Ketchikan: "Women of Distinction" To Be Honored; Major fundraiser for WISH - In its second year of honoring women for their contributions to improving the lives of women and children in the community, Ketchikan's Women In Safe Homes (WISH) has chosen four "Women of Distinction" for 2009. The honorees this year are Yvonne Watson, Karen Eakes, Kathy Fitzgerald and Sher Schwartz.

A gala dinner to honor the women is scheduled for Sept. 26 at the Ted Ferry Civic Center. The event is the major fundraiser for WISH and drew more than 300 people to the event last year. Women honored last year were Mimi Eddy, Linda Schrack, Janet Duncan, Bett Jakubek, and special posthumous recognition for Esther Shea.

The honorees this year represent a wide range of community involvement in many areas. Their names were submitted by community members and selected by a WISH committee of board members and community volunteers. - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

National: House Votes To Strip ACORN of Federal Funding - The Republican Motion to Recommit stripping ACORN of federal funding was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The Motion to Recommit passed 345-75. ACORN, the premier community organizing group on the left, has come under heavy fire after damaging undercover videos were aired by Fox News showing counselors giving advice on tax fraud to two independent filmmakers posing as a prostitute and a pimp

Representative Don Young (R-AK), a cosponsor of the original bill to strip funding, H.R. 3571, the Defund ACORN Act, said in a prepared statement today, "ACORN is in violation of federal laws, and what we did today ensures that the tax dollars of hard-working Americans will not be used to fund any more of their fraudulent and illegal activity." Young said,"The federal government needs to sever all ties with this organization"

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said in a prepared statement, "Today's overwhelming bipartisan vote to stop all federal funding of ACORN is a victory for American taxpayers. Of course, it is only the beginning. We need to keep up the fight to end taxpayer funding for this troubled organization."

"House Republicans have worked tirelessly to sever ACORN's ties to the federal government. Those efforts began to bear fruit late last week when the Census Bureau ended its relationship with ACORN under steady pressure from Republican lawmakers. Though today's vote indicates that the writing's on the wall for ACORN, President Obama must indicate whether he will join the Congress in taking decisive action to break all government ties with this corrupt organization."

On House Adoption of Anti-ACORN Amendment , Bertha Lewis, CEO of ACORN said in a prepared statement today, "We're disappointed that the House took the rare and politically convenient step of attempting to eliminate federal funding for a single organization, one that has been the target of a multi-year political assault stemming variously from the Bush White House, Fox News, and other conservative quarters."

Lewis said, "Fortunately, ACORN derives most of its income from its members and other supporters, so the decision will have little impact on overall operations. The only real victims of today's vote are the families who have benefited from ACORN's important work." - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

Alaska Science: Waterspouts, dust devils, williwaws and tornadoes By NED ROZELL - Dorothy Ivanoff of Unalakleet isn't crazy about flying, especially when the flight is bumpy. That's why she surprised herself in early August, when her commercial pilot circled near the village of Koyuk so they could better see a funnel cloud developing on Norton Sound.

"Oh my god, this thing was spectacular," she said. "I wasn't scared or nervous at all."

Ivanoff used the video mode of her point-and-shoot Canon camera to record more than one minute of a waterspout that danced across the surface of Norton Bay near Koyuk in early August.

Ivanoff recorded something few Alaskans see. A few years ago, a National Weather Service meteorologist listed 43 tornado-like events being reported in Alaska, among them 18 waterspouts, rotating columns of air that form over large bodies of water. Waterspouts like the one Ivanoff saw have probably been seen by dozens of Alaskans who haven't reported details of their sightings, wrote David Vonderheide, formerly with the National Weather Service in Anchorage.

Vonderheide searched for Alaska "tornadic events," finding anecdotes of waterspouts, large dust devils (including one big enough to force a helicopter to crash on Eagle Summit in 1968), williwaws (whirlwinds formed in the lee of jutting terrain features), and tornadoes.

He found just four reports of Alaska tornadoes. A pilot saw a funnel cloud touch down on the ground just west of Cook Inlet in August 1999, on a day that almost an inch of rain fell on Anchorage. In Anchorage on May 25, 1995, several people saw a "thin, rope funnel" extending to the ground in the city, lifting a shed and collapsing a carport onto five cars. A third tornado occurred near the village of Chevak in July 1992, where a pilot saw a funnel cloud touch down near the bank of the Kushunuk River.

The farthest north reported tornado, "a weak tornado that touched down only briefly," happened 29 miles north of the Arctic Circle, near the village of Kiana, on Aug. 26, 1976.

"A slender funnel cloud emerged from the base of the parent thunderstorm," wrote National Weather Service meteorologist Ted Fathauer. "Within a minute or two, the funnel reached the ground along the ridgeline of the Hockley Hills." - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

TAYLOR JONES: Obama, Health Care and ME - My view on health care reform will outrage many: I support a single-payer system. There, I said it.

BUT, for those of you who've just written me off as a "socialist," please bear with me for a few paragraphs before you...pull the plug. Or call me a LIAR!

At this point in the debate, I don't care WHAT kind of single-payer system we devise. It could be public...or PRIVATE. We could copy the British national health care system, or we could all pay premiums to a single, private, mega-insurance monopoly.

We need ONE health insurer. No more. No less.

President Obama cited several tragic cases where our broken insurance system abruptly shortened patients' lives. But I don't need to cite similar tragedies to make my point. I need only talk about my own, garden variety experiences in dealing with the "world's greatest health care system."

Two years ago, I fell off a ladder while painting my dining room ceiling. It was late at night, and I was rushing to finish applying a coat of primer so I could get to bed. The ladder got to rocking and...kaboom! - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

DALE MCFEATTERS: ACORN: Tax and housing advice for sex trade - Looking for a one-stop source of advice on sex trafficking, fraudulently obtaining mortgages, opening a brothel, tax cheating and shooting your husband?

Your go-to source for help appears to be certain offices of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, whose acronym, a nut, now seems singularly appropriate.

Two young conservative filmmakers, James O'Keefe, 25, and Hannah Giles, 20, posed -- improbably -- as a pimp and a prostitute, a very low-budget pimp and prostitute. O'Keefe wore a fedora and sported a walking stick and what appeared to be a short rabbit-skin cape purchased off the rack at Goodwill. The fetching and dewy Giles wore a tight skirt, a skimpy top and teetery high heels. She looked, well, dewy and fetching and like a kid sister who had purloined some of her older sister's wardrobe.

Their story was even more improbable than their appearance.

With O'Keefe's hidden camera, they visited ACORN offices in Baltimore, New York City, Washington, D.C., and San Bernardino, Calif., seeking help in buying a house to use as a brothel for 12 underage girls from El Salvador, currently waiting aboard a boat on the Chesapeake. The profits would go to fund O'Keefe's campaign for Congress -- as a Democrat, of course.

Their problem, they said, was that they couldn't get a loan through regular lenders for a house of ill repute, as sound an investment as that might be.

The ACORN staffers -- at least the ones in the videos that reached Fox News and were posted on conservative Web sites -- stood ready to help. - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

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Important Community Information By Rodney Dial - As you decide how you will vote on the proposed Pool bonds on October 6th, you may want to consider the following concerning the health of the City and Borough finances: - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

To Pee or Not to Pee By Evan Bolling - Aside from the extreme unconstitutionality of the current drug testing system, the proposal for a "selective drug testing policy" offered by Chris Elliot is much MUCH worse. - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

Suicide and abuse problems in Ketchkan By Donna Teal - I have read all letters with interest lately on this subject. - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

North Slope seas contain oil and gas vital to US By Senator Lisa Murkowski - Alaska's offshore oil and natural gas resources are vital to the nation's strategic economic and energy security. That's why I strongly support responsible exploration and production in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. - More...
Thursday - September 17, 2009

Drug Testing By Chris Elliott - As parents we are sometimes (oftentimes?) oblivious to what is going on right in front of us. We can't see the forest for the trees. We can't believe that our child would lie to us or take drugs or routinely drink too much. We believe that because their friends come from "good" homes, everything is fine. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

KPU DIESEL GENERATION EXPLANATION By Pete Ellis - The reasoning behind running diesel generators at this time of year needs to be further explained by KPU so that we can understand the economics involved in not waiting to see the effect of Tyee connection access and the extent of lake level changes that will be occurring later in the year as affected by Tyee and our further rainfall. Or perhaps the Tyee connection will cost more than the diesel generation? - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

RE: They just don't get it By Dave Kiffer - On Sept. 8, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly authorized $6,000 for a voter pamphlet for the swimming pool bond issue AND the transient occupancy tax changes. It is now estimated that the pamphlet will actually cost approximately $3,200. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Yes to Proposition 2 By Mary Schulz - YES, it is time to replace the Mike Smithers' pool with a new facility. The movement to build pools in Alaska began 40 years ago. The State of Alaska recognized the value of pools in each community and developed a plan to assist with the pool projects through the Department of Education. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Airlift Northwest's History By Shelly Deering - In 1978, a Sitka house fire left 3 children severely burned. Dr. Michael Copass, founder of Airlift Northwest, was teaching there at the time and spent the day assisting Dr. Longenbaugh in caring for and trying to arrange transfer of these critically injured children to the regional burn center in Seattle. The children died before this could happen. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Don't be too quick By Evan Bolling - Let's play a quick session of Q&A. Question: Does Ketchikan have a major drug abuse problem? Answer:Yes. Question II: Is that drug abuse the major force behind the recent suicides? Answer: No. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Suicide, Violence, and Drug Abuse. By Ken Bylund - At thirteen [1955], two friends and I went to see "Rebel Without a Cause" [a movie] at the local cinema's 25 cent matinee; a few weeks later one friend began acting out, the distraught, misunderstood, unreachable character of young Jim Stark, arguing with his girl friend - and she played her part too - both seeming to enjoy the drama... then he did something that stunned us all. Won't go into detail, just that we all went to the funeral parlor, saw his mother sitting in a chair, her back against black curtains, crying her eyes out -- we all felt bad -- there in his coffin, rosy cheeks and handsome, was our friend, Doug. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Rendezvous Senior Day Services Adult Day Program - Adult Day Services week is celebrated September 21-25th by centers like Rendezvous Senior Day Services across the nation. Alaska has 12 adult day programs across the state, two in Southeast Alaska. Rendezvous Senior Day Services currently has an adult day program, among other programs which support our community. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Eyes Finally Opening By Nicole Esau - Upon watching and reading SitNews lately I have to say that I am encouraged that the people of Ketchikan are finally opening their eyes! - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

I Do Not Assert A Stigma By Harold A. Maio - There is such a stigma regarding Mental Health. The sentence actually reads, "I associate such a stigma." It is the writer's statement. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Mayor's support of 347 Bawden EPA Assessment By Kenneth Carpenter - As the owners of 347 Bawden Street, we extend our public thanks to Mayor Lew Williams III for his writing a letter of support for EPA assessment on the behalf of the City of Ketchikan. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

The Time Is NOW To Act By Kristenia Johnson - After my letter was published on Sitnews I received a number of responses from my friends and family congratulating me on saying what they have been thinking for years. I also received a reply from a man I did not know who shared his struggles with staying positive while growing up in Ketchikan and having to combat depression almost year round during the rain. He suffers from SAD. I also knew to expect those replies who did not whole or at all agree with my opinion, one opinion more personal to me was from my boyfriend. While he agreed with some of what I said he still had his disagreements and it hurt me to hear a semi-lack of support from him. I soon realized that this was my big test to understand that not everyone shares the same opinion. However, this is not about me or whether you believe my opinion is one sided or not. Aren't all opinions usually geered toward one side? This is about protecting and saving our children and our town from drugs, alcohol and disruptive behavior which will most likely lead to a life in and out and in jail again. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Suicide By Tracey Horne Scadden - Having read Ms. Martin's letter on her thoughts about suicide.I applaud you for taking the stand it wasn't your fault. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Wolves By Meghan Hogben - This is a letter to warn people who are walking dogs in the Ward Lake area. Minutes before 8 pm tonight my boyfriend and I were walking our dog on the road down to Ward Lake, they were unmistakable -- wolves, five of them, and they wanted our dog. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

RE: Memorial fund By Linda Beaupre - First of all, my condolences to the Azure family. Not only do they have to grieve for their son, but they also have to process the tragic circumstances of his death. I cannot imagine the heartache they must be experiencing right now. - More...
Wednesday - September 16, 2009

Response to "Enough" By Rebecca Clark - I couldn't agree with Mr. Ziegler more! Drugs, murder and suicide seem to be a big problem; EVERYWHERE! It seems more threatening when it is closer to home. "Gatekeepers" is a suicide prevention coalition that had their open house last night. I encourage those in our community who want to be proactive in the fight against these monstrosities(both physical and spiritual) to attend upcoming invitations. - More...
Monday - September 14, 2009

Ketchikan Youth By Sara Skan - After reading and agreeing with Public Nuisance by Harry Howard, it got me thinking. Yes, there are quite a bit of Ketchikan youth that is disrespectful, destructive amongst other things. However, there is also a side of our beautiful town's youth that is worth encouraging. Three of my four children are enrolled in the Ketchikan school district, on many occasions my oldest has spoken with me about the things that are said and done on the bus, the way the "older kids talk" It makes me nervous to send her off! She is learning things that she shouldn't know at her age, things their father and I should be discussing with them at what we feel is the appropriate time. As a parent I also know that I am responsible for teaching my children to have good judgment and knowing the difference between right and wrong. Having respect and compassion for their elders and one another. - More...
Monday - September 14, 2009

Worried By Rebecca Simpson - I am a concerned citizen of Ketchikan and worried about the children and young adults in our area. There is so many actions being taken by the young people in our area. With all the drug and alcohol use in this town, WHY isn't drug & alcohol awareness being taught to our students? - More...
Monday - September 14, 2009

RE: Too many suicides and attempts By Charlanne Heath - While I realize that this forum is intended to spout your own point of view to a community, Kristenia Johnson's letter is a typical one-sided point of view. - More...
Monday - September 14, 2009

Mental Health Stigma By Jan Cadero - This letter is in response to Mykayla Martin's letter regarding too many suicides or attempts. Mykayla, it is really sad that you at the young age of 17, have a strong opinion regarding suicide. And it is a tragic thing that anyone should have to deal with, but you should not say it is an easy way out. - More...
Monday - September 14, 2009

Healthcare reform By Dale Albertson - In reading Dale McFeatters' oped on Healthcare reform I was inclined to ignore this issue. However, truth always wins out. Revisit the "speech" on this matter to the joint session. It is empty of fact or substance, full of rhetoric and grandstanding. There is plenty of denial on issues dear to the citizens but empty of sources to back up those denials, just denial, oh, and threats against any who oppose the "reforms". Here is just one "fact" relative to peoples concerns: In an article by Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent, The Washington Examiner, entitled: "Health care reform means more power for the IRS", he claims that the IRS would become the main agency charged with determining if you have "acceptable" health insurance. This article inspired Herman Cain, "The Herman Cain Show" to do some research. He found the following little tidbit: "It's Division A, Title IV on pages 167-215 called Amendments to IRS Code of 1986. The expanded powers of the IRS in H.R. 3200 would empower the IRS to require taxpayers to show proof of health insurance coverage, collect fines on individuals and employers who did not have adequate proof of health insurance and determine whether your health insurance was a government approved plan." - More...
Monday - September 14, 2009

Time to say "Enough" By Zig Ziegler - There is a huge problem in Ketchikan that appears to be the undercurrent to much of the criminal activity, suicides and social problems we are experiencing. That problem is drugs, specifically, meth and oxycontin. I would be willing to wager that drug use is directly linked to so much of what our community has been facing over the past few years. Is Ketchikan alone in this? Certainly not. Is that an excuse for not taking on this problem head on? Absolutely not. - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

RE: Too many suicides and attempts By Kristenia Johnson - I am having a hard time believing that people in Ketchikan could solely blame a person for ending their own life.There are two (from what I understand) different suicides in a matter of a few months in Ketchikan and neither share two commonalities. - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

Kyle Palmer Had KIC insurance...but By Wayne Beaupre - Ketchikan Indian Corp has refused to cover Kyle Palmer, a 23 year member of Ketchikan Indian Corp because, they were not notified first. - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

They just don't get it By Jon Van Essen - I really find it hard to believe that the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly feels the need to spend $55K to supposedly inform us voters all the details on why we need a new community pool. - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

My Roof Thanks You! By Shauna Lee - I recently wrote a letter to Sitnews regarding my leaking roof and asked for ideas. I must say, Ketchikan didn't fail me. I had three phone calls and numerous letters with offers to help. I couldn't even get to them all so please know that to every one of you that called and wrote, I thank you so much!! - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

Sea Otters By Mike Moyer - In response to Mr. Jean Bland's letter to me concerning the truth about Sea Otters, I can only say that if there are no shellfish around Craig, Klawock, or Hydaburg now, then how did people survive in the old days there before the Russians wiped out the Sea Otters? - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

RE: Memorial Fund By Lisa McClould - Regarding the request from Deborah Harney, a child is a gift from God. - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

Obama Attempts School Intrusion By Donald A. Moskowitz - President Obama continues to hover over us like "Big Brother". Tuesday, September 8, 2009 his targeted audience was our impressionable school children. - More...
Thursday PM - September 10, 2009

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