Alaska: Alaska Stamp Unveiled; Post Office Honors 50th Anniversary of Alaska Statehood - Alaska Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell on Wednesday unveiled the design of a new U.S. postage stamp honoring Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood. The stamp bears a photograph taken by Alaska photographer Jeff Schultz, and features DeeDee Jonrowe and her dog team set against a stunning mountain backdrop. The stamp is set for release on January 3, 2009.

Lt. Gov. Parnell was joined by Alaska District Manager Dianne Horbochuk of the U.S. Postal Service for the unveiling held at the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce annual convention. Approximately 15 communities from around the state were represented at the convention.

"The Postal Service is proud to issue this beautiful stamp in recognition of 50 years of Alaska as a state," said Horbochuk. "When the stamp comes out next year we think it will be very popular with Alaskans as well as throughout the United States." - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

Alaska: Despite campaign, Palin still in charge of Alaska By KYLE HOPKINS - She's hitting campaign stops across the nation. She's being quizzed on national television. She's raising money and brushing up on foreign policy.

So who's running Alaska while Gov. Sarah Palin runs for vice president?

Palin's cabinet members insisted this week that the buck still stops with the governor. Several of them said they communicate with Palin through e-mail or through her chief of staff, who talks with the governor daily, adding that it helps this is a relatively slow time of year for state government.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell said he's filling in for Palin at some speaking engagements, taking a bigger role in budget-making and setting the governor's legislative agenda.

"She is just as much in charge as she ever was," spokesman Bill McAllister said.

Still, there are only so many hours in a day, and Palin is suddenly one of the most high-profile people on the planet. And she's a long way from Alaska.

"The rigors of campaigning are tough, and there's just no denying that it's going to be a time crunch for her, and she's going to have to find time in the day to be governor," said John Bitney, a former Palin aide who is now chief of staff for Alaska's House Speaker John Harris.

On the other hand, he said, "We just stand so much to gain by having Sarah Palin be out there talking about Alaska and presenting Alaska in a very positive light." - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

National: Tennessee politician's son suspected of hacking Palin's e-mail By TREVOR AARONSON - Tennessee State Rep. Mike Kernell declined Thursday to respond to online allegations his son hacked into Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's personal e-mail account.

"My son's the one in question, and I can't comment on him," said Kernell, a Memphis Democrat.

Bloggers have alleged that David Kernell, 20, is the one who has claimed responsibility for breaking into the Alaska governor's e-mail account.

The evidence is tenuous. In fact, one of the first blogs to allege the son of a Democratic politician was responsible, relied on e-mail tips and described its evidence as "pretty thin."

On Wednesday, the FBI and Secret Service launched an investigation that includes agents in Memphis. C.M. Sturgis, a spokesman for the Memphis FBI branch, confirmed late Thursday that his office is involved.

"All I can say is that a matter was referred to us from the Anchorage, Alaska, office. An investigation at this time is being coordinated out of FBI headquarters in the Department of Justice," Sturgis said.

Also Wednesday, a person using the e-mail address rubico10(at)yahoo.com posted to an online forum about how he used Yahoo! Mail's password-recovery tool to obtain Palin's password.

"i am the lurker who did it, and i would like to tell the story," rubico10(at)yahoo.com wrote on the Web site .

The hacker later explained how he reviewed Palin's e-mails one by one: "I read though the emails... ALL OF THEM... before I posted, and what I concluded was anticlimactic, there was nothing there, nothing incriminating, nothing that would derail her campaign as I had hoped, all I saw was personal stuff, some clerical stuff from when she was governor.... And pictures of her family."

The hacker used easily available information about Palin to answer questions Yahoo! Mail uses to verify identity. The hacker answered the first two questions easily - birth date and zip code. The third question - "Where did you meet your spouse?" - required the hacker to research the answer until he found the correct one, Wasilla High.

"it took seriously 45 mins on wikipedia and google to find the info," rubico10(at)yahoo.com wrote.

After changing the e-mail password to "popcorn," the hacker then posted the username and password to 4chan, allowing others to access Palin's e-mail.

In Nashville on Thursday, Rep. Kernell would neither confirm nor deny his son was involved in hacking Palin's e-mail account. Although Kernell said he was aware of claims his son was responsible, the politician would not address any of them. - More...
Thursday - September 18, 2008

National: Campaign deja vu: It's the economy again By CAROLYN LOCHHEAD - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has struggled all year to connect with voters on the economy, and this week into his lap dropped a Wall Street meltdown of historic proportions.

Obama's response was a detailed speech in Colorado Tuesday, where he lashed out at the Bush administration and repackaged his six principles that would guide a regulatory overhaul of the financial system, from strengthening capital requirements to regulating mortgage brokers.

"This is what happens when you confuse the free market with a free license to let special interests take whatever they can get, however they can get it," Obama said. He again called the crisis "nothing less than the final verdict on an economic philosophy that has completely failed."

Republican candidate John McCain responded in Florida with a highly charged populist message, promising to "put an end to the reckless conduct, corruption and unbridled greed" that he said caused the crisis on Wall Street. He also swiveled from his earlier resistance to greater regulation. "Under my reforms," he said, "the American people will be protected by comprehensive regulations that will apply the rules and enforce them to the full."

The rolling collapse of major financial institutions offers voters a clear showcase for how both men might handle the complex crisis that is rocking the foundations of the U.S. economy. - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

National: Poll shows Westerners favor drilling and alternatives By PETER FIMRITE - The "drill, baby, drill" chant may fire up supporters of Big Oil, but it does not reflect the feelings of most Western voters, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

If anything, the poll indicates voters in California, Oregon and Washington would like to yell out to those who will listen, "alternatives, sweetie, alternatives!"

The survey of 1,100 voters conducted by David Binder Research shows that although 50 percent of those polled in the three states would agree to more offshore oil drilling, their support is contingent on plans to protect the environment and develop renewable energy sources to minimize the need for oil.

"My immediate reaction was surprise at the extent to which Western voters were aligned on this issue," said Shanan Alper, an analyst for the research firm, based in San Francisco. "They know we can't keep relying on oil, and they know that drilling is not the answer. The overwhelming majority want us to move toward renewable energy."

The nation's energy future is one of the most incendiary issues facing the two candidates for president as Americans grapple with skyrocketing gasoline prices. - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

FACING UP TO THE Nation's Finances National Debt Clock National Election November 4, 2008 Voter's Survival Kit - The Smart Citizen's Guide to What the Politicians Won't Tell You Public Agenda for Citizens - www.publicagenda.org Ketchikan Regular Election October 07, 2008 For its 8th year, Sitnews will provide a free web page to all local 2008 candidates. 1) Local candidates are requested to provide background information, experience and qualifications for the public office for which they seek election. 2) Candidates are also requested to address in their statements important issues facing Ketchikan and how these issues could best be addressed. Candidate's Statements will be published as received. Send your candidate's statement & photograph to editor@sitnews.us SitNews will provide an unedited public forum in order that citizens can ask questions of candidates as a group. Candidates are encouraged to participate in the public forum. City Council Candidates Filed (final) pdf KGB Assembly & School Board Candidates Filed (final)pdf Ketchikan Ketchikan Police Report AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Today's Forecast Satellite Today's Weather Images Marine Forecasts Ketchikan Weather Data Current AK Weather Map CLASSIFIEDS Publish ad Please select the proper category before posting. CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES Announcements and       Help Wanted For Sale / Free Stuff Garage Sales Homes / Apts/ Property Pets Wanted Lost & Found Local Services Publish your ad   September 2008 S M T W T F S 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30         More Front Page Archives

Putting My Trust in McCain & Palin By Bill Hendricks - I see in the paper that "Mayor" Weinstein has gotten in bed with "Where's Tony" Knowles who got in bed with "Intern" Clinton and attacked Governor Palin. - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

Religion and Native Americans By Tim Giago - Like Don Hoff Jr., I was indoctrinated into Catholicism while held captive in an Indian mission boarding school for 11 years. - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

Sharing of Faiths By Judy McCune - In response to Mr. Hoff's letter stating that the Natives need to get back to their own ways and not let other religions distract them from doing so -- I live in Western Washington and consort with many Natives of many tribes in a very beautiful way. I love the Native people with all of my heart. I am seeing that they are learning about their culture, enjoying their beliefs as well as afiliating with other religions. In fact, they invite me to join them in their Native Traditions. The sharing of our Faiths goes both ways. - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

Mayor Weinstein's Criticism of Gov. Palin By Mary Jansson - It is my opinion that Mayor Weinstein has done nothing positive for our City or for our State either. He sure was right there to condem our Alaska State Govenor, just to see his name in print I would suppose -- through the associated press. - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

Government money By Stephanie Sherva - Thanks Barb Lander for saying what I've felt for a long time now, but didn't how to say it. - More...
Thursday PM - September 18, 2008

Palin and the "Bridge to Nowhere" By Barb Lander - To the many Ketchikan residents who are loudly aghast at Governor Palin's remarks concerning the Gravina access project, please remember that she is a politician. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Byron Whitesides' Letter By Sen. Bert Stedman - On August 17th, Mr. Byron Whitesides of Ketchikan posted a copy of a recent letter he sent to me regarding the resource rebate passed last month. Here is a copy of the response I sent to Mr. Whitesides today [September 09, 2008]. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Gas prices By Carl Webb - Take it from the Oilman. The fuel prices at the pumps are being controlled in this small town by Carrs/Safeway. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

RE: Church and State By Preston Clark, Jr - I feel that we do need a little faith when it comes to running a christian based republic. I do not believe that one person should force his/her own personnal beliefs on another when they can't have their own way. Ben Franklin, along with many of the founding fathers, once wrote to the Congress of the United States that they believe that the Bible should be taught in schools and urged Congress to make a wise judgement on deciding this idea during the early years of the US. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Re: Church and State By David Korkowski - Thank you Mr. Hanger for once again showing us the open-mindedness and tolerance of liberals and Democrats. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Demise of Tlingit Natives is Religion By Don Hoff Jr. - If only Alaskan Native Tlingits in Southeast Alaska spent only half the time learning Tlingit culture, our traditions and our history, instead of wasting our time learning about Non-Native Gods and churches. We would know what Clan, Tribe and house we belong to. We would be better off in today's society. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Ketchikan swimming pool By Shauna Lee - I completely agree with Zig regarding the Ketchikan swimming pool. My entire family has enjoyed the facility at one time or another and swimming is a fantastic all around past time on many levels. I fully support the improvement of a city pool. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Need for pools By Morgan Doubleday - Many thanks to my friend Zig Ziegler for the great pool comments for Ketchikan. I write this because we have a pool here in Sitka at the Hames Center, on Sheldon Jackson campus which has closed its doors. The property likely will be parceled out and the gym and pool facility are very important for Sitka and I'm not sure they see its true value. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Slamming social work and social workers? By Ralph Mirsky - While watching the Republican National Convention, I asked myself; why would the Republicans spend a whole night of their convention attacking ordinary people? - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Mayor shooting his mouth off By Charles Edwardson - First of all I am running for City Council. I am a general contractor past commercial fisherman, Pulp mill worker and heavy equipment operator and many other jobs in between. I have served on Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal council for four years, past vice president of the Ketchikan Home Builders Association,(SEABIA) current president of (SEABIA) Southeast Alaska Building Industry Association. I teach construction technology at UAS Ketchikan and helped establish the Ketchikan Construction Academy. I was recently chairman of the Citizens for a Positive Economy (now inactive) and am involved in various other organizations in Ketchikan. In my spare time I coach Dribblers League and have watched every single game of two, going on three, girls' play basketball from Dribblers through Schoenbar ,ultimately KAYHI. They all have done very well. My ten year old is following in her three sisters footsteps and is tearing up every sport she participates in (proud father obviously). - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Palin supports the Knik Arm Bridge to Nowhere By Joan Beraldi - Doesn't anyone remember that the Knik Arm Bridge was also the "Bridge to Nowhere?" The impression I got today while watching CNN was that Governor Palin forgets that the Knik Arm Bridge which links Anchorage to Wasilla via Pt. Mckenzie, was part of the congressional earmarks labeled with the imfamous saying. The photo on CNN showed Governor Palin holding up a t-shirt with "Nowhere Alaska 99901" imprinted on it. She definately wants to distance herself from the Knik Arm Bridge because the bridge will benefit Wasilla, and she is holding herself out to be against earmark funding to benefit local constituents. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Sarah Palin is a Politician By Lisa Noland - Sarah Palin is a politician that has a transparent desire to rise to the top at whatever cost. This means that if she needs to twist the facts in order to appeal to the majority of the voters, she is going to do it. She is beautiful to look at, and clearly a polished public speaker. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Gutter Ads Get Us Nowhere By Christina Zettner - John McCain's "maverick" and "reform" image is proving to be nothing more than that: an image. The John McCain of 2000 denounced attack-and-run politics that smeared candidates and distorted facts. But now, his campaign is relying on those same tactics and has crossed the line with the latest television ad rolled out in battleground states. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Governor Palin By Marty West - Ketchikan will be the butt of jokes for years to come and a synonym for wasteful spending. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Remarks hurt Ketchikan By Michael McColley - Ketchikan Mayor Weinstein that will lose his next term as mayor because of his remarks about our Alaska governor. I didn't like any of the Mayor's remarks toward Gov. Palin, and I am sure those remarks will hurt Ketchikan's projects in the future.- More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Holding Palin's Feet to the Fire! By Jay Jones - Hurrah for Guv Tony and Mayor Bob for holding Sarahcudda's feet to the fire for flip-flopping, or at least changing her mind (don't cut her any slack because she's a woman!). - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

GO PALIN GO By Mike Isaac - I hope that when John McCain takes the helm on 1-20-09 that he pushes for things that are both good for the 300 Million people and not his old friends with their 8 figure incomes that pay their help $8 hr or just steps down after 24 hrs. McCain had no chance till he picked Sara Palin for VP. Some of the polls have Obama ahead by only 5% in NY, 7% in WA, 8% in CA and OR, MN is now tied. Those are states where he should be ahead by over 10%. OH and PA are also tied and MT and FL are looking red and all of this is thanks to Sara Palin. She has taken the lead away from the Messiah. Sara leads the Messiah 227 to 207 with most of the 104 toss ups turning red. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

RE: Racism, whatever the language is wrong! By Donita O'Dell - I agree completely with Ms. Cadle, and thought that I had written as much in my original letter. In the first two sentences I explained that I had a difficult time understanding what point Mr. Garcia was trying to make much of the time. (Like Ms. Cadle, I have experience interacting with ESL speakers/writers, but the letter was undecipherable in many parts.) The rest of my letter was nothing more and nothing less than a statement of the disgust I felt that such ethnically-based smears were printed, in clear violation of the editor's "rules." Since that apparently was not clear enough the first time around, I will say it again, hopefully more clearly: - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Obama; Too cruel to the handicapped to be President? By Mark Neckameyer - It is just so ironic. The Democrats who present themselves as being so "Feminist", belittle a woman, Governor Palin, for working while having children at home. Next while they claim to be the "protector of handicapped Americans", they run a ad to mock John McCain's war injuries that prevent him from using a computer keyboard. That's right, McCain can't comb his own hair or tie shoelaces. He lost some of the capabilities most people have while defending all of us in Viet Nam where the Viet Cong smashed his arms and hands trying to torture him into becoming a "turncoat" as his father was a top admiral. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

What to do? By Robert McRoberts - I am sure we all get caught up in our lives where we are to busy too care. I should have gotten in on the ballot to be the next mayor, but I am too busy to get involved. I would just like to give suggestions, just as we all should, unless you're just crying that someone did something. Just what does the Mayor get for pay? You cry about buying the guy a few meals. Why should a go-getter want to get involved? - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

Go Palin! By Thomas Thrush - Mr Glenn, I am with you on the bridge, I agree 100 percent on the bridge. - More...
Tuesday - September 16, 2008

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