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Tuesday PM
October 07, 2014
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Sunfish
The ocean sunfish is the world's largest bony fish. This sunfish was found in a local shrimp pot with a spot prawn nearly consumed.
Front Page Photograph By CHRIS HERBY ©2014
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Ketchikan: Shellfish farming workshop and lectures start Oct. 9th - A three-day Southeast Alaska Shellfish Farming Workshop will be offered in Ketchikan this week starting October 9th, with evening lectures in four other Southeast Alaska communities this month. The workshop will offer a comprehensive look at the growing shellfish industry.
Pacific oysters await shipment from Prince of Wales Island
Photo by Deborah Mercy
Ray RaLonde, aquaculture specialist for the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program in the University of Alaska Fairbanks, will present the three-day beginning shellfish farming workshop at the University of Alaska Southeast Robertson Building in Ketchikan this week, Thursday - Saturday.
Ketchikan Marine Advisory Program agent Gary Freitag will teach oceanography, and Marine Advisory Program marketing specialist Quentin Fong will teach business planning and marketing during the workshop. Presentations will run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm each day starting October 9th through October 11th.
Evening lectures on shellfish farming are being offered following the workshop in Ketchikan on Oct. 9th, and in the communities of Metlakatla on Oct. 13th, Petersburg on Oct. 14th, Juneau on Oct. 17th, and Yakutat on Oct. 18th.
Lectures on shellfish aquaculture development will describe the economic impacts of farming on local communities based on 23 years of research and experience in Alaska. - More...
Wednesday PM - October 08, 2014
Ketchikan: Ketchikan Hosts 35th Annual Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators Conference - The City of Ketchikan Port & Harbors Department is hosting the 35th annual conference of the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators from October 13-17, 2014. Ketchikan last hosted the conference in 2006.
The conference will be held at the Ted Ferry Civic Center with over 90 participants expected to attend from coastal communities throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest as well as engineers and maritime related speakers from a variety of Federal, State and local agencies and the private sector.
The current AAHPA President is Haines Harbormaster Phil Benner. Ketchikan Port & Harbors Director Steve Corporon is the AAHPA Immediate Past President (2009-2013).
Topics on the conference agenda include weather forecasting and tsunami information, Alaska’s marine industrial capacity and workforce development plan, the State’s municipal harbor facility grant program, the Alaska clean harbors program, an update on the State’s abandoned and derelict vessel task force, guidance on the marine mammal protection act, understanding ground fault protection requirements under the new NEC code as well as presentations on recent port and harbor improvement projects throughout the state. - More...
Wednesday PM - October 08, 2014
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Alaska: New NASA Technology Brings Critical Data to Pilots Over Remote Alaskan Territories - NASA has formally delivered to Alaskan officials a new technology that could help pilots flying over the vast wilderness expanses of the northern-most state. The technology is designed to help pilots make better flight decisions, especially when disconnected from the Internet, telephone, flight services and other data sources normally used by pilots.
NASA’s Traffic and Atmospheric Information for General Aviation (TAIGA) technology system is capable of showing pilots the altitude of nearby terrain via color. Yellow identifies terrain that is near the aircraft’s altitude and red shows the terrain that is higher than the plane’s altitude.
Image Credit: ARC/Joseph Rios
According to NASA, S. Peter Worden, director of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, and Thomas Edwards, Director of Aeronautics at Ames, met with Alaskan officials Monday to deliver the software innovation known as the Traffic and Atmospheric Information for General Aviation (TAIGA). This aviation technology, a collection of algorithms, concepts and data, is the result of a joint effort between Ames and the State of Alaska.
Over the vast expanses of Alaska, with its mountainous terrain and extreme weather events, pilots often are disconnected from vital navigation aids and communication. Taking on these factors, NASA developed a satellite-based communication method through which regional data is sent only to that specific region. The customized data sets can be downloaded quickly and plugged into a mobile application.
NASA has developed only a conceptual version of the mobile software application, which includes full 3-D terrain visualization. The algorithms, concepts and data are available as an open-source project for further development by industry and the aviation community into an end-user system. The 3-D terrain visualization software will be made available separately.
"We are excited to lend a helping hand to general aviation pilots in Alaska," said Worden. "With the TAIGA app, Alaska pilots will be able to remain independent, but with a dose of safety when needed." - More...
Wednesday PM - October 08, 2014
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Alaska: Alaska Native Housing Programs
Awarded $7 Million - During a visit to Alaska hosted by U.S. Senator Mark Begich, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro on Monday announced $59.8 million in funding will be awarded to 90 tribal communities nationwide. Alaska will receive almost $7 million of the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program grant funds that are slated to improve housing conditions and stimulate community development, including construction projects and local jobs for low-income families.
Senator Begich and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro touring Anchorage's Mountain View area Monday.
Photo courtesy Office of U.S. Sen. Mark Begich
Southeast Alaska recipients include the Metlakatla Housing Authority in the amount of $600,000 and the Organized Village of Kassan in the amount of $599,904.00. Recipients can use the funding to support rehabbing or building new housing or to buy land for housing; for infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities; and to spur economic development including job creation.
“As a former mayor, Secretary Castro understands the importance of investing in local housing and infrastructure to keep the economy strong and to make sure hard-working families have access to affordable housing,” said Begich. “I’m pleased we have succeeded in getting the Administration to listen to Alaska's unique housing needs, with more than 10 percent of the grants announced today to be awarded to Alaska tribes and communities. From Ruby to Rampart, from Ketchikan to St. Paul Island, these funds will be used to improve local economies and local living conditions for thousands of Alaskans.”
The purpose of the ICDBG program is to develop more viable Alaska Native and American Indian communities, including decent housing, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities. - More...
Wednesday PM - October 08, 2014
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Columns - Commentary
PHIL KERPEN: Democrats Will Never Fix Obamacare - "If you like your health plan, you can keep it" was last year's Lie of the Year. When millions of cancellations stacked up, the game of make-believe was over. So the Democrats, hoping to survive another election cycle, shifted to a new mantra: they claim they want to fix the law. The facts show this is just another Obamacare lie.
The Democrat-controlled Senate has adjourned for the year without voting on any fixes.
The Senate only took up two Obamacare-related measures all year. One was a show-vote on the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision. The other was a House-passed bill called the Hire More Heroes Act that removed employer mandate penalties on companies for hiring veterans on Tricare or VA health care. That bill passed the House 406 to 1 with only Jerry Nadler of New York opposed — but Senate Democrats decided to use it as a vehicle for an unrelated package of tax changes that they later pulled from the floor.
And that's it.
No other Obamacare votes allowed in the Senate all year, because Harry Reid has the reliable support of every Senate Democrat to ruthlessly block all amendments on the Senate floor.
It's true most Republicans want to repeal the law. Good. It's a terrible law and we'd be better off if it were repealed. But House Republicans have also recognized the need to provide immediate relief to millions of people suffering lost plans, higher premiums, higher taxes, shorter hours, and lost jobs. They have acted responsibly in the House by passing more than a dozen bills that fix the worst aspects of Obamacare.
Just recently the House passed a bill authored by Rep. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana to allow people who work for small businesses to keep their health plans. Last year the House passed a similar bill for people who buy their own plans on the individual market by a robust 261-157 margin. Democrats like Mary Landrieu and Kay Hagan claim to support a version of this bill in almost every stump speech, but vote with Reid to guarantee it will never actually come to the Senate floor. - More...
Saturday PM - October 04, 2014
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Political Cartoon: Immigration Policy
By Rick McKee ©2014, The Augusta Chronicle
Distributed to subscribers for publication by Cagle Cartoons, Inc.
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 Open Letter to Ketchikan School Board & Kayhi Administration By Ken Arriola - So, basically, in following the development and building progress of the Kayhi football program through the years, I've come to appreciate the success of the program despite the seemingly insurmountable hurdles that an athletic program has to endure in order to succeed and become firmly established. The achievements of Kayhi's football program, in my view stands alone, in the realm of student activities, as the example of what hard work, commitment, and sacrifice can and will produce. - More...
Sunday PM - October 05, 2014
Feds treat Ebola like a hangnail By Charlie Freeman - I do not understand how the U.S. leaders can poo poo the potential threat of a pandemic. If they're trying to prevent panic, they're doing a poor job of it. My self, I'd feel more secure if I saw some effort at containment. Aparently none of the "highly trained" people ever read a history book. The Black Plague was too far back for these people to think about, but the world wide influenza epidimic of the early 1900's should be close enough for a look. This was a time of coal fired steam ships. Most travelers would have died weeks before they got here. And yet the virus arrived and killed an untold number of Americans. You only need to go to Villiage Island or old Klinkwan to see the results. Two or three children buried in the same grave, parents beside them. That's just local. Nation wide, it was worse. World wide, it was horrible. - More...
Sunday PM - October 05, 2014
Tax dollars wasted By Ed Plute - As a candidate for Ketchikan city council ,I will vote to reverse the approved rate increases for the Ketchikan Ports and Harbors budgets 2013 and 2014 totaling 14%, with another 7% that is to be collected in 2015 for a total of 21% the already collected money should be return to the people who paid it. These rate increases should NEVER have been approved by the city council, the highest rate increases in the USA KPU borrowed millions dollars from Ports and Harbors funds, my question is WHY??? I have attached the original city documents that were sent to me under the US Federal Government, Freedom of Information Act. - More...
Sunday PM - October 05, 2014
Increases in Obamacare Costs Explained By Susan K. Bell - In the next few weeks, many Alaskans will be informed of significant increases in the cost of their health insurance. While the degree of increase may surprise some, others will remember that many analysts predicted that the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare, would be anything but affordable. - More...
Sunday PM - October 05, 2014
Mark Begich and fisheries By Bonnie Demerjian - Political campaigns (and when is there not a political campaign these days?) tend to generate more heat than light. Therefore, it's important to look for facts before voting. Senator Mark Begich has a significant record of support for Alaska's fisheries and deserves the vote of all who recognize the importance to our state of maintaining this critical resource. - More...
Sunday PM - October 05, 2014
Vote Independent - Walker and Ortiz By Peter Stanton - If there’s anything present American politics teaches, it’s that the party system has failed us. Neither Democrats nor Republicans have been able to set the country on the right track. It’s no wonder George Washington, James Madison, and other Founding Fathers were opposed to political factions. When it comes to balancing budgets, protecting good jobs, making smart healthcare decisions, providing for children’s future, and so many other issues, we need leaders who can move beyond partisanship and rigid ideologies. - More...
Sunday PM - October 05, 2014
Pro Begich By Marge Hays - I have a great idea. Let's vote for the candidate who clearly states what fits your hopes for a democratic society. For instance, do you want a super efficient decision- making process such as indicated by SB77? This bill was withdrawn after public outcry. It had advocated for the Natural Resources Commission to quickly and privately decide what Alaskan resources could be used and under what conditions. If having decisions made this way is your picture of democracy, Dan Sullivan is your man. - More...
Sunday PM - October 5, 2014
Alaskans Deserve a Fix for Obamacare By U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski - It has now been more than four years since then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi explained to Americans why she had to push the health care reform bill through in such a rush: “We have to pass the bill to find out what’s in the bill … and get away from the fog.” - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
Cook Inlet gas: a remarkable comeback By Governor Sean Parnell - For those who love comeback stories, it is difficult to find a better example than Cook Inlet. - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
Veterans' Needs Must Come First By U.S. Senator Mark Begich - Oct. 1 marks an anniversary many of us prefer to forget — the start of the 16 day partial government shutdown of 2013. Among the disruptions caused by the shutdown, work stopped on more than 250,000 veterans’ disability claims awaiting appeals, burials at national cemeteries were scaled back and vital medical and prosthetic research projects were threatened. Had it continued a couple weeks longer, even veterans’ disability compensation checks might have stopped. - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
No to the legalization of marijuana By Brad Johnson - On behalf of our membership, the Alaska Peace Officers Association (APOA) State Board writes this letter in opposition to the legalization of marijuana. We offer our take on the legalization of marijuana’s impacts to Alaska financially, medically, and from a societal impact. Then we will provide an overview of issues that have arisen in Colorado. - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
CHOICE AND LACK OF CHOICE; DO NOT VOTE IF THERE IS NO COMPETITION By David G Hanger - The local elections this year present something of a contrast. No choice at all at the Borough; a bunch of re-treads and a small bunch of newbies at the City. Ed Plute assures me the newbies are ready to fire Karl Amylon and his clique of sycophants. Vote for the newbies and hold them to that pledge. The alternative is no senior citizen tax exemptions and a sales tax rate of 10%. - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
Open letter to Ketchikan City Council and Candidates By Rob Holston - In July of 2013 the Ketchikan Daily News carried a story re: Cleveland’s Ariel Castro pleading guilty to imprisoning three women in his home, subjecting them to rapes and beatings for a decade. Castro told the judge, “My addiction to pornography and my sexual problem has really taken a toll on my mind.” - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
City Props 1 & 2 By Chris Elliott - Perhaps someone out there can explain to me why, with failing water mains and sewer mains for Schoenbar, Chatham & Front, Mill, Stedman Streets, we built that beautiful new library. Surely the condition of the water/sewer mains was known to the City long before the library was built. I'm sure I'll get some song & dance about different funding sources, etc. etc. - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
Alaska needs Mark Begich By Ann Stephenson - Where's the truth? Not in the outsider ads paid for by Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth, et al. Facts: as Mayor of Anchorage, Mark Begich and the Assembly closed a $33 Million inherited budget deficit while improving city roads and “spurring construction of the Dena’ina Civic Center” (ADN, Sept 11, 2014.) He balanced the city’s budget enabling S&P to upgrade Anchorage’s bond rating to AA. - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
Open Letter to Sen. Begich By Rob Holston - U.S. Senator Mark Begich, yesterday I was in Island to Island Vet Clinic and read on the wall something about how a man’s character is reflected by his treatment of animals. Senator, I suppose you’re kind to puppies but what about human babies? - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
How sweet would it be? By Teresa Alvelo - How sweet would it be if the nation passed Constitutional Amendments similar to those that follow? - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
We the people..." By Susan Valliant - Our symbol, the Bald Eagle, stands for courage and freedom to look ahead. Dr. Carson once said “the eagle has a left wing and a right wing but it takes both wings working together for the Bald Eagle to fly.” Americans uniting together have the ability to reign in the overreaching federal government so our freedoms may be preserved. - More...
Thursday PM - October 02, 2014
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Unofficial
Election Results
Oct. 7, 2014
Canvass Board Meeting
October 8, 2014
Download Results
Oct. 7, 2014
23% Turnout
362 Uncounted Ballots
Ketchikan
Borough Mayor
2 Year Term
1 Seat Open
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Write Ins
325
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Ketchikan
Borough Assembly
3 Year Term
3 Seats Open
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Ketchikan
School Board
3 Year Term
2 Seats Open
KGB Proposition Forest Park Service Area
Ketchikan
City Council
3 Year Term
3 Seats Open
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