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Tuesday
November 09, 2010
Ketchikan Waterfront
Front Page Photo by PEACHES (NAONA) WALLIN
Alaska: Deformed Beaks May Signal a Greater Environmental Problem
Says USGS -
The highest rate of beak abnormalities ever recorded in wild bird populations is being seen in a number of species in the Northwest and Alaska, and scientists to this point have not been able to isolate the cause.
This Northwestern crow from Juneau, Alaska, is among an estimated 17% of adult birds affected by avian keratin disorder in coastal Alaska.
Photo courtesy U.S. Geological Survey
Black-capped Chickadees, Northwestern Crows, and other birds are being impacted by the problem, which affects their ability to feed and clean themselves and could signal a growing environmental health problem.
In birds affected by what scientists have termed “avian keratin disorder,” the keratin layer of the beak becomes overgrown, resulting in noticeably elongated and often crossed beaks, sometimes accompanied by abnormal skin, legs, feet, claws and feathers. Biologists with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Science Center published their findings in this month’s issue of The Auk, a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology.
“The prevalence of these strange deformities is more than ten times what is normally expected in a wild bird population,” said research biologist Colleen Handel with the USGS, “We have seen effects not only on the birds’ survival rates, but also on their ability to reproduce and raise young. We are particularly concerned because we have not yet been able to determine the cause, despite testing for the most likely culprits.” - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010
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Ketchikan: DOT&PF Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification Workshop and Q&A - The Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is hosting two certification workshops and one question and answer session in Ketchikan for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
DOT&PF promotes opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to participate in federally funded highway and aviation projects through the DBE program.
“I will be available to take questions about the DBE program, and our Certification Supervisor, Linda Babb, will be conducting a certification workshop,” said Jon Dunham, Civil Rights office manager. - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010
National: Major U.S. Environmental Groups Call for Full Environmental Review of Genetically Engineered Salmon - Monday 12 executive officers of some of the nation’s largest environmental organizations requested that the Food and Drug Administration conduct a thorough Environmental Impact Statement before deciding whether to approve the first ever genetically engineered animal for food.
This new animal, AquaBounty Technologies’ AquAdvantage® salmon, containing genetic material from Chinook salmon, Ocean pout, and Atlantic salmon, is engineered to grow nearly twice as fast as wild salmon, according to company claims. - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010
National: Cost of Obama's Asian trip? Hardly $200 million a day By BARTHOLOMEW SULLIVAN - Is President Barack Obama returning from India with a herd of 100 elephants to graze on the South Lawn? Are 3,000 White House staffers communing with the guru Sai Baba at his ashram outside Bangalore? Has a tenth of the U.S. Navy's warships been deployed to protect the entourage?
Well, not exactly.
There will be no elephants, no visits with gurus and the trip is not likely to cost $200 million a day, as some commentators have suggested.
Obama left for India Friday morning and plans to travel to Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. The cost of the trip already has sparked heated discussions, blog posts and e-mails.
The White House declines to be specific about how much Obama's 10-day Asian trip will cost, but says the widely cited $200 million-a-day figure circulating on the Internet has "no basis in reality" and is "wildly inflated."
The number apparently comes from an anonymous minister from the Indian state of Maharashtra, who was quoted earlier this week in the Press Trust of India, the largest news agency in India. The number was then cited by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and then made its way around the Internet. - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010 |
Columns - Commentary
TOM PURCELL: For Veterans Day -- Real Troop Support - Ah, Veterans Day is upon us. What better time to show our support for our men and women in uniform?
But have we really been supporting them?
Sure, we thank them when we see them at the airport.
We attend parades and Veterans Day events to show our appreciation.
And with good reason.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 42 million American men and women have served during wartime.
Nearly 1.2 million died while serving. Nearly 1.5 million were wounded.
Since 9/11, more than 5,200 have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 36,000 have been wounded -- many have debilitating injuries that have changed their lives forever.
We may debate the rightness or wrongness of various engagements, but we know that freedom comes at a steep price -- and we honor those who have secured it for us.
But are we really supporting the troops?
During the peak of World War II, American defense spending was 42 percent of our gross domestic product.
Everyone -- those who served as well as those who stayed home -- needed to unite and sacrifice.
Today, defense spending is around 3 percent of GDP. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have required little or no sacrifice from most - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010 |
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Viewpoints
Opinions/Letters
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Questions, please contact
the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696.
Compensation inadequacy By
Ken Arriola - Jim Mark's opinion of unfairness by KIC is misdirected. The more accurate focus/blame of Mr. Mark's financial demise should be directed at his source of income, namely his employer. How many of you out there, in your right mind, believes that anyone can make it, in this inflated economy, on $11.50 an hour? - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010
Raw fish tax diverted to the wrong department By
Kevin Kristovich - I am writing this in agreement to Mr. Tom Fisher's letter in regards to the Ketchikan City Council members who voted to use raw fish tax funds to hire 2 police ofiicers. After inquiring about this and having it confirmed the $220,000.00 that was taken away from the small harbors fund for 2 police officer positions, that makes an annual salary of $110,000.00 per officer? - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010
Iranian Nuclear Weapons Threat By
Donald A. Moskowitz - Although Iran continues to claim its nuclear development program is designed for peaceful purposes, U.S. intelligence services believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons. - More...
Tuesday AM - November 09, 2010
Attention all Ketchikan Residents Who Care About Their Children’s Health And Their Property Values By
Van & Linda Abbott - On November 1, 2010, the Borough Assembly voted to sell the publicly owned Ward Cove Pulp Mill property. The Assembly took this action without apparently having any formal research undertaken on the proposed use of the land and feasibility of the project being presented by Ken Hopen and Ass. There was no actual evaluation of the significant issues surrounding such a monumental decision; A decision we may have to live with for the rest of our lives. (The re-run of the dismal Hopen presentation can be seen on KPU CommVision) - More...
Sunday PM - November 07, 2010
Lap tops provided By
Charles Edwardson - Until my kid came home with a lap top provided by the school (Schoenbar) I never realized or paid any attention to what a stupid idea this was. It was trashed when she got it and it's going to be trashed even more when she gives it to the next kid. - More...
Sunday PM - November 07, 2010
Obvious differences By
A. M. Johnson - No matter your candidate choice for Senator it is relative easy to view why each was supported and the reasons. In my opinion, if your supported Mr. Miller it was from a philosophical agreement of a simple straight forward program of smaller government, States Rights highlighting the development of our vast natural resources, balanced budgets, no earmarks, and paying down the debt. His supporters agreed with that and asked for no special favors or consideration for their vote and support. - More...
Sunday PM - November 07, 2010
Unfair View at KIC? By Jim Marks - My girlfriend went to KIC today and applied for rental assistance because we are having a hard time making ends meet and the lady that my girlfriend met with, denied her saying I make too much money. To put into perspective our financial situation, we recently had our car repossessed because we could not make the payments. I have a full time job making $11.50 an hour and at the moment I am the only one working because my girlfriend recently had to close her business due to the fact that her clients would not pay her. She is trying to find a job but because she owned a business she cannot apply for unemployment benefits. - More...
Sunday PM - November 07, 2010
Dog Abandoned at Animal Protection By
Margaret Hepler - On Wednesday, November 3 a classified ad was posted about a Golden Retriever needing a new home that was at Animal Protection. On Thursday, November 4 another classified ad was posted about the dog, stating that Animal Protection had euthanized the dog without permission. It is unfortunate that the person posting the ads was extremely dishonest as to why and how the dog was at Animal Protection and why the dog was ultimately euthanized - she left out a few details. - More...
Sunday PM - November 07, 2010
Raw fish tax: Shame on the City Council By
Tom Fisher -
I read with complete dismay that the City Council raided the Raw Fish Tax to fund two police officers. I am not opposed to the two officers however I wonder how can the council pass the red face test. The tourism industry has received all the infrastructure improvements that this industry needs and yet the fishing industry is tying up to worn out floats, and there is obviously no need for basic items like a restroom in Thomas Basin. The Head tax can only be used for tourism related infrastructure yet the fish tax can be used for general government, forget that there are a lot of resident commercial fishermen, that pay sales tax, property tax and contribute dollars to the local economy. - More...
Friday AM - November 05, 2010
Denied School By
Mekkena Love - I would like to share with you an experience and a point of view about the Ketchikan High School. I was a student at Kayhi in my 9th grade year. Due to a trip that I took, I lost credit for all my classes because I took too much time off. I decided to go to Revilla and try to catch up there but that didn't work for me so I got more behind and tried Fast Track and finally decided I worked best in a normal high school setting with people rather then trying to focus by myself. So I went to Kayhi and I got all the packets filled out and talked to the counselor, met my teachers individually and they told me everything I need for that class. The counselor was awesome and got me pumped for going to school even though I had to go an extra year and I was ready. - More...
Friday AM - November 05, 2010
Halloween Events By
Rhonda Ball - I just wanted to take the time to write a letter to thank everyone involved in any or all of the fun events that I attended this past weekend with my family. - More...
Monday PM - November 01, 2010
Redistribute the wealth By Patti Fay Hickox - I'm Irish, it's cultural. I agree with Bob McLaughin II. The changes that (THE PEOPLE) made in the presidential election 2 years ago are the first changes to help the poor and middle class in many years. - More...
Saturday AM - October 30, 2010
Cutting Public Safety By
Darlene Guzman - Every year Public Safety is on the chopping block for positions. I understand the hard times this community is going through but without police officers and firefighters it could be harder times for the citizens who need them. Public Safety is partially funded by sales tax in the amount of $3 million dollars a year split between police and fire. Excluding the proposed fire station, that is nearly half of the fire department's budget. - More...
Saturday AM - October 30, 201
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