Ketchikan: Missing Boater Found After Search Suspended By Mary Kauffman - After the Coast Guard suspended a search that covered more than 1,400 square miles, 33 year old Simon McCamy of Ketchikan missing since Sunday was found north of Knudson Cove yesterday near Helm Bay. His 19-foot boat had grounded on the rocks and McCamy's signal fire was spotted by Dave Doyon of Misty Fjords Air. As Doyon flew over & circled, MCCamy signaled the pilot by waving a flare.

Too rough to land, Doyon called the USCG. Ned Hamlin of the F/V Ocean Pearl overheard the call and responded to the area. McCamy was reported to be in good health, although cold, wet and hungry. McCamy was transported to Knudson Cove by the good samaritan vessel where his vehicle was parked and where he was met by family members. - More...
Thursday PM - August 09, 2012

Ketchikan: AMHS Seeks Public Review of Summer 2013 Schedule; Public Meeting Scheduled in Ketchikan - The proposed Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) schedule for the 2013 summer season has been placed on the AMHS website for public review providing an opportunity for communities to review and comment on the proposed schedule, and to make AMHS aware of significant community events.

A teleconference to hear comments and consider adjustments is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. for Southeast Alaska schedules and 1:30 p.m. for Southwest and Southcentral Alaska schedules. The meeting will be held in Ketchikan at the Port Engineer’s waterfront office, 3713 Tongass Avenue for participants wishing to attend in person. - More...
Thursday PM - August 09, 2012

Ketchikan: KIC General Manager Oregon Bound - Debbie Patton, General Manager of Ketchikan Indian Community, announced early this month that she will not renew her contract in order to accept a position as Deputy Health Administrator for Douglas County in Roseburg, Oregon.

Patton has been employed by KIC for 13 years, 5 years of which has been as general manager, and 2 years prior as the Deputy General Manager. Patton’s career with the Tribe started in Behavioral Health where she eventually became the department director.  

Patton has lived in Ketchikan for over 31 years.  In explaining her decision Patton said, “It’s time for me to try something new and this feels like the right move for me.”  She went on to say she’s enjoyed tackling the many challenges at Ketchikan Indian Community and is satisfied with the accomplishments of the Tribe and a strong foundation has been laid for continuous success. - More...
Thursday PM - August 09, 2012

Alaska: Foreign Interests Attack Alaskan Initiative; Outside Corporations Outspend Locals Ten To One Say Supporters - An Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) report has revealed opposition to Alaska’s coastal management program ballot initiative is funded largely by Outside sources.

“We are shocked and disturbed,” Alaska Sea Party co-chair Terzah Tippin Poe said.  “We assumed all along big Outside money would oppose our local voices, but we didn’t expect such a huge flood of non-Alaska funding.  These mostly foreign companies are opposing Alaskans having a say in how our coastal lands are managed.  They are trying to buy this election any way they can.”

According to a July 30, 2012 APOC report, Outside entities have so far contributed nearly 70% of the $767,000.00 in the opposition’s campaign war chest.  More than half a million dollars has come from companies headquartered outside Alaska or even outside the U.S.   Funding apparently from Alaska can be traced to non-Alaska sources.  For example, fourteen of the fifteen member companies of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association are based outside of Alaska. - More...
Thursday - August 09, 2012

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RE: Rights of People with Disabilities By Kevin Gadsey - I am writing today as the Independent Living Advocate for SAIL Ketchikan to respond to Ms. Mitchell’s concerns about the possible ratification of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities by the United States Senate. - More...
Friday - August 10, 2012

Response to Campaign Contributions By Patti Mackey - Over the weekend, a letter to the editor by Jim Shoemaker was published on Sitnews.us and in the Ketchikan Daily News comparing campaign contribution reports filed by the Republican candidates for House District #33. The letter specifically calls out the campaign contributions I have received from outside of our election district. - More...
Thursday PM - August 09, 2012

Mountain Point Launch Facility By Richard Rold - I have launched many times at Mountain Point Launch Facility over the past years; even more so when I moved south in 1989. I do not remember the exact date Ketchikan Ports and Harbors started requiring people to pay launch permits and fees. I do however remember how much it bothered me; it was not a requirement for many years before. - More...
Thursday PM - August 09, 2012

Rise of Coastal Management Phoenix By A. M. Johnson - Nice to see old faces return to the Ketchikan scene. I recall Ms. Troll being a what is now commonly referred to as 'Community activist or maybe organizer' in her early days as a resident she apparently continues very successful with what she does. Good to hear comments from retired Judge Schultz, happy to know that he and his wife chose to retire here in Ketchikan. - More...
Monday PM - August 06, 2012

Col. Archie Van Winkle By Stephen C. McGowan - I recall getting a brand new Rambler American Sedan, fresh from Warren, Michigan for use by Col. Van Winkle. I was working as a motor-pool dispatcher with the MP's aboard Camp Pendleton, USMC. Calif. The Col. advised me that it would be arriving soon. It came in on a Friday afternoon, so I polished it up and backed it into the cage with the Col's name on it. That evening a boot Lt. came into my office to get a vehicle for his shift as Officer of the day, for the MP's. He said he wanted the brand new sedan that had just come in. I informed the Lt. that the sedan was the Col's brand new vehicle, and that I couldn't let anyone use it, other than the Col. The Lt. said he was giving me a direct order to use the car. Well, I was just a Lance-Corporal, and being a good Marine I had to follow his orders. - More...
Monday PM - August 06, 2012

Warning:  District 33 House Seat Not for Sale By Jim Shoemaker - Three GOP candidates – Agnes Moran, Patti Mackey, and Peggy Wilson – want to represent Ketchikan and Wrangell in the State House of Representatives. 

The latest reports filed by those three candidates with the Alaska Public Offices Commission tell a crucial tale of campaign financing and outside special interests.  Every voter in Ketchikan should take heed.  - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012

Rights of Person's with Disabilities Treaty By Amanda Mitchell - The CRPD stands for The Convention of Rights of Person's with Disabilities. It is a treaty that is going to be voted on in the Senate to be ratified soon. I have done my own research and am horrified that we would even consider this. Basically, it is the same as The Convention on the Rights of a Child. However, it is giving the UN/government control over what is in the "best interests" of the disabled and disabled children. It supersedes any of our own fundamental rights like the right to self-govern, our laws and Constitution. And instead of "We the People" it gives further control over to government to do what "it" thinks is best. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012

Too Many Lifeguards By Julie Yonker - I do not normally write any responses in the SitNews letters, I just read them. However, this time I want to make a comment. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012

School 1957 vs. 2010 By A. M. Johnson - Too good not to submit for consumption! Here is a stark realization of how far we as a civilization have fallen!! We have deteriorated into a Nation of 'Wimps'. You read this stuff happening almost daily where once as in 1957, you grew up toughen to what life was going to present-Reality. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012

Re: Voter Turnout By Joey Garcia - Regarding Ken Lewis' comments on voter turn-out, I simply disagree on his premise to somewhat disallow the PFD to non-voters. He should remember that PFD is not a right but a privilege given to Alaskans whether they answered NO in their PFD application but stayed outside Alaska for more than 180 days, an oversight for PFD to really check if the applicants are not committing fraud. - More...
Friday PM - August 03, 2012

Parrots will Prevail... then we starve. by Ken Bylund - Constructionism and Determinism is how our species organize our day to day survival strategy, and it works pretty good, but there are many a dangerous flaw; Friedrich Hayek saw it as The Fatal Conceit; Heinz Pagels' Cosmic Code, wrote about Albert Einstein's opposition to the New Quantum theory... his quip, "God doesn't play dice." Einstein was saying he believes in 'determinism', that 'probability' was abhorrent and that nature was 'put together with mathematical precision' and could be understood and predicted. It appears even Einstein could be wrong. - More...
Monday - July 30, 2012

Are we ever disappointed? By Judith Green - NO! We are never disappointed in any of the multitude of events on our island that give us beauty in talent. And so it was again this past week end - CLassics a'la Carte. High school students, recent Kayhi graduates, long time Ktn residents: ensembles, solos, duets: instrumental, vocal. For 2 hours we were engaged, in awe, amazed, enthralled - glad for the evening. Bravo to each one who shared with us just a little of their 'joy of music'. - More...
Monday - July 30, 2012

RE: Voter Turnout By Mark Stopha - I don't think Ken Lewis's idea of having to vote in order to receive a PFD is unfair or bad at all. In fact, I've had a similar idea, using the power of the PFD without spending any of it to improve things in Alaska. It would change getting a PFD from a right to a privledge - like hunting and fishing. - More...
Monday - July 30, 2012

Voter Turnout Solution By Brian Gray - Heck Ken Lewis, for a piece of that AK Perm Fund, I'd go back to "the homeland" to vote and pay my own way! Especially if only a marginally higher turnout was a result. - More...
Monday - July 30, 2012

NCAA Piling On Penn State By Donald A. Moskowitz - I am upset about the child abuse committed by Sandusky and the cover up by Paterno, Curley, Schulz and Spanier.  The lives of many young children have been adversely impacted by these men.- More...
Monday - July 30, 2012

Drinking Burned Garbage By Shelley Stallings - Thank you Kathy Doyle. I continue to be amazed when I see people burning garbage. This form of air pollution is bad enough by itself, but when you add the fact that almost all of us outside of the city limits drink water which is collected from our roofs, it becomes really scary. As you noted there are many synthetic chemicals in much of the garbage that is burned. This ends up on our roofs, then into our cisterns. - More...
Monday - July 23, 2012

Voter Turn out By Ken Lewis - 7% turn out is sad, so here is my dumb solution. Alaskans get oil revenue money. If you want your Permanent Fund check, Vote. - More...
Monday - July 23, 2012

RE: Too Many Lifeguards By Kevin Gadsey - I am responding to Ms. Teal's question about having too many lifeguards at the pool. She must have come to the old Smithers Pool when the newly-hired lifeguards were training side-by-side with the experienced lifeguards. At the Smithers Pool, they usually had 3-4 guards for both pools combined. - More...
Monday - July 23, 2012

RE: "Too Many Lifeguards" By Larissa Otness - I am in shock that someone would question the amount of lifeguards and they're importance to the safety of our children. - More...
Monday - July 23, 2012

Ketchikan Gas Prices By Mike Wilson - Just a friendly note to let people know that the gas prices at Lighthouse Tesoro are 30 cents cheaper per gallon than what I observed yesterday in town. - More...
Monday - July 23, 2012

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