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Thursday
January 02, 2014
Twin Peaks
North peak summit of Twin Peaks, 18F degrees with wind chill at 2F, Mountain goats tromping around on 1 ft of powdery snow, deer have bugged out to lower elevations. Upper Silvis Lake in the background, flanked by Northbird and Mahoney Mountains.
Front Page Photograph By KEN ARRIOLA ©2014
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Alaska: Draft Education Recommendations Released: Achieving a sustainable future for education will require new ways of thinking By MARY KAUFFMAN - The development of a strategic statewide education plan focused on reading, writing and arithmetic and a better public understanding of education funding with a reduction in current state spending levels are just some of the draft recommendations just released by the Alaska House of Representatives’ Task Force on Sustainable Education.
The draft recommendations are a culmination of many public meetings, dozens of hours of testimony and discussion, and countless hours of study and reflection. The draft recommendations call for the Legislature and state to further examine public K-12 education funding, while also focusing on mission deliverables, through a strategic statewide education plan and a better public dialogue on finances.
The Task Force was made up of Co-Chairs Rep. Wilson and Rep. Gattis, Rep. Charisse Millett and five public members -- Andy Baker, Jerry Covey, Andrew Halcro, Brad Keithley and David Nees. HR 8, its enabling legislation, called for the task force to examine the efficiency and effectiveness of public education delivery in the state, including standards, outcomes and funding of public education.
The findings discussed by the task force included recognition that there are many challenges when teacher-turnover and school curriculums often change. Many parents spoke of these issues and a lack of incentivizing school districts to recognize vocational and technical education as a true alternative to college preparation and success.
Co-chairs, Representative Lynn Gattis, R-Wasilla, and Representative Tammie Wilson, R-Fairbanks, said in a jointly prepared statement, “Achieving a sustainable future may include, but is not necessarily limited to, establishing regional residential education centers to enhance secondary education, invest in technology that is compatible with local infrastructure, and expand public choice in education opportunities."
The co-chairs said, “A strategic state education plan should be developed that would include the implementation of new state standards, new assessments, teacher development and the potential utilization of a state curriculum in reading, writing and arithmetic."
The task force found that Alaska is facing a challenging fiscal future, which will require new ways of thinking in order to ensure the long-tern financial sustainability of education.
“We face a changing financial future and an in-depth analysis and continued policy calls on what are necessary to stimulate achievement will be required. The Task Force will spend the next year taking a closer look at these issues and a deeper review of the cost to giving every student an opportunity to succeed in the career of their choice," said co-chairs Gattis and Wilson.
In the Sustainable Education Task Force Initial Report dated January 1, 2014, to the Governor, Commissioner of Education and the Alaska Legislature, it is stated that in order to provide an overall sustainable future for Alaska, current state spending levels must be reduced with a portiion of the current revenue stream to be set aside to provide for future generations. With education as one of the core consititutional missions of state government, funding for education must also be given a priority. Alaskans should be made aware that current education levels of spending is not sustainable. It is a recommendation of the task force that a cost analysis of the new Alaska Standards, curriculum, assessments, teacher development and the financial impact that these will hoave on local districts be performed before implementation.
Regarding the reduction in the current education levels of spending, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce president Andrew Halcro, a former Republican legislator who is a citizen member of the panel, slammed the task force's proposal. Halcro said that it would “make everything we’re doing here irrelevant” and was the sole panel member to vote against education cuts.
“Education funding cuts are the latest Republican attack on Alaska public schools. First the Republicans froze classroom funding, then they pushed an unconstitutional voucher program, and now they want to cut funding,” said Mike Wenstrup, Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party. “Economic growth depends on a well-educated workforce, yet Republicans are trying to gut our public education system.” - More...
Thursday PM - January 02, 2013
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Alaska: Google map tracks community supported agriculture in Alaska By NANCY TARNAI - A Google Map of community supported agriculture farms shows the growth of CSAs in Alaska.
Deirdre Helfferich
Created by Deirdre Helfferich, managing editor at the UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, the map introduces 32 community supported agriculture farms to viewers, providing basic information and contact sources for each farm.
Helfferich started collecting CSA names in 2009 because she couldn’t find any resources containing that data. She has long been interested in local foods and served as a founding member of the Alaska Food Policy Council. She and her husband have been CSA members at Calypso Farm and Ecology Center in Ester since 2001.
“Back then there were only a couple of CSAs in the Interior,” Helfferich said. “Now every year there are more and more.”
Her map has been visited nearly 79,000 times. She suspects researchers from the lower 48 and Canada are visiting the site, along with consumers who are searching for a CSA where they can buy locally-grown food and support local farms.
“I’ve gotten really good feedback about the map,” she said. “People really like it and the farmers appreciate being listed.”
The site is fluid, with Helfferich continuing to add, delete and edit the CSAs on the map. She welcomes information on CSAs not currently listed.
The satisfaction from creating the map for Helfferich is that she gets to share valuable information in a fun and free manner. She hopes that she is helping connect Alaskans to farmers in their communities. “It’s about people working together to supply each other with food. That’s the important thing.”
- More...
Thursday PM - January 02, 2014 |
Political Cartoon
Tobacco Deaths 2013
By Monte
Wolverton ©2014, Cagle Cartoons
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Columns - Commentary
DANNY TYREE: This Is 2014 — Whatever THAT Means - Unless you're talking to time travelers or the severely inebriated, please do not use the phrase "This is 2014" this year.
You know the drill: people backed into a corner try settling an argument by announcing "This is (insert current year)" — often followed by a flippant "Get with the program" or a shrugged "What can ya do?"
People use the phrase when (a) jumping on the bandwagon of the latest retreat from traditional Judeo-Christian values, (b) excusing some boorish activity that would make Miss Manners faint or (c) badgering a reluctant acquaintance into embracing this week's cutting-edge, must-have technological marvel.
Granted, "This is (insert current year)" is a dandy PREFACE to an argument; but many debaters make it their entire case. They glance past the puppies or vintage cars on the cover to double-check the date, blurt out their brilliant observation, assume a self-satisfied smile, and wait for your mountain of facts, figures and logical arguments to crumble before them.
Tyrants wrap themselves in the flag. Blowhards wrap themselves in the calendar.
Despite the example of millennia of rising and falling civilizations, customs and beliefs, some of us harbor the conceit that the current year is the culmination of human development, or at least a checkpoint for the inexorable march of Progress.
But people living in, say, 1974, crowed "This is 1974" just as proudly as we crow about the current year. Like any other year, 1974 might claim some diplomatic gestures or medical breakthroughs of lasting consequence; but it also had its share of embarrassing fashions, feet-of-clay political messiahs, ultimately reversed Supreme Court rulings and later-discredited "settled science."
The formula for assessing the spirit of a year seems to rest on shifting sands. When does a truth become self-evident? When is the speaker asserting "This is (insert current year)" triumphantly vindicated? Is it when "everybody" is cool with a certain policy, societal change or gadget? Is it when a slim majority goes along? Is it when a practice is "still fringe, but it's, um, TRENDING like crazy"? - More...
Thursday PM - January 02, 2014 |
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 Open Letter: Taking money from the veterans By A.M. Johnson - As one of the Senate Republicans who voted to end debate with 60 votes allows what Chief Master Sergeant Wooten expounds. To this add that knowing all of you Senators read ALL the content of ALL legislation before voting, you knew of the results that vote contained. You knew that you were dis'ing our service men and women. You knew. Shame on you, double shame on you. - More...
Monday PM - December 30, 2013
Build the damn Road By A.M. Johnson -
The King Cove road issue as reported in your fine publication reflects the sound of howling banshees. The following three quotes by our elected Congressional officials, who in my opinion, couldn't lead a drunk to a beer hall, all sound so condescending, concerned, and promising to do what they should have done many times over. Makes one ill to hear all the bull feathers they stir up after the fact. Heck, any common sense person who follows this Leftist administration could have told them what the outcome was going to be. But never fear, Senator "Murky" Murkowski threatened to with hold she vote and support for Jewell's confirmation, lot of good that did and more so, each and every time she, and Representative "Foghorn" Young reach over the aisle, they have their teeth and as a result, Alaskan's teeth kicked in. As to Senator "Bagman"Begich, being a good Democrat, again talks out of the other side of the mouth. Yada yada yada. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
It's never too late to do the right thing By Joseph J. Chadwell -
I would like to thank Senator Murkowski for the Christmas Present she and others on Capital Hill gave to America's retired Military Men and Women. I would like to thank her for cutting their Coast Of Living Adjustments (COLA) to their retired pay. Of all the wasteful spending or lack of any attempt at shared sacrifice (chained CPI COLA) for everyone receiving federal entitlement payments; they instead went after America's Defenders of Freedom. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
RE: Arrest at Fawn Mountain School By Margaret Cloud - To Heather Morris - The arrest of Jason Simpson was reported in the Ketchikan Daily News on December 14. Are you going to complain about that as well? Such silliness. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
Pot calling the kettle black By John Suter -
Have you noticed in the ADN 12/24/13 page A-8, Izembek: Road supporters say they don’t plan to give up fight. 3rd column over second paragraph down the governor says, “unconscionable” and another “irrational decision by the federal government that denies Alaskans access – in this case access to emergency treatment.” - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
Thank You By Jamie May -
I would like to thank the person that returned the $262.00 I dropped at Walmart on Saturday the 21st. When I was checking out with my Christmas gifts and I realized I had dropped the money I was really upset. I traced back my steps and could not find it so my last resort was to leave my name and number with customer service just in case it was returned. I can tell you that I was quite surprised that it was returned to customer service. I assumed I would never see that money again. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
Holiday Message By Gov. Sean Parnell -
While experiencing a few hours of harried gift-hunting, I turned the experience into a more joyful season by thinking of Alaskans and some of what we have to be thankful for. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays By U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski -
As Alaskans we are incredibly lucky to live in a true winter wonderland. The snow globe feel of our communities truly makes the holiday season. So during this special time of year, give yourself a Christmas present and take some time to enjoy our beautiful outdoors. Whether it’s hitting the slopes, sledding with your kids or ice fishing on a lake - the time to enjoy the best of Alaska with your families is now, creating memories you’ll look back on for years. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
A Very Merry Christmas By Congressman Don Young -
Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! As Alaskans, we are fortunate to live in a state of such majestic beauty. As many of you know, my love for Alaska began more than 50 years ago and has only grown in the years since. One of my great loves is our Alaskan spirit, especially during the Christmas season; the generosity of our people and our giving nature certainly sets us apart. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
RE: Arrest At Elementary School By Heather Morris -
I am appalled by the letters I have read regarding this sad incident. All of you claim to be Mothers but a Mother would know when children are involved you do as minimal damage as possible. Apparently, you seem to have forgotten that the gentleman who was apprehended has children. In fact a good portion of his family is local. How horribly inconsiderate of you all to discuss this on a public forum such as this. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
RE: Arrest at Elementry School By Vanessa Nowland -
In response to Christine Furey, it is not the responsibility of our public safety officers to act as social workers. Unfortunately, more and more often the public expects this of them. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
Mail Service By Phyllis Mueller - We have quite a few mail orders for our canned product. Have noticed a definite deterioration in the quality of mail service, especially in the past two years. The following is an example of the journey taken by a medium sized flat rate box I shipped earlier this month. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013
RE: Arrest at Elementary School By Giovanna M. Trentanelli -
Regarding Amanda Martin's letter in which she accuses the Trooper of knocking an innocent little girl to the ground face first hurting her and dirtying her sweet Christmas Dress, I would like to clarify that it was NOT the Trooper who knocked the child to the ground; it was Mr. Simpson, the FLEEING FELON who knocked the child down. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013
RE: Arrest at Elementry School By Christine Furey -
In response to everyone that has delivered an opinion on this matter, I would like to say that I do agree with Amanda. I think she is very valid in her point. I think that the whole situation happened at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Mr. Simpson was at Fawn Mountain to watch his child perform, if he was truly attempting to evade the police would he have really showed up, not to mention the fact that he had been seen in days earlier at various locations throughout town doing very normal things like buying cigarettes. This does not sound like someone who is hiding out. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013
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