Friday
April 16, 2004
9th
Annual Alaska Hummingbird Festival
April 16-18, 2004
Front Page Photo by Kip Tyler
Ketchikan: 9th
Annual Alaska Hummingbird Festival - Celebrate the return
of migratory birds from Central and South America to the southern
panhandle of Alaska. The male Rufous hummingbirds begin arriving
in Ketchikan in mid-March and are seen at feeders and flowers
throughout Ketchikan by mid-April.
Festival events include guided
bird hikes, art shows, a bird-banding station, and activities
for children. Schedule:
9th Annual Alaska Hummingbird Festival - April
16-18, 2004
For more information, call
festival headquarters at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
at 907-228-6220. -
Photo & Hummingbird Web Movie....
Friday - April 16, 2004
Alaska: Revenue
Forecast Shows Highest Ever Oil Prices, But Continuing Deficit
for State Budget Should be a Call to Act - Department of
Revenue Commissioner Bill Corbus on Thursday released the spring
revenue forecast for the State of Alaska, which shows a record
all-time high price for Alaska North Slope crude oil at an average
of $30.64 per barrel through March in FY2004. It projects the
high prices will continue through FY2005, with an average price
of $28.30.
"Alaska has been blessed
by high crude oil prices, which have provided us with more than
$520 million in revenue over what we would have received under
OPEC's baseline of $22 per barrel," Corbus said. "However,
even with the high prices, Alaska faces a budget deficit that
needs to be solved now."
"This forecast document
presents no reason to postpone closing the fiscal gap. If it
shows anything, this forecast shows the high volatility of oil
prices. Therefore it, is in reality a call to action to adopt
a plan this legislative session that matches recurring revenues
with expenditures going forward."
The Constitutional Budget Reserve
Fund, the cash reserve the state uses each year to balance the
budget, is now forecast to hit $1 billion in September 2007,
and be depleted in May 2008, based upon a $2.3 billion annual
budget. Several aspects of the annual revenue shortfall are to
be found in the forecast document.
The purpose of the forecast
is to provide the Governor, Legislature and citizens of the State
of Alaska with a summary of state revenues and a forecast of
future revenues. The revenue forecast is categorized into four
major components: oil taxes, non-oil taxes and fees, federal
dollars, and investment revenues. The forecast contains projections
through FY2015. - Read
more...
Friday - April 16, 2004
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'New Look'
Photo by Carl Thompson
Ketchikan: The appearance of
the old Ben Franklins' building is slowly changing. The 'Five
and Dime' was in business for decades before closing down in
the fall of 2003. - More...
Friday - April 16, 2004
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Alaska:
Local 71 Members Ratify 2-1/2 Year Contract with State -
The Murkowski administration announced Thursday that the tentative
agreement recently reached with Public Employees Local 71 has
been ratified by the union membership. The new agreement provides
for status quo in the first year and two percent general increases
in the second and third years of a two and one-half year agreement
that expires December 31, 2006. The agreement is pending approval
by the Legislature.
Local 71 represents approximately
1,500 state employees in the Labor, Trades, and Crafts bargaining
unit. These employees are responsible for maintaining and operating
state facilities, roads, docks, and airports. - Read more...
Friday - April 16, 2004
|
 Ketchikan Columnist
Dear Crabby: STABLE
SISTER and FRIEND OF PROCRASTINATOR - I need help! Tourist
season is starting soon, and my parents want to send my younger
brother up here to stay with me and work. They know I can get
him a job, because I've lived up here for 4 years and have worked
at the same place in the summer for 3 years.
The problem is the way he acts.
He owns the movie, "Boyz in the Hood" and loves Rap
music. He idolizes Eminem, Snoop Dog, Master P and all the rest
of the rappers. He wears big baggy jeans and talks like they
do. He is a middle class Caucasian kid, and no one up here acts
like that anyway. He embarrasses me. When I lived down south,
I had friends. They didn't like him, and once they learned he
was my brother, they became stand-offish. - Read
more...
Friday - April 16, 2004
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The Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
would like your help in nominating this year's Theme and Grand
Marshall. - 