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Tug of Fish
Mother black bear caught a large salmon and while she was still struggling to pull it out of the water her little cub latched on to the salmon and wouldn’t let go. She then had to drag the salmon and her cub out of the water.
Photograph by CINDY BALZER
Ketchikan: Officials to Provide Update on Ketchikan Biomass Boiler Project; Installation of the first biomass boiler in a GSA-operated federal building will replace outdated oil boiler with technologically-advanced biomass-fueled system – U.S. Senator Mark Begich, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Regional Administrator George Northcroft, and other officials will discuss the growing biomass industry in southeast Alaska, and tour GSA’s project to install a new biomass boiler at the Ketchikan Federal Building on Friday, August 5th at 4:00 pm.
Funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, GSA is replacing the building’s current outdated, inefficient system which has reached the end of its useful life with a sustainable biomass boiler run on a renewable resource – wood pellets. The agency seeks to be a green proving-ground for energy efficient products and services that will save money for the taxpayer, reduce the government’s carbon footprint, and support jobs in the clean energy economy.
GSA began construction earlier this year at the historic federal building, and the project is slated for completion in October 2011. Designs for the new project will ensure preservation of historic aspects of the building, whose salmon-pink paint scheme has made the property a landmark in downtown Ketchikan. The building is located adjacent to the Stedman-Thomas Historic District. - More...
Monday - August 01, 2011
Fish Factor: Values of Fishing Permits & Catch Share Show Heafty Increases By LAINE WELCH - The value of Alaska fishing permits and catch shares has taken a big jump along with fish prices.
The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission posts permit value for state fisheries, catch share transactions are overseen by federal managers, and brokers track and list actual asking prices and offers for the whole, well, kettle of fish. A sampler from four brokerage web sites shows hefty increases in values nearly across the board:
For Alaska’s bellwether* salmon fishery at Bristol Bay, most drift permits are being offered at $160,000 – up from $132,000 last October, and more than double the price in 2009.
The asking price for a Prince William Sound salmon drift permit tops $180,000, an increase of $20,000 from last fall; Southeast drifts are listed at $90,000 – $150,000, an increase of $30,000. Cook Inlet driftnet permits are listed in the $50,000-$60,000 range, similar to last year; offers for Area M/Alaska Peninsula drift permits range from $140,000-$150,000. A Yukon River salmon gillnet permit is valued at $9,500-11,000.
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Chignik seine permits top the list with an asking price of $200,000, followed by Prince William Sound seine at $150,000. Kodiak seine permits are in the $50,000 range, up from around $30,000 last year. Two Southeast seine permits recently sold at $125,000.
A permit to pot shrimp in Southeast costs $18,000-$25,000. For Southeast Dungeness crab, permits range from $12,000 to $50,000 based on the number of pots. Kodiak Tanner crab permits are listed at $35,000 - 80,000; a dive permit for Southeast’s cucumber fishery can be yours for $90,000.
The most expensive Alaska fishing permit by far is for seine herring at Sitka – the state value is $540,000 and asking prices top $600,000.
Looking at values for Alaska’s catch share fisheries: prices have blown past last year’s high of $28 per pound for halibut quota. In the most prime fishing regions of Southeast Alaska and the central Gulf, halibut shares now range from $30 to $36 per pound! - More...
Monday - August 01, 2011
Southeast Alaska: Valdez Couple Indicted For Tax Crimes – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that a couple from Valdez were indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage with attempted evasion of federal taxes and with failing to file a tax return.
The six-count indictment names Gary Jokela, 54, and Marladeen Jokela, 54, both of Valdez, Alaska, as the sole defendants. The indictment charges the couple with attempted evasion of taxes for the years 1998-2008. Mr. Jokela is also charged with failing to file a tax return for the years 2005-2009.
The indictment alleges that the defendants last filed a tax return in 1984. It also alleges that Mr. Jokela had outstanding tax liabilities that had not been paid since at least 1998. The indictment futher alleges that both Gary and Marladeen Jokela committed a number of affirmative acts designed to evade the payment of these tax liabilities. For example, after the IRS assessed taxes against Mr. Jokela and sent him numerous notices that the Service intended to levy his wages and bank accounts, the defendants began cashing his paychecks rather than depositing them to their joint bank account. Around the same time, Mrs. Jokela also allegedly opened a separate bank account in her own name. Neither Gary Jokela’s name, nor his Social Security number were associated with this new account. The Jokelas used this separate account to pay over $150,000 in American Express bills between 2002 and 2008. - More...
Monday - August 01, 2011 |
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Columns - Commentary
 WILL DURST: Gibberish and Manure - The situation on Capitol Hill has become so confusing we're going to need a nuclear physicist with a googleplex of serially connected molecular microscopes to precisely explain what is happening. Instead, you got me. This whole debt-ceiling debate has made rush-hour gridlock on the 405 look like a romantic excursion in Central Park on a bicycle built for two. Nonetheless, I take it upon myself to sort out what's going on. No need for thanks. Part of my court-ordered community service.
Right now, you could say we find ourselves philosophically constipated and at a bit of a standstill. You could also say that molten lava is hot. Here's what we know so far: The conservative wing of the Republican Party has stopped talking to Speaker of the House John Boehner. Boehner walked out on President Barack Obama. Probably weeping. Obama finds it impossible to even look at House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi puts her hands over her ears and makes "la-la-la" noises whenever she sees House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.
Cantor challenged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to a pugil-stick match in the stacks of Fort Knox. Reid can barely stand erect. The Tea Party won't stop shouting long enough to hear the sound of the oncoming financial train-wreck bearing down on us. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has advised Obama not to negotiate with terrorists. Boehner can't talk to the Tea Party until he finds someone on his staff who speaks gibberish. Calling the situation "bizarro," Arizona Sen. John McCain wandered down the hall looking for a wormhole to Mordor. And finally, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has taken to leaping out from under the hangers in the Senate Cloak Room, trying to scare the media. - More...
Monday - August 01, 2011 |
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Open Letter: Where the federal budget cuts should come from By
Michael Spence - Where the cuts should come from: 1.Defense budget private contractors. The DOD budget is a stuffed pig. In Alaska alone there are millions of dollars being siphoned out of public funds to private for-profit companies doing work that used to be done by uniformed service people. The recent fallacy that those tasks are done for less money by private contractors doesn't wash. No generals or admirals are being paid the bonuses and salaries paid to execs in private enterprise. Blackwater, Halliburton, and others are examples in other states and other countries. There is at least 300 billion dollars a year in this category alone. - More...
Monday - August 01, 2011
What will the States do? By
A. M. Johnson - What will the States do should the Federal Government default? - More...
Monday - August 01, 2011
Cultural-Commercial Complex Project of 2004 By
Wieslaw Czajkowski - Writing a letter to your Sit News seems to be futile, for no one else than your editorial staff read it but officials of the Alaska Departmewnt of Transportation (DOT), which over decades feeds hungry votes politicians with their Environmentyal Impact Statements (EIS), albeit not ordinaries. The latter are left with promises of solving the lack of access of Ketchikans to the Ketchikan International Airport other than by ferries. - More...
Monday - August 01, 2011
The real reason By
Rodney Dial - A.M. Johnson’s letter regarding how a borough change to a home-rule government will lead to consolidation is my concern as well. I have spent my free time over the last few weeks trying to determine the “real reason” some elected officials are pushing to change our form of government.- More...
Friday - July 29, 2011
TEA PARTY Extremists?by Ken Bylund - Hello? TEA PARTY extremists... the same crowd who predicted this moment way ahead of them short-sighted monkeys in Washington who said... naw, everything's fine... we've got this; and the News Media, busy marginalizing Abe Lincoln's, 'for the people, of the people, by the people?' The rational few at the bottom of this pyramid scheme, the citizens who feed this money stream under penalty of imprisonment... have been told that they are extremists for questioning a government that has taken us to the brink. How far or how close is this Oligarchy... from Fascism? - More...
Friday - July 29, 2011
The Federal Budget Feasco! By
James Dornblaser - I do not pretend to understand the whole of the US budget, but I understand when I am charged MASS, LARGE, GROSS more in taxes than the benefits I receive. To fuel my distaste for the bureaucrat & make me consider siding with the Tea Party, the media depicts Social Security as an "entitlement". - More...
Friday - July 29, 2011
Nation's Debt Crisis By
Kimberly Peters - I watched the President's speech on Raising the Deficit Ceiling. What's the problem? Why can't the House and the Senate just realize that we are in serious trouble here and we need to cut spending now! - More...
Friday - July 29, 2011
Looking Ahead, Looking Back By
Jan Bush and Ann James - As the Prince of Wales Island Marathon Committee starts meeting once again to plan the island’s May 2012 marathon, it is important that we look back and acknowledge those organizations that made the 2011 marathon such a wonderful success. Many race improvements were realized because of the generous support of the organizations listed below. - More...
Friday - July 29, 2011
Deaths on the Road Marc Luiken & Joe Masters - Over the past seven days there have been six traffic deaths on the Kenai Peninsula. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those involved. Their lives will never be the same. As Commissioners, we receive death notifications which informs us of the basics of every traffic crash in Alaska. It is especially heartbreaking when a small child has died. This is a part of our job that we will never get used to. - More...
Friday - July 29, 2011
Snagging in the derby By
Eric Tyson - In reply to Mr. Skidmore. You are misinformed sir. Snagging is allowed in the derby. The official rules state "Entries must be caught according to Alaska Sport fishing regulations." Alaska sport fishing regulations allow snagging. I have also been informed that at least one fish on the derby ladder was snagged, and he also received another prize for that fish. - More...
Wednesday - July 27, 2011
Diabolical Deficit Ceiling issues By
A. M. Johnson - The current time is 11:00 AM local 7/26/11. I have just attempted to connect to Senator Lisa Murkowski's, Senator Begich's, and Representative Don Young's offices to send the following letter regarding the pending negotiation on the Debt Ceiling issue. Access is denied at this time. To what this denial is chargeable I have no idea. Either is it a planned "System Failure" due to the nature of the issue, or the system has been over loaded by public submission such as my own. - More...
Wednesday - July 27, 2011
Large structures By
Paul Jarvi - Thank your lucky stars Mr. Harris that the Alaska Ship and Dry Dock Company is doing business in our town. I am sorry for the obstruction of your view because of the new buliding. I am over joyed with the jobs that the new building is and will generate in Ketchikan. - More...
Monday - July 25, 2011
The Lord’s Table By
Charlotte DeVere Hunt - On behalf of The Lord’s Table, I would like to publicly thank Don and Pam Thornlow of The Narrows Inn. On July 3, The Narrows hosted a pig roast with all the trimmings. All the proceeds were to benefit to The Lord’s Table. - More...
Monday - July 25, 2011
RE: King Salmon derby by
Alan Skidmore - With all due respect Mr. McQueen... NOT!!! Read the derby rules, no snaggy waggy allowed, although it would be hard to tell but, for the most part people are honest. - More...
Monday - July 25, 2011
Green thinking or hydrocarbons By
Ed Fry - As we know, Alaska is well advertised rich in resources. The mass media is making it well known that renewable energy is a short term cure for our addiction to fossil fuels. So begs the question that in order to re-tool our workforce in green technologies, introduction of new educational programming needs to be developed and implemented through a structured certification program; when will we see this programming at the university level? - More...
Monday - July 25, 2011
Block Iran on the Arabian Peninsula By
Donald A. Moskowitz - The Iraqi Shiites have increased their attacks on American troops in Iraq. June saw 14 U.S. soldiers killed, which is the highest death toll since 2008. - More...
Monday - July 25, 2011
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