Patsy Stokkeland - I agree 100% with Ken Lewis only
I would have put that news in big bold letters and published
said perps Picture on the front page. You better wake up and
realize that people who do these things usually escalate to something
worse as time goes by and I sure as heck don't want this person
around my grand children, or my animals. - More...
Wednesday - April 23, 2008
Why won't candidates debate energy
issues? By Mark Neckameyer
- Seems like every day crude oil prices hit another record. Every
day airfares go up due to fuel costs along with the price of
everything that has to be shipped. Food prices are soaring as
grains are being used to make ethanol ... A lot of good that
seems to do ... And there is no end in sight. The bad actors
in the Middle East and in Venezuela control crude oil supplies
and cutting consumption here in the US won't help as demand is
growing so fast in Russia, India and especially China. Combined,
the puplulations of those nations are eight or nine times our
population and they are busily industrializing and buying cars.
For all the talk the presidential candidates hammer away on in
ads and debates, with all their arcane, indistinguishable plans
for problems like health care, they don't touch the oil crisis
except to somehow blame the current administration. The solution
to all this seems so simple too. - More...
Wednesday - April 23, 2008
Monday PM - April 21, 2008
Shoencliff
#2 By Charles Edwardson - Whoever coined that phrase should
be commended for their astute observations. Most of us can just
about bet a six-pack that this coined phrase will come true.
The public expressed much of this same doubtful sentiment with
the other, less than successful endeavors the borough has undertaken
in the past six or seven years. The public expresses their concerns
and the assembly just goes about their business any way regardless
of public opinion. Their record should speak for itself. - More...
Monday PM - April 21, 2008
Knowledge
Is A Good Thing By Terri-Lee Gould - I have to disagree with
Mr. Johnson and Ms. Ortiz about the Ketchikan Daily News story
printed earlier last week on the front page of said newspaper.
In my opinion the Daily News provided a valuable community service
by alerting the community about this dangerous person. - More...
Monday - April 21, 2008
Empathy and a referral is in order By Cecelia Johnson - In regard to
the offensive "front page article" in KTN Daily News.
Although offensive, more importantly, is getting proper help
for this individual who has been identified as having a medical
problem in the weekend newspaper. - More..
Monday - April 21, 2008
Thank You By Melissa Jourdain - I just wanted to
thank your for publishing such a beautiful article about the
four men who lost their lives in the helicopter crash on Tuesday,
April 15th. Michael Seward was part of our family; he was my
husband Darin's best friend of nearly 30 years and Michael was
a part of every milestone in our lives. - More...
Monday - April 21, 2008
Bestiality
By Teri Holderman - I want to say how appalled and embarrassed
I am. The decision to publish the article on bestiality on the
front page of the paper was an extreme lack in judgment. - More...
Monday - April 21, 2008
Don't
need to air such dirty laundry By Michael Patrick Moyer -
Give us a break! I don't care how much anyone thinks it's needed
that we publicize decadent behavior in order to alert others
to its existence. When I went to pick up my daughters from ballet
they immediately asked me if I had read the paper that day. How
much crap are you willing to print in order to sell a paper?
- More...
Monday - April 21, 2008
Real
ID Act By Frank W. Turney - When it comes the the Senate
Bill (202) not to fund any money towards the so-called Real ID
Act of 2005 in Congress with no debate on our 4th amendment rights
and HJR19 resolution that passed the house 33-1 and SB 202 17-3,
the real KUDOS goes to the Ron Paul Coalition, Fairbanks/Northpole
and Delta. They really made the difference. Over 98 percent of
testimony, e-mails, phone calls POM came from Fairbanks. - More...
Monday - April 21, 2008
Thursday PM - April 17,
2008
New attitude and positive philosophy
needed By Billy Johnson
- Instead of building million dollar soccer fields and dreams
of moving to lower level competition . . . . maybe it's time
to bring in a younger, more hungry coaching staff and philosophy
to the Kayhi soccer program. - More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Schoencliff
Debacle #2 By Jackie Williams - Once again, we are being
offered the Schoencliff Center, or that is my opinion after reading
the Introduction in the proposal from Dawson Construction to
remodel the more than 75-year-old building. The mention of tenants;
of other groups or agencies that have invested much time and
energy, sounds just like Schoencliff Center. The collection of
property tax that makes it seem like KGB will have an offset
in costs, I believe will be paid by the KGB through rental fees
- More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Covenant
Players By George R. Pasley - A small troupe from Covenant
Players has been in Ketchikan this week and will be performing
at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday. -
More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Attitude makes a big difference By Jerry Cegelske - "Attitude
Makes The Difference!" I recently read a bumper sticker
on the side of a van that had that statement on it. - More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Shocking News By Ken Lewis - Being 8-year college credits
short of having a Masters Degree in aberrant behavior will not
prevent me from chiming in on the recent front page article regarding
animal husbandry? Or what ever higher educated folks call it!
- More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Bestiality
By A. M. Johnson - How often would it be that Al Johnson would
agree with Ms. Ortiz (Ketchikan Daily News, Lt to the editor-Bestiality
4/16/08)? My wife and I too, were dumbfounded that a family newspaper
would print tabloid crap at best, on not only the front page,
but continue the detail for several columns on interior pages.
This from a paper that proclaims anonymity for local police reports
involving charges far less than those on this case. Yet here
every available detail including the perp's name on such a distasteful
subject. - More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Gravina
Island Bridge By Stephanie Scott - I travel to Ketchikan
from time to time, so I was surprised to hear Mayor Weinstein
complain on the radio recently about how difficult it is for
elders and those with physical disabilities (he mentioned crutches
) to get to and from the airport in Ketchikan. I am surprised
that he doesn't know that you can drive your car to the airport
on Gravina Island, or that you can be picked up and driven -
thus avoiding lugging luggage and oneself up or down all those
airport ramps and steps. Ketchikan has good cab, bus, and airport
shuttle service. It has an excellent airport ferry. It has a
superb water taxi. Gosh, if you are a passenger, and if you do
not live on one of those Ketchikan "roads" that are
really walkways, you can actually board a vehicle at your home
and stay seated until it's time to step into the lobby of the
airport. - More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Thank
You By Shannon Nelson - I would also like to thank Angie
Olson for the Easter Egg Hunt at Ward Lake. I am sorry I missed
it but saw the pictures and I am looking forward to next year's
hunt with my grandson. -- More...
Thursday PM - April 17, 2008
Monday PM - April 14, 2008
Helen Finney, my friend By Julie Kay Smithson - Helen Finney.
Even her name evokes a smile and always the memory of those sparkling
blue eyes. This vibrant and special woman was my friend. - More...
Monday PM - April 14, 2008
Streets are not safe for roaming animals By Kimberly Morton - I am writing
today to express my frustration in seeing dogs get hit outside
of my work. In the last month I have or others have witnessed
three dogs get hit by cars by Deermount and Tongass Ave. I was
driving down today when a black lab and another mix ran right
out into the street and hit a car. The car of course slowed down
but the dog ran away, and the car drove off. It amazes me the
lack of concern for the welfare of these dogs. Hopefully the
car that hit the dog called animal control, I know I did as soon
as I got back into the office. - More...
Monday PM - April 14, 2008
More Hillary Clinton Tall Tales By Mark Neckameyer - This weekend
Senator Clinton, in a bid to differentiate herself from supposedly
elitist Senator Obama who had dissed small town folks during
a San Francisco fundraiser last week, told a story about her
Dad taking her to her Grandpa's house to shoot guns, target practice
after church. She made herself sound like a a cross between Billy
Graham's daughter and Annie Oakley. What comes next? We find
out she didn't have a Grandfather? She wouldn't answer press
questions today about when she last fired a gun OR went to church.
Hillary certainly has been a major anti-gun person most of her
public life. She enthusiastically supported aggressive gun control
lobbying against firearm manufacturers throughout her husband's
term in the White House so when the conversion? Didn't she obviously
do this just for the sake of, to hoodwink blue collar voters
in Indiana and Pennsylvania? - More...
Monday PM - April 14, 2008
Saturday - April 12, 2008
Unique Opportunity By Cathy LeCompte - It struck me recently
that our municipalities and elected officials of Ketchikan are
presented with a unique opportunity to collaborate with two organizations
who are working tirelessly in their endeavors to make Ketchikan
a better place. I have had the chance to observe both groups
and I have never seen, in my fifteen years of working with non
profit organizations, two grassroots efforts that are so focused
and well thought out. - More...
Saturday - April 12, 2008
Alaskans should not be penalized for
stimulating economic growth
By Governor Sarah Palin - With just a few days left in the 25th
Alaska Legislature, the final actions taken by lawmakers will
have a major impact on Alaska and Alaskans. HB 111, a critical
bill which would lower the Business License Fee, is currently
stalled. - More...
Saturday - April 12, 2008
Thank you By Dawn Uttke - Thanks to all who have made
donations for Jeremy Raymond. He is still at Harborview, and
the recovery process is going well. We may see his smiling face
back in town within the next 6 weeks. - More...
Saturday - April 12, 2008
WMD's in Iraq By Charlotte Tanner - My conspiracy theory for
the missing WMD's in Iraq is that the United States tried to
"plant" them and failed. - More...
Saturday - April 12, 2008
Wednesday PM - April 09,
2008
Thank You By Tessa Hammoms - I would like to say a huge
Thank You to the lady who took our dog 'Charlie" to the
vet, after he was hit by a car on Saturday, April 5th. During
all the chaos and tears, we never did get her name, as she was
leaving as we arrived. - More...
Wednesday PM - April 09, 2008
Care for Ketchikan's Elders By Eileen Small -I truly enjoyed Shannon
Guthrie's response. I believe that she is a caring provider.
I agree with her comparison to buying a dozen eggs --- yet what
we all must remember is that some of our elderly COULD NOT BUY
A DOZEN EGGS without help. For instance my Mom cannot see or
hear --- go figure. Mom has worked her entire life. She was never
"on the dole". She did NOT have 8 kids by 7 men and
collect government compensation for her bad behavior. She was
a "Rosy the Riveter" during the war. After that she
did well in the real estate and insurance businesses. - More...
Wednesday PM - April 09, 2008
Snow and the Roads By Sean "Sully" Sullivan
- The whole time I lived in K-Town, I hated winter the most.
Not because of the snow but because of the drivers in the snow.
- More...
Wednesday PM - April 09, 2008
Where are Iraqi's WMDs? By Ken Solch - There is, if anyone
would care to research it, much info to show that Iraq's WMDs
were moved just before we attacked to Syria and the Bekka Valley
in Lebanon. There are maps online showing the several sites that
they were transferred to back then. The Russian special forces
- Spetsnaz - did this with the help and complicity of Saddam's
regime and his close allies in Syria. - More...
Wednesday PM - April 09, 2008
Tuesday PM - April 08, 2008
Re: Quality Care By Shannon Guthrie - I completely agree with
the overall direction that Eileen Stated in the "Quality
of Care for Elders". Being a Care provider myself, and having
worked with the elderly for over a year, I think that it is not
only important for Care providers to being competent of the job
they are hired to do, but also compassionate and caring for the
person/people they work with. This is what most people who enter
the Health Care Field are aware of when they make the decision
to become whichever profession they choose. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 08, 2008
Egg Hunt clean up By Angie Olson - There were about 7 of us that
went around that day to pick up the garbage. I'm sure much was
missed, but have gone back twice twice then. It may take some
time, but we will be continuing our clean up efforts until the
job is complete. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 08, 2008
Egg Hunt By Jim Lewis - I would like to thank the people
who put the Sunday Easter Egg hunt together. Thank you. Even
though I didn't have any children there it was a joy to view
with beautiful weather. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 08, 2008
Why is anyone a Democrat? By Mark Neckameyer - Every death of
a valiant American soldier is a terrible tragedy. Irregardless
of the ranting of Liberal Democrats who want us to surrender
in Iraq now (at least that is what they say in the "I am
more of a dove than you" Democrat Presidential Primaries!)
it is important to keep things in perspective while remembering
that freedom is not free. There were 39 combat related killings
in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit alone there were
35 murders in the month of January. Detroit is just one American
city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq
. Have you read lately about the adventures of Detroit's Democrat
mayor? Freedom is never free. In World War 2 from 1941-1945,
450,000 American lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year.
Over the past 5 years the war on terror has claimed around 750
American lives per year, trending down now and remember, when
the Muslim terrorists bombed New York on 9/11, 3,000 innocent
lives were lost in just one business center. They have their
evil eyes on lots more of our buildings but they have not been
successful even once in the past six years. Thank you George
W. Bush! - More...
Tuesday PM - April 08, 2008
Monday - April 07, 2008
Let's make use of the veneer mill scrap
logs By Margaret Cloud
- There are some large piles of logs at the veneer mill that
are not usable for veneer. Some of these logs have already been
sold or given away for fire wood. This wood is really the community's
wood as it is our money that has been used for years at the site.
- More...
Monday - April 07, 2008
Easter Egg Hunt By Charlotte L. Glover - I know firsthand how
much work go into making successful public events and I am glad
that everyone enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt at Ward Lake coordinated
by Angie Olson, but I have to express my disappointment at the
mess that was left behind. - More...
Monday - April 07, 2008
Thursday - April 03, 2008
Quality of Care for Elders By Eileen Small - This is an interesting
topic and one that I have some experience with. My mom is 95
-- nearly deaf and blind and unable to walk very far or on her
own. She has a Medicaid waver and since she signed up with Community
Connections she is getting her respite care through them. It
is important to understand that a "not for profit"
organization is simply a tax status -- it does not mean that
they are not billing for everything they do, billing highly and
making a profit. - More...
Thursday - April 03, 2008
Refuge Cove By Mark Hanzlik - Thank you Leslie Engler for
cleaning up Refuge Cove. The broken glass on all the local beaches
has bothered me for quite a while, but it always seemed like
there was too much of it to bother trying to clean up. - More...
Thursday - April 03, 2008
Egg Hunt at Ward Lake By Joey Tillson - I just want
to express my gratitude for the Egg Hunt at Ward Lake this year.
Both my older and younger daughter enjoyed themselves and the
weather could not have been better (except maybe a bit warmer).
I want to thank everyone who made this possible so we could have
a memorable Easter with the community and nature! - More...
Thursday - April 03, 2008
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
KVRS Rocks! By Melissa Ausman -On Sunday March 23, around
dinner time, a young girl went missing in the woods behind Bear
Valley. This area leads to mile after mile of dense dark forested
land. She had played behind the house for years, without ever
a problem. Not this night. After looking and calling for her
to no avail, her dad called the State Troopers and Ketchikan
Volunteer Rescue Squad. When I came upon the scene, it was scary.
A great deal of people had gathered, walkie talkies and flashlights
in hand. Search dog ready to roll. They were all gathered around
the KVRS mobile unit. It's a large panel type van, filled with
computers, gps systems and more. On top of this van is mounted
two large poles with bright bright lights on top. People were
searching under cars, between houses, before getting their search
instructions and heading off into the woods. Every minute seemed
so long. After several hours, YEAH!! she was found, safe and
sound, although cold and scared she put up a brave front. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
Bristol Bay is burned out By Cindy Roque - When a lightbulb
is burned out in our homes, we change it - and things are bright
once again. I'm afraid some of the brightness of Bristol Bay
has burned out and it's all in the face of the economic &
energy crisis that has silently sneaked up upon us and is holding
us captive. Our communities are blowing away in the cold wind
around us as life long residents of Bristol Bay are migrating
out of the Bay. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
Alaska Marine Highway By Elma Schiel - Our family of eight
(included three generations) visited Alaska in May-June of 2003.
We traveled by plane, train and ferry. We had a fantastic experience
and hope someday to be able to return. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
Seward's Purchase of Alaska By Rudy McGillvray - I just love correcting
writers. The "Purchase of Alaska" was NOT for the territory
itself. Russia didn't OWN Alaska: what they sold was "Rights
of Governance" to the United States, and no one, except
an educated few understand that point. What Russia had in Alaska
was colonies, (some of them stil exist today), and she sold us
the right to govern those colonies for the 7.2 million dollars
the U.S. paid for them. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
Federal Building By Barbara Morgan - I am glad that the Federal
Building is going to be painted again as it now looks like a
spawned out salmon. However, I do not really like either the
original white or salmon pink options. -
More...
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
Teens & Alcohol By Brenda (Zwieg) Benson - This
is about my nephew -- a good kid from a good family that made
a bad decision one night. We are also parents and are involved
through Girl Scouts and other oraganizations with kids in our
own community. We would like his story to be a learning tool
so other teens will think twice before drinking. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
RE: Various Medical Economics Responses By Joel Galli - I'm glad to see
there are those out there with a pulse and who actually care
about some of the real issues in the upcoming elections and I'm
pleased to be a part of the healthy debate here on SitNews. If
you missed the premise of this response, I encourage you to read
Mr. Harmon's and Mr. Neckameyer's March 15 opinion responses
to one I wrote not long ago regarding universal health care.
The scope of issues has since grown and I will now respond to
all of the items raised by these two gentlemen. - More...
Tuesday PM - April 01, 2008
Sunday - March 30, 2008
Ketchikan Youth Initiative Scores Big! By Nancy Coggins - When recently talking
on the phone with an older female family friend in North Carolina,
she was complaining about the teenagers who are into drugs and
other destructive behavioral activities. So I told her about
the Ketchikan Youth Initiative (KYI) and its goal to renovate
a vacant building [the Water Warehouse (WW)] to benefit teenagers.
In this plan, the teenagers would be its leaders, and we adults,
their mentors. Our aim, I explained, is to provide a safe place
for teenagers not only to hang out but also to get a chance to
run a small business like an ice cream or a gift shop. The whole
idea gave her a lot of hope for America's teenagers. - More...
Sunday - March 30, 2008
Squeezin' out a big bucket o' savings By Sen. Kim Elton - As we begin, I
agree it is not irrational to believe giving a lot of money to
politicians is like giving a credit card to your teen before
they head to Vegas on a class trip. - More...
Sunday - March 30, 2008
School budget process By Charles Edwardson - I guess my
last rambling letter missed the mark appealing to the public
to attend and comment on the Ketchikan school budget process.
Only one guy commented and apparently the budget is perfect so
none of us has any room to complain. Good job school board and
borough budget committee. You have passed a perfect budget that
needs no public comment or participation. The public trusts you
completely and has no qualms about how things are running. Microsoft
could take some pointers from this budget committee and the school
board. - More...
Sunday - March 30, 2008
Thursday PM - March 27,
2008
March for Babies By Janie Odgers - The March of Dimes March for
Babies (WalkAmerica) has taken Ketchikan by storm! Over a long
weekend ladies from around Ketchikan gathered at the Ted Ferry
Civic Center for the annual Scrap-A-Thon organized by Heather
Borch. They raised $3,520.00! - More...
Thursday PM - March 27, 2008
Bridge, No Bridge By Angela Garton - I just wanted to say a brief
thank you to Dan Williams for expressing so clearly some common
sense about that bridge. I have lived in Ketchikan for 22 out
of my 23 years. My dad worked at the airport for many years so
I spent quite a bit of time traveling on the ferries back and
forth to visit dad's work. - More...
Thursday PM - March 27, 2008
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2008
School budget process By Charles Edwardson - I am afraid
this letter will be too late for the budget comment period for
the district on March 26, 2008, never the less I urge the people
who have time to participate in this process to express your
opinions. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2008
Rev. Wright's viewpoint of America
is wrong By Patty Alsup
- I consider Rev.Wright's speech just a speech & not a sermon.
The speech did not address religious ideals it appears to promote
only hate for white people & for America. If this is the
type of speeches he promotes then it is no wonder the African
American population can not forget Slavery or Racism! People
need to remember that Slavery is an unfortunate history. But
that is what it is .. "History"! A War was fought to
also abolish Slavery... Slavery is not now. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2008
Hillary's wild stories and ... Lies!
By Mark Neckameyer
- The crazy stories Hillary has been telling make no sense. We
all have seen people with no "resume" make up tales
of war heroism or athletic accomplishments but Hillary has had
a stellar career; top corporate attorney, First Lady, U.S. Senator
and more. So why the crazy tales? Here are a few examples; -
More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2008
Monday PM - March 24, 2008
Thank you Ketchikan! By Angie Olson - I am so proud to
call Ketchikan my home! My friends and I decided to put together
a community Easter egg hunt out at Ward Lake, the support we
received was amazing!! - More...
Monday PM - March 24, 2008
The Bridge By Chuck Saunders - The first time I ever heard
of "the bridge" was when it hit national news due to
the cost. Having visited Ketchikan several times now, I think
I understand the need for "the bridge". -
More...
Monday PM - March 24, 2008
Saturday - March 22, 2008
Behavioral Health Services By Camielle Call - I am the most recent
director of Gateway Center for Human Services, having tendered
my resignation on or about March 1 of this year. It is important
for me to clarify some issues associated with this position and
with recent SitNews letters and the Ketchikan Daily News of March
8 - 9. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2008
Infestation of Local Faith Groups By George Miller - There a several
local churches downtown who could be listed as part of the 'infestation
of non-profits' -- at least in the eyes of those who might belittle
faith along with everything else. It is a proven fact, practiced
by even the faithless rich, that generosity brings financial
health -- and that the opposite is also true. Those who support
groups that are doing good for our community are doing themselves
a favor. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2008
Petition to the MIC Council to apply Due Process By Steven G.
Booth - A Petition to the MIC Council to apply Due Process
states: We, the undersigned Members of the Metlakatla Indian
Community (MIC), do hereby in signing this petition affirm that
every Member should have a basic right to due process of MIC
laws and procedures when faced with charges against us in MIC
remedial forums. When MIC Council violated Mayor John A. Scudero,
Jr. s due process rights on February 6, 2008, the Council set
(or continued to set) a precedent for the type of treatment any
Member can expect at all MIC remedial forums, including tribal
government. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2008
Non-Profits By Debra Pomeroy-Dundas - In response to Jay
Jones' letter, I also have to protest with Ms. Antonsen! Not
only is this non-profit agency, Community Connections, an asset
to Ketchikan and the many people they help, they are part of
the out lined communities, providing respite care and PCA services!
They also employee people in other communities. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2008
The Bridge By Forrest Mackie - I had a thought outside
the box! I heard it said once that it would be cheaper to build
an airport on this side that we could drive to than build a bridge.
- More...
Saturday - March 22, 2008
Stimulus Loan By Judith Green - Thank you, RK Rice, for
your thoughts about the Stimulus Loan which is being offered
to citizens by our Federal Government. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2008
Wednesday - March 19, 2008
Bridge, No Bridge By Dan Williams - This was quite entertaining
reading about the bridges here in Alaska. Now it is quite OLD.
People, the bridge is not going to happen, Governor Palin axed
that idea. The bridge is old news. Some complain about the ferry
to the airport and having to wait, and then brining in the emergency
vehicles having to wait. This I know for fact that the ferry
will break the schedule for emergency vehicles. - More...
Wednesday - March 19, 2008
Proposal to relocate the Ketchikan
Borough Offices to the Plaza
By Robert Nedzwecky, Jerry Pierce, Dave Filyaw - We are
writing to express our support of Ketchikan Plaza LLC's proposal
to relocate the Ketchikan Borough Offices to the Plaza for the
following reasons: - More...
Wednesday - March 19, 2008
Non-profits By Beth Antonsen - Jay Jones' letter caught
my attention because it brought up the revolving door at Gateway
Human Services. Having worked at Gateway I felt I should respond
and did. When I got to the end of Jones' letter I was taken aback
by his statement about downtown Ketchikan being infested with
non-profits. The main non-profits that I know about downtown
are Community Connections and the Arts Council. I must protest
his lumping those beloved agencies in with rats and roaches.
- More...
Wednesday - March 19, 2008
Why you love Alaska! By Maria Hite - Hi! My name is Maria
Hite. I am in the 7th grade at Queen of Peace School in Mishawaka,
Indiana. I am doing a report on a state. I chose Alaska. - More...
Wednesday - March 19, 2008
Monday PM - March 17, 2008
Gateway Human Services' Revolving Door By Beth Antonsen - There has been
a huge turnover in directors at Ketchikan Gateway Human Services
and the services there are very important. There are several
unsung heroes at Gateway and for the most part it is a tough
job working there. Dealing with people and their plethora of
problems can be very draining. I am speaking as an 8 year employee
at Gateway. My job was phased out 6 years ago. The rewards where
getting to help people and see them achieve positive goals in
their lives. - More...
Monday PM - March 17, 2008
STIMULUS LOAN By R.K. Rice - Our household has received our
first application for our "stimulus payment" from the
IRS. This year the federal deficit is projected to be only $163
billion. So far this decade the total deficit is over 1 trillion
dollars. That is money that we borrow from various lenders around
the world and largely the Chinese. The taxpayers pay the interest
on these loans. As we are currently in a deficit spending year,
this means we must borrow the $180 billion or so that the federal
government is sending out to placate the US taxpayers. - More...
Monday PM - March 17, 2008
Kink Arm Bridge By Jerilyn Lester - Your loyalty is admirable
for someone here for such a short time. What do you think a bridge
to and across the two islands next to Ketchikan would do? It
would allow us to get to and from our airport without having
to wait for the ferry; it would allow us to access land and development
on Gravina Island and Pennock Island as well. I do know that
some think we don't need to develop that land and some think
the only reason for this bridge is to make sure that the former
Governor can get to his land, but 30 years ago we were promised
the bridge to allow us to get to our airport, Ketchikan International
Airport, to be more precise. - More...
Monday PM - March 17, 2007
Saturday PM - March 15,
2008
Ketchikan Mental Health Services By Carol Alley - Our silence as a
community regarding the lack of adequate mental health and substance
abuse services is deafening. Those most in need likely lack the
ability to voice this concern for themselves. Those providing
services in our community, and the ancillary staff working with
them, find themselves overworked and under-appreciated. - More...
Saturday PM - March 15, 2008
Why is there high a turnover for Director
at Gateway Human Services?
By Jay Jones - Hey "Fourth Estate", why is there such
a high turnover for Director at Gateway Human Services. As taxpayers,
we are the bosses, we ought to know the facts. And what has been
the average weekly client count at the city-run treatment center
since the first of the year? And what do they pay a counselor
with a bachelor's degree? I guess if I want questions asked or
answered I'll have to ask the City Manager or City Council myself.
- More...
Saturday PM - March 15, 2008
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad &
HB 320 By Jerry L.
Kiffer - The search and rescue community received some good
news this week with the passage of HB 320 through the State House
the bill has been sent on to the Senate for their approval..
For those who may be unfamiliar with this legislation HB 320
will fill a dire need to support our search and rescue volunteers
if they are injured during the training missions necessary to
participate in search and rescue activity. As with much of the
State the volunteer professionals working for the Ketchikan Volunteer
Rescue Squad are not paid for their service, nor are they compensated
for their participation in training missions to keep their skills
honed. - More...
Saturday PM - March 15, 2008
Thank You Tom Fisher By Shaun Haseltine - Thank you to Mr.
Fisher, I was glad and surprised to see a Ketchikan resident
say publicly that the commercial fishing industry is alive and
very much healthy. - More...
Saturday PM - March 15, 2008
Kink Arm Bridge By Ken Hudson - I don't know about Ketchikan
but I do know about Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough. Both of
these areas are still growing even in a slowing economy, few
areas still are. A bridge across the Knik Arm would open up new
land to relieve Anchorages land shortage, stimulate the economy
in the area and provide an alternate route to the Mat-Su. - More...
Saturday PM - March 15, 2008
Medical delivery systems By Mark Neckameyer - I respect Joel
Galli's intelligent comparison of Medical systems in the USA
and in Germany but Joe, have you been in or done business in
Germany lately? Until very recently I was there every three months.
Their tax rate is HUGE. The sales tax (VAT) is 19%. The price
of gasoline is double our high price and most of that is tax.
Income taxes are much higher and are more pervasive. I believe
you pay a tax on each and every TV you have in your home for
instance. The cost of manufacturing anything in Germany is so
much higher than about anywhere else that even the highly intelligent
and educated people of that much smaller nation, are suffering
economically and their factory jobs are leaving for China and
points east even faster than ours. -
More...
Saturday PM - March 15, 2008
In Praise of Nazi Medical Economics?
By Bob Harmon - I
can't believe I just read Mr. Galli's story praising the way
Germans save money to provide for better citizen medical care.
Mr. Galli even mentions the 1930s in his letter. I am just a
retired High School teacher but the way I remember it is the
Germans gassed and cooked all or most of their disabled, retarded
and even Gay citizens along with millions of Jews and Gypsies
and Slavs and others. Maybe they have racially purified their
genetics now so they can spend less on medicine? Sitnews is to
be applauded for putting something like this out so we can all
see how some people feel about sensitive issues. - More...
Saturday PM - March 15, 2008
Wednesday AM - March 12,
2008
Veneer Mill Shut Down By Mary Lynn Dahl - The veneer mill
operated by Renaissance Ketchikan Group, LLC, a corporation owned
by Jerry Jenkins, is now delinquent on more than $100,000 in
property taxes. Tax delinquency normally results in foreclosure,
unless all back taxes and penalties are paid. That seems unlikely,
since the mill has shut down several times and is currently shut
down yet again. Most of the mill employees have been laid off,
unfortunately. - More...
Wednesday AM - March 12, 2008
Community's Youth By Judith Green - In response to these notes
about Our Community's Youth, let us not forget that there are
other activities besides sports that attract our youth, from
preschool through high school years; and even continue on through
adult years. That would be the Arts; my specialty being M U S
I C. - More...
Wednesday AM - March 12, 2008
Clean Elections Works By Eric Ehst - The letter published
Thursday attacking the working of the Clean Elections system
of public campaign financing in Arizona does not present a true
picture of the results. The referenced report from which the
examples are taken uses cherry picked and distorted data to support
a preordained and biased conclusion. - More...
Wednesday AM - March 12, 2008
Sunday - March 09, 2008
RE: Community's youth By Tyrell Rettke - This letter
is in response to Eileen Small's letter recently (3/6 I believe)
posted here on Sitnews. I have seen and heard the same frustration
that she is presenting from many other people, as well as felt
it myself. The old mantras that we like to throw out there (but
which I will refrain from using) are tired and really don't help
in these cases. What is needed is action. - More...
Sunday - March 09, 2008
RE: Democrat Veep Remarks By Joel Galli - Well, I really hate
to interject myself into the seemingly private banter on the
issue of the Democratic VP, but I feel I must address Mr. Neckameyer's
very typical conservative responses to Liberal policies. - More...
Sunday - March 09, 2008
RE: Real America By David Ferrall - Just to let you know Mr.
Harmon, I was born and raised in Ketchikan AK, ( 20+ years in
SE Alaska). I also lived in Southern California for 6 years,
and I'm very familiar with Mr. Neckameyer's neck of the woods,
Orange County or land of the "Duke" as you seem to
fawn all over it. I've also lived in other parts of this great
country so I'm not sure if I could call myself a real "Brooklynite"
but I do live in New York City. - More...
Sunday - March 09, 2008
Thursday PM - March 06,
2008
Bridge
By Stephen Smeltzer - I see some folks have not given up
on a bridge. The reason Juneau and Sitka didn't have a problem
with a bridge, was because they don't have an international waterway
running between Revilla and Gravina. Also they connected to DEVELOPED
communities, or to an out of the way airport. How many airplanes
do you think will end up being "caught" by this bridge,
or how many tugs with tows will get hung up on this bridge? Seems
this has happened in San Francisco, when a huge ship side swiped
one of the Golden Gate bridge supports. - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Dead Humpies
By Aan Kadax Tseen
aka Don Hoff Jr. - There is nothing like beating a dead humpy
to death. There is not going to be a bridge to nowhere in Ketchikan,
Alaska, move on with more important problems in Ketchikan. There
are only 50 or so people that live on Gravina Island. Open more
land for whom? Build a bridge on speculation? That is insane.
- More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Tribute to a Great Lady, Helen Finney By Phyllis Yetka Hobson - Thank you
Mr. Kiffer for the lovely thoughts of a lovely lady. Helen Finney
was indeed the "Grand Dame" of Ketchikan. She was also
one of my role models. - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Annette Island Expansion By Philip Doherty - The United Fishermen
of Alaska are opposing any expansion of the waters and fishing
rights around Annette Island. UFA has just sent this letter to
the Department of the Interior: - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Community's youth By Eileen Small - I am so glad my kids are grown
and graduated!!! I shipped my final "baby" home to
college in Houston this past year. I dealt with all these same
problems: what to do with young adults in a boring climate, Kay-Hi
and the total fiasco that Revilla has become, all the "same-old-same-old"
for YEARS. Personally, I never found anyone in a position to
make a solution who actually gave a damn - from mayors to school
board and so on. I don't really see that anyone elected in this
town cares --- though it does look nice to say you do on a campaign
poster when one is running for a position in local government,
huh?!!! - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Helen Finney By Jill Lukin - I am saddened to hear of Helen's
passing, I met Helen years ago while I had my hair salon in Ketchikan.
I always looked forward to Helen's next perm or haircut at the
Salon to just get caught up on everyday events... and where she
was off to on a new adventure. - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Ketchikan school budget By Charles Edwardson - I received
some very good feedback from my last letter, on the school activities
budget. I was encouraged to approach the borough assembly and
the budget committee and present my thoughts. - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Bridge that won't Quit By Charlotte Tanner - All you
people comparing this bridge from Revilla to Gravina, to bridges
such as the Golden Gate Bridge are ridiculous. When a person
drives across the Golden Gate Bridge that person can keep on
driving, all the way up to Alaska if they choose to do so. Now
if you drive across a Bridge to Gravina I guess someday you may
get farther than ex Governor Murkowski's property, and over to
Clarence Strait, but that will take awhile. - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Celebrating By Mark Neckameyer - I was just now watching
TV showing "citizens" of Palestine romping and cheering
in the streets, firing guns in the air celebrating that two of
their extremist, going to heaven to get virgins, gunmen killed
seven defenseless Israeli students. I know that not all extremists
are Muslim but it sure seems like all Muslim nations, the adult
men there anyway, can certainly be classed "extremist".
- More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Governor's May baby By John Suter - In a couple of months
Governor Palin will have a baby girl. I understand that she is
going to name her daughter Lyda Green Palin. With this act she
will ask, now, can we all get along? - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Dog Park Needed By Kimberly Morton - My boyfriend and I have
a pit bull and a pit bull mix in town. We love taking the dogs
out to D1 loop and the beach by our house for the dogs to run.
We spoil our dogs and they go to work with my boyfriend every
day and are two of the most socialized dogs in town because we
take them everywhere. The one problem I have found though is
there is no "dog park" in Ketchikan. - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Clean Election Law By Megan Kearl - In a letter published
March 3, Representative Gabrielle LeDoux voiced her support for
a "Clean Election Law" for Alaska, stating that it
could give candidates more time to discuss policy, free candidates
from the constraints of money-driven elections, prevent candidates
from becoming "indentured to special interest groups"
who give contributions, and help "worthy" candidates
enter the election process who wouldn't otherwise have the funding.
While these are admirable goals, Alaskans will likely be disappointed
with the actual results of Clean Elections. - More...
Thursday PM - March 06, 2008
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
KETCHIKAN'S SMALL BOAT HARBORS By Bill Tatsuda - Tom Fisher's viewpoint
in Sitnews on February 27, 2008 touched on some important issues
concerning Ketchikan's small boat harbors. Now that the State
of Alaska is no longer responsible for small boat harbors, what
are we doing to develop and preserve our harbors? After the State's
deferred harbor maintenance funds have been spent, how are we
going to perform effective routine maintenance and put aside
funds for major repairs and future improvements? We are facing
a new paradigm, because we are now supposed to be responsible
for our harbors. It can no longer be business as usual at the
Harbor Department. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
Magnitude of Ketchikan's education
budget issues By DeAnn
Turner - I wanted to provide Mr. Edwardson with some additional
information regarding the KGBSD budget he commented on after
the article in the KDN's. I participated in the KGBSD budget
sessions. There were several notices in the newspaper announcing
the dates the budget sessions were to be held and that they were
open to the public. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
Re: Ketchikan School Board: Come on
guys! By Dave Lieben
- Having served on the School Board for three years, I came to
accept that we were often blamed for everything that happened
in the school district, whether we had anything to do with it
or not. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
Exxon should accept responsibility By Louise Clark - When a huge corporation
such as Exxon has the audacity to show such reckless disregard
for our beautiful state, the people the environment, and the
wildlife it is my firm belief that, that corporation must be
banned from doing any kind of business in this state ever again.
If that is not possible they should be banished for a minimum
of 50 years and then they must show good faith of their responsibility
before being allowed back again. After all they are not the only
oil company around, furthermore, I think all the people in the
United States should band together and demand corporate responsibility
for their actions because an oil spill is not the only disaster
that can happen and Exxon is trying to set an example whereby
a large corporation is not responsible no matter what they do.
- More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
RE: Oil rich Alaskans struggle to heat
homes By Mike Isaac
- Melissa O'Bryan nailed it! In two short paragraphs Ms. O'Bryan
said so much about the direction the Republican party is going
and the self serving people that have taken it over. Heating
oil (diesel fuel) and crude oil prices are all going up and a
check from the government won't change that but might help the
senator get re-elected. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
Bridge definitely needed By Sandra V. Browne - I fully agree
the bridge is definitely needed. Mr. Hoff was not here the night
that all the emergency equipment was called to the airport and
had to sit on this side and wait for the airport ferry because
it wasn't on our side. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
Build the Bridge! By Vanessa Nowland - I've read all the opinions
about a bridge being built in Ketchikan, and boy are there a
lot of them! I have a few questions for the people out there
that are so against it and refer to our bridge as the "Bridge
to Nowhere" - More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
Helen Finney By Nellie Cleveland - For all of my life, I
will consider myself and everyone who knew her to have had our
lives been made more magical by Helen Finney. She was a friend
indeed! - More...
Tuesday PM - March 04, 2008
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
DOTPF dances out fantastic statistics By Sen. Kim Elton - The Department
of Transportation and Public Facilities is losing street cred
faster than Idaho Senator Larry Craig. - More...
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
Oil Rich Alaskans Struggle to Heat
Homes By Melissa O'Bryan
- It's refreshing to see how Alaskans are depicted in the media.
This is a copy of a letter I sent to Senator Tom Wagoner, Kenai
regarding his comments in an AP article. - More...
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
Clean Elections By Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux - A Clean Election
Law should be the linchpin of a new political climate in Alaska.
We have weathered the storms of indictments, public distrust,
and scandals. We have enacted comprehensive ethics reforms; are
scrutinizing conflicts of interest in regards to who can vote
and when; and even modified fund raising practices during session.
- More...
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
ALL NATIVE CHAMPIONS By Marcia Brendible - The MAC Intermediates
Are Intermediate Division ALL NATIVE CHAMPIONS! 5 games 5 wins!
- More...
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
Ketchikan School Board: Come on guys! By Charles Edwardson - I
am writing to offer positive criticism again; I would like to
see it as positive criticism. In my experience though this is
virtually a non existent concept with all I have criticized.
Whether it is the city council, borough assembly, KIC board,
or now the Ketchikan school board. - More...
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
Thanks
By Marie- Jeanne Cadle - I want to say thanks to Deb & Hunter
Davis for paying to neuter the dog I am fostering (He's adoptable
- see SitNews classifieds). It's not cheap to care for and get
shots, medical attention, etc for dogs you don't own and their
financial asistance is greatly appreciated! - More...
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
Democrat Veep Remarks By Mark Neckameyer - Ketchikan resident
Noam Ploomb wonders if I will address his critique of my tongue
in cheek recommendation of Fidel Castro to be the Democrat Veep
and so I will. First of, it was clearly "tongue in cheek"
as to be Vice President you have to be native born but I think
I do have some logic and experience to share so here goes; -
More...
Monday AM - March 03, 2008
Sunday PM - March 02, 2008
Bridge needed By Forrest Mackie - Don Hoff is my friend, but
why does live in Tennessee and tell us what we need and don't
need. We do need the bridge for our future expansion and to move
into the future. I don't think that Gravina is the proper place
for the hardlink though. I don't remember Juneau or Sitka having
this much trouble getting their bridge. - More...
Sunday PM - March 02, 2008
Higher moorage rates By Peg Travis - AMEN! Tom Fisher.
We agree, higher moorage rates and less maintenance on harbor
facilities, so where is the money going? - More..
Sunday PM - March 02, 2008
Memories of Helen Finney By Lynne Miller - Sweet memories of
Helen permeate my kitchen here oh so many miles away from Ketchikan.
I see Helen Finney's smiling face in that beautiful picture next
to the notice of her passing published in the Ketchikan Daily
News and I smile at all the sweet memories of times we shared
together. - More...
Sunday PM - March 02, 2008
VP Candidate Suggestion By Robert D. Warner - The recent
suggestion for a Democratic Vice Presidential candidate by Mark
Neckameyer could likely be a significant improvement over the
current ticket of Bush and Cheney, but who wouldn't be? My feeling
is that historians will rate Bush and Cheney at the bottom of
the list of respected administrations and certainly below the
rankings of Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge. - More...
Sunday PM - March 02, 2008
"Thinking about the real America" By Bob Harmon - I am a retired Alaska
school teacher but I have lived and visited and vacationed around
our great nation and I wonder about Mr Ferrall's "Brooklyn"
being the "real America". It is a dank, brokendown
city populated from what I saw by new immigrants who move out
to Long Island, New York, California or Florida as soon as they
learn English and learn a trade. Even their only decent sports
team bailed on them 50 years ago. - More...
Sunday PM - March 02, 2008
Wednesday PM - February
27, 2008
Energy is everywhere By Marshall Kelly - Southeast Alaska
doesn't go very often without a breeze. We rarely suffer water
shortages in this country, and every Southeast Alaskan community
is nestled right next to the globe's largest, cleanest power
source known; the ocean. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
When will rate hikes be enough to improve
infrastucture? By Tom
Fisher - Well once again the rates for reserved moorage
are raised and yet there is hardly any improvements being done
to the harbors. For the last 15 years I have complained and begged,
got down on my knees and asked to get my finger float fixed.
Yet I am repeatedly blown off as if it isn't important, however
if Karl Amylon had to walk down my finger float to check his
boat it would have been fixed 10 years ago. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
No Means No By Roy Nathan - What part of no needs auditing?
I see the people from the Matsu are relentless about moving the
Capitol and 'The Bridge to Nowhere' advocates are no less stubborn.
- More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
The Transition and missing Mariners By Victoria Canul Dunne - My husband,
Michael F. Dunne, grew up on the waters of Southeast Alaska --
in Metlakatla. Mike is a former Marine Corporal (1981-85) a fisher,
logger, sawmill worker and commercial tree-thinner. In 2005 he
received his bachelor's degree in Technical Management which
he added to his welding certificate and electronics A.A.S degree.
His Dad and Uncles are experienced with vessels, have a healthy
respect for the sea, and taught Mike well. He knows how to ready
a boat for sailing and was experienced in living off the seas/beaches
of Southeast Alaska, and if need be, could survive off the same.
Vern McGee grew up in Juneau, was in the Navy, experienced in
northern Southeast waters and graduated from school with a degree
in Marine Electronics. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
Thank You! By Ardath and Andrew Piston, and Becky Bentley
- We would like to thank everyone who came to our aid after we
were involved in a car accident on N.T.H. February 23. We wish
we could remember the names of all of you, but the whole thing
is still a blur. The one thing that stands out in our minds is
the quick response of the locals. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
Kudos, and Extreme Environmentalism By Gregory Vickrey - Major kudos
to Larry Jackson and the students of Kayhi for not only producing
wonderful and LOCAL red and yellow cedar benches for the First
City, but their ingenuity and drive. Thanks to the City of Ketchikan
and the Downtown Steering Committee for encouraging local use
and creation of high-value added wood products. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
British Women in Alaska By Isla Williams - My name is Isla
Williams and I am a freelance journalist writing mainly for women's
magazines in the UK. I am currently looking to write an article
on a British woman who has left the UK to set up a new life in
Alaska. She needs to be under 45, married or single, with or
without children. She will get paid for the article which will
consist of around 300-400 words in a question and answer style.
I will also send her a copy of the magazine. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
"Perfect Candidate" By Noam Ploomb - Mark Neckameyer's
tongue-in-cheek letter regarding Fidel Castro as the "perfect"
choice for a Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate brings up
some questions. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
Perfect VP Candidate By David Ferrall - Just thinking about
the about the real America, from Ketchikan to Brooklyn. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008
Monday PM - February 25,
2008
Smoke detectors save lives By Scott R. Davis - Thank you
to Carol Baines for bringing up this very important subject!
Smoke detectors are required by law in Alaska as well as Carbon
Monoxide alarms under AS 18.70.095. - More...
Monday PM - February 25, 2008
Making Silk Out of Sow's Ears By Jay Jones - The article in Sitnews
on Feb.23rd concerning the conviction of James C. Hayes for Theft,
Money Laundering, etc, etc, fails to mention that the "grants"
in question were actually earmarks. Maybe the lawmaker who submitted
the earmarks should have checked on the character of the recipient
more thoroughly, even if he was the ex-mayor of Fairbanks. But
wait! The lawmaker was The Hon. Ted Stevens! And The ex-Hon James
C. Hayes used to work for (and live with) The Hon. (as for now)
Ted Stevens. For all we know The ex-Hon James C. Hayes wrote
his own earmarks. - More...
Monday PM - February 25, 2008
Billary Clobama By Amos Hopkins - Here here to what this
last writer just said. And I would like to add that Hillary Clinton
has had the same effect on young people as well. - More...
Monday PM - February 25, 2008
Perfect Democrat VP Candidate Available! By Mark Neckameyer - There is one
man (person?) in the world who would be the ideal Vice President
candidate able to run with either Hillary or Obama as he perfectly
shares their political philosophies right down the (left) line.
Want to guess who? He is a little old but balances the ticket
on the age and experience issues, has a long attractive beard
and just resigned his old position. Give up? It is Fidel Castro!
- More..
Monday PM - February 25, 2008
Saturday - February 23,
2008
Against Ketchikan Borough Land Grab:
Proposed Annexation
By Don Hoff Jr. - I am in total support of Sen. Albert Kookesh
concerns about Ketchikan Gateway Borough attempts for annexation
of 4,000 square miles of uninhabited lands. I am very concerned
that annexation will cause further exploitation of all our natural
resources that still belong to the Taan ta Kwaan (Sealion People)
and the Saan ya Kwaan (Cape Fox People). I will not speak for
the Saan ya Kwaan because it is not my place but I will speak
for the Gaanax adi Clan of the Taan ta Kwaan. We object to any
annexation proposals that the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Government
is proposing. Annexation of these lands will have major effects
on subsistence rights of our people and future land claims that
are on-going and owed to us by the Federal Government for future
land selections of our people. - More...
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Alternative fuel methods By Christopher Lemerond - I agree
with Mr.Moon that we we need alternative methods for energy production.
Biodiesel, Hydroelectric, and biomass are all good alternatives.
These and other methods are the only hope for our future as humanity.
The automobile companies buy off and eliminate any threat to
their great empire. How long will their influence last? Will
there be a day when the people stand together against pollution,
rising cost of fuel, and the crippling effect they have on our
wallets, and way of life? Many people struggle and worry about
how they are going to pay their bills, heat their homes, and
get to work this week -- just to turn around and give their hard
earned dollars right back. - More....
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Legislative Audit of Gravina Bridge
Project By Don Hoff
Jr. - This audit is just more wasted taxpayer dollars and time
for the dead proposed Gravina Island bridge project in Ketchikan.
This audit will only show the citizens how much taxpayer money
that has been wasted to the "bridge to no-where". Congress
has put a stop to earmarked projects. What is going on now is
the road to no-where, a $30 million taxpayer dollars for a road
and for what? The environmental impacts on sensitive muskegs,
stream crossings, wetlands, fish and wildlife should be a major
concern by everybody. I would challenge anybody that these environmental
concerns are being violated while being constructed. - More...
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Bridge to Nowhere By Peg Travis - Responding to Senator Stedman's
letter requesting an audit of the project, I don't agree the
bridge is a top state priority - or if it is - it shouldn't be.
There are many higher priority issues. i.e. education, health
care, senior's concerns, veteran's care and maintaining roads
and existing bridges. - More...
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Barack Obama By Sam Osborne - The candidacy of Barack Obama
has excited a whole new generation of previously disinterested
young Americans. And though this large and swelling involvement
of youth should set Democratic Party members singing Happy Days
Are Here Again, a few in the ranks of the regular and older members
seem averse to joining the movement and instead expect these
young people to temper their idealism and switch allegiance to
a candidate of their elders' choosing. - More..
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Don Young's comments By Karen Ramsey - I'm a registered
Democrat who's voted for Don Young a couple of times now since
residing in Alaska. A couple of comments he made while in Ketchikan
recently now have me scratching my head and asking myself why
on earth I would have voted for him in the past. These same comments
have helped me decide to vote against him in the next election.
- More...
Saturday - February 23, 2008
OF TINHORN DESPOTS AND SIMPLE THINGS By David G. Hanger - This is my last
contribution to Sitnews. I am eternally grateful for the
opportunity to present to you several of the interesting cases
on which I have worked and my occasional opinions on other subjects,
but there has come a calling, and besides the day job that calling
will require all my time and energy henceforth. Grant that
one old man cannot begin to clean up the mess that is Alaska
politics at all levels, and accept that this old man has sense
enough to know that, may it be that others restore checks and
balances, integrity, and a functioning two-party (or more) system
to this great state. The tinhorn despots running rampant
at all levels of government in this state are becoming both inconveniently
expensive and absolutely embarrassing. Good luck. - More..
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Electricity from trees By Joseph Rene DuPont - Once again
I found your article on electricity from trees very interesting.
- More...
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Complaints about City Workers By Linda Lingenfelter - In response
to Ms. Richardson's 'bashing' City employees during the recent
snowfall, the person you are pointing a finger at was one of
two persons working on snow-removal that particular Sunday; -
More...
Saturday - February 23, 2008
Thursday - February 21,
2008
Property Tax By Beth Antonsen - According to the article in
the Ketchikan Daily News the KGB assessment department was raising
property tax at the most 15%. Not so. My mother's assessment
went up 30%. At this rate I will have to put the fireplace back
in her condo and chop some firewood, build her some window boxes
so she can grow her own food and move in with her to help her
with expenses. I am afraid to finish fixing my house because
I won't be able to live there and afford it once the borough
re-assesses that. - More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
Borough assembly decisions By Charles Edwardson - Bronze
statues, bowl factories, defunct veneer mills, defunct economic
development advisory boards due to no money to run it, higher
properties taxes just for the heck of it, oh! And never mind
- increased funding for school activities to try to reinforce
our kids' connections to this community so they may think twice
about leaving this area. - More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
Smoke Alarms By Carol Baines - Regarding smoke detectors:
I think that if there are children in the dwelling, it should
be against the law to remove the battery from a smoke detector,
and the law should be strictly enforced. What's the point of
having a smoke detector if it's going to be disabled? -
More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
City taxes and sorry service By Eileen Small - To add to the
voice: I have TWO properties in K-kan and get taxed out the you-know-what
on both. I have paid all my taxes on both. It wouldn't irk me
so much if I saw that I got something for my money. As it stands,
the city hasn't picked up my home trash in over a month because
the trash truck won't come down my hill and won't sand the hill
on which I live so they CAN come down it!! DUHHHHH!!!!! And just
generally does less than anywhere I have ever lived for the taxes
they charge!!! I know a woman whose Dad retired from the city
and she tells me that 10 years ago, the streets were taken much
better care of than now. Surprise, surprise! -
More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
A job VERY WELL done! Keeping up with
the snow. By Bobbie
McCreary - I was very impressed with the dedication shown
by our governments to work on keeping our roads cleared and our
paths safe to travel (as safe as they could given the conditions.)
Early in our long stretch of snow and ice I saw City workers
clearing sidewalks that did not pass by residences or businesses..in
particular the block of Grant going uphill from the Police Station.
- More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
All neighborhoods don't receive equal
services By Lou Ann
Richardson - Must be nice to live on Jackson Street during heavy
snow fall and have city crews come through hauling out massive
amounts of snow and clearing out driveways. I've heard there's
at least one city employee who lives on Jackson St., is that
what it takes to get the extra effort? - More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
Ferry system failures By Ronald Currit - This is a letter
I sent to Governor Palin adding my voice to the dissension about
the Ferry system. - More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
Alaska Marine Highway By Michael Nelson - I was seriously
considering taking my 6 year old daughter to Ketchikan and then
out to Craig this coming summer so that she could meet friends
and family. Having grown up in Ketchikan, I have been riding
on the blue canoes since the days of the Wickersham, so nostalgia
was driving my decision to take my daughter to Southeast on the
AMHS. Yet, even before I started reading all of the letters regarding
the AMHS, I did some date crunching and pricing and frankly realized
that the AMHS was narrowing my window of opportunity and also
pricing me right out of the trip. - More...
Thursday - February 21, 2008
Monday AM - February 18,
2008
Setting the Record Straight on Earmarks By Senator Ted Stevens - On January
4, a fire broke out at a residence in Salcha. Thanks to specialized
"Project Code Red" equipment and training, first responders
extinguished the fire, saved the home, and prevented injuries.
Salcha Fire Chief Rob Weathers recently wrote me about the fire
and said, "Without Project Code Red a family would have
lost their home and business that night." - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
The Borough & City Lobbing trip
to Juneau By Samuel
Bergeron - Last week, Mayor Weinstein and I had the pleasure
of representing the City of Ketchikan, along with other area
representatives including: the Borough (Mayor Williams, Assemblymen
John Harrington and David Landis, Deputy Clerk Kacie Paxton and
Attorney Scott Brandt Erickson), Saxman Mayor Charles Denny,
Ketchikan General Hospital administrators Patrick Branco and
Joan Nugent; and Oceans Alaska Director John Tighe and Terry
Gardiner in the annual lobbing trip to Juneau. Leading the delegation
was City and Borough Lobbyist Ray Matiashowski. - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
Property Taxes By Wayne Phillips - I am quite perplexed at
the annual property assessment increases that the Ketchikan Borough
has imposed. I too, disagreed with the borough s assessment last
year and had a representative walk through my home in order to
reassess their initial findings. The gentleman that walked around
and through my home was certainly professional. However, I disapprove
of the idea that any government entity should have the ability
to intrude in on my privacy. - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
Paving Paradise? By Chris Ruecker - The City is taking new steps
to develop the downtown docks. Hot on the heels of the nearly
finished berth three development, the city has contracted PND
Engineering of Seattle for preliminary plans for a complete redesign
of the current berths 1 & 2. - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
Property Value Assessments By Jennifer Brewer - If I lived at
the level to which the Ketchikan Gateway Borough has assessed
my property value at; I'd be in a really nice home with a paved
road and a half acre lot around me. Instead, I live in an two
bedroom logging camp trailer on a quarter acre lot at the end
of a (unmaintained) gravel road. Yet somehow; the value has been
assessed at almost 200k! I would REALLY like to know the criteria
that is used to assess our property values because I'm at a loss
to fathom how my property can be assessed at such a phenomenal
amount. - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
An open invitation to Mayor Scudero By Carrie Beckham - I'm sure that
I am not the only constituent in Ketchikan that would like to
invite Mayor Scudero to our town. Although I have only lived
here for about two years, I have noticed that perhaps a certain
financial department may benefit from an independant audit as
well. Like others, I gasped in shock when I received my house
assesment, get fired up every time I have to write a check for
the sludge "fee", and speculate on a constant basis
as to where my (highly inflated) taxes may be going. Ketchikan
is a nice small town with nice people Mayor Scudero, and I'm
sure if you consider this invitation - your vehicle will be safe
with us. - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
Speaking of Change. By Virginia E. Atkinson - Everyone
talks about change, but when someone tries to change anything
they get crucified for it. So much for change, huh? All the Presidential
candidates have been talking about change, nothing new, I've
been hearing talk of change since back in high school days, and
the only change I ever see is inflation going out of control
and it's always a select few that benefit from it. - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
Waste Facility By Ginny Clay - There is talk of a regional
waste facility. Ketchikan could be the place for it. I am not
sure where they are in the procces, but I belive last I heard
the "authority" needed to be formed. Anyway, very interesting!
- More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
Alaska Ferry Summer OP Plan By Jennifer Peterson - Below is the
letter I wrote to Alaska Governor Palin: - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
1/2 Ferry System By Jerilyn Lester - WELL!!! Now that the state
has taken none of the opinions of the people that use the system,
we are now stuck with only one ferry going to Bellingham which
means that we are now relegated to going on vacation at the state's
discretion. Since the Lynn Canal "old boys club" is
more important to the government of the State of Alaska and the
Palin bunch, those of us who actually use the Alaska Marine Highway
System and live south of Juneau are not even considered to be
part of the state, although if we attempted to stop being part
of the state they would holler. - More...
Monday AM - February 18, 2008
Ferry Service: Sold out in |