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The establishment of critical habitat areas running from western Alaska to southern California is a prime example of federal agency overkill and overreach. We don't see a logical pathway whereby NOAA's proposed rule will bring numbers of the three distinct population segments (DPS) of humpbacks back to historic levels. Unanswered by NOAA officials is an explanation of why the Hawaiian population is thriving as seen by population counts in both Alaska and Hawaii, and the three segments of the...
Local news media part of coverup To the Editor: Recently, mayor Jensen and member Bob Lynn of the current Petersburg Borough voting bloc followed up on their past refusals to pass a resolution addressing regional and local corruption exposed in the Washington office investigation of the Tonka and Big Thorne timber sales. They did this by agreeing the Roadless Rule was "too controversial" to pass a resolution in support of the Rule. Controversy however, requires evidence of significant...
The Borough Assembly members acted correctly Monday evening by voting down a proposed ordinance to permit off-road vehicles to operate on borough roadways. The voters spoke against the idea in a 60%-40% decision in 2017. It's not the place of the assembly to override the clear wishes of the electorate just 2 years later. Further, the discussion reminds us of a solution in search of a problem. All manner of off-road vehicles including forklifts, 4-wheelers with plows, tractors and backhoes...
Icicle Seafoods executives and workers rallied around the family and friends of Ken Hicks who passed away last week. Ken was the cannery foreman and was employed by the company for 33 years. Workers and friends worked hand in hand with his daughter Erin to sort and pack up his belongings. Their all-in efforts reflect the love and appreciation everyone had for Ken's long-time contributions to the company. May such acts of kindness continue beyond this Christmas season and throughout the New...
No time to waste To the Editor: Pilot reporter Brian Varela Dec. 5 reporting on the assembly meeting highlights regarding the Roadless Rule Resolution, skimmed over or forgot to mention some critical points. Ten borough residents did speak in some of the most knowledgeable and fact detailed reasons why they thought the Roadless Rule was extremely important to uphold. The testimony offered was some of the most passionate and heartfelt observations from fisheries professional geologists, lifetime...
The roadless rule should remain intact To the Editor: The proposed Tongass exemption from the 2001 Roadless Rule is for the singular purpose of accessing the last bastions of high volume old growth timber, which will be largely exported in the round. If approved, this would be at great cost to taxpayers, and at great profit to Viking Lumber of Klawock and Alcan/Transpac Group of Vancouver, BC-both timber exporters. A recent report by Taxpayers for Common Sense, concluded that between 1999-2018,...
Heed vaping warning To the Editor: As of November 13, 2019, 2,172 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and 2 U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). CDC has identified vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern among people with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury. The CDC recommends that people should not use THC-containing e-cigarette, or...
Southeast Alaskans have been given the opportunity to lift the onerous roadless designation from the Tongass National Forest, and yet many have testified to leave it in place. We're astonished. That's not the Alaskan way. Why do we want the federal government to maintain continued control of the Tongass? The roadless designation was put in place as yet another padlock on national forests that were already protected and commercial activity was eliminated or severely stymied. Half of the Tongass...
Words of appreciation To the Editor: I want to take this opportunity to thank Superintendent Erica Kludt-Painter and the staff and students of the Petersburg School System for the wonderful and moving Veterans Day event put on at the school. It is a humbling experience to see the students gathering to honor those of us who had the privilege to serve in the military and to hear their words of appreciation. It is an honor to be a part of the Petersburg community. I want to especially thank those who have spent the time and effort to make all of...
Concern for housing unit To the Editor: I attended the Borough Assembly meeting Monday to pass on some public safety committee support and concerns and my options for paying for the EMT/fire person and police officer. Basically having seniors pay their fair share for community needs. One thing that concerned me was a couple of individuals expressing their concern for a new 15 unit low income housing unit proposed across from the hospital that may serve people with challenges. The individuals app...
Rainforests under siege To the Editor: The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists notes it’s 2 minutes to midnight. They list the unfolding climate catastrophe to be just as much an existential threat as that of nuclear war. A nuclear war can start with one push of a button. But our unfolding climate catastrophe started long ago with daily acts of denial by our elected officials in the service of extractivism — rather than the public interest. Regardless of whether it is raining outside, Southeast Alaska has been facing “se...
Another election finished To the Editor: So that's another election in the books, a good time was had by all. Well I had fun but I am strange that way. I would like to thank those who gave me their support, for that matter a big thanks to all who didn't too. It was after all a pretty good turnout and that is encouraging. So we had our one day of a democratic government. Now back to the 364 ½ of what our founders labeled a Representative Republic. Maybe it's just me or I am hoping it's...
To the Editor: As someone who appreciates smoke-free indoor workplaces and public places, I want to say thank you to everyone in our community for supporting the Alaska Smokefree Workplace Law in our beautiful town. I am thrilled to see that our community is free from secondhand cigarette and marijuana smoke as well as aerosols from electronic smoking devices. There are a lot of things one can do to save lives but smoke-free indoor spaces are one of those things that quickly improve the health of our community. I am thankful that our community...
Trade is best option To the Editor: I find it interesting that those who have written to you opposed to the Petro-Borough land trade have a few things in common. A. none have come and visited with me as Harbormaster concerning their thoughts or ideas and B. none have given Staff, the Harbor Board or your readers a solution. The fact is in 2006 the then City of Petersburg (now the Borough of Petersburg) took over ownership of the Port of Petersburg, one of the largest facilities in our...
Workers become part of us To the Editor: The silver fish came in unimaginable numbers to the steams, creeks and rivers of their birth; and the people followed. First, perhaps 15 thousand years ago, there came the Tlingit. The bounty of the land nourished them, and their culture thrived. Much later came the Russians, then the Norwegians and other peoples from the "Old World". The honor and respect their hosts were due was not given, yet the fish sustained them. Demand for the sea's harvest from...
Market winds down To the Editor: As another season comes to an end, we wanted to take a moment to thank our many supporters for helping make another year of The Market possible. Petersburg Economic Development Council is a deeply valued community partner and we are so grateful for their support. We also received a grant from the Alaska Farmers Market Association/USDA that helped with promotions and a batch of new stickers, thanks to the incredible artwork by Kaimia Designs. Above all else, thank...
The public should be given the maximum opportunities to make public comments at any gathering of the borough assembly. Written comments can be read by the city clerk, when requested, and the writer cannot be present. This has happened often in the 43 years we have observed gatherings of both the city council and now the assembly. Members of the assembly and other administration staff have read comments when the clerk needed a break. What's wrong with that? Given that assembly meetings rotate...
Thank you To the Editor: St. Andrews Episcopal Church would like thank all who helped with the "Walk to Remember, Children Gone Too Soon: " Diamantes: for sponsoring our ad in the Pilot; Hammer and Wikan for our helium balloons; Deb and Craig at the Flower Farm for our beautiful dahlias; for the lovely high tide that carried our flowers and for those who were there to walk with us. Joyce Bergmann...
Thank You for support To the Editor: On behalf of the crews of Coast Guard Cutters ANACAPA and ELDERBERRY, I would like to express my gratitude to the community for their well-wishes on the U.S. Coast Guard's 229th Birthday. One of the first things I heard about Petersburg when I received orders was how friendly and welcoming everyone is to Coast Guard members, and what a great place it is to live. It can be difficult moving our families every couple of years, often continents away and far from...
Recall petition To the Editor: I support recall of Governor Dunleavy for some of the following reasons: Right out of his campaign promises, fake news. $3,000 PFD, no new taxes, no cuts but efficiencies. I laughed because I was sure no one would believe that one. Well, after sworn in as Governor he cut everything that makes Alaska home, slash and burn - everything. Too many areas to list but a few: Ferry system, education from preschool through college, public broadcasting, senior citizens, medical, etc. All for a $3,000 dividend? $3,000 is...
Frustration is mounting at both the police and fire department over funding for a police sergeant position and an EMS coordinator. The 2020 borough budget includes line items of $127,224 to fill a vacant sergeant position and $96,147 to fill the EMS coordinator post. Repeatedly the police chief and fire department volunteers have spoken to the need for filling the two vacancies The topic has been thoroughly covered both during the borough's annual budget deliberations and at many regular...
Over the past 10 months, the Petersburg Borough Assembly has debated the necessity of filling a vacant position in the Police Department. Assembly member Meucci has asked for a discussion multiple times but the Assembly has not wanted to discuss this important issue. This position became open when an existing Sergeant was promoted to fill the open Captain position when Captain Hamilton retired in late 2018. While we in the Police Department understand the concern over the budget, our overriding...
The strike called for by the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific (IBU) this week defies all logic. Talk about giving the governor exactly what he wants at a most expeditious time - the script couldn't be more perfect. Instead of shutting down the ferries in October, the IBU now insures the ferries shut down in mid-summer. And in summer, visitors are impacted rather than state residents who are busy working seasonal jobs like construction and fishing. Of course, this will not endear members of...
While last week's unfounded account that the visiting cruise ship Le Soleal discharged sewage into Frederick Sound gave anti-cruise ship groups a reason to oust the ships from Borough area waterways, Petersburg needs to make sure they are a part of the solution for keeping our waterways clean. We hope the assembly will discuss and plan to construct a waterfront pumping station that will allow boats of all sizes to discharge sewage into the Petersburg's wastewater system. It would be a good use...
PVFD strive to be ready for anything To the Editor: Some of the amateurs on the borough assembly criticize the Volunteer Fire Dept. for the fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical equipment equipment the department has on hand to deal with emergencies that other people run away from. The Kevlar protective vests were bought with Association, not public, funds. Those members of the assembly ought to draw up in public a list of just what sort of emergencies they think PVFD should be ready...
