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Friday
December 27, 2013
Ketchikan Waterfront
As viewed from Thomas Basin...
Front Page Photograph By CAROLYN CHAPMAN ©2013
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Fish Factor: 2013 Fishing Notables and Fish Picks and Pans! By LAINE WELCH - Alaska’s seafood industry worked hard again in 2013 to ramp up its message to policy makers, most of whom still tend to overlook the industry’s economic significance to the state and beyond. What is that message?
That “the industry” is made up of thousands of small businesses – the fishing boats that each supports one or several families.
That the seafood companies in coastal towns provide one of the state’s biggest tax bases. And together, fishing and processing provide more jobs in Alaska than oil/gas, mining, tourism and timber combined. Seafood also is Alaska’s top export, far exceeding all other natural resources.
Here are fishing notables from 2013, in no particular order, followed by my annual ‘fish picks and pans’:
Thousands of tiny red king crab raised at the Kodiak Fisheries Research Center were released into island waters, marking the first time hatchery-raised Alaska crab have been introduced into the wild. Divers will return to the stocking site to see how well they survive and thrive.
Halibut fishermen were again put on notice to expect a 21% coast wide catch reduction for next year. That adds up to catches being slashed more than 70% over five years due primarily to slow growth rates. Also down by a dollar were dock prices as “halibut fatigue” finally hit the market over the skyrocketing costs and buyer scrambles for the dwindling fish. Meanwhile, the cost for halibut quota shares rose topped $50 per pound in prime areas. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2014
Alaska: Son of Alaska legislator sentenced to 16 years in prison for leading drug ring - An Alaska man was sentenced in December to 16 years in federal prison for leading a methylone production and distribution ring linked to at least one death.
Robin Michael Gattis, the 20-year-old son of Alaska state house member Lynn Gattis, admitted in an August plea agreement to illegally importing methylone and leading a drug conspiracy. The drug, more commonly known as "M1," is a stimulant popular among club-going youth that is chemically similar to MDNA or Ecstasy.
According to court records, Gattis, of Wasilla, also admitted distributing drugs to minors and being responsible for providing the methylone that caused the April 2012 death of a co-conspirator, Matt Scott. Prosecutors say Gattis used minors to wire money to China to buy methylone and asked friends and associates to allow him to use their addresses to receive shipments. Some of those international shipments were intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). After Scott's death, Gattis emailed his Chinese supplier about the death and asked for a refund. However, less than a month later, Gattis resumed ordering from the same supplier. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
Southeast Alaska: U.S. Forest Service announces new district ranger in Juneau - Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole announced that the Forest Service has selected a new district ranger to manage the Juneau Ranger District. Starting in early 2014, Brad Orr will take over as district ranger on the largest Forest Service ranger district in the nation.
Orr is currently the recreation program manager on the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests, based in Granby, Colorado. Located about 90 minutes outside Denver, Orr’s district receives heavy visitor use by recreationists looking for opportunities for adventure.
Cole made the announcement earlier this month, citing Orr’s extensive experience managing popular Forest Service recreation areas, similar to those found in Juneau.
“We are extremely pleased to have Brad coming on staff,” said Cole. “The Juneau Ranger District will benefit from his strong background managing high-use areas.”
“He’s coming to the Tongass with every intention to provide the best possible stewardship for the resources on the district,” Cole continued, “and he is inheriting a first-rate staff who can support him as he gains familiarity with this very complex and diverse place on the forest.” - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
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Alaska: Bethel farmer clucking with delight at chicken success By NANCY TARNAI -
The future of Alaska agriculture is going underground, literally, says Tim Meyers of Bethel.
Chicks at Meyers Farm in Bethel will soon be meat on the table.
Meyers, who operates Meyers Farm, is beyond excited about his new discoveries, particularly in the growth of his chicken egg and meat sales. Since building an “underground” barn, he has been able to increase egg and meat production exponentially. The barn was actually constructed above ground, then Meyers pushed sand against it 14 feet high, which keeps the building warm with minimal heat.
Because he is so busy growing produce all summer, Meyers wanted to raise chickens throughout the winter. Beginning mid-December he started slaughtering chickens. The fresh meat is in such demand at the Bethel Farmers Market that there is a waiting list. He also sells 170 dozen eggs a month. “There is a heck of a demand,” Meyers said. The way customers froth over the eggs is almost embarrassing for Meyers. “It’s kinda scary,” he said. “People are waiting at the market to get them.”
He wishes he’d built a bigger building. “I could sell 300 dozen a month,” he said. The eggs sell for $6.50 a dozen.
For the meat birds, he receives 25 chicks in the mail every other week. Slaughtering 10 to 12 birds a week with a profit of about $20 per bird, Meyers estimates he’ll make $1,600 a month on this side of the business.
He is importing chicken feed, but grows extra cabbage and turnips to feed the older birds. The younger ones need commercial feed.
Cornish Cross is the meat bird of choice for Meyers. “They are a phenomenal, remarkable, productive bird,” Meyers said. “At seven weeks they weigh six to seven pounds.”
For the layers, he alternates between Leghorns (white eggs) and Red Star (brown eggs) each year so he can easily track which birds are losing productivity. Ordinarily, he keeps the layers for two years. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013 |
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Science: Science's top 10 breakthroughs of 2013 - The cancer research community experienced a sea change in 2013 as a strategy, decades in the making, finally cemented its potential. Promising results emerged from clinical trials of cancer immunotherapy, in which treatments target the body's immune system rather than tumors directly. The new treatments push T cells and other immune cells to combat cancer—and the editors of Science believe that such approaches are now displaying enough promise to top their list of the year's most important scientific breakthroughs.
This annual list of groundbreaking scientific achievements, selected by Science and its international nonprofit publisher, AAAS, also includes major breakthroughs in solar cell technologies, genome-editing techniques and vaccine design strategies, to name a few. The top-10 list appears in the December 20th issue of the journal along with a related news feature and a multimedia component.
Cancer immunotherapy clinched the #1 spot on the list because, although its ultimate impact on the disease is unknown, recent results are highlighting its success so far.
"This year there was no mistaking the immense promise of cancer immunotherapy," said Tim Appenzeller, chief news editor of the journal Science. "So far, this strategy of harnessing the immune system to attack tumors works only for some cancers and a few patients, so it's important not to overstate the immediate benefits. But many cancer specialists are convinced that they are seeing the birth of an important new paradigm for cancer treatment."
Many of today's advances in cancer immunotherapy can be traced back to the late 1980's, when French researchers identified a receptor on T cells, called CTLA-4. James Allison discovered that this receptor prevented T cells from attacking invaders with their full force. In the mid-1990's Allison showed that blocking CTLA-4 in mice could unleash T cells against tumor cells in the animals, shrinking them dramatically.
In the meantime, Japanese researchers identified another "brake" on T cells known as PD-1. Clinical trials involving this receptor began in 2006, and preliminary results in small groups of patients appear to be promising.
Another area of interest involves genetically modifying T cells to make them target tumors. In 2011 this strategy, known as chimeric antigen therapy, or CAR therapy, electrified the cancer research field, and it's now the subject of numerous clinical trials, particularly in blood cancers. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013 |
Political Cartoon
Government: Never enough
By
Eric Allie 2013, Caglecartoons.com
Columns - Commentary
 TOM PURCELL: The Key to New Year's Resolutions
- There's a reason why only 8 percent of New Year's resolutions are kept: Too many of us make resolutions that lack resolve.
"Resolve" is a powerful world. According to one dictionary, it means "to solve a problem, or to find a satisfactory way of dealing with a disagreement."
Bill Gates elaborated on the concept in his 2007 commencement address at Harvard. He said the first order of business in resolving a problem is seeing it. Then all you need to do is cut through complexity, so you may solve it.
Gates made it sound easier than it is, of course. With virtually all large problems, simplifying complexity requires a great deal of work — a great deal of resolve.
Solving problems in the private sector is really no different than solving them in the public sector, or any sector, really — if your interest is in actually getting to the root cause of the challenge, so you may see and understand it, and then in coming up with a solution that produces real results. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
 JEFF LUND: Putting the gift to good use - Halfway up the trail I encountered enough snow to try them out.
They arrived in a big box from Cabela’s and since they weren’t wrapped, and the day before Christmas has the word “Christmas” in it, I didn’t think there was a problem with me using my new snowshoes. After all, snowshoes are happiest in the snow, so it really wasn’t about me, it was about me spreading Christmas cheer to a pair of inanimate objects that happened to be a present from my brother.
I wasn’t trying to sneak up on an animal so I didn’t worry about the noise they made with each step. It was just me, empty deer tracks, some occasional flakes and the crunching of my Christmas gift in the heavy wet snow.
I’d been up this trail dozens of times, but all during the summer when the trail is clear and the weather considerably warmer. It was like a completely different hike, 1,100 feet of elevation transformed by the simple addition of snow. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013 |
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Questions, please contact
the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696
Sitnews reserves the right to edit.
 Build the damn Road By A.M. Johnson -
The King Cove road issue as reported in your fine publication reflects the sound of howling banshees. The following three quotes by our elected Congressional officials, who in my opinion, couldn't lead a drunk to a beer hall, all sound so condescending, concerned, and promising to do what they should have done many times over. Makes one ill to hear all the bull feathers they stir up after the fact. Heck, any common sense person who follows this Leftist administration could have told them what the outcome was going to be. But never fear, Senator "Murky" Murkowski threatened to with hold she vote and support for Jewell's confirmation, lot of good that did and more so, each and every time she, and Representative "Foghorn" Young reach over the aisle, they have their teeth and as a result, Alaskan's teeth kicked in. As to Senator "Bagman"Begich, being a good Democrat, again talks out of the other side of the mouth. Yada yada yada. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
It's never too late to do the right thing By Joseph J. Chadwell -
I would like to thank Senator Murkowski for the Christmas Present she and others on Capital Hill gave to America's retired Military Men and Women. I would like to thank her for cutting their Coast Of Living Adjustments (COLA) to their retired pay. Of all the wasteful spending or lack of any attempt at shared sacrifice (chained CPI COLA) for everyone receiving federal entitlement payments; they instead went after America's Defenders of Freedom. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
RE: Arrest at Fawn Mountain School By Margaret Cloud - To Heather Morris - The arrest of Jason Simpson was reported in the Ketchikan Daily News on December 14. Are you going to complain about that as well? Such silliness. - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
Pot calling the kettle black By John Suter -
Have you noticed in the ADN 12/24/13 page A-8, Izembek: Road supporters say they don’t plan to give up fight. 3rd column over second paragraph down the governor says, “unconscionable” and another “irrational decision by the federal government that denies Alaskans access – in this case access to emergency treatment.” - More...
Friday PM - December 27, 2013
Thank You By Jamie May -
I would like to thank the person that returned the $262.00 I dropped at Walmart on Saturday the 21st. When I was checking out with my Christmas gifts and I realized I had dropped the money I was really upset. I traced back my steps and could not find it so my last resort was to leave my name and number with customer service just in case it was returned. I can tell you that I was quite surprised that it was returned to customer service. I assumed I would never see that money again. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
Holiday Message By Gov. Sean Parnell -
While experiencing a few hours of harried gift-hunting, I turned the experience into a more joyful season by thinking of Alaskans and some of what we have to be thankful for. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays By U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski -
As Alaskans we are incredibly lucky to live in a true winter wonderland. The snow globe feel of our communities truly makes the holiday season. So during this special time of year, give yourself a Christmas present and take some time to enjoy our beautiful outdoors. Whether it’s hitting the slopes, sledding with your kids or ice fishing on a lake - the time to enjoy the best of Alaska with your families is now, creating memories you’ll look back on for years. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
A Very Merry Christmas By Congressman Don Young -
Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! As Alaskans, we are fortunate to live in a state of such majestic beauty. As many of you know, my love for Alaska began more than 50 years ago and has only grown in the years since. One of my great loves is our Alaskan spirit, especially during the Christmas season; the generosity of our people and our giving nature certainly sets us apart. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
RE: Arrest At Elementary School By Heather Morris -
I am appalled by the letters I have read regarding this sad incident. All of you claim to be Mothers but a Mother would know when children are involved you do as minimal damage as possible. Apparently, you seem to have forgotten that the gentleman who was apprehended has children. In fact a good portion of his family is local. How horribly inconsiderate of you all to discuss this on a public forum such as this. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
RE: Arrest at Elementry School By Vanessa Nowland -
In response to Christine Furey, it is not the responsibility of our public safety officers to act as social workers. Unfortunately, more and more often the public expects this of them. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 24, 2013
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
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
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
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