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Update in Progress
Disappointed By
Katy Suiter - In the early morning hours of March 5, 2011, my neighbor’s Pennock Island home burned to the ground. She lost everything but her life, her cat and a blanket - absolutely everything. The only evidence a house existed there are a few piling that held up the outer part of the large deck, and a small pile of ash blanketed with scorched metal roofing. I understand it was quite a sight from the Ketchikan side of the channel, and we had many calls from concerned friends who were worried about us. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Homeless in Ketchikan By
Kristen Gilliard - I am looking at the apartments and duplexes that are available in Ketchikan for housing. It seems that the going rate for a 2-bedroom is anywhere from $900.00 - $1500.00 a month. These do NOT include electricity, heat or hot water. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? I cannot believe that the rent rates continue to grow yet the broken window & maggot infested carpeted units are not being looked at. I read that with the census: Ketchikan is allotted additional funding: BET YOU THAT I DON'T SEE 1 PENNY OF HELP! - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Attack on Women's Rights By
Laura Allen - Mr. Holston's recent letter (published March 7th) vilifying a woman's right to choose as upheld by the highest legal authority in this country, the Supreme Court, is faulty for many reasons. I will highlight a couple. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Thank you By Jeremy Brown- Our family would like to thank and honor the Ketchikan General Hospital and the ICU staff for their recent treatment of our son James Beau. Ketchikan must be proud to have such a quality facility and staff. Coming from the Dallas area with hospitals that are on the cutting edge, it was reassuring to see Dr. Rice conferring with Bellingham’s ICU via their online network. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Thank you By
Inge Kummant - We had a special event at Ketchikan High School on March 10, and I’d like to let the community know about it and thank those involved. First City Players presented their wonderful production of Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” at an assembly for the high school students. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2001
NPR funding/States Rights By
A. M. Johnson - The following letter has been submitted to both Senator Murkowske and Representative Young. I find no use to address Senator Begich with this issue. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Tsunami Warning Sirens By
Dan McQueen
- It seems to me that since we live pretty much at sealeval here in Ketchikan, and most all signs point to more and maybe a lot closer and even bigger earthquakes, we need a better alarm system than the Weather Channel and the TV period! - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Food handler cards By
George Tipton - Every employee that handles food must have one within 30 days of being hired or prior to employment in Anchorage. This can be a Deli employee, cook, food prep employee and basically any person handling food to be served to the Public. Before the card is issued you must take a test and pass it as well as paying the $10 per person. In addition, a supervisory restaurant employee must have a Serve Safe Certificate, which is obtained by attending an 8 hour class instructed by a trained CHARR instructor. I keep a copy of all certificates for my employees as part of their Personnel file so in case they do not have it with them that day, it is still on location. I also keep a tickler file so we know when they need to renew their food handlers or TAMS cards or their Serve Safe Certificates. ADEC performs periodic inspections and this is one of the areas they check and score an establishment on. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Food Handler's Cards By
Falene Reeve - It is my understanding that anyone who helps to produce a food or beverage must obtain a card. This would include bartenders and baristas. I come into contact with many folks working in the industry who are unaware of needing to have one. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Jails and Nursing homes By
A.M. Johnson - I could not resist sending this in for consideration as a letter of frustration over the Congressional kabuki dance with the budget and debt. Somethings are out of balance and this little ditty surely points out two. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
KPU, Keep it! By
Jason Mitchell - Please don't sell Ketchikan Public Utilities (KPU), as residents of Ketchikan, we have all had to deal with businesses out of town, whether it's your credit cards, or your mortgage, or a plethora of other things. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
Where do the profits go? By
Michael McColley - I wrote a letter recently asking questions about Ketchikan Public Utilities. I did not get an answer. - More...
Monday - March 21, 2011
PROUD OF OUR KAYHI KIDS By
Karen Owings - I had the privilege of watching the Region V 3A/4A Tournament. I want to say how proud I am of the Ketchikan High School students who travelled to Juneau to play or perform during this tournament; Kayhi Boys Basketball, Kayhi Lady Kings, Kayhi Cheerleaders, Kayhi Pep Club, K-Highlites Dance Team, Kayhi Pep Band and last but not least the K-Highlites Dance Team Prom Dates. Competition is always fierce during the Region V Tournament, yet our students displayed impressive sportsmanship, great attitudes, respect and manners while in Juneau. Regardless of the situation, our students continually demonstrated by their actions and words that they are terrific representatives of our community. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 15, 2011
Thank you By
Craig Tucker - On March 7th, I suffered a heart attack. I would like to thank the staff at Ketchikan General Hospital's emergency room, ambulance, and Guardian Flight for the great job they did in helping me. Also, the doctors and nurses at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, WA, and of course the many friends, and family members of Ketchikan and surrounding areas. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 15, 2011
HOMELESS... No Wonder! By
Kristen Gilliard - Homeless... It's NO WONDER the cost of living in Ketchikan is high! I am a single mother with 2 daughters 9 & 5. I have a good job and bring home $2000.00 net a month if I'm lucky! (No sick kids and losing days off work). How is ANYONE supposed to live in Ketchikan when RENT is over $1000.00 a month and that's not including heat, electricity, and other payments due. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 15, 2011
Praise for Fawn Mountain Elementary School By
Lisa Noland - I would like to take this opportunity to say how deeply I appreciate the staff of Fawn Mountain Elementary School. All of the professional personnel that interact with my two sons at Fawn Mountain have been courteous, thorough and kind to them and to me throughout this school year. My sons are thriving and even excelling in some areas. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 15, 2011
New UAS Campus Director By
Bobbie McCreary - I just read Robert Warner's posting and I am sorry he did not take the opportunity to sit in on the community meetings where we were able to talk with and interview the two candidates for the Campus Director position. These meetings were open to the public and a diverse group of citizens did attend. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 15, 2011
Ketchikan has a big heart By
LeAnn Pickard - On Saturday, March 12th, I saw some pretty amazing things. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 15, 2011
Food Handler Safety Card By
Natasha Campbell - Regarding Cynthia Moyer's comment about not having testing done to obtain this card, Anna even says to take the test online, which a few years back is what my older sister and I had to do in order to start work at a local restaurant. It is a quick test that covers the basics. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 15, 2011
Homelessness in Ketchikan By
Lisa Scarborough - Homelessness in Ketchikan is becoming a bigger problem due to many factors such as the lack of full-time year round jobs which pay enough to cover rent, utilities and basic needs, high rent rates and lack of low-income housing. - More...
Friday PM - March 11, 2011
More Humanists, Theologians, and Religious Philosophers Needed? By
Robert Warner - The University of Alaska Southeast apparently believes that Ketchikan needs to train more humanists, theologians, and religious philosophers. Is it strange, but I don't see any listings for employment in these areas according to the Alaska State Employment Service? To hire a religious theologian from Texas seems to be another illogical decision of top administrators at UAS. About a year ago, I attempted to ask why it would take a full year to make such a decision. To hire such a individual with little if any knowledge of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest makes little sense in my opinion. - More...
Friday PM - March 11, 2011
Wages & seasonal hiring practices By
Joey Garcia - First of all I wanted to touch on the subject on the wage separation of the City of Ketchikan and the Borough concept in seasonal job budgetary functions and to learn better in order to keep my mouth shut I guess. - More...
Friday PM - March 11, 2011
Skate park By
Shelley Stallings - The skate park is a great idea. Thank you to Bobby McCreary, Bob Fultz, Craig Jackson & Steven Perro. I am glad to hear progress is being made in providing positive activities for our young people. The location near Schoenbar School is excellent. - More...
Friday PM - March 11, 2011
KPU By
Michael McColley - I can't figure out why they call Ketchikan Public Utilities publicly owned. What happens to dividends, is there a payout? Who does the audit? When was it last done? - More...
Friday PM - March 11, 2011
Food Handlers' Cards By
Kim Harty - Regarding food handlers' cards, some people in Ketchikan do have these cards. - More...
Friday PM - March 11, 2011
Food Handler Permits By
Cynthia Moyer - I'm just curious after reading the letter from Anna Tollfeldt regarding Food Handlers Permits. If all that is required to obtain a Food Handlers permit is to mail in $10.00 to the State of Alaska with no training or testing required, what is your point? - More...
Friday PM - March 11, 2011
Homeless in Ketchikan By
Shannon Nelson - Regarding Homeless in Ketchikan, I have so many questions because I too would like to see this terrible situation talked about. Do you know that we have mothers with children without homes? It appears that the homeless here are not obvious, they aren't walking around with signs advertising their plight. - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
CRUISE SHIP POWER ANALYSIS NEEDS By Pete Ellis - The Cruise Ship power opportunity in Thom Fischer article's commentary is certainly enlightening and appreciated so my compliments to him for the calculations and data. - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
Over Taxed By
Scott Cragun - In response to the letter by Thom Fischer, you recommend that "Two solutions should be looked at". The first is to develop more hydropower energy,The second is to connect Southeast Alaska to the North American grid through BC, with the proposed AK/BC Intertie. - More...
Monday PM
Forest Service Proposed Budget By
Bob Claus - On 3/3/11 Senator Murkowski, in a response to a proposed USFS budget, stated that “Folks in Southeast Alaska are skeptical and perhaps cynical about the promises made by the Forest Service.” - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
Forest Service Proposal By
A. M. Johnson - I recently sent this letter to Senator Murkowski regarding her review with the US Forest Service CEO Tom Tidwell, no friend to Alaska. - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
Fireworks By Mary Lynne Dahl - Just a quick thank you to Ken Arriola and his team of gusto folks who snowshoed up Deer Mountain last night to put on the best fireworks show I have seen in a long time. I really appreciate the effort at raising the money to do it, and the physical commitment required to haul all the gear and fireworks up the mountain, then put on that great show. - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
Food Safety/Food handler's card By
Anna Tollfeldt - Recently, I have noticed the lack of food safety in Ketchikan. Most people I know who work or have worked in a food handling environment are NEVER required to get their food handler's card. In fact, I've found it pretty rare to come across someone working in a restaurant with a food handler's card in this town. I myself have previously worked in a restaurant and I was never required (it wasn't even mentioned!) to get my food handler's card nor were any of my coworkers. - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
Abortion debate By
Rob Holston - The abortion debate is back on the front burner after Moveon.org released it’s horrifying ad campaign against the G.O.P. and “back alley abortions”. As is typical with all “women’s rights” type organizations they fail to recognize that 51% of all babies aborted by Planned Parenthood and other “legal” organizations are women. Who is protecting THEIR rights? - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
What a pain By
Charles Edwardson - Regarding the stop light at the bottom of Jefferson, I don't know if this bothers anyone else and it might seem like petty stuff, but what a pain in the --- it is. - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
Hero of the day By
Judith Green - We have a good neighbor in town - other than "state farm". I think we need to start a bulletin board for HERO OF THE DAY! - More...
Monday PM - March 07, 2011
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