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 Healthcare
Reform By Chris Elliott - Last December I woke up after surgery
in a room at Virginia Mason with a homeless female heroin addict
in the other bed. I know this because a nurse patiently gathered
the woman's medical history and current circumstances before
the poor woman slumped across her food tray fast sleep. I'm pretty
sure she didn't have health insurance. I'm pretty sure those
of us with insurance are covering her in our premiums. (The Uninsured)
- More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Cell
Phones for Soldiers Program By Ed Vitorino - Every year millions
of Americans throw their used/broken cell phones in the trash
and we all know that it ends up on a landfill. I know we all
have them sitting in a drawer somewhere taking up space. What
if i told you that we can recycle them and in return the recycling
company gives the military members calling cards? - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Oh
Sarah Palin..... By Evan Bolling - The much anticipated controversial
autobiography, "Going Rogue" written by our very own
claim to shame, Frm. Gov. Sarah Palin is now on the bookshelves.
A sad day for Alaska, the literary world, and all sentient life
too. We should have done a better job keeping the lid on this
total embarrassment, but now she's a national satire. And in
2008 the most mocked person on Saturday Night Live. - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
GOING
ROGUE By Susan Round - The following definitions of the word
ROGUE are provided by Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Million
Dollar Blunder at the Public Library? By Robert D. Warner
- With the City Manager's plea to the City Council to increase
properity taxes next year, it seems most urgent to end careless
and wastefull spending. - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Not
in my Backyard By Don Borders - Here in Alaska we are not
so energy deprived that we need to go out on a limb to resolve
the electrical power needs. We have not even started to explore
the tidal influx as a power source where other nations in the
world have done so and commissioned such systems to feed their
power grids. We do have an abundance additional hydroelectric
possibilites and thermal ones such as Chena
Hot springs thermal system which has proven to be efficient
and has won several awards in its design. So to embrace an "iffy"
fringe technological concept just to generate power which would
release all kinds of substances into our lean pristine air is
just foolish. - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Pebble
Mine Views By Martha Jacobson - Regarding the Ketchikan Daily
News editorial about eating your salmon in Seattle without the
restaurant owner sharing views on the Pebble Mine - the issue
is way more complicated than narrowing it down to some restaurant
chef's political views. Way more! - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
TEA
Party Slogans Cheap and Shallow By Evan Bolling - "The
problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of everyone
else's money" this becomingly trite slogan was at one point
witty and creative. Witty because it employs an intelligent humor
and creative because it cunningly neglects the obvious, making
it a purely fantastic perspective. Fantastic, from the Latin
phantasticius meaning imaginative, fantasy. The root definition
has been included to avoid confusion in my intended meaning.
- More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Name
calling By Tom Ferry - Mr. Warner, you say you would find
it to be a privilege to vote for Obama's re-election. Hey that's
fine , but if you did vote for him the first time and now the
second time, you are not even close to being as I am "an
independent conservative". - More...
Saturday PM - NOvember 21, 2009
Landless
Issue By John Morris - I would like to respond to the folks
who have this issue. I want you to realize that once you sign
on with the ANCSA Corp, whether be regional or village, you are
signing away all your aboriginal rights... that is what this
Act has done. - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Socialism
to classroom analogy By Evan Bolling - Al Johnson's socialism
to classroom analogy is absolutely genius. Of course, however,
if you think about it for even a second more it becomes totally
ill conceived. - More...
Saturday PM - November 21, 2009
Landless
By Vernon M. Grant - Each time I read the Sealaska Corporation
website ,I always hold my breath in thinking maybe, just maybe
this time they will have something written about this issue,
but each time I've read anything it was about some other facts,
about a bill other then the landless issues.When will this issue
be important enough for this corporation to take notice of its
importance and set forth an honest effort to bring this
to a resolve, before it is too late? In all these land bills
I read about, NO where is there any mention of the landless bill
mentioned, or of the communities thereof.What will it take to
make Sealaska Corporation take charge and spearhead a honest-to-goodness
effort to pursue and resolve this long awaited landless issue
that many of our people have been weeping and begging for? This
to be noticed, only for it to be forgotten and swept under
the rug once more. - More...
Monday PM - November 16, 2009
The
Problem With Socialism By Connie Emmert - If you have been
watching the news about the TEA parties, you have probably seen
the sign that says, "The problem with socialism is that
eventually you run out of other people's money." We're beginning
to realize the truth to this phrase as Medicare and Medicaid
and Social Security careen into bankruptcy. - More...
Monday PM - November 16, 2009
Fighting
and name calling By Chris Barry - I appreciate the comments,
regardless of how wrong they are. If you consider a disagreement
of ethics and morals to be insulting, petty, and degenerative
to the upcoming generations of leaders, and that, to quote you,
"No one can change beliefs of another so stop trying."
then some enlightenment needs to be sent your way. - More...
Monday PM - November 16, 2009
Customer
Service By Heather Wills - I remember reading a few different
letters sometime in September or thereabouts talking about the
lack of customer service. I would like to share my experience.
- More...
Monday PM - November 16, 2009
Re:
Plasma Garbage By Alan R. (Rudy) McGillvray - I suggest that
Ketchikan would not be the sole enjoyer of this process, we could
also take the wastes from all other towns and villages in southeast,
and turn it into energy and pay those other towns for so doing,
instead of everytown shipping their wastes as we do... to Spokane,
WA.? - More...
Monday PM - November 16, 2009
Name
Calling By Mike Harpold - Mr. Barry says President Obama
is a communist, and maintains he's not name calling because it's
the truth. I disagree. Until he can prove his assertion, Mr.
Barry is merely calling names. - More...
Monday PM - November 16, 2009
Landless
Natives of Ketchikan By James Llanos Jr. - Please attend
our next Landless meeting on Sunday, December 6th, from 2PM-4PM
at 429 Deermount Avenue. This issue began with the 1971 Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). This is the bill that passed
through Congress that settled aboriginal rights with Alaska Natives.
In short, this was a process that set eligibility for the Native
Communities of Alaska to be a part of ANCSA. - More...
Friday - November 13, 2009
Plasma
Garbage By Rob Holston - Whether or not you own Loggerville
or have another direct interest in Ward Cove Plasma Gasification
of Garbage should be a community discussion. Contrary to claims
made by Don West of TransGlobal, LLC the technology is not based
upon a patent he holds. Many companies are doing this. I have
talked to two, Star-Tech Environmental Corp & EnerSol Technologies,
Inc. They both responded similarly when I told them our location
and how much garbage our community produces per day. - More...
Friday - November 13, 2009
Fight
over Liberals & Conservatives By Andy Hansen - In my
opinion this petty argument over liberals and conservatives is
not showing the best in anyone butting heads on the subject.
I think we all need to grow up and stop insulting others' beliefs.
I am embarrassed to see such arguments between adults who are
what the young community of Ketchikan look to for knowledge,
and should look to for peace and reason against others who don't
agree with who they are. This is not teaching them Ketchikan,
this by far is not. - More...
Friday - November 13, 2009
4th
of July Parade By Blaine Ashcraft - As Executive Director
of the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, I would like to respond
to Mr. Garcia s letter. It is true that the Chamber is in charge
of the 4th of July parade that our community enjoys each year.
We have a committee that works tirelessly on this event. As with
all volunteer committees, we can never have too many volunteers.
We would welcome/appreciate any community member's participation
in making this a successful event. We welcome any new ideas to
make this the best celebration ever. - More...
Friday - November 13, 2009
Democrats
Crushed By Chris Elliott - The only thing shovel ready appears
to be the President's rhetoric. - More...
Friday - November 13, 2009
Name
Calling By Chris Barry - You are correct, name calling is
childish, but when someone speaks the truth, is it name calling?
- More...
Friday - November 13, 2009
Security
Requires Nuclear Deterrent By Donald A. Moskowitz - President
Obama naively suggests the world can be free of nuclear weapons
if the U.S. and Russia commit to arms reduction. - More...
Friday - November 13, 2009
Second
lesson on Liberal vs. Conservative By Al Johnson - Normally
I would space my contributions longer, however the reaction to
lesson one on the subject is too good to hold back! The first
lesson brought another!! - More...
Monday PM - Nvember 09, 2009
Continued
saga at Ward Cove By Don Borders - I watched the local telecast
of the presentation where the development plan to build a Plasma
plant at Ward Cove was presented. I have many concerns as to
how the Borough might act on the slick mono-view of the "possibility"
of the fringe technologies for Ward Cove. It was impressive to
the scope which various people were taken by the smooth delivery
without really answering any hard questions. The end results
are breath taking, however, what about any concern if the thing
will just not work due to local environmental conditions such
as 80 to 99 percent humidity, lack of actual product to "burn,"
will they import materials to "feed" the Beast? What
if the possibility the whole thing ends back up in the laps of
the borough assembly with added additional problematic clean-up
of Ward Cove all over again? Will it be additional pages and
chapters in the ongoing saga of government mismanagement? - More...
Monday PM - November 09, 2009
Name
Calling By Robert D. Warner - I too consider myself to be
somewhat of an independent conservative, but I do not think that
a recent letter in SITNEWS calling President Obama a Marxist
and incompentent idiot is especially useful. This type of name
calling is both stupid and childish. - More...
Monday PM - November 09, 2009
Irvin
Thompson By Margery DeMan Welker - I personally have a huge
problem with the cousin in Calif being Irvin Thompson's closest
relative . . . they even mention that Irvin was related to the
Schlais family, which he was, yet they didn't contact any of
the people by that name in Ketchkan, e.g., Evard, Faye, Alex.
It might've been nice to bury him near his mother and father,
if they had done a little research, as I know Aunt Margie was
devestated when he was killed. - More...
Monday PM - November 09, 2009
Thinking
about the 4th By Jose Garcia - When I sent an email letter
to the Ketchikan City Mayor Williams III regarding my ideas about
the July 4th celebration, his office referred me to the Chamber
of Commerce, annotating that they are in charge of such celebration.
I did, but their office is manned with an answering machine.
- More...
Monday PM - November 09, 2009
Heating
& Ward Cove By Don Borders - I would like to address
several recent letters, or opinions to the editor of Sitnews,
submissions making their greenest concern or their environmental
point of view. - More...
Monday PM - November 09, 2009
RE:
Personal losses By F. David J. Jacob - Mr. Borders, I would
first like to express my heartfelt sentiments over your losses.
I cannot imagine what losing three friends in the space of a
month would be like. I hope you are spending plenty of time reflecting
on the good times and the lessons you learned from your friends.
In memory they will live on! - More...
Monday PM - November 09, 2009
Ward
Cove Comprehensive Plan By Mary Lynne Dahl - As an observer
of what has been happening at Ward Dove this past 12 years, I
agree wholeheartedly that before we sell Ward Cove piecemeal,
we should develop a comprehensive, long term plan for that property.
My 25 years as a financial planner have proven to me that planning
produces much better results than shooting from the hip. The
PIEER authors have some very good ideas for creating the kind
of plan needed before any concrete actions are taken and their
suggestions should be taken seriously. - More...
Wednesday - November 04, 2009
Heating
and power generation By A.M.Johnson - Samuel Bergeron has
it right, however I am not so sure that Petersburg and Wrangell,
ahead of Ketchikan in this suggested heat form, has already been
doing this to a high degree. It may be that the surplus power
or the anticipated share of the Tyee power for Ketchikan is reduced
up by these two town's recent and ongoing conversion activity
to electrical heat. - More...
Wednesday - November 04, 2009
Democrats
crushed By Tom Ferry - Obama was like an anchor around Corzines'
neck. Now finally it is the beginning of the end of the Marxist
Obama administrations complete gutting of America. with crushing
defeats in key states the folks seem to finally be coming out
of their trance. - More...
Wednesday - November 04, 2009
Loggerville
By Rob Holston - On November 9, 2009 the KGB Assembly will be
discussing Ward Cove, Loggerville and any other proposals that
may be presented. - More...
Wednesday - November 04, 2009
Haloacetic
Acid in the drinking water By Peggy Ayers - I am writing
to let Dayle Amundson (and any other persons concerned with Haloacetic
Acid in the water exceeding acceptable limits) know that according
to the Minnesota Department of Health Haloacetic Acid can be
removed from the drinking water using a Carbon Activated Filter.
They can be installed as a whole house system or an under the
sink system for use in drinking and cooking water. I do not know
where these units can be purchased but I'm sure they can be found.
- More...
Wednesday - November 04, 2009
Electric
Heat By Samuel Bergeron - With the Swan-Tyee electrical intertie
coming on line, it would be in all of our best interest as rate
payers and owners of KPU and the Intertie, that we use it to
its fullest extent. - More...
Monday PM - November 02, 2009
Health
Care is in the Toilet! By Marie-Jeanne Cadle - I am still
trying to get over the absurd implication by Mr. Peter Jensen
a few months ago that un/underinsured people will somehow dirty
his private toilet as he refers to his current health care. Mr.
Jensen is also worried that access to health care by these apparently
dirty individuals like myself, will somehow limit his access.
I can assure Mr. Jensen that people such as myself; un/underinsured,
will never have the opportunity to soil his precious private
health care because 1) Mr. Jensen is Native American and has
health care provided at tax payer expense that will never be
available to the un/underinsured non-natives and 2) Mr. Jensen
is military and has health care proved at tax payer expense that
will never be available to un/underinsured non-military. - More...
Monday PM - November 02, 2009
Ward
Cove by Rob Holston - I appreciate the information provided
by the Ward Cove PIEER Group. Your idea of "..designting
sections for appropriate uses." is in agreement with the
Ward Cove Focus Group meeting Oct. 13, that called for the KGB
to subdivide and offer for sale in a way compatible with community
needs & economic development. I will be presenting the Loggerville
Small Boat Harbor Business Plan at the next PLEADAC meeting the
evening of Nov. 4, 2009. Anyone wanting to view plan details
prior to the meeting, please email me. Plan Summary to follow:
- More...
Monday PM - November 02, 2009
Ward
Cove By Don Borders - What's next in the on going saga of
local government mismanagement? It's been eleven years ago that
the Ward Cove Pulp Plant shut down and then average incomes for
the area dropped extremely low. It's only been from outside help
from the federal legislators and departments like Homeland Security
that have influxed the local incomes to regenerate the revenue
which fuels the two local governments through the taxation of
the populous. (Walmart helped also, however it's the next to
the smallest store they have.) Boys and Girls, it is time to
quit playing games and get the property back on to the tax roles.
- More...
Monday PM - November 02, 2009
Re:
Congressional leadership By Jim Dornblaser - Mr. Stallings'
letter is rather harsh in inferring Congress' lacking of leadership.
He seems to prefer "Oligarchy" rule in handing policy/law
making over to an un-elected body. - More...
Monday PM - November 02, 2009
Personal
losses By Don Borders - I wish I had kept a list of all the
Ketchikan Pulp Mill employees. In the past few months I knew
three of the ex- pulp mills' employees who have died. The last
one was Mike Diverty (see Coast
Guard suspends search for Sitka Fisherman Monday, Oct. 26,
2009 ) Mike lost his home, his dignity and his family in losing
his job due to the actions of the "Tree Huggers" forcing
the closure of the Pulp Mill. - More...
Monday PM - November 02, 2009
Mike
Smith's Photos By Peter Bolling - There is little I have
enjoyed more in the past month or so than logging on to SitNews
and finding a new photo by Mike Smith. Poetic. Thanks Mike. -
More...
Monday PM - November 02, 2009
Haloacetic
acid By Dayle Amundson - I also worry about what haloacetic
acid does to humans. I just read Peggy Ayers letter. It is interesting
that the KGB mails Mt. Point consumers of the water papers saying
it has too much haloacetic acid in the water (over federal guidelines).
I now BUY my drinking water. - More...
Monday - November 02, 2009
Tolerance,
Good Grief By Charles Schilli - Ms Abajian, have you attended
college? Those who believe they know best for every one are,
in my experience, far more likely to be young and overly sure
of themselves, and "Liberals". (They are not actually
liberals, but totalitarians.) - More...
Monday - November 02, 2009
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