Historical: Abolition of Alaska's Death Penalty By DAVE KIFFER - In 1938, a Native woman was murdered on a hillside above what is now Tatsuda Way in Ketchikan. Her killer - her son-in-law - became the only Ketchikan man to ever be executed for first degree murder. And the execution - along with a handful of others in the territory - helped convinced officials to ban the death penalty when Alaska became a state 20 years later. - More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005

National: Social Security benefits will rise in January By MARY DEIBEL - Back-to-back hurricanes sent energy prices and inflation soaring at rates not seen since 1980 and guaranteed that 48 million Americans will see the biggest jump in Social Security benefits in 15 years, starting Jan. 1.

Social Security checks next year will see a 4.1 percent cost-of-living adjustment, reflecting the 1.2 percent rise in September of the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, the Social Security Administration announced Friday.- More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005

Ketchikan: Fishing vessel MRS sinks - One crewman lost - The Coast Guard and the crew of the Lady May rescued three crewmen of the 48-foot fishing vessel MRS from the water near Ketchikan Friday.

The Coast Guard received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16 from the crew of the MRS at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. They stated the vessel was sinking near Grindall Island and they were abandoning ship. - More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005

Ketchikan: AIDEA receives upgraded credit rating and signs new operating agreement for Ketchikan Shipyard - The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) announced Friday that it recently received an upgraded rating from Standard & Poor (S&P) from an "A-" to an "A" rating.  To add to the good news, on Thursday its Board approved a new agreement with Alaska Ship and Drydock, Inc. (ASD) of Ketchikan for the operation of AIDEA's Ketchikan Shipyard.

Governor Murkowski praised AIDEA and its Board of Directors saying both announcements are proof that they are working in the right direction to create jobs and provide better returns to Alaskans from the state's asset agencies. "The higher rating is evidence that AIDEA has been doing a good job diversifying and increasing its portfolio for the health of AIDEA's future investment-making potential," said Murkowski. "When AIDEA makes good investments in quality economic development projects in the state, it translates into more jobs for Alaskans and the potential for future investments." - More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005

Singing Through History... in Ketchikan Pictured: Adam Miller Front Page Photo by Elizabeth Flom

Ketchikan: Singing Through History... in Ketchikan By ELIZABETH FLOM - California folksinger and autoharpist Adam Miller renowned for his extensive repertoire of traditional and historical folksongs recently performed in Ketchikan at the Ketchikan Public Library.

Miller's "Singing Through History" was not only impressively educational but also alluringly entertaining - delighting both young and old alike. His energizing performance brought history alive at the Ketchikan Children's Library as he skillfully grabbed the children's attention and transported them with song and laughter through 400 years of history.

As the Ketchikan Children's Library exploded with spirited folksongs, Miller's reputation as a masterful entertainer who never fails to get his audience to sing along was demonstrated best by one enthusiastic young child. Her lively participation was nothing less than side-splitting provoking joyful and appreciative laughter from the crowd. - More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005

Ketchikan: Ten UAS Ketchikan Students Accepted to UAA Nursing Program - Ten University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan students have been accepted to the second Ketchikan cohort for the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing offered by the University of Alaska Anchorage Nursing Program. The nursing program offers a two-year associate of applied science degree in nursing to selected campuses outside Anchorage via distance delivery methods every two years. This new cohort of students will begin course work in January 2006. - More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005

Washington Calling: Spenders aren't spooked...phone frights...donor fatigue By LANCE GAY - All that spooky talk about inflation and home heating prices this winter doesn't seem to be dampening the Halloween spirit. The retail industry is projecting $3.3 billion will be spent on costumes and candy this year, a 5 percent increase from 2004.

Phil Rist, a vice president at BIGresearch, who follows retail trends, says some of the biggest spenders are young adults buying party costumes.- More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005

Viewpoints Opinions/Letters America's Rain Forests By Rhonda Erickson - Saturday PM Prince Rupert Project By Randy Williams - Saturday PM Schoenbar: We Need Action By Cindy Moody - Saturday PM When you get that urge to express yourself inappropriately... By Susan Bachant - Saturday PM Final Results of Katrina Fundraising By Rob Holston - Saturday PM Free Voice Communications By Jay Jones - Saturday PM Domestic Violence Awareness Month By Martha J. Gallagher - Saturday PM Freedom of Speech By Frances C. Natkong - Saturday PM Be Bold By Bill Thomas Sr. - Saturday PM Looking for information By Svenn Inge Ingebrigtsen - Saturday PM Tapping into the Prince Rupert Port Expansion Pipeline and What This Could Mean for S.E. Alaska By Michael Round - Friday AM Open Letter: To All Members of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly By James Guenther - Friday AM Response To Alaska Airlines Questions By Amanda Tobin - Friday AM More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter Political Cartoonists The What If Channel Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant Distributed exclusively to subscribers by Cagle Cartoons, Inc. Political Cartoonists E-mail a political cartoon Ketchikan Calendar, Meetings, Events Today's Forecast City Police Report AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Classifieds & Announcements October 2005 Click on the date for stories and photos published on that day... S M T W T F S 25 26 27 28 29 30 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 31           Front Page Archives

The week in review By BILL STRAUB - Quake leaves 25,000 dead

The massive Asian earthquake that struck on Oct. 8 has devastated Pakistan and the surrounding region. Officials report at least 25,000 dead, and some remote villages remain outside the government's reach. The United Nations estimates the quake and resulting aftershocks have left more than 1 million homeless. The United States and other nations are providing relief.

Merkel leads Germany

Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany's primary conservative party, will become the chancellor in a new coalition government, replacing incumbent Gerhard Schroeder. The deal was reached after inconclusive results in elections earlier this month. Merkel is expected to seek friendlier relations with the United States.

Pinter takes Nobel

British playwright Harold Pinter, 75, who utilized spare language and long silences in seminal works like "The Caretaker" and "The Birthday Party," was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in literature Thursday. A critic of U.S. foreign policy as well as the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair, Pinter generally is considered the most influential British playwright of his generation.

Miers faces conservative storm

White House counsel Harriet Miers, President Bush's choice for the Supreme Court seat vacated by retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, continued to face intense criticism from an unexpected source - conservatives. Bush continued to express support for his longtime friend, asserting that her deep Christian convictions played a role in his decision to nominate her.

Guatemala digs out

Guatemala continued digging out from the massive mudslides that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Stan, a storm that inundated the Central American nation. The government in Guatemala City anticipates the death toll will reach 1,300.

Wilson probe continues

The CIA-leak investigation that has broiled several high-level Bush administration officials rumbled on. New York Times reporter Judith Miller, who spent 85 days in jail for refusing to cooperate with the special grand jury probing the case, appeared for a second time to discuss her communications with "Scooter" Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is trying to determine the identity of the person who outed Valerie Plame Wilson, an undercover CIA agent. President Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove, made his fourth grand-jury appearance.

Officials battle bird flu

International health officials are working to stop the spread of avian flu, which has hit a large portion of Asia. The strain does not easily infect humans. However, 117 people, mostly those with repeated contact with infected poultry, have caught it over the last two years, and 60 have died, mostly in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Deepening concerns, the European Union said the bird-flu virus found in Turkish poultry was one that researchers fear could mutate into a human virus and trigger a pandemic. Scientists are following the virus in birds out of concern that it could mutate into a dangerous human pandemic strain. - More...
Saturday AM - October 15, 2005