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Herring along the West Coast By
Ernie Koepf - I am writing to echo the sentiments expressed by Jennifer Castle regarding mangement of herring stocks. Her depiction of a 12% harvest of herring reflect management policies along the entire West Coast. Here in California we harvest between five and ten percent of the estimated biomass. The Pacific Herring Model drafed by the PFMC states that 'overfishing ' does not occur unless the harvest ratio exceeds 25%. All herring fisheries along the West Coast are well under that mark, by far. There are documents from studies done in the Canadian fisheries from DFO that suggest that clupea harengus (pacific herring) are part of a larger 'megapopulation' that will oportunisticly choose the spawning habitat of that years returning brood stock. This is significant; DFO tagging studies have seen tagged herring stray up to 800 kilometers, essentially switching spawn site selection by a wide margin! - More...
Monday PM - February 14, 2011
Native fisheries By
Randy Williams - Alaska Fisheries, Why, Why, Why, I have written several letters over the years bemoaning the fact that we the Alaska Natives have let the non-Indian run State governing agencies destroy our food source. I have often said our culture is based on our ability to preserve our food and prepare it like our grandparents and their parents have since we were of the people. Oh, how much we have lost. I have often said the Tribes in the lower forty eight do not face this same dilemma because they control and preserve their hunting and fishing rights. - More...
Monday PM - February 14, 2011
RE: Our Healthy Fisheries By Jim Bacon - I am writing to express my appreciation to Jennifer Castle for the excellent job she did outlining the issues concerning the West Behm Canal herring fishery. I couldn't have said it better myself, so I won't try. - More...
Monday PM - February 14, 2011
RE: Dungeness Crab By
Andy Guiliano - As a longtime California dungy fisherman, I couldn't agree more with Mr. Worhatch's commentary. West Coast Dungeness management has undergone very little change, and yet remains one of the few productive/profitable fisheries without severe regulatory issues. Inspite the absense of a "Commission", "Czar" or "Commitee", SSS (sex, size and season) has proved to be a remarkably effective way to manage dungeness. - More...
Monday PM - February 14, 20
Underage Smoking/ Adults who purchase them cigarettes By Vanessa Ohlson - To those adults (19 years and older- you know who you are!), please do not buy cigarettes for our youth. I have recently become aware that some of our youth are asking "adults" to purchase them cigarettes as they walk into a convenience store or supermarket. "Hey man will you buy me a pack of cigarettes? Here is $10.00 you can keep the change." Please don't do this? Please refuse to purchase cigarettes for our youth. Tell them NO! - More...
Monday PM - February 14, 2011
Our Gratitude By
Norman and Charlotte Poirier - Thank You is not enough. Our gratitude to the Ketchikan Police Department Officers, the Firefighters and Building Inspector Thomas Joseph. You saved our home. You showed professionalism and care. God bless you all in what ever job you need to do. - More...
Monday PM - February 14, 2011
Our Healthy Fisheries By
Jennifer Castle - I am concerned about the ominous language and false claims in the recent viewpoints that call to close West Behm Canal to herring fishing forever. - More...
Friday PM - February 11, 2011
West Behm Canal Herring: The Rest of the Story By
Ron Porter - I am writing in response to Andy Rauwolf, Snapper Carson & Mike Fleenor's misguided, ill-informed opinions with no scientific data to support them concerning the West Behm Canal herring fishery. - More...
Friday - February 11, 2011
BUSH LITE: An Open Letter to the President of the United States By David G. Hanger - You give a good speech, Mr. President, sound on occasion like Martin Luther King morphing into JFK, on other occasions like Moses on the mount, but as President of the United States, at least to date, you suck. I say this to you not as one of your historical detractors, but rather as one of your avid supporters, and I admit I wonder at what I have been supporting. - More...
Friday - February 11, 2011
Dungeness Crab By
Max Worhatch IV - While I do appreciate Lloyd Gossman's concern about the Dungeness stocks in southeast Alaska, I am appalled by his lack of knowledge on the subject. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in southeast is the most conservatively managed Dungeness fishery in the world. The coastal dungeness crab fishery in California, Oregon, and Washington starts every year on December first and runs through the thiry first of August. This nine month season is managed by size,sex and season. This means that fishermen only take male crab at the minimum size of 6.25 inches carapace width, during the months that are open. In southeast, we take crab with a minimum carapace width of 6.5 inches, for 60 days in the summer and 60 days in the fall, except for district two, which has a season from October first until Febuary twenty eighth. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 09, 2011
Halibut, Herring, Ooligan and Salmon By Don Hoff, Jr. - I have been reading the opinions in Sitnews with great interest. The day is going to come when there won't be any kind of fisheries in Southeast Alaska because of greed. I have to agree that the State of Alaska and Federal Government can't manage all Alaska's Nature Resources. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 09, 2011
RE: Herring in West Behm By
Keith Stump - Well said, gentlemen. Once again, Federal (and international) mis-management of Alaska's resources threatens our economy and way of life. Unfortunately, the numbers are not in our favor. Just like herring are at the mercy of whales and international sea lions, Alaskans are at the mercy of Federal and international politics. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 09, 2011
Re: New Halibut Rules and Regs By
Allan R. (Rudy) McGillvray - To Whom it may Concern, (which is all Americans)... these new rules being promulgated by NOAA, and their soupy brothers, strike me as being a "restraint of trade" in addition to being a restraint of friendship. That would fall under "Pursuit of Happiness" which is a God-given right -- not, given by the govt. The govt. who believes that its population needs governing and that its power to do so, rests with said govt. Not as our Constitution says, "The power of the govt. rests with the people, and is given by the people to the govt. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! - More...
Wednesday PM - February 09, 2011
Event a poor choice for a poliitcal statement By
A.M. Johnson - There are moments in community entrainment that are or should be political free. Being blindsided, even forewarned if that were the case, is not a welcoming aspect when one anticipates joining with other community members which one may not be politically aligned, yet the thread of a community being is when all join for the common purpose of sharing joy. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 09, 2011
Cell Phone Scam By
Susan Hoyt - I am writing this to inform local residents and the elderly who have cell phones that you may find charges on your statement for something you didn't knowingly purchase. - More...
Wednesday PM - February 09, 2011
Lead by Example By
Agnes Moran - Governor Parnell has been emphasizing three recurring themes in his recent speeches; pushing back on unfunded federal mandates, broken promises made at statehood and keeping taxes low to encourage economic growth. I agree with the governor that broken promises and unfunded mandates lead to higher taxes and have a dampening effect on the economy. I have seen first hand the damaging effect these have had on our local economy. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Feds Target Resident Sportfishermen By
Clayton Moore - The alphabet soup is at it again. NOAA, NMFS, IPHC, NPFMC, and the BOF through the new Charter Halibut Permit plan have made a direct challenge to our ability to fish for Halibut. Under new rules, Alaska residents cannot legally share the costs to go halibut fishing without a CHP. By the NOAA definition: - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
CHP's to hinder unguided sportfishing By
Ryan McRobert - Charter Halibut Permits... Not just for charter operators. No matter who you side with, charter or commercial, or you simply like to get out and fish with friends, the new laws will affect you. As of Feb. 1, 2011 charter operators must have onboard a CHP (charter halibut permit) now required by NOAA. With much controversy about the permits being forced on the fleet, few saw what the wording would lead to. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Herring in West Behm Canal By Scott Kemp - Thank you Andy Rauwolf, Snapper Carson & Mike Fleenor for your continuing information on the herring issues facing us in Ketchikan. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Enough is enough!! By
Jodi Marrow - This is a first for me, and long time over due. I am Kyle Palmers Mother. I am trying to understand why my son is drowning in a political loop hole. Kyle did absolutely nothing wrong, my child was asleep when another young man walked into his apartment while he was sleeping on his couch and was shot in the face with a .280 caliber rifle. His situation is not something that you see everyday or something that anybody should ever see. I was a witness of this unimaginable scene. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
KIC Leadership By Kevin Kristovich - Good job to the KIC membership on changing the election process. Now, we need to get busy and make sure that politics does not play a game in the selection of officers for the Council. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Support Green Bay!! By
A.M. Johnson - With the upcoming Super Bowl this weekend the following observation that came to my attention seems timely and worthy of passing on to the general sports minded audience. Sometime the cheese can be binding! - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Owned By Foreign Countries By
Donald A. Moskowitz - The Obama Administration is spending our money at unprecedented levels and it is projected to continue for years into the future. Our annual federal deficit is approaching $1.5 trillion and will probably hit $2 trillion before long. Our national debt is projected to go from $14 trillion now to $25 trillion in five to eight years. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Mark Wheeler By
Dave Kiffer - I'm working on a story about Ketchikan artist Mark Wheeler who died in December, but I didn't know him all that well, so I would love to hear any stories you care to share. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Thank You By
Traci Davis - We are very fortunate to have a wonderful bike/walk path out here at Mt. Point.... and I just wanted to thank the person(s) that during our snow and ice weather, has kept the path clear. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
Mike Smithers Pool By
James Kase - I use the pool almost every day. I use the weight room and the sauna after doing laps. I'd like to see this facility retained for use as a sports center. - More...
Thursday PM - February 03, 2011
RE: Kyle Johansen: Recalling the risks of abdication By
Andrew Halcro - Like a modern day scene played out of the current Hollywood blockbuster “The Kings Speech,” Ketchikan Alaska has come face to face with their own royal dilemma. - More...
Tuesday PM - February 01, 2011
THE PLIGHT OF WEST BEHM CANAL By
Andy Rauwolf, Snapper Carson & Mike Fleenor - In late March or early April, West Behm Canal is slated for a commercial herring sac roe fishery. Conducting this fishery in these waters is a travesty and here’s why: Throughout history the herring in West Behm Canal have provided essential nutrition for halibut, rockfish, marine mammals, a host of sea birds, and especially for the hoards of salmon that spawn in several wild river systems that drain into West Behm Canal. In the mid 20th century, fishing lodges began springing up and the area became known as “the premier salmon fishing destination” in the world. To enhance the fishing, a hatchery was added in Neets Bay. Today it is estimated that between $18 million and $22 million dollars in revenue is generated from sport and commercial fishing from West Behm Canal. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
Before we sign Johansen recall petition... By
Mike Cruise - Let it be understood that I am no fan of Rep. Johansen. When Kyle chose to run for the Alaska State House I felt that he was too inexperienced for the job. My apprehensions were reinforced by the fact that Kyle had signed on to run against Jim Elkins. Nobody that I am aware of disagreed with Jim Elkins more than I did, but he had earned his House Seat, cared deeply about Ketchikan and had done an honorable job and was respected in Juneau and through out the State. In my mind there was no good reason for Jim to have to fight for the nomination of his own party as he also battled for his life. I questioned the integrity of anyone who would take advantage of an individual in that cruel situation. I still do. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
Re: Mike Smithers Pool By
Alethea Johnson - How can we form a good opinion without all of the facts? I think it would be helpful for the members of Borough staff who are knowledgeable about the strengths and weaknesses of the Mike Smithers Pool building to meet with interested citizens and brainstorm ideas for its restoration and use as a recreational facility. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
Smithers pool By
Ed Fry - What to do with the Smithers pool? Let’s look at what we are spending so far. The current aquatic project is contracted at $23.5 Million Dollars. It would be nice if that number was concrete! With cost over runs, I would bet that we will be more in the upward neighborhood of $27 Million if not higher after the keys are handed over. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
Recycling The Pool Building By
Makenzie Demmert - There is a great solution to how we should recycle the pool building, that wouldn't be hard at all to remodel. I ve heard it a lot around town and completely agree that Ketchikan should have an indoor skate park. The old pool building would be PERFECT for this! It's in a great location, right next to the school and I know that a TON of kids would get use out of it! Fill up the pools and build some ramps. Then where the weight lifting area is, we could put arcade games (and maybe a snack bar) to generate more income. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
No guts to cut! By
A. M. Johnson - Following is an example of what is wrong with Congress and the President. Nobody has the courage to do any actual cutting. They all -- Republicans, Democrats, Lisa, Begich, Young -- talk a good story on the campaign trail and then Bull S- - - the rest of the way. Tea Party elected are included. Nobody wants their ox gored. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
Upcoming Community Forum By
Karen Eakes - Ketchikan cares about its young people. We want them to be healthy, safe and educated for a productive future. Those that choose to drop out of high school are often making a short-term decision that has long-term consequences for the individuals involved and for their communities. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
Annette Island & Ketchikan By
Herman Kremkau - I remember my time on Annette Island and how pretty the country was. My work week and my weekends in Ketchikan and how friendly the locals were. Someday I hope to return and show my wife where I lived and worked. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
Problems with crab!! By
Don Merriman - I have relatives who intend to visit Alaska this summer, while doing search for a friend who has lived in Alaska for many years I found an article he had written about the waste involved with Crab fisheries. Looks like you have a problem that Sara Palin should have taken care of while she was governor of Alaska. - More...
Monday PM - January 31, 2011
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