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SitNews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska
Friday
June 29, 2012


Herring Cove: Black Bear
ADF&G's "Wildlife Viewing Ethics"
Front Page Photo By SUSAN HOYT

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Ketchikan: 30 years ago, it was Time for a debate A feature story By DAVE KIFFER - Alaskans are a fractious bunch.

As an old adage goes, one Alaskan is a crowd and two Alaskans is an argument.

We argue about the weather. Each section of the state claims to have the worst in some way. We argue about the beauty, each section is the best in some way.

We even argue about which part of the state is the most argumentative. My money is on the MatSu, but there are times when our own little Southeast slice of heaven can turn even the slightest difference of opinion into the Hatfields and the McCoys. Artist Ray Troll has dubbed Ketchikan the “proud home of recreational fighting.”

Once upon a time, nearly 30 years ago, we even argued about the time. In those days it was easier to get a grip on the size of Alaska. It spanned four time zones, the same as in all of the contiguous Lower 48.

But then, in an effort to bring Alaskans “closer together” Governor Bill Sheffield proposed eliminating two of the four time zones. Naturally, that also started an argument.

As with many issues of contention in Alaskan, the time zone proposal had to do with the 800 pound gorilla of Alaskan arguments, whether or not to move the state capitol out of Juneau.

Some Southeast residents, primarily those in Juneau, felt that moving the capital closer to the Railbelt – time wise – would help blunt efforts to move the capital, which had led to another statewide vote in November of 1982.

Residents in the rest of Southeast Alaska were more interested in staying on Pacific Time because most felt that they had more interaction with Seattle and other West Coast communities than they did with Anchorage and the Rail Belt.

Time had always been a fairly local proposition in Alaska, with the huge state covering enough longitude to qualify for five time zones. National Park Service Historian Frank Norris says that prior to 1900 time was determined by longitude. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012

Fish Factor: Report First Ever Accounting of Bycatch in US Fisheries By LAINE WELCH - A first ever accounting of bycatch in US fisheries has been achieved by federal scientists in a user friendly report that aims to set a baseline for the accidental takes of fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and other creatures by fishing gear.

The National Bycatch Report, based primarily on 2005 data, shows fish landings and estimated bycatch ratios of nearly 400 types of sea creatures by gear type and region. It is part of an effort to track changes in bycatch over time, according to NOAA Fisheries, and to help managers meet mandates to preserve the nation’s fisheries.  

Here’s a sampler:

The total estimate for fish bycatch was 1.2 billion pounds on U.S. landings of six billion pounds. The Southeast region of the U.S. led all others with total fish bycatch of nearly 683 million pounds – meaning two thirds of their catch is getting tossed. Alaska ranked second for fish bycatch at 339 million pounds on 4.5 billion pounds of fish landed. - More....
Friday - June 29, 2012


Wrangell: Stikine River Stewardship with the Boy Scouts – Members of Wrangell’s Boy Scout Troop 40 joined forces with the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), the Sitka Conservation Society (SCS) the United States Forest Service and local Wrangell volunteers to conduct a number of Wilderness stewardship activities on the Stikine River. The outing, funded in part by a grant through the National Forest Foundation, focused on managing invasive weeds near Twin Lakes and was part of a nationwide effort by the Forest Service to steward Wilderness areas.

Stikine River Stewardship with the Boy Scouts

Members of Wrangell’s Boy Scout Troop 40
Photo courtesy SEACC

“The ultimate goal of this trip was to ensure that future generations inherit landscapes and watersheds like the Stikine that continue to provide opportunities to hunt, fish, and reflect in wild places that have been available to generations before them,” said Daven Hafey of SEACC. "The Stikine is the lifeblood of Wrangell, and we want to help make sure it remains healthy."

The group focused on managing the aggressive reed canary grass along the Twin Lakes shoreline by covering it with sheets of black plastic. Hand pulling and shovels were also used to remove the non-native buttercup and dandelion at the lakes’ landing. Reed canary grass is a tall grass that invades and dominates riparian areas, displacing native plants and reducing the richness and diversity of insects. Non-native buttercup and dandelion are not as aggressive, but can push out native plant species. In total, the group worked a collective 304 hours over the course of five days.

"We want to make sure reed canary grass doesn't take up native plants because moose and other animals don't eat reed canary grass," said Boy Scout Tymon Teat. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012


Southeast Alaska: NOAA scientists complete first phase of Alaska marine debris survey - NOAA scientists have completed the first phase of several planned surveys of Alaska’s Pacific Gulf coast for marine debris, including any possible debris from Japan’s March 2011 tsunami.

NOAA scientists complete first phase of Alaska marine debris survey

University of Alaska student Derek Chamberlin stands atop a large ship's mooring buoy which must have broken off it's chain anchor. The mooring buoy was found by NOAA marine debris scientists at Whale Bay, North Cape on Baranof Island during a recent marine debris survey of Southeast Alaska shores.
Photo by Jacek Maselko, NOAA

Alaska marine debris surveys, which have been regularly conducted and funded by NOAA for the past four decades, are a small part of NOAA’s larger efforts in working with the Pacific coast states to set up monitoring stations and prepare and plan for the arrival of tsunami debris.

This NOAA-led survey of marine debris focused on Southeast Alaska. The science team departed from Ketchikan, AK, June 15 aboard a 75-foot charter vessel. Over the next ten days, they recorded debris at 36 sites on 9 different islands.

The most prevalent debris found was Styrofoam fragments larger than softball size (smaller size pieces are essentially innumerable) and plastic, single use water bottles. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012


      

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letter Harbor Bond Election By Eric Muench - I was glad to see the harbor bond proposition pass in last Tuesday's vote, especially since I had to go through the trouble of casting my yes vote fourteen times. It is empowering to have such influence on the outcome and still have thirteen other people beside myself responsible for repaying the bond debt. For that I thank the 93% of city voters who allowed us 7% to make the decision for them. Maybe in the next election, if the 93% oblige by staying away again, I might be able to organize a pressure group to show up at the polls and swing the vote to my preference. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012

letter The seven percent voter turnout By Michael Spence - The recent 7 percent voter turnout for the bond election in Ketchikan illustrates the problem of the restrictive voting process in Alaska. Other states, for example Washington, send postal ballots to all registered voters. By receiving a ballot in the mail, a registered voter is able to cast his/her vote without jeopardizing job and or travel obligations. Alaska in particular has a large proportion of registered voters who work away from town (fishing, transportation industry, etc). Absentee ballots are not the answer either, (as is evidenced by this recent turnout), because they are often sent out late by the state/borough, and are hence received late by the election authorities. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012

letter Gunalcheesh (Thank you) By Harvey Shields - The Cape Fox Dancers of the Saanya Quan Clan wishes to thank ALL OF YOU from the Ketchikan/Saxman area that contributed, helped, encouraged and supported the Cape Fox Dancers in their endeavor to attend Celebration 2012.  We were able to attend because of your generosity and support. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012

letter Double Headed Plants By Chris Rose - I've seen this on my property with other plants; not often. - More...
Friday - June 25, 2012

letter Executive Orders? By Margaret Cloud - I was wondering about all the Executive Orders mentioned by Al so I did a quick internet search.  It appears that President Obama would have been a bit young to have signed Executive Order 10997 and according to government reports it was signed by President Kennedy in 1962. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012

letter American voter is the problem, grow up and stop blaming those you elect By Erik Hovden -Congress is not the biggest problem America faces. That clearly would be the sheep who vote for Republicans or Democrats. They are two sides of the "Big Goverment, Tax and spend party" and you're not invited, but you do get the bill. - More...
Friday - June 29, 2012

letter Roads By Bill Meck - As I was driving around town recently I decided to keep driving for a while to try and find a few of the good stretches of road system we have to be proud of. I came to several conclusions. - More...
Monday - June 25, 2012

letter ADA Accesible Park Avenue By Allegra Machado - I would love to see ADA Accessible curb ramps installed on the large section of sidewalk that runs along the creek on Park Avenue.  I walk that area of downtown regularly and have noticed many tourists and locals alike struggle with the high curbs on that section of sidewalk that is part of the Downtown Walking Tour Route.  The alternative route is to walk the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street which is very narrow and abruptly ends at the hill to Cape Fox; requiring pedestrians to have to jay walk across the street and have to step up almost a foot high to get back on the sidewalk along the creek. - More....
Monday - June 25, 2012 

letter Deformed Plants? By Amanda Mitchell - I live in the Bear Valley area. We have been noticing, the past few weeks, that some of the wild buttercups in our yard have extra petals. Not too concerning. However, today my children found a two-headed dandelion in the yard. We have never seen this before. - More...
Monday - June 25, 2012

letter RE:Congress is a problem but not 'The' problem By Charley Starr - The problem with politics is that it brings out a bunch of BS that just gets spread around the internet without anyone checking the facts. I am not a democrat, nor a strong supporter of the President. I like to think for myself and not blindly follow a political party. - More...
Monday - June 25, 2012

letter Let’s be Fast & Furious and dump Congress By Katheryn Burson - The Fast & Furious saga drama has dragged on for more than a year and a half.  Subpoenas have been ignored.  Congress has dragged its feet. - More...
Monday - June 25, 2012

letter Congress is a problem but not 'The' problem By A. M. Johnson - In response to Mr. Irving B Welchons' "Congress may be Nation's serious problem", I submit that the following epistle will dispel any notion that President Obama has found an apparent way to suspend the need for Congress or a Constitution. If Congress has a srious problem it is the lack of "Gonads" in not impeaching the sitting President for ignoring the Constitution and the rule of law.The following is not of my words, however I do support the content and agree with the conclusion. - More..
Wednesday - June 20, 2012

letter Ocean acidification By Mike Svenson - Laine Welch's fish report this week about ocean acidification was the usual environmental  talking point. She wants us fishermen to be all upset about this and blame coal plants, oil refineries, cars, etc. But in the summertime in Alaska there are probably at least 3000 diesel boats running around putting out smoke. - More...
Wednesday - June 20, 2012

letter AGAFAGUMAS ETC. By Chris Elliott - With the exception of the unnecessary last paragraph, I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Hanger's trip down memory lane. - More...
Wednesday - June 20, 2012

letter Federal PILT Payment By Agnes Moran - As a taxpayer and Ketchikan Borough Assembly member, I welcome the recent $1,038,263 federal payment in lieu of taxes to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough (see Alaska Communities See Increase in PILT Payments, SitNews, June 15). However, I wish to add some important context. - More...
Monday - June 18, 2012

letter Obama: “private sector is doing fine” By Donald A. Moskowitz - In February 2009 President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus program was supposed to create 5 million new jobs and reduce unemployment below 8% by the end of 2010.  He missed both projections by wide margins. - More...
Monday - June 18, 2012

letter THE BATTLE OF AGAFAGUMAS AND BILOXI JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NOVEMBER 22, 1963 By David G. Hanger - Memories are funny things in two separate directions, the one, of course, often caricatured, is the exaggeration and embellishment about events long past, distortion that evolves quickly to abstraction, if not pure fantasy; then, too, there is the other, that of memories so deeply etched they are formative, and never forgotten.  These two vignettes are from my past, and are of the latter category, so deeply etched they cannot be forgotten.  Any quotes are verbatim; the events occurred specifically as described, and there is no intent whatsoever at exaggeration on my part. - More...
Monday - June 18, 2012

letter Congress may be the nation's most serious problem By Irving B. Welchons III - This year the candidates for President will spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising.  One telling us of the heroic things he has done and the other telling us of the miraculous things he will do. Almost everything President Obama takes credit for had to be passed by Congress.  The promises made by candidate Romney must be made law by Congress to be fulfilled. The President can only veto a law; he can not pass one. - More...
Monday - June 18, 2012 

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