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Thank
you for your hospitality and kindness By Bill Walker - Last
weekend, Donna and I made our fourth trip to Southeast this year
and were fortunate to travel to POW. The trip began like
an adventure novel. As a life-long Alaskan, I have grown
accustomed to preparing for the unexpected. When we were
told that poor weather required that we fly into Hollis instead
of Craig, I knew we were in for an adventure. The
flight over by float plane was non-stop breathtaking beauty and
flying into Hollis gave us the opportunity to have a scenic 30
mile drive across the Island to Craig. It's been eight
years since my last trip to POW but I was reminded that it is
one of the most beautiful places in Alaska. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010
Stop
the Free-Wheeling Spending By Sam Bergeron - The Ketchikan
policy makers at the City and Borough have too much power. They
can indenture us for life with 4 votes. The White Cliff building
sale, then the subsequent lease backs to the Borough for $42,000.00
a month, with an escalation clause, is but one example. On the
City side, the Berth 4 construction and 30 year lease, is another
example of both bodies going way beyond the scope of what their
powers should be. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010
Why
Can't We Have Fair Elections in Ketchikan? By Robert D. Warner
- For a number of years I have been wondering why Ketchikan cannot
have fair and honest elections. All too often there are direct
attempts to confuse the voter. Such practices are discouraging
and likely are primary reasons for low voter turnout. This current
vote on the public library is an excellent example. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010
Library
Location Can't Recreate The Past By Eric Muench - Ketchikan
must make a far reaching decision in the August 24 primary election.
Should our needed new library be built in a location favored
by the City Council, or should it be forced into a restricted
area of downtown? - More...
thursday PM - August 12, 2010
Walker
for Governor By Andy Rauwolf - Sometime in the next ten years
oil will stop flowing from the Alaska pipeline. Oil revenues
comprise over 80% of our state operating budget. Experts now
say that an in-state gas pipeline is the best alternative for
our state. Bill Walker is the only man running who has the plan
and the know-how to get an in-state gas pipeline built in time
to offset some of the revenues which will soon be lost. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010
Murkowski
has been a champion for patients with ALS By Linda (Teal)
Kreider - I have been going to Washington DC since 2006, when
my father Mel Teal, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou
Gehrig's Disease. My friend, and former Ketchikan resident, Jenny
(Gore) Dwyer and her husband, Pat, who also has ALS, have joined
me as well. Jenny was recently named "Advocate of the Year"
for ALS, and Senator Murkowski was there to see her get the award.
Senator Murkowski and her staff have always taken the time to
listen, and I greatly appreciate all that she has done for Alaska,
especially her continued support for ALS. Without her support,
we would have never seen the ALS Registry Act passed. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010
Joe
Miller for U.S. Senate By Andy Rauwolf - I've noticed many
signs in and around Ketchikan supporting Lisa Murkowski. Many
are in yards of friends and fellow conservatives I've known and
seen eye-to-eye with for years. Her state campaign manager is
doing a great job and is a friend of mine, and until a couple
of years ago I would also be sporting her signs on my property.
But I have to question her voting record. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010
Neighborhood
swimming pools By A.M. Johnson - Enjoy looking for solutions
other than throwing big bucks at them, I came across this "Out
of the Box" solution.Use your imagination! We could have
these throughout the Borough. - More...
Thursday PM - August 12, 2010
Chloramine
By Linda Corwin - Many people across the lower 48 and in
other countries consider Chloramine to be a Pandora's Box. I
have listed here only some of the things that have been observed
after chloramination of water supplies. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010
Are
we invaded by bedbugs? By Jose S. Garcia - When I came home
today, I was surprised that a two-page letter was hung on every
door of the Tongass Towers Condominium which gave notice to report
any infestation of bedbugs in the area. - More...
Thursday - August 12, 2010
Kayhi
not meeting school standards By Chas Edwardson - When you
read Ketchikan High School's explanation on why they missed the
AYP (adequate yearly progress) for schools, all you need to do
is eliminate economically disadvantaged youth and native kids
and you're on easy street. But wait a second -- Metlakatla is
full of native kids are they not??? All three of Metlakatla's
schools made the cut. The Prince of Wales Island School District
is the most economically distressed area of the state and seven
of eight schools made the cut (Daily News August 7-8 weekend
edition). Not all of the POW schools are exclusively either native
or non native it's a general mix. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
Library
Vote Aug. 24 By Heidi Ekstrand - I spent quite a bit of time
talking with people at the Blueberry Festival this year and was
encouraged by the huge level of interest and support for a new
library building in Ketchikan. We are far past the question of
"do we need a new library?" and are poised on the brink
of "let's get this thing built." - More....
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
Public
Library By Don Hoff Jr. - I've been reading the debates on
the public library for some time now... here is what I know.
The present library was designed to add additional floors for
growth. It would be common sense to add an upper floor to the
existing library and would be affordable to the taxpayer. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
Joe
Miller for U.S. Senator By Jim Rasmussen - After several
months of reading, talking to who-ever would listen,letters,phone
calls and e-mails to our elected representatives I have decided
to vote for Joe Miller for U.S. Senator. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
I
Choose Joe Miller for US Senate and Why; Choose to Be Informed
By Sandra Rusin McCray - Southeast Alaska Timber Industry Retooling
and Restructuring Act, introduced by current Senator Lisa Murkowski/Co-Sponsored
by Mark Begich was introduced April 2, 2009. This bill is in
the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills and
resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate,
and revise them before they go to general debate. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
Time
for a change By Alan Stein - I'm not one of those naïve
people who believes Lisa Murkowski's millions on media is a reason
to vote for her. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
Ohhhh
my aching Back! By James Schenk - For years, no all my life
I have been very active as a Journeyman Electrician, Scuba Diver,Hard
hat diver, fisherman, hunter, sportsman while in high school.
- More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
Chloramine
By Susan Pickford - There is much more to be concerned about
with chloramine than just the fish and dialysis patients. While
those are certainly urgent concerns the acute and long term health
ramifications for the general population are much more dire.
I can tell you that the information below is the concensus of
the scientific community, the subject of over 50 peer reviewed
studies by the top water chemists in the country and not even
wholely disputed by the EPA. - More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
RE:
It's A Matter Of Money By Robert S. Jones - Yes, it is a
matter of money, but wasn't the Ketchikan Public Utility employee
out of line for divulging information regarding Electrical Disconnects
for nonpayment to a non Ketchikan Public Utility employee? -
More...
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
GiggleFeet
2010 By Judith Green - What a great and grand way to start
the Blueberry Arts Festival weekend - enjoying a Friday night
full of Ketchikan talent along with some fun. - More....
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
Information
wanted By Doris Tobin Bordine - I'm Emery Tobin's daughter
and am struggling (pleasantly) writing a book about my grandpa
August Tobin's gold rush experiences plus a memoir of my folks'
and my lives in Ketchikan. - More....
Monday PM - August 09, 2010
It's
a Matter of Money By Sam Bergeron - Today in the mall I ran
across a friend who works for Ketchikan Public Utilities. He
told me today he was disconnecting 30 electric customers who
could not afford to pay their electric bills. 30. That's 30 families
with no electricity. I may be stepping out on a limb here but
I think these families can't afford any more taxes, fees and
expenses other than keeping themselves fed with a roof over their
heads. - More...
Friday - august 06, 2010
The
White Cliff Factor By Ed Fry - After reading Mr. Dial's posting
I can see where we are spending much too much in a tax base that
will not support White Cliff's uses, bottom line is it is really
expensive per square foot; renting for 5 years to collect some
data would have been a better option in today's economy. - More...
Friday - August 06, 2010
Out
of the Box By A. M. Johnson - Having just returned from a
out of town trip, an acquaintance, Snapper Carson, accosted me
at the post office in support of candidate Walker for Governor.
Snapper expounded on Mr. Walker's support for resource development
and being out spoken on many subjects favored by Snapper and
myself. He indicated that a "Great Debate" is to take
place during the Blue Berry Festival and that the Chamber of
Commerce is taking questions to be asked. I declined to accept
his invitation to submit questions to the Chamber on the basis
that (1) there is no Great Debate in political gatherings. (2)The
Chamber while well intended,is charged with going along to get
along so it would be doubtful that an "Out of the Box"
question would see the light of the day. These political gatherings
are "Position Poppycock" designed to not upset anybody
and appear as middle of the road moderate. - More...
Friday - August 06, 2010
Chloramine
in City Water By Kristine Bellanich - From what I understand,
beginning this month, Ketchikan Public Utilities will begin working
towards adding chloramine to the city water supply. As an FYI
to those who do not know what chloramine is, it is a mixture
of chlorine and ammonia. - More...
Friday - August 06, 2010
The
Library ... Again By Patrick Jirschele - I know, everyone
is tired of hearing about the library, and I did take some cheap
shots with my "Ten Best Reasons" letter. But there
is still a lot of bad information being repeated by folks in
decision making positions who should be more knowledgeable. -
More...
Friday - August 06, 2010
USCIS
Office in Ketchikan By Betty Constuble - I so agree with
Mr. Jose Garcia's letter. We very much need a USCIS office in
Ketchikan. - More...
Tuesday - August 03, 2010
RE:
The Whitecliff Factor By Penny Eubanks - As the Plaza Manager
at the time of the RFP (request for proposal) for the Borough
offices, I noted right off the get go the apparent slants. I
found it quite interesting to remember that in September of 2007,
I believe it was, The Ketchikan Daily News reported on Dawson's
purchase of Whitecliff building. In that article, Dawson himself
noted that they were planning to remodel the building for Borough
offices. Mind you, this was PRIOR to the January 2008 date that
the Borough actually put the RFP out! Oh by the way - Dawson
did not pay the $50K downpayment until the VERY day the RFP went
out for public bid!!! Does something stink here? (Who is taking
another bite out of whose apple?!) - More..
Tuesday - August 03, 2010
Detailing
WITH Insurance By Nelson Hays - I have had several people
ask me if the letter Terry Miles posted last week about a detail
job gone wrong was AT my shop, and I want to clarify - IT WASN'T
ME! The description of the business as a "detail" shop
with a young owner made many people suspect me, but I assure
you it was another company. - More...
Tuesday - August 03, 2010
Bike
Safety By Marie- Jeanne Cadle - I would like to respectfully
request that bike riders signal when coming up on walkers or
more slow moving riders, perhaps even telling them on which side
they will pass. I am excited to see more and more bike riders
out and about, but riders need to remember they are almost silent
and are usually moving much faster than those they are passing.
- More...
Tuesday - August 03, 2010
The
Whitecliff factor By Rodney Dial - Mr. Thompson, I agree
with your letter and share your frustration with the way the
Whitecliff project has progressed. Here is my take on the issue
as I see it over the last several years: - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
Still
want to know... Still no Answers. By Marilyn Blair - It's
nice to see that a shareholder would take all that time to go
to Cape Fox Corporation (CFC) and research years of archives
to learn so much about my time with CFC and things that transpired
during my time as a board member of Cape Fox. But, Eric, you
give one board member way too much credit! You make it seem as
if I brought all those proposals to the board when I didn't.
LOL! Sorry, just couldn't help but find it all so humorous. Really,
IF I was so powerful, believe me, all Cape Fox Shareholders would
be rich right now! - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
Service
Ketchikan with USCIS Office By Jose S Garcia - It is lamentable
to note that Legitimate Permanent Residents (LPRs) takes the
cudgel in spending their own money to go to Juneau to avail of
the applications for US Citizenship (N400). - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
Amnesty
won't work: Secure our borders By Clarence E. Hill - Albert
Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over
and over again and expecting different results." -
More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
RE:
Drainage (and the purpose of government); and bear stuff too
By Vanessa Nowland - I bet if SitNews had a "like"
button similar to Facebook's there would be a lot of "thumbs
up" for Mr. Hofeling's opinion letter. I recall getting
the exact same response from the city when we lived on Ketchikan
Lakes Road. It wasn't until my husband fell on the glacier that
covered our road, injuring his ribs and the ambulance almost
took out a utility pole trying to get to us that they started
paying any attention. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
Thankful
By Joey Tillson - A while ago, I posted a letter on SitNews
stressing the importance of community and how this is my home.
The many events over the course of a year have put many of us
all in stressful, hurtful times. But I will tell you and stress
it again, what I love about this town is the sense of community
you will NOT find anywhere else. No matter what walk of life
each of us has stumbled into, we are still community. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
Skate
Park By Connie Williams - Is the Borough experiencing the
same song and dance about a skate park as it did in 1997-1998?
Lots of folks, talking to assembly members and parks and recreation
staff about the importance of supporting the youth and giving
them something to do. Government officials were hearing it in
the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. The problem I saw was you had
many folks in favor of the project, but in reality, only a few,
by comparison actually utilized the facility for what it was
intended. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
SitNews
By Lou Ann Richardson - I just wanted to send out a couple
thank you's. First to Sitnews editor Mary Kauffman for her dedication
and committment to keeping Sitnews current and relevant. Thank
you Mary, we know it's often challenging. Second, to the various
photographers who take the time to find those special moments
in this grand place and then share them with all of us here on
Sitnews. I always look forward to seeing what the front page
has in store from day to day. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
RE:
Bailey Bay Hot Springs By Linda Beaupre - In regards to Bailey
Bay Hot Springs, my husband and I tried to hike up to the hot
springs last summer. Unfortunately the trail we found was in
a sorry state of disrepair. The rope crossing the creek was frayed
and loose (and dangerous!) and a large landslide had taken out
the entire trail right after the waterfall, ending our journey
since we had no way of circumventing the landslide. Large parts
of the trail was nothing more than mud pits. - More...
Saturday - July 31, 2010
Back
to old tricks. By Glen Thompson - I haven't written Sitnews
in a while but the issue is simply too important to let slip
by. When I was elected to the Assembly, the Borough finances
were in shambles. We had less than $1 million in General Fund
reserves, we had a Schoenbar project that was in serious trouble
and under water by several million dollars. Thank heaven we had
a Land Trust Fund with a few million savings in it that we could
borrow to fill the gap. Had the Legislature not come through
and reimbursed us to the tune of $6 million, we would be in a
fine pickle still! Our mill rate was approaching 7 and we were
having trouble funding basic services and schools. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
Drainage
(and the purpose of government) By Dustin Hofeling - Living
in a rain forest, drainage is a problem we all have to face sooner
or later. I live on Deer Mountain Court, which is a road that
has been forever plagued by drainage problems. I plan to put
to fix the drainage issue on my property - what home owner wouldn't
want to do this? But it will do no good unless the city fixes
the drainage issue on the street that they built and paved. -
More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
Bailey
Bay Hot Springs Should Remain Public By Mike Sallee - Many
of the people in the Ketchikan area have enjoyed Bailey Bay Hot
Springs - known to some as Shelokum Hot Springs. It is
a picturesque and remote hot springs nestled next to excellent
trout fishing on Lake Shelokum, just north of Bell Island Hot
Springs. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
What
Happened to our SkatePark? By Bobbie McCreary - Monday night
I appeared in front of the Borough Assembly during public comments.
I passed out a letter from Taira Wilhelm (Kayhi grad 2008) along
with the recent Sitnews letters. I explained I would take only
a little of their time as this was a special meeting to address
the White Cliff building. I explained that day as I left the
Youth Center building project on Park Avenue and drove up Schoenbar
towards the bypass I passed by Walker Field. I looked at the
fenced lot with a truck and a few pieces of miscellaneous equipment
in it and said (out loud, actually!) WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO OUR
SKATEPARK? - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
Support
Bill Walker for Governor By Radford, Harrington, Fultz, Carson,
Radford, Bakk, Cooke - We listened to gubernatorial candidate
Samuels on the radio this week. Ralph talked about the decline
of oil output, which provides 90% of our State income, but we
didn't hear any plan to replenish this lost revenue. He would
like to see more oil drilling in Alaska. Wouldn't we all, but
does anyone seriously think we can count on that to pay for our
State government in the near future? He mentioned cutting State
spending, but we are talking about 90% of our income disappearing!
He supports a natural gas bullet line which he says will provide
cheap energy to Alaskans, but the figures all show that a gasline
carrying only the small amount Alaskans would use would be far
too expensive to provide low cost fuel. Also, there are no permits,
rights of way or environmental studies done for a bullet line,
which puts construction ten years in the future. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
Alaska
Lifeline: Walker for Governor By Barb Lander - Reality Check!
Think oil and gas issued aren t important to us in SE Alaska?
Oil production is approaching a critical low that will mark the
end of the pipelines viability. No oil flowing through the pipeline
no oil revenue. The massive cuts in services AND new taxes needed
to keep this vast state even barely functioning are staggering.
Alaskan life as we know it is about over! - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
Faces
of the Sea By Judith Green - We in South East communities
are used to artists giving us photos, drawings, paintings, and
writings based on the culture of this great land. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
Japanese
Knotweed By Jane Collins - I have had this awful weed behind
my shoe shop here in Northampton, UK for the last 4-5 years if
not longer. It will NOT go away, despite everything I try to
do. We are now using a powerful chemical that my husband uses
on his farm to see if does the trick so it is just a matter of
waiting to see the result. - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
Japanese
Knotweed Removal By Samantha Quinn - I was reading the letters
regarding the Japanese knotweed problem some are having and found
this information on Wikipedia.com on it's removal. I hope this
helps! - More...
Wednesday - July 28, 2010
RE:
Cape Fox Corp. Lack of Respect for Shareholders By Eric Trout
- TO CAPE FOX SHAREHOLDERS: Marilyn Blair's letter is just another
attempt to twist the issues while protecting her real personal
interests. We all know there are two types of politicians, the
ones who tell the truth and fight for what's right, the other
politicians who twist the issues to benefit their own personal
interests. Marilyn has been in the Cape Fox Board room for over
15 years I would say she has a history and experience in twisting
issues. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
Water
Street Sidewalks By Chris Elliott - We have a one-way tunnel
with a road going the other way around it. Now we have parallel
sidewalks on Water Street. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
Skateboard
Park By Norm Noggle - I would like to second Vicky's suggestion
to develop a skateboard park in Ketchikan. I agree that the existing
half pipe at the rec center is very limited in developing skateboard
riding skills. I would suggest that if there are a solid number
of kids who want a qulaity skateboard park, then they need to
organize (with adult assistance) and begin identifying the assets
and barriers involved in the development of such a site. Some
of the concerns that need to be addressed include: - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
Re:
Skate Park By Keith Woodard - Although I haven't really followed
the skate park issue, I can sympathize with you Vicky. I know
what it was like growing up as a bored teenager in this town
with seemingly little to do. And I'm really saddened that as
much community spirit this town has and as much as people would
like to help the youth here, there still hasn't been a new skate
park built among other things. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
RE:
Skate park By Lexie Jones - I'm a 24-year-old who thinks
we shouldn't always be looking for handouts! - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
Doing
Business without insurance By Terry Miles - Recently, I took
my motorcycle, that happens to be a custom chopper into a local
"Detail" shop here in the Ketchikan area, to have it
cleaned and detailed. The bike is worth about $75k... it's a
custom. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
Concerned
about Japanese Knotweed By Melinda Stewart - Browsing Sitnews
this morning I saw the letter posted on Rotary Beach. Reading
the description and looking at pictures online of knotweed, it
is EXACTLY what I have growing in my yard!! - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
Goodbye,
Don & Lois Kralis By Bill Sullivan - I was saddened to
read of the passing of Don and Lois Kralis. They will be missed.
- More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
Adhere
To Immigration Laws By Donald A. Moskowitz - The federal
government, working with the border states, should provide the
personnel and resources to secure our borders. - More...
Monday - July 26, 2010
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