B.C. Transboundary Mine Development By Rob Sanderson, Jr. - My grandmother who raised me taught me an important lesson — take care of the land and water, and it will take care of our present and future generations. I try to live by that principle every day. That’s why I’m speaking out about industrial developments happening near my home in Southeast Alaska. These developments are occurring across the border in Canada, but they have the potential to pollute Southeast Alaska rivers and harm our wild salmon. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014

Another Pre-election Gasline Study By Bill Walker - Here we go again. With another gubernatorial election we get another gas line study (SB 138) designed to fool voters into thinking there's progress on gas line development. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014

TERRIBLE TODDLERS By Rob Holston - Elective Abortion is legal in all 50 states.  That’s the law.  So why don’t the most liberal states allow elective killing of toddlers i.e. the TERRIBLE TWOS? - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014 

Meter Choice By Amanda Mitchell - On March 5th, Ketchikan Public Utilities came to our house to install a digital ‘smart’ meter on our home. We have been very vocal about not wanting one and you can even reference my online Sitnews letter Technology.  The gentleman stated his name was Mark Johnson and we didn’t get the name of the other KPU employee. I do have to give them credit that they have not installed a meter or they switched it back when we caught them in the act, but Mr. Johnson threatened us saying they would disconnect our power in the future if we did not switch over.   - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014

Please don't poison me!! By Sally Balch - I have lived in Ketchikan most of my life. I live here because we don't live in polluted surroundings and for the most part we have a very clean pristine environment. I'm not a Greenpeace or anything like that, but I am very worried about putting ammonia in our water system. I have several allergies and one of them is ammonia. I can't breath it touch it or have it at all in my home. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014

Our Local Governments Deserve More Respect By Bill Walker - I am often asked how I differ from Governor Parnell. One significant difference is how we view local governments. Over the past six years, a pattern has developed with Parnell disrespecting our local governments.  Here are a few examples. - More...
Friday AM - March 14, 2014

SB 182: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SALARY DIFFERENTIALS By Mary Dahel - I am writing in opposition to SB 182. To me this topic does not belong in legislative discussions nor in state statutes. It is a contract topic and the State DOA has a very capable full time staff devoted to negotiating contracts. - More...
Friday AM - March 14, 2014

Rep. Munoz does not represent constituents by voting Yes on SB 49 By Nancy Courtney - Last week Rep. Munoz was the pivotal Yes vote on Senate Bill 49, the bill that attempts to establish a medical definition in state law for publicly funded abortions. - More...
Friday AM - March 14, 2014

Bonds By Michael McColley - I am writing this letter to all who voted for the three major bonds which now the City and the Ketchikan Borough are scrambling to find ways to pay for. 1. the new swimming pool. 2. the new library 3. the new hospital project 4. new fire stations -- and raising water, sewer & property assessments I think we should have taken one project at a time. Because personally I feel the people of Ketchikan have been getting all their taxes and assessments raised to pay for these bonds. - More...
Friday AM - March 14, 2014

RE: Ketchikan Government Parties Down By Mike Ellis - I assume Mr. Dial was traveling at State expense when he took the opportunity to bash the Ketchikan community's annual lobbying trip & his reporting was not factual. - More...
Friday AM - March 14, 2014

Re: Ketchikan Government Parties By Vanessa Nowland - I'm in full agreement with you Mr. Dial. Enough is enough... - More...
Tuesday AM - March 14, 2014

RE: Ketchikan Legislative party By Rodney Dial - In response to Mayor Kiffer's letter regarding the Ketchikan Legislative party.   It always amazes me how our local elected officials find the need to spin everything.   Mr. Mayor you’re trying to spin throwing a massive party in Juneau after the public has endured years of tax and utility increases… amazing!    A few questions please Mr. Mayor. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014

Money down the drain. The city's leaders won't listen. By Ed Plute - I want to thank everyone who attended the water meeting Wednesday. I believe the meeting was a great success. But to my point, now we find out that the City's water system wiith chlorine and UV are installed backwards. The chlorine is first in the water treatment and the UV last. So when the water goes through the chlorine first then to the UV, the UV kills the chlorine, and does not decontaminate the water properly. The system is backwards. And that is according to Bob Bowcock. We paid millions of dollars for the system and they cannot even get it right. When will our city leaders listen to us? - More...
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014

Ketchikan Visitors Bureau By Shirley McDonald - I recently wrote a post to my facebook page and now wish to utilize SitNews to thank KVB for their nomination, let alone voting me with the Alaska Spirit Award. I didn't even know this went on even!!! Completely surprised .... shocked ..... you name it ... I felt it. Mainly wondering of all the customer services folks we have in our area, how could I be the recipient!!!!???? - More...
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014

FISHERMEN, DON’T FORGET SCHEDULE J By David G. Hanger - I am prompted to jot this “heads up” memo by a prominent local fisherman who insists that Schedule J is not being used on many fishing returns prepared here in town. It is an easy mistake for even a licensed pro to make because the conditions common to use of the form do not occur all the time. While I am somewhat skeptical of my fisherman’s observation, it would be too costly to ignore. - More....
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014

Facts of the Matter By Rob Holston - We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Thank you “Declaration of Independence.” - More...
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014

Thank you SS Sound By Shirley McDonald - I just wanted to give an ENORMOUS shout out to SS Sound. Yesterday morning I fell outside their business. I went to their office and they rushed n scurried, as I was bleeding quite a bit. I had literally landed on my face and had bit clear thru my upper lip and knocked out 1 front tooth and loosening the other. They not only let me use their restroom to clean up as best I could, they ALSO TOOK ME TO THE ER on top of everything else!!! - More...
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014

Campus gun bill By John Suter - In the news is “ Campus gun bill before committee”.  There is nothing more important in the world than for a student to get an A in their class.  An armed student is in a much better position to negotiate with the teacher to get an A in class than an unarmed student. - More...
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014

What are those yahoos in Juneau up to now? By Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkin - Considering that we're 46+ days into the legislative session, it's a fair question. Like a good story, most legislative sessions have a narrative. Last session's narrative was simple and wholesome: the passage of a multi-billion dollar tax cut for oil companies. And by golly, we got the job done with SB 21, which passed the Senate 11-9, and fulfilled its unfortunate destiny by a vote of 27-12 on the floor of the House of Representatives at 2:07 a.m. in the wee hours of April 14, 2013. (I was among the dozen dissenters.) - More...
Tuesday AM - March 11, 2014