Ketchikan: Energized Power Line Down On Top of Excavator - Monday morning at 8:07 am, the Ketchikan Fire Department responded to a report of "a power line down on a construction site" in the vicinity of the Harbor Master offices in the 2900 block of Tongass Avenue.

According to Ketchikan Fire Department's Fire Chief Jim Hill, when fire crews arrived they found that an excavator had knocked the power line down on top of the equipment. The line appeared to be energized and the equipment operator, an employee of S&S Construction, was advised to remain inside the unit until Ketchikan Public Utilitiy Electric arrived. - More...
Tuesday - February 16, 2010

Sitka: Sitka Man Sentenced in Murders of Four Relatives - Jason Abbott recently was sentenced to 140 years in prison for the murders of his grandparents, an aunt and an uncle, and the attempted murder of another aunt, in March 2008.

Prosecutors and Abbott reached a plea agreement in which he was found guilty but mentally ill in two consolidated counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault. Judge David George said the defendant's mental health history was taken into consideration in fashioning the sentence.

Abbott committed his crimes with a hunting knife at his relatives' residence in Sitka. The first four victims were attacked inside, three of them dying at the scene. Abbott's grandmother died at the hospital. The only survivor, the aunt who responded to the screams of her mother, was chased outside and stabbed repeatedly in the driveway in front of witnesses. Arriving police officers disarmed Abbott. - More...
Tuesday - February 16, 2010

Alaska: Matanuska Experiences Mechanical Difficulties, Engineers Working to Correct Problems - The 46-year-old Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferry Matanuska experienced mechanical difficulties and is pier side in Sitka while technicians try to resolve the problems and return the ship to service.

Monday's scheduled sailings from Sitka to Prince Rupert, British Columbia with a return to Sitka were cancelled by AMHS officials, as control system problems occurred.

Presently, 78 passengers are aboard the Matanuska. They will remain aboard until the arrival of the ferry Malaspina. Passengers will then be transferred to the Malaspina which will depart Sitka Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. - More...
Tuesday - February 16, 2010

Fish Factor: Icing on fish pays off By LAINE WELCH - Salmon fishermen at Bristol Bay are putting the icing on their fish and it is starting to pay off.

Deliveries of chilled salmon to processors by the drift fleet jumped to 60 million pounds last summer, nearly double from 2008. The result of the quality boost means more of the salmon is making the grade for pricier fillets and fresh/frozen products, instead of the lower value canning lines. And that means better paychecks for more than 1,300 Bay fishermen.

Those are some of the results in the 2009 Bristol Bay Processors Survey by Northern Economics, compiles responses from eleven major processors about their chilled fish purchases, and their perceptions of how the Bristol Bay fishery is changing. The report is paid for by the fishermen-funded Regional Seafood Development Association, whose #1 goal is to improve fish quality in the Bay.

"An ice bonus of 10 cents per pound is the rule of thumb, so that increased chilling conservatively resulted in an additional $2.7 million to $3 million in permit holders' pockets this year," said economist Jonathan King, lead author of the report.

The salmon are kept cold with slush ice or refrigerated sea water (RSW) systems onboard the fishing boats until they are delivered to a dedicated tender or shoreside processing plant. For the past two years the RSDA has partnered and shared costs with the fish processors to deploy ice making platforms to fishermen throughout the Bay. The amount of ice available last year increased from 74 tons per day to 89 tons - an increase of 28,000 pounds per day.

"Ocean Beauty feels strongly that increasing the amount of ice available on the grounds, and encouraging more fishermen to ice their fish should be the #1 priority in Bristol Bay. Icing on the grounds has a bigger impact on product quality than any other action we can take in Bristol Bay," said Tom Sunderland, director of marketing for Ocean Beauty Seafoods. "We have been willing to pay more for iced fish, and we will continue to do so. So far the market has rewarded us with higher prices for higher quality fish, and there is every reason to believe that will continue."

The report shows that fresh/frozen fish production increased to more than 50% of all product harvested, an increase from 46.4% in 2008. Filleted product increased from 8.2% to 9.6%; meanwhile, canned salmon production dropped four percent.

Despite the big push to 'chill, baby, chill,' however, 61% of the fishing boats in Bristol Bay are still "dry." Not for long, predicts Bob Waldrop, BBRSDA director. - More...
Tuesday - February 16, 2010

Alaska: Plan to Open Medicare Treatment Facility Announced; Public and Private Partnership Comes Together on Innovative Plan to Open Needed Clinic - Senator Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, announced Friday that he and other Alaska legislators will put money in this year's budget to help a coalition of medical professionals and non-profit corporations create an innovative clinic in Anchorage to serve Medicare recipients.

"There are more than 26,000 Medicare recipients in the greater Anchorage area, and, because of a lack of certain kinds of doctors, as well as low Medicare reimbursement rates, a significant number of them have a difficult time finding a primary care physician," said Senator Meyer. "I have been working for several years now to bring together a broad coalition of public and private entities to create a new clinic to address this problem."

Senator Meyer explained that a lack of internists, family practice doctors, combined with low reimbursement rates paid by Medicare, have left a lot of Alaskans without the primary care they need. By 2014, the number of Medicare recipients is expected to increase 40% to over 36,000.

Dr. George Rhyneer, an Anchorage cardiologist, has been spearheading an effort to open a clinic for years.

"This concept came to some other physicians and me a few years ago as a possible solution to the Medicare access problem, which didn't seem to be amenable to federal repair," said Dr. Rhyneer. "We hired a company to put together a business plan to see if it would pencil out financially. We now have a business plan in hand that shows that, if we operate efficiently and provide high quality care, we can begin to be self-supporting by the third year of operation. We just need financing to get it started."

The feasibility study concluded the clinic was financially viable as a non-profit company. However, said Dr. Rhyneer, it will need start-up capital in the amount of $1.7 million. This will be enough to rent space in Anchorage, set up and staff the clinic, and operate it for the first two years. From the start, said Senator Meyer, it was clear that both public and private sector participation would be required for success.

"I appreciate the bottom line business approach, with private sector buy-in, of Dr. Rhyneer and the others who have put this project together to solve a serious problem for our seniors," said Representative Bill Stoltze, co-chairman of the House Finance Committee.

"Representative Stoltze and I will be championing this issue to make certain the needed funds are included in this year's capital budget," said Representative Mike Hawker, the other co-chair of the House Finance Committee. "I think this is a huge opportunity both to succeed, set ourselves as a national example and build a model that will be copied across the country in years to come."

For the last two years, a group called ACCESS has been working with Senator Meyer on this endeavor. ACCESS is a non-profit corporation, comprised of the Alaska Physicians and Surgeons, the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, Providence Health and Services Alaska, and the Alaska State Medical Association.

Due to the low reimbursements from Medicare, the clinic will use a 'high efficiency' model and be staffed by one physician, three nurse practitioners, and several medical support personnel. - More...
Tuesday - February 16, 2010

Public Meetings & Info Alaska DOT Open House South Tongass Ferry Terminal Reconnaisance Study Open House March 9, 2010, 6-9 pm Saxman Tribal House For more information click here Ketchikan Borough Assembly Agenda and Information Packets Live video stream of current meeting Assembly Meeting Minutes Calendar Ketchikan Planning Commission Agenda, Information Packets & Minutes Ketchikan City Council Agenda & Information Packets Ketchikan School Board Agenda & Information Packets Gravina Access Project SEIS Alternatives Development Gravina Access Website Ketchikan Jobs Ketchikan Police Reports AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Today's Forecast Satellite Today's Weather Images Marine Forecasts AK Weathercams Ketchikan Weather Data Current AK Weather Map CLASSIFIEDS Publish Publish Your Ad Click Here CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES Announcements and       Help Wanted For Sale / Free Stuff Garage Sales Homes / Apts/ Property Pets Wanted Lost & Found Publish Your Ad Front Page Archives January - Feb. 2010 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 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 More Front Page Archives

RE: Hydaburg School District By Dorinda Sanderson - My name is Dorinda Sanderson, my son is in the 3rd grade in Hydaburg City School. I must say that I am concerned now more than ever about my son's education. - More...
Thursday PM - February 11, 2010

RE: Hydaburg School District By Tanya Bitonti - It disturbs me that our superintendent could talk like this in an open letter! The feeling I got when I attended a school board meeting was 'you are beneath me so say what you're going to say and sit down'. I was there to question why our kids were over crowded and without teachers! My feeling was this, if he cared about the students and their education then he would take a pay cut so they weren't over crowded and without teachers. If he cared so much in these time who wouldn't take a pay cut! - More...
Thursday PM - February 11, 2010

Telephone Division of KPU By David G. Hanger - Following is the text of my presentation to the Ketchikan City Council regarding problems with the telephone division of Ketchikan Public Utilities: - More...
Monday PM - February 08, 2010

RE: Hydaburg School District By B. A. Weinberg - The letter from Francis C. Natkong published February 5, 2010, starts out: "Hang on to your hats, here I go again!" Yes, here she goes again spouting off allegations without benefit of the facts. - More...
Monday PM - February 08, 2010

Right to express my views By Frances C. Natkong - I recieved a letter from the CEO of Hydaburg City School District today and apparently he's replied to my letter in the Sitnews. First of all, I'm not insulting the citizens of Hydaburg, everyone knows that when you run for office it's not what you know but who you know. Second of all, I'm not saying that a Superintendent would be more beneficial FINANCIALLY. My meaning was that a Superintendent would be more "hands on." - More...
Monday PM - February 08, 2010

Expensive advertising indoctrination By Chas Edwardson - Twenty five thousand dollars were approved by city council unanimously for advertising indoctrination to sell the phone division of Ketchikan Public Utilities. How much was allocated out of my money to argue for the other side of the story, city council??? - More...
Monday PM - February 08, 2010

Government less than honest By Al Johnson - In light of the continuing stream of statical data that is fed to the U.S public by our current administration that lacks the ability to be seen in the light of day, the fear of a Government that is less than honest in its dealings festers. - More...
Monday PM - February 08, 2010

Thank You By Laurie Hodne - BIG kudos to the Bar Harbor restaurant for introducing and offering their Saturday Night Special dinner for two at an extremely reasonable and affordable price. (The food was excellent also!) - More...
Monday PM - February 08, 2010

Sealaska Lands bill By Don Hernandez - Recent events in Craig have made the Sealaska Lands bill a front page headline story, prompting Senator Lisa Murkowski to announce she will hold, quote, "a field hearing on Prince of Wales Island". For the residents of Point Baker and Port Protection who will be surrounded by Sealaska Corporation land if this bill passes, it has been front page headlines news for over a year. We have sent letters, petitions and have given personal testimony to all of our representatives absolutely opposing this bill. Right from the beginning, we have asked for public hearings in affected communities. - More...
Friday AM - February 05, 2010

Hydaburg School District By Frances C. Natkong - Hang on to your hats, here I go again! I'm very concerned about the school district in Hydaburg. The CEO and his significant other have been hired back for another year at Hydaburg School. Why? Why? Why? - More...
Friday AM - February 05, 2010

Bus Shelter By Susan Hoyt - I really feel that it is the responsibility of Walmart or the City to supply a bus shed to the customers who use the bus and shop at Walmart. It seems to me Walmart has the most to gain by supplying this needed shelter and that the city is responsible for their community members who ride the bus. - More...
Friday AM - February 05, 2010

The Political Pendulum By Don Borders - Over the years I viewed the national political process to that of a grand father's clock pendulum swinging side-to-side with one side opposite of the other side's position. Over time, the motions of the two parties swinging side to side as the political winds prevail or blow, one finds common ground or most common bipartisan position somewhere between the left and the right. The pendulum analogy is sort of a "checks and balances" of two opposing sides of the same government. - More...
Friday AM - February 05, 2010

Bus shelter needed By Lana Barr - Walmart needs a bus shelter. There has been a need for one since the store opened eight years ago. Our Senior Citizens, mothers with small children and disabled people are among those who rely upon the borough bus for transportation. The Green line bus alone picks up passengers 103 times a week. - More...
Thursday AM - Februry 04, 2010

Thank You By Dorothy Hoppe & Connie Zellweger - It's hard to believe it has been one year to date since Colleen Hoppe - who was our daughter, sister, mother, friend, coworker, auntie - has passed on. - More...
Thursday AM - Februry 04, 2010

SOUTH EAST ALASKA NATIVE LAND ENTITLEMENT FINALIZATION ACT By Hans Porter - Bill S. 881 "SOUTH EAST ALASKA NATIVE LAND ENTITLEMENT FINALIZATION ACT" will lay waste to one of the most beautiful places on this planet. The old growth forest with its amazing canopy will be destroyed. The miles and miles of karst formation will not be open to the public. Subsistence resources for several communities will disappear. We will not be able to travel by road. Our water supplies will be in danger or ruined. All this for the short term revenues which will benefit no one but Sealaska Corporation, will not create jobs, and will not provide sustainable resources. It will be all damage and destruction as is typical of this corporation's way of doing business. - More...
Wednesday AM - February 03, 2010

Let's get inspired! By Linda Koons Auger - My husband, Bill and I attended the "Throw The Breaker" celebration for the completion of the Swan Lake-Lake Tyee Intertie project.  I came away inspired!  This project was many, many years in the making with support and hard work by many fine Alaskans along the way. - More...
Tuesday AM - February 02, 2010

Challenge Day By Karen Eakes - I would like to urge all parents of high school students to sign their students up for the Challenge Day events happening here in Ketchikan on February 16th or 17th at Ketchikan High School. Schoenbar's Challenge Day occurs on February 18th and that event already has a full slate of student participants. - More...
Tuesday AM - February 02, 2010

Southeast Alaska community fights for their survival By Myla Poelstra - Senator Murkowski's recent interview on KRBD discussing Sealaska's current lands bill was both encouraging and disheartening at the same time. While it is encouraging to hear her talk about holding a field hearing on Prince of Wales to discuss concerns over impacts from S.881 Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization act, it's disheartening to hear her only reference the City of Craig. The residents of Edna Bay, on the southeast end of Kosciusko Island, have been relentlessly trying to get her attention for almost seven years. Over 1200 letters have been sent to our representatives letting them know why we objected to this bill, and what these public lands meant to us. To this date there has been no direct response to our concerns from Senator Murkowski or Sealaska. - More...
Tuesday AM - February 02, 2010

HEAD TAX By Charles Edwardson - This is a subject that has interested me for awhile. Who ever coined the phrase"HEAD TAX" (sounds like a hunting trip) should have called it what it is, a port and harbor tax. - More...
Tuesday AM - February 02, 2010

Thanks By Russell Thomas - Thanks to Dave, Danny, & Sara Lieben who spent last Saturday with trash bags in hand, cleaning up the neighborhood around Forest Park. The Lieben's community service reminded me of our ability to affect a small piece of the world around us. Not content to let it be someone else's problem, Dave spent his personal time making "everyone else's problem" his own. - More...
Tuesday AM - February 02, 2010

Rental Fees - Ted Ferry - Meeting Notes By Bobbie McCreary - Mr. Holston, in a letter dated 12/23 I explained that we were inspired by Mr. Gadsey's decision NOT to request the waiver of rental fees for the Ted Ferry Civic Center for the SAIL event on January 15th. Thus motivated, the organizers of the Enough is Enough event asked for donations from the public to pay the costs in order to support keeping City employees' jobs by not asking for a waiver of fees. (We collected $300- thank you - enough to cover the original cost before we opened the third bay due to the large crowd who participated.) - More...
Tuesday AM - February 02, 2010

Senator Begich Sold Out the People By Chris Herby - I think it is imperative that Alaska voters remember the recent actions of Mark Begich if and when he seeks re-election to the US Senate. Mr. Begich clearly sold out on the people that elected him when he chose to follow the rest of the Democratic sheep in Washington in voting for the infamous Health Care bill. During his campaign he said time and time again that he would not simply vote along with the other tax and spend Democrats in Washington. We now know how good his promises are. - More...
Thursday PM - January 28, 2010

"City to investigate recovery clinic" By Joey Tillson - I'm writing in reference to Juneau Empire's January 7th, 2010 article "City to investigate recovery clinic". I worked for Bartlett Hospital Rainforest Recovery (previously Juneau Recovery Hospital) as their receptionist in 2002 and then Insurance Verification, Medical Biller, Financial Counselor in 2003 until the middle of 2005 so I have some knowledge as to what the facility has gone through, including a name change in the hopes of keeping the facility afloat for Southeast Alaska. Bartlett Hospital and the Rainforest Recovery Center inspired me to get my degree in Health Care Administration. - More...
Thursday PM - January 28, 2010

Haiti, a Lesson for All of Us By Michael Spence - For a few brief moments, the American people had their attention diverted to the utter chaos and suffering in Haiti following a devastating earthquake. Before the earthquake, Haiti was the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Now it is even poorer. Most scholars agree that the problems with delivering aid to Haiti, and the slim chance of a healthy recovery from this latest disaster, can be blamed on bad governance . In the case of Haiti, bad governance is a simplified term, generalizing its long history of dictatorships, corrupt politicians, and oligarchic control of the nation that concentrates fifty percent of its wealth to one percent of its population. - More...
Thursday PM - January 28, 2010

Open letter to Senator Bingaman: Sealaska Bill By Alan Stein - I submitted testimony for the record when the committee you chair heard the bill Senators Murkowski and Begich introduced re handing over Federal Land on Prince of Wales Island to Sealaska Corp, a private interest. - More...
Thursday PM - January 28, 2010

Concerned Citizen By Terri Anderson - Wow, I read your letter and you definately have some pent up anger. There are counselors out there that will help you. You should be careful with the word ignorant. - More...
Thursday PM - January 28, 2010

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