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TuesdaY
March 25, 2014
Deer Mountain
Deer Mountain is likely the most photographed mountain in the Ketchikan area. The Ketchikan Recreational Center has a scenic view, sitting below the mountain.
Front Page Photograph By TOM LECOMPTE © 2014
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Ketchikan: Committee Passes Bill with Provisions to Boost Southeast Alaska Economy - Friday, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee passed Senate Bill 99 sponsored by Senator Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage), which would give the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) the ability to issue bonds for two multi-mineral mining projects in Southeast Alaska while also making technical amendments to the Sustainable Energy Transmission and Supply (SETS) Fund within AIDEA.
“I believe we need to use every tool we can to make sure our economy continues to grow, while creating job opportunities for Alaskans in every possible corner of the state,” said Senator McGuire. “Senate Bill 99, with its two amendments, could now bring hundreds of jobs to Southeast Alaska, while boosting a critical sector in our economy: mining.”
Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) introduced the two amendments to SB99. The first amendment would allow AIDEA to issue bonds to finance the infrastructure and construction costs of the Bokan-Dotson Ridge rare earth element (REE) project located on Prince of Wales Island about 40 miles southwest of Ketchikan.
The second amendment would allow AIDEA to issue bonds to finance the development of the Niblack mine project and the Gravina Island Industrial Complex (near Ketchikan) for an ore processing facility. Niblack is a gold, copper, zinc, and silver deposit also located on Prince of Wales Island. During mine operations, Niblack has the potential to provide 200 full-time jobs, with about two-thirds of workers at the mine site and one-third at the processing facility. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
Ketchikan: UAS Maritime Worker Program Approved for Veterans - Alaska veterans will now be able to get training for good-paying jobs in the maritime industry after fast action by U.S. Senator Mark Begich earlier this month.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responded quickly to a March 6th letter Begich sent demanding the agency reverse its bureaucratic finding and approve an application by the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) to establish a program to teach ship-building skills for a budding new Southeast Alaska industry.
Begich’s letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki requested that the VA quickly approve a twice-denied application by UAS to have a new Maritime and Multi-skilled Worker credential program in Ketchikan recognized by the VA.
Begich was informed on March 14th that the Maritime and Multi-Skilled Worker program was approved retroactively to Sept. 1, 2013. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
Ketchikan: Public Review of 2014-15 Winter Ferry Schedule - The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities proposed Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) schedule pattern for fall, winter and spring 2014-2015 is now available online for public review.
This is an opportunity for communities to review and comment on the proposed schedule in consideration of community events. The meeting will be held in Ketchikan at the Alaska Marine Highway Central Office, 7559 North Tongass Highway for participants wishing to attend in person.
A teleconference to hear comments and consider adjustments is scheduled Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. for Southeast schedules and at 1:30 p.m. for Southwest and Southcentral schedules. - More...
Tuesday - March 25, 2014
Southeast Alaska: Southeast Shareholder Relations Group Meets in Juneau - There are more than 21,500 tribal member shareholders of Sealaska. About 9,000 shareholders live in Southeast Alaska. Many are also shareholders of the region’s Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) urban or village corporations. Sealaska organizes a bi-annual workshop in an effort to better serve shareholders of ANCSA corporations. Representatives from Huna Totem Corporation, Cape Fox Corporation, Kootznoowoo Inc., Yak-Tat Kwaan, Inc., Haida Corporation and Goldbelt Incorporated attended the workshop. This year the two day session was March 20 -21, 2014 in Juneau.
Sealaska’s Records Manager Linda Wynne provided presentations for the group to review best practices. They also reviewed the responsibility for protecting the security of shareholder records in accordance with regulatory compliance.
In addition the group had face time with State entities such as the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics and Alaska Child Support Services. New this year was a panel discussion on child support services. The group also reviewed Sealaska processes and forms as guidelines, such as shareholder forms for estate processing or change of address. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
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Alaska: Governor Rejects Pay Increase for Self and State Officers By MARY KAUFFMAN – Governor Sean Parnell today signed Senate Bill 125, legislation rejecting proposed pay increases for the governor, lieutenant governor and department heads. SB 125 is sponsored by Senators Pete Kelly and Kevin Meyer.
“Given the current budget restraints, this is a sensible piece of legislation,” Governor Parnell said. “I respect the work of the bill’s sponsors and their commitment to rein in spending.”
Governor Parnell announced in December he would decline the pay increase for himself recommended by the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission. The Compensation had recommended the governor’s salary be $150,872.79 per annum effective July 1, 2014 with an additional increase of 2.5% effective July 1, 2015. The governor's salary currently is $145,000 and will remain at this level.
The Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission is directed by law to “review the salaries, benefits, and allowances of members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each principal executive department head and prepare a report on its findings at least once every two years, but not more frequently than every year.”
The last pay increase review was January 10, 2009, at which time the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission recommended salary adjustments for legislators and department heads and on January 26, 2011, the commission recommended salary adjustments for the governor and lieutenant governor. These salary increases were not rejected by the legislature. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
Alaska: Are State Retiree Health Benefits Under Fire? - Concern is mounting among retirees that the Parnell Administration is poised to reduce constitutionally-protected health benefits they were promised as state and local employees.
The Administration recently came out with a revised retiree health plan. A public comment period on the draft plan was set to close on February 28 but has been extended to April 30 in response to public concerns.
The plan provides health coverage to 67,000 Alaska retirees and their families.
“The Alaska Constitution prohibits any diminishment or impairment of retiree benefits,” said Senator Wielechowski, who recently urged the Parnell Administration to review and reconsider the draft plan. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
Alaska: House Votes To Repeal High School Exit Exam; Offers Pathway for Prior Students to Get Diplomas - The Alaska House of Representatives today passed a bill by Rep. Pete Higgins to repeal the High School Qualifying Exam, or exit exam, in reading, English and mathematics.
“This is a good step forward in the process to reform our education system,” Higgins, (R-Fairbanks) said. “This hurdle, created with the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, is maligned by parents, teachers and students alike, and has created the clichéd atmosphere of ‘teaching to the test.’ It doesn’t make fiscal or educational sense to continue requiring our students to take the exam, or for our teachers to waste valuable instruction time prepping them. It takes three days to prep and three more to administer; we’ll save money and allow our teachers to teach.” - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
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Fish Factor: 52 million hatchery produced fish projected to return By LAINE WELCH - Alaska’s salmon catch of 273 million salmon set a record last year– and so did the number of salmon returning home to state hatcheries.
The 2013 Fisheries Enhancement Report by the AK Dept. of Fish and Game shows that a return of 112 million hatchery reared salmon contributed 36 percent to the state’s total salmon harvest.
The breakdown by species was 63% for chum salmon, 38% for pinks, 23% for Chinook salmon, 22% for cohos and 5% of Alaska’s sockeye salmon catch can be credited to hatchery returns.
Unlike farmed fish, which are crammed into nets or pens until they’re ready for market, Alaska salmon begin their lives in one of 35 state and/or privately run hatcheries and are released as fingerlings to the sea.
Prince William Sound has the greatest amount of hatchery action - last year 80% of the Sound’s salmon catch was hatchery produced, including 88% of the chums and 80% of the pinks 45% of sockeye were hatchery produced. The hatchery catch was worth $113 million to PWS salmon fishermen, 68% of the total value.
Kodiak outpaced Southeast for hatchery catches last year. Fish returns to the Island’s two hatcheries accounted for 35% of Kodiak’s total salmon catch, nearly triple from 2012. The value of $16 million was 26% of total exvessel value, an increase of $10 million. The hatchery catch breakdown was 12% chums, 20% coho, 15% sockeye and 38% pink salmon.
At Southeast, hatcheries contributed 10% of the total salmon catch last year valued at $52 million, or 21% of the dockside value. The breakdown was 81% of chums, 32% of Chinook, 26% coho, 14% sockeye and 2% pinks. Nearly 761,000 hatchery-reared coho salmon returned to Southeast, the largest ever.
At Cook Inlet, just one percent of both the sockeye and pink salmon harvests were hatchery produced valued at under $500,000.
This year nearly 52 million hatchery produced fish are projected to return to Alaska - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014 |
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Columns - Commentary
 TOM PURCELL: Obama Talks to Putin - "You have been warned, Vladimir. If you don't reverse your impending annexation of Crimea, you're going to pay a steep price."
"Steep price, Obama? More silly personal sanctions placed on a handful of individuals, rather than sanctions on my energy industry and banks — something Vladimir actually fears? Sticks and stones may break Vladimir's bones, but unserious sanctions never hurt me!"
"Don't you read the college textbooks, Vladimir? You are on the wrong side of history. The Cold War is over. Carrying on like an imperialist thug is so 1980s!"
"Vladimir greatly enjoys Obama's naive misunderstanding of power-hungry leaders. Vladimir will never tire of the pie-in-the-sky ramblings of America's faculty-lounge-member in chief!"
"But haven't you listened to my speeches, Vladimir? I heralded a new, peaceful era across the globe. I promised to break the precedent of prior presidents and open a dialogue with our foes. I was going to change the perceptions other countries had of America!" - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
 JEFF LUND: Spring Break for the stomach - “Did you just take a selfie?”
“No, I was taking a picture of the sign.”
He wasn’t convinced. His look revealed a suspicion of sarcasm. I continued.
“I’ve been on an island in Alaska for five months, this is my first fast food in a long time.”
That probably only made him think I was skilled in the art of creating elaborate excuses such as the one I was giving him to cover the taking of a selfie.
I ordered without further chastisement and within a few minutes had my spicy chicken sandwich.
The Spring 2014 Food Tour was officially underway. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
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Viewpoints
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Questions, please contact
the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696
Sitnews reserves the right to edit.
 The idiocracy of Anti-Realists By Marie Zellmer -
Again I find myself inundated by the idiocy of some people. I would ignore it, but they now stand on the street corner annoying all with their stupidity. First of all you can't even get an abortion in Ketchikan, you have to go 400 miles away. Second, it is LAW, and even the Bible says to accept and obey the laws of your kingdom. Third, and most important, not every woman was created to bear children equally. Having a safe abortion procedure available saves lives, of those who are unable to. Lastly, having a procedure does not mean the woman hates children, it is an act of love. Yes, Love! - More....
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
Herring Cove By Ken Arriola -
I feel compelled to reiterate my argument on the behalf of the residents/ private property owners of Herring Cove. I guess I'm befuddled as to why the Ketchikan Borough deems itself the purveyor of tourism activities in a predominantly residential neighborhood. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
SB 182 By Dan Ortiz - I read with interest and concern the recent article in the Ketchikan Daily News, concerning the potential passage of S.B. 182. and the subsequent demonstration by the IBU, (Inlandboatmen’s Union), the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union. The IBEW joined the protest. As a longtime resident of southern Southeast Alaska and as candidate for the AK State House District 36, I stand with the workers and their families on this issue. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
THE SUBCHAPTER'S CORPORATION SOCIAL SECURITY TAX AVOIDANCE SCAM By David G. Hanger -
A local half-wit or two has once again concluded that the licensed practitioners of Ketchikan, despite their collective 250 to 300 years of field experience, and the untold thousands of politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers, regulators, and accountants who have contributed to making these laws are, nonetheless, all dunces, particularly in light of your extreme brilliance in seeing what none of the rest of us have ever seen, that you can form a Subchapter S corporation and never pay social security taxes again. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
Real Reality Cruise Ship Woes By Rob Holston -
Welcome aboard the USS Concep’tione 40 week world voyage. You have been assigned a state-room where ALL of your needs are automatically taken care of: meals served 24/7 with ALL the nutrition perfectly blended and balanced for your individual physical and mental growth and development; climate controlled comfort; every detail taken care of. The name on your state-woom might be Montana, California, Georgia ..... only problem is, it was assigned to you along with a womb-keeper. Google WOMB. She alone has the soul power to toss you overboard at any time during the first 13 weeks of your cruise for ANY reason, her discretion. Your little heart beats frantically as you sense a stranger at your door. You see the womb-keeper will be assisted by one person who has been trained to drag you from your room, kicking and screaming, you will be pulled from your room one piece at a time; arms & legs & then the rest, an early end to “once in a lifetime cruise”. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
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
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