The Lies and Truths of Local Government By Ed Plute - With the recent revelations of scandal after scandal in our current government, it is only a matter of time before our own communities corruption comes to light. Exhaustion is the only word that comes to mind when dealing with the current system. Not to mention as we speak, every person reading this is certainly wondering what is REALLY going on? Not only out there in the world, but right here in our own town of Ketchikan. For the past few years the world has been progressively waking up to the reality that our own bureaucracy is a facade and that our current local governments are not much better. Supporting personal agendas through manipulative processes and seemingly getting away with it time and time again. However, it is about time we put our own community back together. How, you may ask, do we do this? - More..
Friday PM - July 05, 2013

Let Alaskans Vote on Oil Tax Overhaul By Bill Walker - The fight for Alaskan statehood took 88 years - from the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 to our Union admittance in 1959.  During this time, Alaskans suffered one form of exploitation after another. - More...
Friday PM - July 05, 2013

Referendum to repeal SB 21 By Sen. Bert Stedman - Americans just celebrated the declaration of our independence from the British and the birth of our country based on democratic principles and individual rights enshrined in our Constitution.  In light of this important holiday, I find it rather fitting that on Wednesday my family and I exercised our right to petition the government by signing the referendum to repeal SB 21, the new petroleum tax that undervalues our oil. Every Alaskan who signs the referendum to repeal SB 21 is simply expressing a desire to participate in a public debate about the selling price of their primary resource.  I’m proud to place my name on the referendum with other Alaskans who want to exercise their fundamental right to participate in the government process. - More...
Friday PM - July 05, 2013

Open Letter: A "Bit" of Governmental waste By A. M. Johnson - The following has come to my attention. Perhaps you are aware of the issue, perhaps not, It would not be surprising if you are not, It would not be a issue normally visited by the general public and so assumed, would remain hidden un-noticed, ignored,and allowed to continue with congressional awareness unabated. - More...
Friday PM - July 05, 2013

RE: Ketchikan-what a town! By Jim Duncan - Great Call Teri! Fantasy Island I like to think! - More...
Friday PM - July 05, 2013

Racist Words By Al Johnson - Since Wal-Mart and Target dropped Paula Deen, I fully expect them to remove all hip hop and rap DVDs that contain the same word and that are also racist against whites. - More...
Friday PM - July 05, 2013

Parnell's Missed LNG Benchmarks & Market Opportunity By Bill Walker - On June 21st Governor Parnell acknowledged that the North Slope leaseholders, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and BP, have not met the latest benchmark for progress on the LNG (liquified natural gas) gasline project. The companies said they will spend up to $100 million in field work this year, not the hundreds of million required to timely advance the project. Exxon's spokesperson said the State must provide "the right fiscal environment to support an LNG project." The multi-billion dollar tax cut the leaseholders received with passage of Senate Bill 21 in April has proved insufficient to secure the governor's benchmarks for this critical project that would provide affordable energy to Alaskans, thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in annual state revenue. - More...
Wednesday AM - July 03, 2013

Open Letter: Demanding answers from Director Clapper By Michael McNally - I am writing today to express my approval regarding our Senators' decisions to join Senators Wyden and Udall and more than 20 others in your letter of June 27th to James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, requesting that Director Clapper clarify a number of points concerning programs brought to light by Edward Snowden. - More...
Wednesday AM - July 03, 2013

Ketchikan-what a town! By Teri Hoyt - Perhaps all the recent sunshine or the super-moon has inspired me to express how lucky I feel to live in Ketchikan! - More....
Wednesday AM - July 03, 2013

DREAMING THE PIPELINE LEAKS, DODGING THE GRIZZLY BEARS By David Ellis - It was spring in the British Columbia coast mountains, a glorious time, no mosquitoes yet, here in the high country, 4100 feet up, the sun felt hot, you are closer to it, up here. The last of the snow patches were still hanging on, in the shade of the aromatic balsam firs. I had several times that day pulled balsam needles off as I passed, crushed them, and put them to my nose, the scent, was exhilarating. The roar and murmur of streams and runoff, was everywhere, my boots were soaked from fording three swollen creeks. - More...
Wednesday AM - July 03, 2013

"Kill the IRS and pass the FairTax." By Glen E. Terrell - There is no place in a society of free people for a government agency like the IRS. For 80 years it has been used by administrations of both parties to punish their enemies. All citizens are subject to the IRS. Congress has made is so, if we are charged by the IRS of wrongdoing, we MUST PROVE OURSELVES INNOCENT or pay the penalty. This is just plain wrong. - More...
Wednesday AM - July 03, 2013

The beheading of Christians By A.M. Johnson - The headline below is leading the Blaze blog site. As you read the full report and then the comments, it is easy and not a hard stretch to begin asking questions as example, Governor Palin has. She has clearly stated that the continued efforts of the Obama Administration to fund and arm these animals is part and parcel of his intent to continue the effort of hurting the United States of America,with the "fundamental change" promised. - More...
Wednesday AM - July 03, 2013

A Tale of Two Governments By Agnes Moran - At its January policy session this year the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly tentatively set its property tax mill rate at 5.5 mills, a projected increase of 0.5 mills. The increase was built into the revenue side of the budget to offset expected reductions in federal funds. When property assessments came in approximately 6% higher than the previous year and sales tax proceeds exceeded projections, the Borough Assembly, after much debate, chose not to implement the 0.5 increase and maintained the mill rate at 5.0 mills. - More...
Thursday AM - June 27, 2013

KIC RECALL By Eliasica Timmerman - So after hearing that there has been a petition for removal of the Ketchikan Indian Community council, I decided that I would look into it to see what the reasoning is. I wanted to see for myself and not listen to misinformation. I have seen the minutes from the meeting in January up until last month. I'm not sure who wrote that petition but it seems to me that some of the information in that petition is not correct. I am all for transparency!! - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013

OceansAlaska Request By Norm Noggle - I am all in favor for providing the requested two year funding request by OceansAlaska’s Southeast Alaska Mariculture Industry Initiative’s (SAMII). What a winning combination of increasing the Ketchikan labor force in a safe, clean, and sustainable industry. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013

Herring Cove bridge By Judith Green - It grieves me so read about happenings here on our island that are harmful and hurtful. So tonight as I sit in my little cottage and view (again) the folks, families, and couples walking across the road to get a view of the water, the fish, the eagles, the bears; or maybe the sunsetting over the water out here away from all the hustle and bustle of the day, I am encouraged and want to let you know. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013

FairTax By Keith Whitcomb - There are dozens of reasons why the FairTax would be better than our current system. Not just the abuses of the current regime. Let s start with our current system actually suppresses our economy. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013

Multiple scandals By A.M. Johnson - With the current elected administration, keeping score on the multiple scandals continuing to come forward can be a full time job. Recently a written skit using two characters, attempts to bring into perspective the number of better publicized scandals exposed suggesting others follow. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013

Bus Drivers By Judith Green - We have some very great bus drivers on the blue line, green line and red line city/borough buses. Most are very friendly, very informative about life on the island, and very helpful to the local folks who ride the 'lines'. They take a personal interest in many of us passengers and accommodate as much as is possible within the realm of their rules and regulations. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013

Open Letter to Alaska:  Immigration Reform By Debra Heston - We always hear from our fellow Blaze Bloggers and friends in general that we should all contact our Congressman and be heard i.e. send a letter, e-mail, or burn up the phone lines etc.  Having decided to finally take a stand while still living in the greater DC area for the rest of the summer, we actually did contact our representatives in the House and Senate with a personal visit to their offices.  This is what happened to us and what we thought of the undertaking.  The later part of this letter addresses some of the reasons why it will affect people who consider themselves insulated from the affects of the proposed amnesty legislation. - More...
Wednesday - June 26, 2013 

Open Letter: Man-made dangers lurking in unexpected places By Tina R. McPherson - Yesterday afternoon (June 16th), after stopping on Connell Lake Road, we let our dogs out of our truck to cool off in the river next to the road. The next five minutes proved nearly fatal to one of our dogs, as we saw him thrashing about with a beaver snare tightly wound around his neck. He was having difficulty breathing, and we had to pull his front paws up on a log to keep the noose from getting any tighter. The snare is made of cable, so a knife will not sever the line. We were fortunate to have a cell phone, we called the State Troopers who arrived at the scene and saved our dog's life. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013

RE: Taxation & Spending By Douglas J. Thompson - I just read Mr. Arriola's letter to the editor on the subject of local government and our various comments about it. I would like to clarify a few points. I have run for Ketchikan city/borough government (at the time they were combined positions). Out of seven running two of us chose to put forth concrete proposals of what we wished to accomplish upon election. So I am on record with positive solutions. In my letters due to limited space I often just assume the reader can figure out the right approach when the current wrong one is highlighted. I feel I have offered my services and as an American have the right to cry foul when I see it in government. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013

U.S.Immigration legislation By Al Johnson - Mike Harpold submitted a 'Point of View' to the Ketchikan Daily News, encouraging our congressional members to look closely with a read of the Senate immigration legislation, which in his opinion lacks any real enforcement or assessment of the root problems that have plagued immigration law for some time. and make substantial changes to address these weaknesses. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013

Replace IRS With FairTax By Dr. Walter Wesley Snyder V - Now is the time, more than ever, for us, The People, to act and let our Congressperson hear our voice. The IRS' recent incident is a catalyst that We must use to remove unfair taxes imposed on us, The People. In fact, we should remove the IRS from the tax picture as it is only used for political and social control. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 19, 2013

Sign up to vote on the oil-tax giveaway By Bella Hammond - People across the state are gathering 40,000 petition signatures, needed by mid-July, so Alaskans can vote to reject or approve the recent oil tax giveaway. While it makes no sense to give away billions of state dollars for nothing in return, there is a larger issue -- another attack on the Permanent Fund. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013

Help Needed By Sandy Harris - Karen Galloway needs your help.  She was in an accident on May 27th and has 3rd degree burns from this accident.  She has been unable to work since because of the severity of the burns and it is not known when she will be able to return to work. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013

Taxation & Spending By Ken Arriola - Just to weigh-in a little on the Municipal Tax/ Budget issue as of late. To Mr's Hanger, Thompson, Dial, Plute and Johnson...... when your names start appearing on the election ballot, perhaps those Elected Officials and the Voters might start taking you seriously. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013

Thank you By Heather Muench - The Ketchikan Humane Society wishes to thank the incredibly generous individuals and organizations who have been so supportive of us over the past two months. Since we rely entirely on donations to support our rescue work, our low-cost spay and neuter program, and our free feral cat altering program, none of what we do could happen without this support. Our goal is for every animal in Ketchikan and Southern Southeast Alaska to be loved and wanted. We have made great progress in reducing the numbers of animals abandoned or euthanized in our community every year. Because we are a 501(c)(3), all donations are tax deductible, and since none of our volunteers or foster families are paid, all monies can be used for care for animals. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013

Sealaska One Step Closer... By Dominic Salvato - I take exception to Congressman Young's comment concerning the Sealaska bill (S-340), Sealaska One Step Closer to Receiving Their Full Land Entitlement June 13, 2013 "The legislation will ensure that Sealaska Corp. continues to meet the economic and cultural needs of its shareholders"... - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013

Abortion By Glenn Mollette - Celebrating family on these summer holidays or any day is always a special day. However, all holidays are tough days for many. While millions celebrate others wonder about what might have been. Some have lost a child while others made tragic decisions to end a life. - More...
Tuesday AM - June 18, 2013