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 Subject:
SB 129 -- Residential Sprinkler System Requirements By David
Hull - This residential sprinkler system debacle needs some air
clearing I believe. First of all, I oppose SB 129 because I don't
think the state should pick and choose the way the local community
should conduct their business. It has nothing to do with the
installation of residential sprinkler systems. This bill has
to do with whether or not the local community can make an appropriate
decision on their own to require the sprinkler systems or not.
The state and the home builders apparently think we can t be
trusted to do things the way we always have. We need more process
and state guidance on this one specific issue. Why? - More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Subsistence
Rights opinion By Aan Kadax Tseen aka Don Hoff Jr. - Our
Lands, Our Seas, So fight for it!
I was thinking a lot about my Brothers and Sisters living in
Southeast Alaska. I love and miss the fishing. I really need
to teach a few of you how to subsists off the land and sea, I
noticed that you lucky dogs catch a King Crab every now and then,
but you throw them back because the State of Alaska State laws
say so. I say hell with the State of Alaska... the State and
Federal Governments are protecting the King Crab and Halibut
for the commercial fisheries only. Watch the Deadliest Catch...
you don't see any Subsistence Users! Money and greed is all I
see by a very few people dictating what we Indigenous People
can eat or can't eat and when to eat it! Time to say No! - More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Landless,
money-less, heritage-less By Chris Barry - It has been my
experience personally, and what I have witnessed & read that
when a group of people want to be accommodated and repaid, that
they never stop. With every restitution they seek, they state
that they will be happy, yet with every restitution given them,
they become more hungry and seek to gain more and more. This
is true with all peoples. And the Natives of SE Alaska it is
no different. Once they get land for payment, what will stop
them from seeking more of 'their' land. After all, they did live
here first. - More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
CITY
COUNCIL WHO ARE YOU REPRESENTING? By Charles Edwardson -
OK I tried, I have tried to not put my two cents in but I cannot
help it with headlines like "CITY COUNCIL NIXES TAXI PROPOSAL"
WHAT ?? SERIOUSLY?? - More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Don't
Sell KPU Telecom, Part II By Mike Harpold - Never mind that
GCI is forty times KPU's size; the backers of the sale of KPU
Telecom say that it is unfair for a public utility to compete
against a private company. But the competition has been good
for Ketchikan, facilitating the lowest telephone and cable TV
rates in Alaska and bringing a variety of Internet related services
not found in most other Alaskan communities. - More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
WASTE,
FRAUD, & ABUSE By Rob Holston - The following is taken
from a recent email from Senator Mark Begich: "Health reform
will NOT bust the bank it is fully paid for. The money
will come from cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing
government health programs, ending big subsidies to insurance
companies and increasing efficiency by coordinating care and
streamlining paperwork. Reform takes money already being spent
on health care and re-allocates it. We can reduce unwarranted
subsidies to insurance companies, negotiate cheaper drug prices
and cut unneeded hospital readmissions. The Senate bill also
taxes the most expensive insurance plans (the vast majority of
Alaskans won't be affected) with the goal of making good benefits
affordable, while the House pays for reform through a health
tax on families making more than $1 million annually." -
More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Sincere
thanks By Sean Powell - I would like to thank the following
ten people: Marco Torres, Leslie Snodderly, Kate Guillemette,
Dorsey Winter, Maxx Keizer, Jodie Gatti, Michael Hosley, Valena
Johnson, Amelia Cooper and (Kayhi's own team Mom) Ellen Funk.
This is our 2010 Kayhi Academic Decathlon State team and they
did something magical on the last weekend of February. For those
of you who don't know what it is: Academic Decathlon (AcDc...small
"c" no copyright infringement here!) is a school sponsored
activity that has kids studying Math, Music, Art, Economics,
Literature, Science (Chemistry this year) and the Superquiz (this
year it was the French Revolution) so they can take tests on
those subjects. For fun. They also write an essay, give two speeches
and attend an interview as part of the competition. This year
they placed in all but one event, took third in the Oral Superquiz
and were the second place OVERALL in the STATE! While that is
a matter of some indifference to some, it is an amazing accomplishment!
- More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Fawn
Mountain By Kay Jones - After years of waiting, planning
and hoping the new turf field at Fawn Mountain is finally ready
for Ketchikan to use and enjoy. It is going to make such a difference
in the playing ability and experience for our soccer and football
players. Our track and field participants now have beautiful
track and field event place. This is a dream come true for many.
Now it is up to all the folks of Ketchikan to work together and
take care of this beautiful facility. This means NO DOGS! No
exceptions. I love dogs as much as the average Ketchikan citizen
(I have 3), but dogs will destroy the track and field. Their
nails tear up the track and rubberized field surface. Urine will
clog the drainage system and disintegrate the rubber pellets
and I will avoid describing what dog poop does to fields. Not
to mention it is just gross and unfair to our players as they
come out to enjoy the new field. - More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Ice
Hockey Rink By Randy Cooper - It's nice to see others interested
in an ice hockey rink. Kids love hockey and we are one of the
few communities in Alaska that doesn't offer it. It's a fun pastime
for families and is a wonderful sport to watch. - More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Ice
rink & sport facility By Penny Eubanks - Both an indoor
skating rink and an indoor sporting facility has long been a
discussion in our home as a good idea for Ketchikan. I think
both would benefit the community economics. Hotels and restaurants
would see a boost from outside teams coming for competitions.
All stores would see more spending. It would open some jobs up
as those industries would need more year round employees, as
well as the new skating and sporting facilities needing employees.
- More...
Monday PM - March 22, 2010
Don't
Sell KPU Telecom By Mike Harpold - Saying that the KPU Telecommunications
Division is losing profitability, the city wants to sell it.
But voters need to ask if selling the utility is truly in the
best interests of city residents. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Ensuring
Accurate Tribal Counts In 2010 Census By Norman Arriola &
Lee Wallace - Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) and Organized
Village of Saxman (OVS) are proud partners with the 2010 Census.
The 2010 Census will provide us with a snapshot of our nation
and tribal communities. By being counted, tribal citizens will
help paint a clearer picture of Alaska Native peoples. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Stolen
Tongass Tribe Lands, 202 By Aan Kadax Tseen aka Don Hoff
Jr. - We are the lineal descendants of the Taan ta Kwaan means
Sealion People or known as Tongass Tribe a traditional and historical
Alaskan Native Tribe in Ketchikan indisputably recognized by
all Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribes in Southeast Alaska.
My Clan, Gaanax adi Clan is the oldest Clan in the Tlingit Nation,
with that said, Ketchikan is the aboriginal territory of the
Gaanax adi Clan that is Tongass Tribe. We still claim all the
low tide lands starting from Tatsuda's to the Tunnel. Tongass
Tribe also owned unoccupied village sites on Tongass Island,
Long Island, Village Island, Cat Island, Duke Island, Annette
Island, Portland Channel, Nakat Bay, Cape Chacon, Pennock Island,
Gravina Island, Prince of Wales Island, and Kasaan. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Lands
Sealaska Wants NEVER Belonged to Sealaska By Roger DiPaolo
- The following argument has become very prevalent of late: "Sealaska
only wants the lands they are entitled to returned to them"
- More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Sealaska
Land Bill By Jean Bland - I attended the meeting in Craig;
Sealaska's Attorney said to quit hiding behind these letters
and call them, they welcome calls and will answer your questions,
the land will still be open for public use, if you read the paperwork
they handed out. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Sealaska
Land Swap bills By Roger DiPaolo - As a resident of Edna
Bay, one of the 3 communities most affected by this bill, the
major reason that these bills are bad is that the lives of the
residents of our 3 towns were not adequately taken into consideration.
We residents of these towns are not hostile to Sealaska nor our
native neighbors, we wish to see them live and prosper equally
beside us. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Big
thank you to Sitnews By Sandy Powers - I just want to thank
Sitnews for their lack of bias in running articles and letters
which present various points of view, THANK YOU! Also for running
a lot of user generated content, pictures, classified ads, etc.
It is very encouraging that, while the local printed newspaper's
content shows a marked bias, yours does not. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
THE
OLD FOLKS AND THE CORPORATION By Lois Morgan - There was
once an old woman who had spent her whole life in the Great Forest.
She was the daughter of a lumberman on the most southern edge
of the Great Forest, she grew up benefiting from the beauty and
purity of the nature around her and learned at an early age that
the nature beings were much kinder then most humans; counting
on the creatures of nature to soothe her when a human had abused
her. She grew up wanting to go to Alaska, at the far north of
the Great Forest, where there were alleged to be fewer humans
as well as more pristine nature. When she met a man who wanted
to go with her, she abandoned her studies and left with him on
their grand adventure. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Ice
Rink Suggestion By Kara Steele - I was reading Linda Beaupre's
letter and wanted to say kudos! An ice rink is an EXCELLENT idea
for Southeast! - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
Energize
with Nuclear Power By Donald A. Moskowitz - Oil is a diminishing
and expensive source of energy, and coal is dirty. - More...
Tuesday - March 16, 2010
The
Need to Stop S. B. 881 By Eric Muench - The people of Southeast
Alaska need to know what is in Senate Bill 881, sponsored by
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Nick Begich, and the subject of a
meeting Saturday, March 13 at the Borough Assembly Chambers.
So far much of it appears to be unknown to most people. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
Sealaska
Bill listening sessions on POW By Bob Claus - The Sealaska
Bill listening sessions on POW proved the bill is controversial
and splits our communities. But they did not serve the stated
purpose of letting affected communities be heard. Nor do the
way they were handled give residents confidence that their statements
will be accurately conveyed to the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
S881
Sealaska Lands Bill: Port Protection & Point Baker By
Judy Magnuson - Port Protection and Point Baker residents deserved
the common courtesy of notification that their meeting was canceled.
Residents of both communities kept calling to ask - has it been
canceled? And the answer was always the same- no word yet. Finally,
with no notification to the contrary and needing a half hour
to travel from Point Baker across the open Bay to Port Protection,
and not wanting to miss the only opportunity to be heard we have
had , people came. We were never notified by Mr. Kleeshulte that
he was not coming until 5 minutes AFTER the time the meeting
was to start. Even though he must have known in advance of that
he would not make it. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
S.881
Impact: Town Hall Meeting Canceled in Edna Bay By Myla Poelstra
- The community of Edna Bay is deeply disappointed that Chuck
Kleeschulte has unilaterally canceled a meeting in Edna Bay scheduled
for 1:00 pm Wednesday. Had he consulted with us first we could
have told him the timing of the meeting was ill conceived and
dangerous. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
S.881/HR.2099
- SEALASKA LAND GRAB LEGISLATION THE WRONG ANSWER FOR SOUTHEAST
ALASKA By Myla Poelstra - S.881/HR.2099, two highly
questionable pieces of legislation that are quickly becoming
stark examples of the wrong approach being taken to resolve an
issue that cannot possibly be defended by its sponsors as equitable.
The responsibilities being avoided or ignored by our representatives
only add to the perception that something is wrong with this
process. The recent ethics violations by Senator Kookesh during
his lobbying on behalf of Sealaska Corp., in which he is Chairman
of the Board, bring into focus the tip of an iceberg many now
believe exposes unconscionable support for a contentious proposal
that will only represent the interests of its proponents. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
Prohibition
of U.S.Citizens from Commercial, Personal fishing By A.M
Johnson - The Obama administration has ended public input for
a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing
some of the nation's oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and
even inland waters. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
DXM
By Lela Raymond - I would like to say how thankful I am to
the Ketchikan school board, police chief Ed Talik, Kyle Johanson,
Dave Scott and the Ketchikan Daily News for really getting the
issue of DXM out there. I missed getting tapped in to the school
districts mailing to get this thank you out to all the parents
for the support that I have received which has been overwhelming
and more than I expected. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
Indoor
Ice Rink By Patrick Branco - Thank you Linda. Families can
skate together, boys and girls can learn figure skating, boys
and girls and men and women can play hockey. And on the heels
of the olympics we could try a curling club here. (that wasn't
a joke, by the way). I love the idea of an ice rink for family
fun. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
The
cup half full By Ivy Rose - With the days seeming to fly
by and caos of our everyday life we all fall short of looking
at the cup half full. I remember not to long ago writing a letter
on sitnews about customer service and being positive, and it
got me thinking. Customer service is more than just serving people,
and being nice, but what how we react day to day. It is a proven
fact that people remeber and hold on to negative experiences
more than the positive ones. How easy it is to let the zen of
goodness be zapped by something as silly as someone not letting
us out in traffic when we are in a hurry. Then we feel that the
whole world needs to know of the wrong doing. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
Re:
Wake Up Parents By Bethany Phippen - So the debate continues.
First and foremost I have totally given up the talk about the
older children who ditch their coats. There is only so much that
can be done when it comes to the kids who can actually speak
for themselves leaving their coats when they are told to put
one on. - More...
Friday - March 12, 2010
S
881 meeting set for Ketchikan By Johnnie Laird - I want to
take this opportunity to thank those that sent in emails to Sen
Murkowski asking her to set a meeting about this legislation
in Ketchikan. It has been set for Saturday, March 13th at 12
noon at the borough chambers.
I want to make a few statements
about this legislation. - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Why
are S 881 meetings being rushed through? By Alan Stein -
The Sealaska's Bill S 881 should die immediately in committee
in Congress. Two weeks ago, I warned the Senate Staffer, Chuck
Kleeschulte, who is conducting the S 881 dog and pony shows in
Alaska, how dangerous travel conditions are on Prince of Wales
this time of year. In a stampede to get this bill through Congress,
Chuck Kleeshulte did the opposite. - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Landless
By Charles J. Jackson Jr. - As part of the landless and relatives,
when is Sealaska going to help-out the landless people of Southeast?
-
More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Sealaska
S 881 observation By Michael Lee Beasley - Arm in arm and
toe-to-toe, Sealaska tribal member shareholders are united in
their quest to secure acreage owed for for a debt unpaid on behalf
of the Federal Government and the People of the United States,
since 1971. Nearly 4 decades or 40 years have not satisfied this
debt totally. - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
South
Tongass Hiway Ferry Terminal By Rob Holston - Back in 2007
Saxman missed an opportunity. Perhaps this is their second and
last chance to take advantage of their strategic location. The
measure failed at that time because the Saxman political leadership
took the position that the waterfront property could never be
replaced once it is sold. I think they can have their cake and
eat it to. The Saxman community should sell the land necessary
(Seaport A or B) for the new terminal for 100% of commercially
appraised value with the following conditions: - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Ketchikan
Wellness Coalition: Letter to the community By Karen Eakes
- In July of 2006, the United Way of Southeast Alaska sponsored
the United Way Compass II Community-Building Assessment in Ketchikan.
The McDowell group completed this assessment with 300 randomly
selected phone interviews, ten focus group discussions with different
segments of the community and individual interviews with community
citizens and leaders. The comprehensive report on the results
was released in January of 2007 and copies were distributed to
our governmental bodies and throughout the community. - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Ward
Cove By Rob Holston - As I enter my 11th year of trying to
purchase or long-term lease waterfront property in Ward Cove,
perhaps this information, gleaned from a news article by Dave
Kifer will help folks understand the history behind the present
circumstances in Ward Cove: - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Annual
immigration cost By Al Johnson - Do you wonder as you watch
the various newscast reporting Tea Party frustrations, what it
is that has these usual normal non-activist citizens on the streets
and in front of public buildings or at Town Hall meetings? Lord,
there are so many encroachments by Government into the lives
of private citizens to the extent the collective weight test
the patience and patriotism of each. - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Good
Samaritan By Will Roberts - Dear Good Samaritan, the words
"thank you" aren't enough to describe the gratitude
that I feel when I think about what you did for me Tuesday in
line at Wal-Mart. I've been thinking about what you did ever
since and am proud to have met you. Love for one another is rare
these days, especially between strangers. You are the proof that
"love thy neighbor" isn't a pointless phrase these
days. - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Uncle
Al By Jay Jones - I heard with my own ears The "Honorable"
Senator Kookesh threaten, bribe the Craig/Sitka City Council.
He received a slap on the wrist and has to write a letter of
apology to the Craig Council for use of a poor choice of words
which implied he would use his senatorial power to block funding
for capital improvement projects for the City of Craig. Since
the ethics findings Kookesh has already denied intent and claims
his statements were "misconstrued". - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
RE:
WAKE UP PARENTS By Julie Steiner - Okay! Sounds like we have
some controversy along the "kids and coats" subject.
Lori Headley is right: You can't force your kids to wear something
they don't want to wear! You can try, however, you can also give
them consequences when they disobey! But they will just leave
and then take it back off! It's a battle your gonna fight until
they are 18! - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
GOLDEN
PARACHUTES & BIRDS THAT CANNOT FLY By David G. Hanger
- Mr. Jarvi keeps referring to these bills (plural) that I have
not paid and I must confess you have one on me, because I am
not familiar with any unpaid bills. I duly noted back in July
I was late paying a bill, but that has nothing whatsoever to
do with your allegations that I am not paying my bills. Where
did you get that from? You have been carping so loudly about
all these unpaid bills of mine, I invite you simply to provide
the venders' names, the amounts of the bills, and copies of all
of these invoices you keep saying I have not paid. Put up or
shut up. - More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Thank
yous to others By Judith Green - You know it is just nice
to finally see that our community can and will and does put on
sitnews.com the positiveS about our town and peoples and organizations.
- More...
Monday - March 08, 2010
Good
Things Happen in Ketchikan By Charles Edwardson - WHAT does
lumpia and the Cape Fox Dancers have in common? Nothing but the
KAYHI girls' basketball team. So often I write this publication
to complain or find fault in our elected officials. Today I want
to change the tone. - More...
Wednesday - March 03, 2010
Customer
Service By Scott R. Davis - In 1989 I popped a hole in my
fuel tank. While the details of that particular incident aren't
important, what happened after that is. - More...
Wednesday - March 03, 2010
New
Column - "Community Endeavors" by Enough is Enough
Citizens Committee By Bobbie McCreary - The Enough is
Enough citizens committee is proud to announce a new Sitnews
column written by Jessi Chapman addressing positive actions taken
by individuals and groups of citizens to improve the quality
of life in Ketchikan. - More...
Wednesday - March 03, 2010
Re:
Wake Up Parents By Bethany Phippen - I just finished reading
Lori Headley's letter responding to Spring McCurry's statement.
I don't know if you have children, but I don't know of one single
Pediatrician who is going to have ANY child with a fever outside
in just a diaper. Yes, my kids are 4 and 7, and I have to argue
with them occasionally about wearing their coats outside to go
play. I can understand where high school students don't wear
coats, but having an infant outside in a diaper there is no excuse
for. If a child has a dangerously high fever you alternate tylenol
and ibuprophen every 4 hours, you run them a cool bath, not so
cold that they go into shock. If you know of ANY doctor that
is recommending a child go outside in 40 even 50 degree weather
to get them over a fever, they need to be turned in for malpractice.
That is just asking for pnemonia. - More...
Wednesday - March 03, 2010
Indoor
sports facility By Linda Beaupre - Instead of a indoor
turf field, why not an ice rink? - More...
Wednesday - March 03, 2010
SB
881: No Lands Bill Meeting for Ketchikan By Johnnie Laird
- I was surprised to read the schedule of meetings about
SB 881 being arranged by Senator Murkowski's staff do not include
Ketchikan. - More...
Monday - March 01, 2010
Indoor
Sports Facility By Jeff Carson - You may have noticed a petition
going around town that asks for your support in urging the Borough
to help a local group remodel the veneer building into an indoor
turf field facility. This letter is to answer the questions that
have come about because of this petition. First of all, the plan
is to install a 250' by 100' sport turf field that would run
from the south wall of the building 250 feet to the north. Currently
in Ketchikan there are 2,241 kids who participate in Little League
baseball, youth softball, youth soccer, wrestling, dribblers
league, gymnastics, Kayhi baseball, softball & soccer &
youth football. All of these kids would benefit from this facility,
especially in the Winter months. That doesn't include adult soccer,
baseball & softball leagues that could benefit from a field
like this. - More...
Monday - March 01, 2010
Congressional
Reform Act of 2010 By A.M. (Al) Johnson - The following caught
my attention while studied current events surrounding the arrogance
of our Congress in addressing many important issues of the day
relating directly to our well being. - More...
Monday - March 01, 2010
Brief
Letter of Thanks By Jeff Hendrickson - This brief letter
is just to say thanks to Kris W. I too am tired of reading the
"childish bantor" and business bashing that happens
regularly by Mr. Hanger. - More...
Monday - March 01, 2010
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