Southeast: COAST GUARD LOCATES DOOR FROM MISSING BOAT - The Coast Guard located a door from missing pleasure craft Transition today in Frederick Sound on Kupreanof Island.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka located a white door in the water at approximately 11 a.m. and later confirmed it to be part of the boat that has been missing for a week. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 27, 2008

Ketchikan: Resolution Nixing Ketchikan Borough's Annexation Plans Moves Closer to a Floor Vote - A resolution disapproving the Ketchikan Gateway Borough's attempt to annex more than 4,700 miles of land outside its boundaries cleared a hurdle on its way to the House Floor yesterday. House Joint Resolution (HJR) 30, sponsored by Representative Bill Thomas (R-Haines), passed out of the House Community & Regional Affairs Committee Tuesday morning.

A recommendation from the Local Boundary Commission takes effect 45 days after submission to the Legislature or at the end of a legislative session, whichever occurs first. The only way to deny a recommendation is with a resolution disapproving it passing by the majority in both houses.

"We cannot allow for shady or back room deals in any area of state governance," said. Rep. Thomas. "And this proposed annexation on the surface strikes many in Southeast Alaska as just that: unprofessional and posing a dire conflict of interest. At its core, the annexation request is nothing short of a money grab by the borough, since the area to be annexed is uninhabited land. The borough will receive money off of the backs of the schools in the unorganized borough but won't be required to provide any services."

Thomas says if the annexation is allowed to take place, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough would receive $200,000 in payments in lieu of taxes and $1.2 million in Forest Receipt money from the federal government, funds that currently flow to schools in outlying villages near the Tongass National Forest area that would be annexed. - More...
Wednesday - February 27, 2008

Alaska: Long voyage to justice By ERIKA BOLSTAD - Nearly 19 years after an Exxon oil tanker rammed an underwater reef in Alaskan waters, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the final lawsuit lingering from the environmental disaster.

On Wednesday, the court will consider Exxon Mobil's appeal, a 14-year effort that, if successful, would overturn a $2.5 billion punitive-damages award considered by many to be the largest verdict ever against a U.S. corporation.

The case is superlative in many ways, most notably for the environmental havoc caused by 11 million gallons of crude oil in Prince William Sound. An estimated 85 tons of crude have yet to be removed, according to a federal study released last year.

But it also is notable for how it pits nearly everyone in Alaska against the world's biggest oil company -- a company so profitable that its $40.6 billion in profits last year broke all records for a publicly traded company.

Former governors, the current governor, supertanker captains, environmentalists, state lawmakers, Alaska Natives and experts in maritime law have all joined sides with the 33,000 plaintiffs whose lawyers will ask the nation's highest court to uphold the $2.5 billion verdict. - More...
Wednesday - February 17, 2008

Alaska Science: Drained lake holds record of ancient Alaska By NED ROZELL - Not too long ago, a lake sprung a leak in the high country of the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains. The lake drained away, as glacier-dammed lakes often do, but this lake was a bit different, and seems to be telling a story about a warmer Alaska.

The lake, known as Iceberg Lake to people in McCarthy, about 50 airmails to the north, had been part of the landscape for as long as people could remember. Pinched by glacial ice, the three-mile-long, one-mile-wide lake on the northern boundary of the Bagley Icefield was remote but notable enough that it was the cover photo for a recent book about hiking Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

When McCarthy guide Richard Villa visited the area with a client in the summer of 1999, he was stunned to see the lake, which had lost much of its water. Villa later told Mike Loso, a Kennicott resident part of the year and now a professor at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.

Loso flew to the lake the next summer with Bob Anderson and Dan Doak, scientists who also reside in McCarthy for part of the year. The men saw a muddy lakebed where Iceberg Lake had sat for so long. Streams of meltwater had cut though the mud, making sharp canyons. Loso, Anderson, and Doak hiked into the gullies and saw on the walls many layers of the former lake bottom. They knew that each two layers of sediment-a thinner layer of fine-grained deposits that settled in winter and coarser sand forced in with summer runoff-represented a year in the life of the lake.

"We eyeballed these layers and said 'Wow, there's at least 1,000 of these things,'" Loso said.

Scientists often pull plugs of sediment from the bottom of lakes to find an ancient record of pollen, dust, ash, and other things that have drifted, or flowed in over the years, but their records usually don't go back farther than the Little Ice Age, a cold period from about 1600 to 1850 when many glaciers advanced. Those glaciers plowed over most of the landscape, but Iceberg Lake seemed to have escaped the gradual assault.

"(Iceberg Lake) is pinned between these two glaciers just far enough away that it didn't get overrun by the Little Ice Age (glaciers)," Loso said.

So instead of having a record of just the last few hundred years, the floor of Iceberg Lake held a continuous record from 1998 back to A.D. 442, a span of more than 1,500 years. - More...
Wednesday - February 27, 2008

Fish Factor: Candidates To Debate Fisheries By LAINE WELCH - It takes guts to talk fish - but five candidates hoping to snag Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will take on the challenge next month in Kodiak.

Congressman Don Young, Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Kodiak), and Democrats Diane Benson, Ethan Berkowitz, and Jake Metcalfe have agreed to participate in the well known fisheries face off. That's the catch: the debate is limited to fisheries and the seafood industry

Since 1990 the fisheries debates, which kick off the annual ComFish Alaska trade show, have attracted nearly 100 percent participation by candidates for Alaska governor and U.S. Senate. This year will be the first time that U.S. House candidates participate.

The big hook is that the debate is broadcast live to more than 330 communities across Alaska via KMXT/Kodiak and APRN.

"The fishing industry is Alaska's number one private employer and produces more than half of our nation's wild seafood. This debate allows the candidates to share their knowledge and ideas about this vital industry," said Deb King, director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of ComFish.

Congressman Don Young, who has warmed the House seat for 35 years, was the first to take the bait.

"The commercial fishing industry is a vital part of Alaska's economy. It is the lifeblood of many of our communities, and an important part of Alaska's future," he said via email.

Gabrielle LeDoux, who said she's hoping for a home town advantage, agreed.
"The fishing industry is one of the top money makers for Alaska. For our coastal communities, fishing is it in terms of their economies. The ComFish debate provides a unique opportunity to tell Alaskans how much we value this vital industry," she said.

"Commercial fishing is more than just a job for many Alaskans, it's a defining lifestyle," said Jake Metcalfe of Juneau. "Anyone who wants to represent fishermen should take advantage of any opportunity to meet with them, and to respond to their concerns."

"ComFish is Iowa and New Hampshire rolled into one," said Anchorage-based Ethan Berkowitz. "I want to keep Alaska's coastal communities strong and make sure our fisheries are sustainable. I appreciate that the people of Kodiak are never shy with their opinions."

The fisheries debate takes place at the Kodiak High School auditorium on March 20 from 7-9pm.

Tell the truth

Alaskans, including Governor Palin, are converging on the nation's capital this week.. They plan to be in the room on February 27 when the U.S. Supreme Court sits down to hearings that will decide if Exxon must pay $2.5 billion in punitive damages to 32,000 plaintiffs hurt by the 1989 oil spill. - More...
Wednesday - February 27, 2008

Ketchikan Ketchikan Police Report AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Today's Forecast Satellite Today's Weather Images Marine Forecasts Ketchikan Weather Data Current AK Weather Map CLASSIFIEDS Publish ad Please select the proper category before posting. CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES Announcements and       Help Wanted For Sale / Free Stuff Garage Sales Homes / Apts/ Property Pets Wanted Lost & Found Local Services Publish your ad Front Page Archives February 2008 S M T W T F S           01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29   More Front Page Archives

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

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

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

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.

I would like to take this opportunity to add my voice to the long list of people complaining 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

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