Sorted by date Results 626 - 650 of 894
Alaskans will soon receive our annual dividend checks. This year’s $1,022 check for every qualified resident will help Alaska families with things like winter fuel, food and clothes, holiday gifts, and saving for college. These checks will boost local businesses and increase local tax revenues. At the same time, I am keenly aware that many Alaskans are disappointed – and some are angry – about the size of this year’s dividend. While the average dividend since the inception of the program has been $1,150, many were counting on a larger amount...
Search and Rescue tips To the Editor: This past Wednesday evening a young boy in our community became lost. Thanks to the dedication of many in this community he was found cold but safe. As I witness the out pouring of volunteers willing to go out on a rainy night to find this young boy I felt a lot of pride in the caring folks of Petersburg. Whereas we live on the edge of the wilderness events like this will happen again. So that we can avoid a tragedy Search and Rescue would like to make the following recommendations. In the event of someone...
To the Editor: As there have been a few letters against the cultivation and sales of marijuana in our town I would like to share my personal opinions from the other side. I am in favor for the cultivation and retail sale of Marijuana in the Borough of Petersburg for many reasons. First is that it is much less detrimental to society than alcohol. I have served as an EMT for almost 25 years and have never once had a call where marijuana was the issue. That cannot be said for alcohol and hard drugs which I have been on numerous calls for. In my yo...
Thinking outside the box To the Editor: The Greater Southeast Alaska Conservation Community believes there are better solutions than a land exchange to solve the highly controversial Alaska Mental Health Trust debacle. The exchange is detailed in Senator Murkowski’s Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange Act of 2016 (S.3006). Specifically, what should be pursued instead is either a federal buy-out or a land transfer with the State, not Feds, from existing State forestlands. Clearly, AMHT’s threats that Murkowski’s bill be passed— or else—ha...
Marijuana, AMA approved Letter to the Editor: 1) I find comfort, and so should you, that the largest American Medical Association comprised of thousands of doctors; as well as the American Oncology Society; just to name two, have petitioned congress to lower marijuana to a category II listing so that they can prescribe marijuana for their patients. I value their opinion over all individual doctor's opinion. 2) Black Market: By supplying topself, top grade medical marijuana, in large variety at a price lower than current black market prices, it...
Choose to do less harm To the Editor: The following facts about marijuana are taken from a lecture I attended by Darryl Inada CAT-V, CADC 111 and PH.D in Pharmacology at the 42nd Annual School on Addictions and Behavioral Health held in Anchorage on May 2, 2016. Marijuana seriously affects short term memory, concentration, motivation, problem solving, coordination, judgment, reaction and tracking time, and cognitive ability. Though it relieves anxiety temporarily, use over time increases anxiety. The smoke, as with cigarette smoking, seriously...
Everyone is welcome To the Editor: Landscaping has been ongoing at the Public Library this summer and I have heard people ask, “How can they spend so much money on plants when money is so tight right now?” The work was paid for with state grants and from donations from private citizens specifically for construction and landscaping. The landscaping provides finishing touches to a community project we can be proud of. Our Public Library represents many of the core values of our town. Looking around the facility it is clear we care about our kid...
We’ll never forget To the Editor: We want to thank the Petersburg community for the kindness and support you gave to us after the tragic loss of our granddaughter and niece, Molly Parks. Molly will be forever in our memories and hearts. She was unique, a special gift, kind, amazing, and beautiful. We want to give special thanks to the emergency and medical response teams, and to all the folks who helped R.D. and Madonna through that terrible day and night. When we arrived in Petersburg on July 7, we were greeted with warm welcomes, hugs, and m...
Overwhelming generosity To the Editor: We, as a family, continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity and outpouring of support and love from Petersburg, our family, and our friends. Thank you. It does make a difference. I cannot say that we are doing okay, but we are surviving and slowly, more accepting of our loss. A very bright light in our lives has gone out, but we have many more. Joey and Josh, our families, friends, folks from Electra, Texas, and the amazing community of Petersburg. All of you lighten our lives, and are helping us...
I attended my first Rotary meeting in 1976. I was 23 years old and the average age of the membership was about 60. Dave Ohmer, Jim Leekley, Oscar Jones, Jim Taylor and Adolph Mathisen were among the established members. Today, Adolph Mathisen’s granddaughter Desi Burrell, is president of the club which turns 75 years old this year. Adolph would be proud. Charter members of the club in May, 1941 were: Dr. Edgar I. Baggen, Dr. T.W. Benson, Carroll Clausen, Lester E. Elkins, Charles A. Greenaa, John Halvorsen, Bue Hentze, Rev. Thos. Knudson, Justi...
Patrick R. Murphy, 58, of Juneau, passed away on July 1, 2016. Patrick was born the third child of Mark and Patricia Murphy, of Magnolia, Washington on July 26, 1957. Patrick was a 1976 graduate of Queen Anne High School and was employed at Western Towboat for over 40 years, most of those years as a captain. Patrick is survived by his daughter Emma, along with her mother, Melanie Helmick and his siblings and their families, Marcia, R.C., R. L and Marc Quint; Leslie, Chris and Anna von Ravensberg; Mark, Lauren, Erin and Pat Murphy along with...
Performed heroically To the Editor: We all just been through a very difficult time. Our hearts and prayers are with those who lost family and friends on the morning of July 4th. I would like to tell you that those members of your volunteer fire department who responded to the incident, performed professionally and heroically in a very difficult situation. As they now deal with their own memories and thoughts, please keep them in your prayers. Doug Welde Fire Chief... Full story
It is with a heavy heart that I make this statement. The Petersburg Borough sends heartfelt condolences to the Giesbrecht and Parks families for the loss of their daughters. Petersburg will truly miss their presence. Our thoughts are also with the Cardenas and Allen families and all those in our community that are affected by this tragedy. It is our hope that with the support of our caring community we can all come together to help each other in the healing process. In the interim, I have appointed Karl Hagerman as Acting Borough Manager to... Full story
Thank You To the Editor: On Saturday evening, June 11, I was in serious health trouble while visiting Alaska on a friend’s boat, the Liliana. In severe pain, and having had open heart surgery years before, our skipper, was on the radio with the Coast Guard discussing how best to get me medical care. We were in Portage Bay, travelling in a trawler, with a top speed of 6-7 knots. A decision was made to send the police boat from Petersburg, staffed with an EMT team. The wind had come up, raising white caps in Stevens Passage, and the discomfort I...
Considering both sides To the Editor: When any entrepreneur is deciding to invest in a community, one would generally check with as many of the other investors first and assess any obstacles. A very successful business person once told me that “Just because you are willing to invest, does not make you a wise investor.” So how does one check in wisely with “all of the other” investors in a new enterprise, such as the case of recreational marijuana in a community where commercial sales have never been available before? You go to them and give the...
Popular doesn't make it good To the Editor: Learning facts is important. Re-learning facts is also important, and sometimes exacting and painful. Take tobacco. Around 400 years ago people colonizing in Virginia learned to smoke tobacco from local Native Americans. “Recreational,” yet addictive, this poison began killing Americans. Only around 50 years ago the medical science started to prove the obvious - millions of people go to an early grave because of smoking tobacco. I’ve lost family members and friends, as has every person reading these w...
Better safe than sorry To the Editor: It seems to me, that for all practical purposes, with the State vote on marijuana sale within the state, that the ballot wording and subsequent vote, definitely provided for individual cities and towns to decide about pot sales in their specific area. It would be a serious disservice for only a few borough assembly members to decide for the entire town, instead of allowing the people of their town to have a vote on the issue as apparently intended by writers of the State ballot initiative. Are they afraid...
The Alaska Marine Highway System should become — at least in part — a private enterprise. AMHS has been in business for 50 years; like most businesses, it’s had its problems and it’s even come up with solutions within the realm of possibilities. But, its biggest problem, as many Alaskans have known for some time, is that its ever-changing executive doesn’t make for a consistently charted course. A new governor means a new state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities commissioner and deputy commissioners for the ferry system ...
LNF thank you To the Editor: On behalf of the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and the Little Norway Festival Committee, I would like to thank everyone who has helped make the 2016 Little Norway Festival a complete success. There is not enough room to thank everyone individually, as this was truly a community-wide effort. The Chamber membership, their staff, and the LNF Committee all gratefully say "Tusen Takk." Janet Holten, Chair Little Norway Festival Committee Marijuana To the Editor: Helping people to understand the opt out option that the...
While some are frustrated with the ongoing discussion of opting out on allowing retail marijuana sales in Petersburg, it’s good to have the discussions now, rather than later. For some, the reality of the situation is coming to light. While we continue to believe the will of the voters should be followed, Petersburg Assembly members must continue the discussion and craft Petersburg’s ordinance for retail sales of marijuana to suit the wishes of the citizens. We believe the majority favor the retail sales of the drug but based on comments we...
Fundraiser success To the Editor: The Petersburg Children’s Center Board of Directors would like to thank those that helped our recent fundraiser for the building expansion project; including individuals that donated chairs for the project, artists that applied their extensive time and amazing talent for the chair auction, PCC parents that donated mouth-watering desserts for the dessert auction, the Petersburg Elks Lodge and Emblem Club for donating delicious food and volunteering their time, Lee’s Clothing for helping us sell tickets and displ...
As the Legislature nears the end of the constitutional 120-day session, I am gravely concerned about the possible outcome. Our state is in a difficult fiscal position. Due mainly to world oil prices and our over-dependence on oil, we have only about one-fifth of the revenue we need to balance the budget. And that’s after several years of budget cuts and almost no capital investment. That’s why I kicked off a series of statewide conversations last spring. Using input from hundreds of Alaskans, we developed the New Sustainable Alaska Plan, whi...
Grateful To the Editor: Thank you to the police officer who helped my fiance with his skiff early Tuesday morning when his skiff almost sunk. He went out of his way to help him and we are very grateful for his assistance. Thank you to the harbor master for contacting the PPD. Tonia Grant and Byron Lyons...
Bike safety To the Editor: I saw something horrible Monday night after work. I was headed down Haugen. There was a little girl on a pinkish bicycle across the street. She was ahead of me and headed downtown too. There are always cars waiting to clear the intersection this time of day. As I slowed to take my place in line, she reached the intersection. I thought she would stop and walk her bike across the street to the totem poles at the Forest Service. Instead, she turned immediately into the crosswalk. Right then, a gray car coming from...
Alaskans appear to be engaged about the fiscal precariousness of our state unlike in past financial meltdowns. Perhaps it's because of the massive scale of the budget deficit the state faces in the next fiscal year, which starts June 1. How big is it? An estimated $4 billion as of today, if the Legislature doesn't act either on Gov. Bill Walker's proposals or something comparable of its own making. Alaska has enough money in its savings accounts _ not counting the principal of the Alaska Permanent Fund _ to cover the gap, but the money in...
