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Southeast Alaska: Researchers find rare manefish in Southeast Alaska - In April of 2003, NOAA Fisheries scientists conducting research with a mid-water trawl in Alaska found something unexpected inside their net: a juvenile bigmouth manefish, Caristius macropus.

After reviewing preserved specimens and the scientific literature of manefish from Alaska, Alaska Fisheries Science Center researchers announced today they believe that this new find expands the biological knowledge of the rare fishes. More importantly, the find indicates a new habitat for the species and describes a wider distribution than previously known.

Manefish, which weren't known to science until 1903, appear unusual because they have a "mane" --a fragile, elongate dorsal fin originating on the head--and a fleshy sheath along the base of the dorsal and anal fin. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Southeast Alaska: State Intervenes in Juneau Access Lawsuit - Alaska Attorney General David Márquez announced today that the state has moved to intervene in a U.S. District Court lawsuit filed by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) against the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation involving the Juneau Access improvement project.

On August 16, 2006 SEACC and various other groups filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief in federal court to enjoin contract award or construction of the first segment of the Juneau access project. The plaintiffs assert various violations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental rules. The plaintiffs also challenge the final environmental impact statement (EIS) approved by the FHA.

"This lawsuit could hinder or prevent construction of the first segment of this project, which is a project that will ultimately make the state's capital more accessible to its citizens and reduce transportation costs of people and goods to Juneau, while still protecting the environment," said Márquez. "The state also has an interest in this case because the State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities took a lead role in the environmental work being challenged." - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Ketchikan: Deadline for Written Comment on Proposed Changes to Rural/Nonrural Status is October 27 - The Federal Subsistence Board is seeking public comments through Oct. 27, 2006 on a proposed rule that would change the rural or nonrural status of several Alaska communities and areas. The Board will make a decision on a final rule at a public meeting in Anchorage on Dec. 12-13, 2006.

The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act requires that rural Alaskans be given a priority for subsistence uses of fish and wildlife on Federal public lands. Only residents of rural communities and areas are eligible for this subsistence priority. The Board initially determined which Alaska communities were rural when the Federal Subsistence Management Program began in 1990. Federal subsistence regulations require that rural/nonrural status be reviewed every 10 years, beginning with the availability of the 2000 census data. An initial staff review, completed in July 2005, recommended that the rural/nonrural status of most Alaska communities should remain unchanged for the proposed rule. However, comments are sought on the following proposed changes: - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

National: As weaker nations get nukes, danger increases By JAMES STERNGOLD - North Korea's nuclear bomb test two weeks ago appears to have brought on an unusual level of unity among the United States and Pacific powers trying to halt North Korea's nuclear ambitions, and Pyongyang has expressed a willingness to resume negotiations.

But a number of experts said the blast underscored a troubling new reality about the logic behind nuclear weapons strategies - that the struggles to prevent proliferation are likely to become not only more frequent, but also far more complex, more unstable and more threatening.

"Just a few nuclear weapons can upset the entire international apple cart. And that's without even considering the possibility of their possession by terrorists," said Richard Garwin, a former nuclear weapons designer and a longtime senior government adviser on weapons policy.

The previous model for nuclear strategy - established during the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union - has been turned on its head. The confrontation with North Korea - and with Iran, and before that, with Saddam Hussein's Iraq - has shown that these horrifically powerful weapons are now the choice of the weaker countries, more fearful of attacks by conventional forces than of U.S. ballistic missiles. The aim is the threat of large-scale disruption, not apocalyptic destruction, and uncertainty about how and when the weapons might be used. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

National: New law may break the bank for Internet gambling industry By CHICO HARLAN - Hours after Congress approved a bill on Sept. 30 that suddenly imperiled Internet gambling, hundreds of the world's best poker players partied at a beachfront Radisson resort in Aruba, toasting their good fortune, until they learned otherwise.

The players lined up near the trays of Caribbean pork and pick-and-peel cocktail shrimp. Some took to the dance floor, twisting to '80s hits. A few, aided by beer, jumped into the pool. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Monthly Grind Packs the House Pictured: Famous Amos Front Page Photo By Bill Hupe

Ketchikan: Monthly Grind Packs the House Reviewed by BILL HUPE - The scent of rain in the air was not a deterrent for Ketchikan-area residents to once again pack the Saxman Clan House for the October Monthly Grind; a night of music, humor, and great desserts. The warmth of the Clan House held out the chill outside and the tantalizing scent of the vast number of homemade treats greeted the attendees.

Our hostess/emcee for the evening was Beatrice Laspintime, a 'Floridan refugee who missed her cruise ship in September and found herself trapped in Ketchikan for the winter". During the course of the evening, she refound her fellow Floridan traveller and equipped themselves for a long stay here in our city, making a fair bit of humorous observations along the way.

The first group of the evening was Rudy, Mary, and Terry, performing a mix of original and cover songs. Their performance of folk songs were excellent, especially "Firefly", featuring Mary, who was taking time out from her day job with Alaska State Parks keeping visitors in line.

Famous Amos and Friends really stirred up the attendees with his amazing alternate rendition of "Over the Rainbow". - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Viewpoints Opinions/Letters Basic Rules Dear Readers: Thank you all for your patience over the past week as we've dealt with some family health issues. All the sections were updated Tuesday evening. Mary K. KGB School Lock-Down By Anne Lucas - Tuesday TIME FOR CHANGE By James C. Eakes - Tuesday RE: Tongass Construction By Cathy Geer - Tuesday Promises, Promises: What Do They Mean at UAS? By Robert D. Warner - Tuesday Getting hosed at the pump? By Wayne Kinunen - Tuesday Metlakatla's Choice: A simple Yes or No By Virginia E. Atkinson - Tuesday Martin and John Bugge By Pam Grender - Tuesday RE: Adults think they know all the answers etc. By Frances C. Natkong - Tuesday Gas Prices By Janelle Hamilton - Tuesday SQUEAKY By BJ Orand - Tuesday Hooray!!! for recovey By Patti Fay Hickox - Tuesday Killer of a Whale By Greg Harris - Tuesday Law enforcement in Ketchikan By Colleen James - Tuesday Lots of Failing Parents By Rob Glenn - Tuesday More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter Political Cartoonists Political Cartoons 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 Auto-post your ad in the proper category, or email your ad & photos to ads@sitnews.us  Classifieds: Categories Announcements For Sale / Free Stuff Garage Sales Homes / Apts/ Property Pets Wanted Lost & Found Local Services SitNews Archives October 2006 Click on the date to read the stories published on that day. S M T W T F S 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         More Front Page Archives

Dave Kiffer: Commuter has the Midas Touch - A few days ago, I was driving into town from Settler's Cove. It was rainy and there were "puddles" in the low lying areas of the North Tongass Highway, so I was cheerfully hydroplaning around the corners at 50 mph.

Somewhere around the Lighthouse Grocery I had a thought.

"Geeze, this commute would really suck."

About a mile or so later, another thought occurred to me.

"Geeze-Louise! What commute? We're talking 20 minutes tops here."

Of course had I been coming in on South Tongass it would have been a good 20 minute wait just get past the "excavation" zone south of the Homestead. But - as usual - I digress. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Ann McFeatters: The best revenge is voting - Five out of six Americans think Congress stinks. Can this republic be saved?

It's been a terrible, horrible year for the legislative branch. Lawmakers got virtually no work done, including passing the spending bills required by law, but they whined a lot.

We've lurched from one smelly scandal to another, month after month. Four Republicans who held influential posts in the House - Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California, Bob Ney of Ohio, Mark Foley of Florida and Tom DeLay of Texas - are gone in disgrace. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Preston MacDougall: Chemical Eye on the November Ballots - I think I know why voter participation rates are so low among newly eligible voters, and it has nothing to do with the candidates.

Ballots are like multiple-choice tests, and once that diploma is in your hand, it is just human nature to steer clear of anything that looks or smells like a test. Unless, of course, you have been given the answers in advance.

It doesn't have a name yet, and it may have something to do with the proliferation of lottery-funded scholarships, but there seems to have been another recent evolution in human nature: if it will increase your GPA, just do it. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Dick Morris: '06 Elex Back To Toss-Up - The latest polls show something very strange and quite encouraging is happening: The Republican base seems to be coming back home. This trend, only vaguely and dimly emerging from a variety of polls, suggests that a trend may be afoot that would deny the Democrats control of the House and the Senate.

With two weeks to go, anything can happen, but it is beginning to look possible that the Democratic surge in the midterm elections may fall short of control in either House. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Dan K. Thomasson: Terrorism law faces challenges - The news photos of President Bush signing the latest anti-terrorist measure show a line up of dignitaries whose unsmiling countenances were properly grim for witnessing the execution of the American notion of justice.

Obviously some in the gathering, like Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Vice President Cheney, don't see it that way. For them the potential shredding of civil liberties is necessary to save the nation from the terrorist hordes waiting to destroy us. One doesn't smile in triumph when the president is saving the lives of millions of Americans. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006

Paul C. Campos: One thing those for and against Iraq war can agree on - Two groups of people should be opposed to the Bush administration's Iraq policy: those who are against the war and those who are for it.

Even the most ardent hawks now agree that things in Iraq are going badly. Thousands of Iraqis are killed every month by sectarian violence, U.S. casualties at the hands of the insurgency are soaring, Baghdad has electricity for an average of two hours a day (down from 12 hours two years ago, and 24 hours prior to the invasion), 60 percent of Iraqis say they believe attacks on U.S. troops are justified (up from 18 percent three years ago) and this past week the commander of our forces in the country admitted the latest attempt to quell the out of control violence of Baghdad's streets had failed. - More...
Tuesday PM - October 24, 2006