Alaska: Murkowski was 'capable, energetic' for Alaska By MARK THIESSEN - There are multiple theories on what led to Murkowski's demise - from her not taking Miller seriously or being aggressive enough, to Palin's endorsement of Miller, to an abortion ballot measure that drew conservative voters to the polls.

"People have got to be looking at Alaska right now and wondering how the heck someone who advocates the wholesale reduction of federal spending to the states could possibly win in Alaska," said Ivan Moore, an independent pollster in Anchorage.

"And the answer to that question is because Lisa Murkowski didn't tell us about it. And it was her job to tell us about it because Joe Miller wasn't going to scream from the rooftops about it. He was going to go on about being a constitutional conservative, and rah, rah, rah, and not say, 'Oh, yeah, when I get to D.C., I'm going to shut the spigot off.' That was her job, and she didn't do it," said Moore, who didn't work for any candidate in this race.

Nothing should be taken away from Miller's indefatigable campaigning. He was able to forge a grassroots campaign, relying in part on the Internet, and he leveraged his newfound national visibility, following Palin's June endorsement, to get on talk shows, appear on Fox News and speak with other prominent, national conservative outlets, which helped to burnish his "credentials" as a true conservative.

Before her defeat, Murkowski was settling into her role as the state's senior senator, earned when her mentor, the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was defeated in the 2008 election.

Few observers felt she served long enough to build a legacy of her own.

But in her eight years in office, Murkowski established herself as a capable and energetic advocate for Alaska's interests, said University of Alaska Fairbanks political science professor Jerry McBeath.

Murkowski was chosen in 2002 by her father, Frank, the newly elected governor, to fill the seat he left in the U.S. Senate. He had been senator for 22 years.

She skipped over a long list of prominent and up-and-coming Alaska Republicans, including Sarah Palin, raising the ire of some in the GOP.

Despite cries of nepotism, Murkowski won the seat outright two years later when she defeated former two-term Gov. Tony Knowles, a Democrat, in the general election.

She then quickly rose through the Republican ranks. In her first full term, Murkowski was the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, a crucial role for Alaska.

She also won a seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and has been named to the Senate GOP's leadership team.

But at the same time, she was known as a moderate Republican who would cross the aisle to work with Democrats.

"Had she stayed in office longer," McBeath said, "she would have become, I think, a very solid and accomplished senator," serving in the Stevens tradition.

Compared with her class of senators, Murkowski was in the top, taking her work very seriously and responding well to constituents, McBeath said.

"She was not a show horse. She didn't grab the mic to parade her views on issues," he said. "She was there to represent Alaska, and I think she did that quite well."

Part of Murkowski's downfall might be attributed to the California-based Tea Party Express, which spent nearly $600,000 on ads in Alaska to paint her as a Washington liberal unwilling to overturn federal health care reform. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 01, 2010

Alaska: Pair Immigrates, Collects PFDs Under False Identities - Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Division Director Deborah Bitney announced that, on June 17, 2010, Reynaldo Gabarda (61) was sentenced in District Court to serve 135 days in jail and pay $23,107.24 in restitution; and on July 28, 2010, Brenda Gabarda Montino (36) was sentenced in District Court to serve 90 days in jail and pay $18,865.28 in restitution for Permanent Fund Dividends they received under false identities. Montino and Gabarda, who is Montino's natural uncle, came to the US from the Philippines.

In 1993, Montino's mother and Gabarda purchased immigration and identity documents issued to another Filipino family who had been approved to immigrate to the United States. Gabarda and Montino assumed those identities, posing as father and daughter, and immigrated along with two unrelated females also posing as Gabarda's daughters. Gabarda and Montino moved to Alaska, where they lived under their assumed identities until 2009. The two other females had previously been located and prosecuted in other states. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 01, 2010

Alaska: Convicted Child Rapist to Serve a 50 Year Prison Sentence - Monday evening a plea agreement guaranteed a lengthy prison sentence for a man guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing a child throughout his/her teenage years. 38-year old Joseph Turney pled guilty to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the First Degree and one count of Sexual Assault in the First Degree. Those three counts were consolidated from 20 separate original charges of a similar nature. His sentence calls for a 66-year prison term with 16 years suspended. Following the completion of his prison sentence, Turney is required to be on probation for 15 years and to register as a sex offender for life.

The 20-month long investigation by the Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) revealed that Turney had sexually assaulted the teen on numerous occasions. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 01, 2010

Klawock: Henry Williamson wins 'People in the Forest' photo contest - The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council(SEACC) announced the winner of the People in the Forest photo contest. Henry Williamson of Craig won the People's Choice award for his photograph "Come On, Let's Go to Work." He received a $150 gift certificate from the Clothes Company in Craig.

Kathy Peavey, Sabrina Ververs, and Jacy Pierson were the other finalists. All of the finalists won a $25 gift certificate from the Wheelhouse Coffee Roasters, a copy of Salmon in the Trees, a photo essay book by Amy Gulick, a copy of Alaska's Watchable Whales, a photo book by Mark Kelley and John Hyde, and other prizes. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 01, 2010

Klawock: Mobile mammogram van on POW on Sept. 22-Oct. 12 - The mobile mammogram van will visit the Prince of Wales Island communities of Klawock and Craig from Sept. 22 through Oct. 12.

The van will be at the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Alicia Roberts Medical Center (ARMC) in Klawock from Wednesday, Sept. 22, to Friday, Oct. 8 (no weekend appointments scheduled). It will be at the Craig Clinic on Monday, Oct. 11, and Tuesday, Oct. 12. The van uses digital imaging technology.

Women wanting to schedule a mammogram in Klawock should call Helen Jackson of ARMC at 755-4978 (or call ARMC's toll-free number, 1-877-755-4800, and ask for Helen). For the Craig Clinic, call 826-3257. Women should schedule their mammograms at the clinic where they normally receive their health care. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 01, 2010

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Congratulations to Joe Miller by Ken Bylund - My hat's off to you, Joe, best of luck; enough honest effort will bring this once great ship of state back into safe waters. Only hope you can be strong in the face of bribery [aka compromise and arbitrary justice]. These seem to be the primary tools in Washington. Best advice -- buy a copy of Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, by Ayn Rand, read it again, or better, get the Audible read by Anna Fields... refresh that keen memory as to what we are. - More...
Wednesday PM - September 01. 2001

Road Construction By Al Johnson - Sitting in the traffic during our North Tongass Highwasy re-construction reminded me that I wanted and am now, writing to say how much I appreciate the work ethic of the Secon construction company, crew and subcontractors is during this construction effort. The professionalism of the equipment operators is fascinating to watch, the daily dispatch of road debris is outstanding.Daily progress reflects rapacity towards the job completion. - More...
Monday PM - August 30, 2010

Gaanax adi Lands Are Not Yours By Aan Kadax Tseen aka Don Hoff Jr. - I was born and raised in Ketchikan; I have sat on the City Council/Vice Mayor, O.S.H.A. Review Board member/Chairman, I.R.A. Councils, etc. I have been writing opinion letters on Land Claims for Ketchikan. - More...
Monday PM - August 30, 2010

Miller is DEPLORABLE By Stacey Stone - Miller had a campaign full of lies and now he is likening a United States Senator to a prostitute. Who is this man and who in the heck in their right mind can consciously vote for him? - More...
Monday PM - august 30, 2010

Wrong By Susan Round - Perhaps Mr. Edward's attitude toward libraries and literacy, and those who share it, have much to do with children not meeting "standards". Ever consider that? I wholeheartedly and enthusiasticly support the new library. I raised two children in this community. They spent a considerable amount of their childhood in the public library and they both exceeded the "standards" by any measure. - More...
Monday PM - august 30, 2010

Thank you voters By Diane Naab - The members of ABC: A Better Choice are pleased with the voter turnout concerning the library site location. We thank those in the community who took the time to vote. - More...
Monday PM - August 30, 2010

Raven's Way program thanks Sitka merchants for their support By Rebecca Howe - Over the course of the year, the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Yéil Jeeyáx Raven's Way adolescent residential substance abuse treatment center receives support from several organizations in Sitka. Raven's Way would like to thank five Sitka businesses for their support. - More...
Monday PM - April 30, 2010

In response to Library By Aprill Gass - This is the first time I have written to Sitnews, I was happy to see Mr. Edwardson point out the lack of educational progress we have seen in this community and the new library. I agree that we have many important issues facing us, the library seems to be one we could put on hold for the time being given the economic climate of our town. - More...
Monday PM - April 30, 2010

Voting Haida Corp. By Frances C. Natkong - If anyone on Haida Corporation Board of Directors approaches you asking you to vote for ANYONE please give me a call at 907-209-9447. Board members are not supposed to be campaigning, it is against policy. - More...
Monday PM - April 30, 2010

Appreciation for Volunteers By Judith Green - KUDOS to all those who volunteer to sit at the polling places. - More...
Monday PM - April 30, 2010

Economy By Robert Freedland - Our economy is of great concern to me. We have 9.5% unemployed and many other who have lost hope about finding a job, and we do not have a unified approach to dealing with this problem. - More...
Monday PM - April 30, 2010

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