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SitNews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska
Saturday
December 21, 2013

Front Page Photograph By SUSAN HOYT

Tongass Sunset
Front Page Photograph By SUSAN HOYT ©2013

(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)

 

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Fish Factor: Fishing facts for Alaska communities By LAINE WELCH - Want to know at a glance how many fishing boats call the Kenai Peninsula Borough home? It’s 1,089.  Or what percentage of Wrangellites fish for a living?  Just over 15 percent. Or how many skippers plus crew fish out of Juneau?  That number is 705.

To help policy makers and the public become better informed about how the seafood industry fits into the state’s economy, the United Fishermen of Alaska has compiled Fishing Fact sheets for 26 communities, plus statewide tallies for Alaska and Washington.

A big misconception the well documented UFA data puts to rest is that money from fishing only benefits the coastal communities where the fish crosses the docks. In fact, seafood landing and business taxes are split 50/50 between the port where the fish is delivered and state coffers – to be distributed at the whim of the Alaska legislature.

At a glance, the fishing facts show that Kodiak (home to 690 fishing boats) received over $1.6 million in fisheries taxes in FY 2012 and the State got the same. The Kenai Peninsula Borough (which  claims over 1,000 fishing boats)  added another $1.8 million more..  Sitka, Cordova and Petersburg each contributed more than $1 million in fish taxes to the state general fund.   The Aleutians East Borough, which includes Akutan, Cold Bay, False Pass, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, and  Sand Point added another $4, while Unalaska/ Dutch Harbor topped them all putting more than $8.5 million in fisheries taxes.   Overall, the seafood industry put in $90 million to state coffers through FY 2012. 

UFA’ s fishing fact sheets also include data on how many people catch and process fish in each community, earnings, vessels and permits owned by region, support industries and much more.  They include Aleutians East Borough, Aleutians West Census Area, Anchorage, Bethel Census Area, Bristol Bay Borough, Cordova, Dillingham Census Area, Haines Borough, Homer, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Matanuska – Susitna Borough, Petersburg, Prince of Wales – Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Seward, Sitka, Skagway – Angoon – Hoonah Census Area, Unalaska – Dutch Harbor, Valdez, Wrangell, Yakutat, and the Yukon Koyukuk Census Area.

Help out with halibut - Halibut scientists plan to expand the depth and breadth of their stock assessments by 30% next summer, and will add 390 survey stations to the existing 1,300 that range from Oregon to the Bering Sea.

 Since 1998 the halibut surveys have been done in at a depth of 20 to 275 fathoms where most of the fishing was taking place. But halibut watchers are seeing changes in the fishery.

 “We’re seeing the catch coming out of  deeper areas, particularly out in  the Unalaska region, out through the Aleutians and on into the Bering Sea,” said  Claude Dykstra,  survey manager for the International Pacific Halibut Commission. “And we’ve seen shallower water captures being pulled out of various Gulf areas as well.”   

Surveys will be added in the zero to 20 and 275 to 400 fathom ranges next summer. More boats are needed and Dykstra said that’s posing a bit of a challenge.

“Finding boats and crew experienced in fixed gear is one challenge;  the other is that a lot of these guys diversify their operations  and they move into salmon fisheries in the summer. So there’s some competition   in getting the work,” he said.

Each charter region takes about three weeks of fishing and boats can bid for up to three regions. Vessels also get 10% of the halibut sales and 50%   from any other fish retained and sold. Typical payouts range between $70,000 to $120,000 depending on survey regions. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013


Alaska Science:
High-and-dry log points to great Alaska tsunamis By NED ROZELL - As Gary Carver stepped through the grasses of a treeless Alaska island with an archaeologist friend, he spotted a bleached driftwood log. The log rested on sand about a half mile from the beach and 50 feet above sea level.

High-and-dry log points to great Alaska tsunamis

Tsunami expert Gary Carver of Kodiak holds a nail that came from a driftwood log a tsunami deposited on a remote Alaska island.
Photo by Ned Rozell

Carver, on the island searching out Aleutian mummies for a Discovery Channel program, is an expert on tsunamis. He suspected that only a giant wave could have delivered a 30-foot log that high on uninhabited Sedanka Island, about 15 miles southeast of Dutch Harbor. Then he grabbed his shovel.

Carver, an emeritus professor at Humboldt State University who lives in Kodiak, dug a hole near the driftwood log. He saw in the soil that big waves had soaked the island at regular intervals.

“In the profile were layers of beach-like sand separated by peaty soils,” Carver said in San Francisco at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Carver was one of more than 20,000 scientists who attended the weeklong gathering of Earth and space scientists in December 2013.

Because worsening weather required Carver and archaeologist Rick Knecht to leave Sedanka Island with haste, Carver didn’t have time to backfill his hole. But he sailed away with a new theory of why he and Knecht found no aboriginal remains on the south side of islands on the Alaska Peninsula and the eastern Aleutians. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013


Columns - Commentary

jpg Dave KifferDAVE KIFFER: Toys the season to be jolly - The other day, I was absently humming the “Toys Are Us Time of Year” song.

Because, after all, if THIS isn’t THAT time of year, well then I don’t know what other time of year that would be.

(Ignore all the dangling modifiers and participles and prepositions and suppositions in the previous sentence, this is a Grammar Cop Free Zone).

Actually, as someone who has thus far semi-successfully raised a child to teen hood, I know that the true “Toys Are Us Time of Year” begins January 1 and ends December 31st. It is exactly as long as the Annual Ketchikan Rain Festival.

Speaking of the Rain Festival, I am a little tired of the endless blah blah Facebook yadda Twitter yadda about what seems to the present tense obsessed to be an unusual amount of local rain. And FLOODING too, OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG.OMG. #helphelpmyunderwearisfloating!

Seriously, folks, it rains here and getting 12 inches of liquid sunshine in three or four days is not necessarily a flood of Biblical proportions.

Is it irritating to have to swim down the drive to check the mail?

Do you hate having to take along a soap and towel when you go out to get the newspaper? - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013

jpg Jeff LundJEFF LUND: In search of steelhead - I didn’t do much steelhead fishing growing up. The idea of standing in a cold river with a reduced chance of success because there were fewer fish did not appeal to me. Fishing season ended when the silvers turned red.

It was only after fishing became more than catching that I was able to appreciate the pursuit for what it is and adjusted my idea of a “fishing season” accordingly.

I thought about my seasoned attitude as I poked through the woods to the river’s edge. A week of rain turned thin water into hearty riffles and deep edges, all reachable with a firm roll cast and all fishable with a mend or two but the swollen current was hiding stumps and rocks that were no big deal in July.

I gently slipped into the water and took extra time getting to a good casting lane. I’ve never been defined by my patience and though my impulsiveness has contributed to some pretty intense failures I haven’t really learned, however, the 32 degree morning and high water forced caution.

I negotiated a log with a tangle of submerged branches, looked around, shook my head at the fact that I was actually there, and began casting a weighted nymph under an indicator. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013

      

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letter Mail Service By Phyllis Mueller - We have quite a few mail orders for our canned product. Have noticed a definite deterioration in the quality of mail service, especially in the past two years. The following is an example of the journey taken by a medium sized flat rate box I shipped earlier this month. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013

letter RE: Arrest at Elementary School By Giovanna M. Trentanelli - Regarding Amanda Martin's letter in which she accuses the Trooper of knocking an innocent little girl to the ground face first hurting her and dirtying her sweet Christmas Dress, I would like to clarify that it was NOT the Trooper who knocked the child to the ground; it was Mr. Simpson, the FLEEING FELON who knocked the child down. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013

letter RE: Arrest at Elementry School By Christine Furey - In response to everyone that has delivered an opinion on this matter, I would like to say that I do agree with Amanda. I think she is very valid in her point. I think that the whole situation happened at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Mr. Simpson was at Fawn Mountain to watch his child perform, if he was truly attempting to evade the police would he have really showed up, not to mention the fact that he had been seen in days earlier at various locations throughout town doing very normal things like buying cigarettes. This does not sound like someone who is hiding out. - More...
Saturday PM - December 21, 2013

letter New Council Member Appointment By Douglas J. Thompson - The Ketchikan city council wanted the authority to appoint vacant seats and I do not necessarily disagree with that however with authority comes responsibility. In this case to do 'due diligence' on the prospective applicants was obviously not done (I can only hope they did not intentionally do this, we certainly don't need another Jack Shay!). The resumes should have been checked by the city manager. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 18, 2013

letter KRBD News Report on Wodehouse Appointment By Douglas J. Thompson - I read with interest the news report filed by KRBD after I had written my previous letter regarding the Wodehouse appointment to the Ketchikan City Council. I guess it has to fall under the axiom of: If you feel hot air moving look for a politician's mouth. I could not believe the imbecilic replies of the three quoted councilmembers. It is just this type of non-thinking that got them into this situation and many others. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 18, 2013

letter RE: Arrest at Elementary School By Kelli Carlin-Auger - Regarding Amanda Martin's letter,  I completely disagree with her.  This reminds me of when a student asks a teacher "Why did you fail me?"  The teacher did not fail you - you failed you.  This arrest was not the fault of the State Trooper, it was the fault of Mr. Simpson.  He had a warrant for his arrest for a very serious reason.  He has alluded the police before.  I'm guessing that his family knew he had a warrant out for his arrest as well.  He chose to go to the school concert.  He was spotted  by a off duty officer who was at the concert to watch their child  The Troopers were kind enough to allow Mr. Simpson to stay at the concert and watch his kids perform.  They even let him hug his kids after the concert and interact with his family all while keeping a safe and comfortable distance from Mr. Simpson so as to not upset his children. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 18, 2013

letter RE: Arrest at Elementary School By Vanessa Nowland - I totally disagree with you, Amanda. The suspect was wanted on a felony warrant, in an elementary school with drug paraphernalia and armed with a switchblade knife. Thank God the Alaska State Trooper was there to apprehend him! - More...
Wednesday PM - December 18, 2013

letter Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays By John & Mindy Lloyd - I want to take the time to wish many friends and family in Ketchikan a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. John & I miss you all dearly. Ketchikan community will always be home to us. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 18, 2013

letter Lies, damn lies and Statistics By Al Johnson - There is a political saying: "Lies, damn lies and statistics" One political party point its fingers at the other and vise verse. Any who are involved with politics, be it local, State or National have been and are guilty of finger pointing. There is no innocence's claimed or declared. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 18, 2013

letter No New Taxes By Rodney Dial - The Ketchikan City Assembly is in the process of creating a budget for the upcoming year.   As I have been saying in my letters for years, reckless local government spending has created a cycle of ever increasing debt and rising taxes.   The City is currently planning to increase the sales tax rate to 6.5% and raising water rates by 15%. This is on top of two years of property tax increases, multiple years of double digit water, sewer and assessment increases.   A sales tax increase means that your food, fuel, rent, etc. will cost more.   We are taxing our people off the island and the people making the decisions to raise our taxes are pulling in six figure salaries courtesy of the tax payer. - More...
Saturday PM - December 14, 2013

letter Honesty & transparency needed By James Llanos, Sr. - Some time ago the Recall Committee to recall Ketchikan Indian Community Council completed a recall petition and submitted it to KIC.  I was on that committee at that time. - More...
Saturday PM - December 14, 2013

letter Mail Problems All Over Southeast By John Wiley - Your story on the Ketchikan Post Office seemed to hit the problem face on.  However, it did not go far enough.  The problems Ketchikan faces is happening all over Southeast.  Sitka has the same problem, where once we had a sorting machine, it was torn out and our mail is sent to Juneau in the evenings and is expected to return the next morning.  Twice this week it has not happened. - More...
Saturday PM - December 14, 2013 

letter Arrest at Elementary School By Amanda Martin - What in God's name made the Alaska State Trooper think it was a good idea to march into a crowded Ketchikan elementary school on the night of our precious children's Christmas pageant to apprehend his "guy". Was he a serious threat? No. He wasn't. - More...
Saturday PM - December 14, 2013

letter Obama Appeasement Weakens U.S. By Donald A. Moskowitz - Obama and Kerry continue to promote an agenda of U.S. appeasement. - More...
Saturday PM - December 14, 2013

letter Burning of toxic smelling materials By Kathy Doyle - My dear neighbors from accross NTG. (Approximatly mile 10.5), Again today I awoke with my heart pounding and lungs burning. You see that pile of whatever you felt the need to burn today, made bad smoke. Truely not intended to support a long healthy life. My home, which should be a safe smoke free zone, was flooded with your smoke and whatever was carried with it. This has caused me over 12 hours of stressful breathing. Over the years this has been an invasion of my family's home and well being. I can, have and will continue to survive wood smoke. I just see no need for my family and neighbors to have to try to cope with our homes being invaded with trash smoke or any toxic smoke just to save on a dump run. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 11, 2013

letter Open Letter: The Emergency Leak on the Centennial Building Roof By Gary R. Croy - The council has been given erroneous information concerning the leaks on the Centennial Building roof. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 11, 2013

letter RE: Ketchikan Museum By Alan R.McGillvray - I agree with 'Skip's' letter although, I would suggest that a replacement for the Museum's Director/Curator is necessary and has been ever since I got back to my home here in town. At my insistence he started to put more Ketchikan history up on display. Because when I arrived and for a couple of years after, I would go to my Mother's house (re: Museum) and look at the exhibits there that had nothing to do with our locality, or what we have done throughout our existence. E.g. fishing, logging, mining. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 11, 2013

letter Open Letter to Ketchikan City Council By George "Skip" Thompson - My Grandfather came to Ketchikan via The Yukon in 1919, and the family has been in boat work here ever since. My wife and I have been life members of The Tongass Historical Society since Mrs. McGillvray's tenure. To say l have been disappointed lately with the Museum operation would be an understatement. - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter Please remember WISH By Vivian Benson - During the holiday season of giving please remember Women In Safe Homes (WISH).  WISH provides safe shelter and support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and works to increase community safety and awareness on topics of violence against women and children.  The good news is that each of us can make a difference!  We can educate ourselves and learn to listen and respond helpfully to someone in an unsafe situation.  We can donate time or money to support our community members during times of trauma and need.  We can join WISH to make sure essential services remain available in Ketchikan and Southern Southeast Alaska.  The statistics from the recent UAA Victimization survey emphasize the necessity of retaining these services in our community. - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter Sun on a Rain guage By Al Johnson - Visiting square one is not a bad thing at times to do. With the vote to cease the proposed rain gauge project for the reasons given places the question of a rain gauge replacement back to that square. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community of Ketchikan to demonstrate the ability to disagree and then come to a mutual solution reflecting a successful conclusion to the issue. - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter Giving away the farm By Rick Gustin - House Bill 77 is a pretty disturbing piece of work. Is it a bill to streamline resource development permitting; or a stripping of Alaskan citizens of their state constitutional right of access to fish and wildlife and water resources along with public notification and comment on resource extraction? - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter RE: One-sided Report On Timber Transition By Karen Bradley - Thanks to Eric Muench for his factual rebuttal to the farcical article published in October by the "Geos Institute" and Mater, Inc. We need to hear more of the "solid" science of the carbon sequestration regarding old growth forests, of which he writes. There is so much environmentally-skewed pseudo-science published, out to confuse the public who has no understanding of the metrics of carbon sequestration. - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter Accountability By Ed Plute - This is one of the hundreds of things that are so wrong with the 2013/2014 budget. In a town this small, why are we even paying taxes?! With so much income from tourism, we are being dumped on! Now a loss of public trust, and a complete waste of tax payer's money. It's one thing to SAY something, it's another to DO something about it! Do you recognize truth when it's staring you in the face? You need to see it, instead of those who are hiding it. - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter SE Alaskan Father & Son... By Lois Morgan - I am likely not the first person to write in support of the Wilcox families grand and laudable plans, but I doubt anyone else is more heartened than I by their wonderful goal. - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter SitNews By David Williams - Finally after all these years of reading SitNews I realized what kept me coming back and that is the magnificent photos your photographers have been shooting. The opening of SitNews is always with outstanding shots of the SouthEast that makes one wish to come to see it up close and real. That is NOT to disparage the content for that too is excellent. - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

letter Rain Bong By Duane Hill - "Art does not have to be esthetically pleasing" does not mean "Only something revolting can be art". - More...
Monday PM - December 09, 2013

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