Sorted by date Results 651 - 675 of 894
March today To the Editor: I would like to invite you to the Choose Respect march, today March 24, at 3:15 pm. We will be meeting at the bottom of The Trading Union hill, and together we will march through town to take a stand against domestic violence and sexual assault. We will be joining thousands of other Alaskans who are also marching in their communities. Following the march we will have an open house at the WAVE office, 22 Sing Lee Alley. Hope to see you there. Annette Wooton Executive Director, Petersburg WAVE Ferry concerns To the...
First responder volunteers To the Editor: We are very fortunate to have dedicated volunteers in our community. Volunteers read to children in the elementary school, they pick up litter along the side of the road, and they serve on the many elected boards and committees. The Hospital Guild, Humane Association, KFSK, the Library and WAVE are just a few of these agencies. Most of the time, the benefit is limited to a small or unique group of people. In one particular instance, the benefit to every single person in this community is very apparent:...
We hope folks in the newly organized borough will base their public testimony on the factual material brought forth by the borough administration and less on inaccurate hearsay. It was clear that few if any of the “outliers” testifying had even read a portion of the Borough’s Comprehensive Plan. The document clearly states that it is a broad compilation of guidelines the borough will consider for future economic, physical and social development within the borough boundary. The plan does not carry the weight of law, as some people alleged at Mo...
Not a subsidy To the Editor: I wanted to thank you for your editorial several issues back about the marijuana law. I really appreciated your thoughts that, although you personally were against legalization, you did feel that the voters had spoken and that the process needed to move forward regardless of your personal feelings. This was a commendable position to take and expressed what our democracy is, or should be, all about. One “complaint” I do have is about your AMHS editorial in this week’s edition. You used “subsidize” and “subsidie...
Across Alaska, there are many dedicated volunteers whose helping hands and caring hearts positively impact the lives of others. The First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year Awards seeks to recognize these outstanding volunteers who often go unheralded. Please take a moment to nominate someone you know who is making a difference by volunteering. Nominations are due by March 8, 2016. Details and nomination forms are available at volunteerawards.alaska.gov Volunteers, you are the heart and soul of our communities. Thank you for selflessly serving and g...
Have you thanked a school board member lately? School board members volunteer hundreds of hours and immeasurable amount of energy to assure that our schools are providing the best education possible for the children of our community. February is School Board Recognition Month, and I encourage you to show your appreciation for the tireless work of our local school board members. School board members are citizens whose decisions affect our children – what they learn, who will teach them, and what kinds of facilities house their classrooms. T...
Alaskans know the importance of oil to the state's economy and state government coffers. No question. Oil is huge. But with all the talk of oil, it's easy to overlook other parts of Alaska's economy. Commercial fisheries, for example. Fisheries anchored many Alaska communities years before the start of oil production. And they've continued to do so after oil began flowing through the pipeline. The continuing economic contribution of fisheries is perhaps more apparent in coastal Alaska communities, such as Ketchikan, than in the Railbelt and...
Since the Department of Transportation continues to push ahead on the Kake-Petersburg Road, it’s appropriate that the Borough Assembly takes action to divert funds from the project. Nothing kills a road project quicker than taking the money off the table. Repeatedly, citizens from Kupreanof, Kake and Petersburg have told Transportation officials the road is a bad idea. It’s not needed, it’s not cost effective and it needs to go away. Kake needs lower cost electricity and a road is not needed to address their power needs. Since as early as Ja...
Shame on you To the Editor: I don't understand why environmentalists get so excited about the timber sales the Forest Service is kind enough to make available for logging companies. Why protest? Everybody knows trees are a “renewable resource.” Ketchikan, Wrangell, Sitka, and Petersburg were all built on fishing, and logging mills – both lumber and pulp and some mining. Those towns didn't have to depend on tourism and chartering. If you look back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's these towns were booming, our economy was thriving. We had a lot o...
12 years of making Petersburg better To the Editor: My mother Ruth and I enjoyed a trip to the airport in September. It was a fine day and we collected wild flowers. Some of you saw her photo on Facebook. Mom wanted to thank those who planned and built the bike path. She was glad to hear that it’s being extended to Sandy Beach. Just like the good old days. Ruth has been a community booster for 75 years and is still interested in making Petersburg a better place.* Her list of interests and volunteer activities is very long. The Library, M...
By now, most of you know we have a budget challenge: Over the past two years, Alaska’s oil revenue has plummeted by 88 percent, mainly due to a sharp drop in oil prices. We’ve cut the budget from $8 billion in 2012 to $4.8 billion. Despite these reductions, our deficit amounts to more than half our annual budget. If we do nothing, we’re on a course to drain the constitutional budget reserve within two years – and the permanent fund earnings reserve within another two years. Dividends would likely end within four years, and we’ll be left with...
It is illogical that the remodeling of the Borough Municipal Building should go to a vote of the people. If the public voted not to fund the remodeling project, it would leave the local government in the exact predicament they now find themselves. The police department is presently housed in a substandard, non-compliant structure that is a danger to employees, prisoners and local citizens who rely on the department to provide first responder assistance in an emergency. Furthermore, the City of Petersburg and now the Petersburg Borough have...
The public was not well served by the Borough’s marijuana advisory committee. At least not the 58-percent of Petersburg voters who favored legalized marijuana sales within Alaska. Many, like myself, feel the commercial sale of marijuana in Alaska is an abomination for which we will pay a significant price in both human capital and health care costs. But nonetheless, voters approved it and those citizens deserve due process. Chair Jeigh Stanton Gregor told the assembly the committee should be disbanded because of their ineffectiveness. M...
The next generation is here To the Editor: The “PFI changed Petersburg 50 years ago” story was remarkably accurate. Along with Bob Thorstenson, Gordon Magnus and Tom, the Swansons, Conns, McKays, and many many more PFI employees and, of course, the fishermen are what made this company. My company founders shared their vision, risk and reward far and wide and that made all the difference. All Alaskan companies outta be set up this way. The new guys would be well served to set up the 1965-2007 success story all over again. The next gen...
Shift in thinking needed To the Editor: The Alaska Marine Highway System is at a critical juncture. Since its first port of call, the Alaska Marine Highway has provided substantial economic growth and improved quality of life for Alaskans. It has become a vital socio-economic engine even more now, than when it was conceived half a century ago. We cannot afford to lose this transportation corridor for Alaska. However, we must acknowledge that the state can no longer afford to pay for the current system and outdated management model. Our...
First step the hardest To the Editor: Some say the first step is the hardest, but we’ve found community-wide support makes the first step a bit easier. Recently, the Petersburg Children’s Center took its first step toward a long awaited building expansion project. Through the generosity of Reid Brothers, Hammer & Wikan and local donors, the piling is in and we’re getting ready to start framing up the building shell. While we are officially underway, we are continuing to seek donations to fund completion of the project, including an unant...
We are in this together To the Editor: I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the School Board members and administration that worked for literally hundreds of hours to develop and pass the amended Memorial policy. As we all know, it is heartbreaking to lose someone that you love, no matter the age, circumstance or relationship. No one grieves in the same way. Some are comforted by reminders of the person, but others can’t face any reminders at all. I appreciate the opportunities that our close-knit community offers in the way of r...
Taste the herring To the Editor: As neighbor and FAVORITE Editor I implore you to ask the good people of the beautifully decorated Sandy Beach Neighborhood to keep a watchful eye out for that “Stately Swede from DoyHof” and the “Handsome Norske from Scow Bay” who may be sniffing around our neck of the woods interested in sabotaging this year’s Pickled Herring recipe! Hagar and Annie are on high alert for any funny business and rewards of the successful arrest of would be “saboteurs” will be paid in Lefse or holiday baked goods. See everyone...
Despite the articulate and sometimes emotional comments presented to the school board, we think the board is justified in approving its draft policy for memorials on school property. The policy allows for temporary memorials and sets the terms for commemoration events. Key policy components are: 1. Memorials can be an ongoing visual reminder of what happened. Memorials need to be an opportunity of choice for families, friends and the public. 2. The fact that schools are designed primarily to support learning and should not serve as the main...
The future Mitkof Project To the Editor: Recently Forest Supervisor Stewart withdrew the Mitkof Project citing local industry concerns and the opportunity to better serve an ongoing, market based transition to second growth. The question for Mr. Stewart is “What is being done to further support the transition for central S.E. communities”? This question is especially pertinent given the deteriorating markets for Tongass old-growth that is being milled in China. Why should federal taxpayers proceed to subsidize any further timber dev...
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for the...
Sealaska has shamed themselves To the Editor: Last week in Petersburg, Alaska's newest environmental group 'The Greater Southeast Alaska Conservation Community,' (gsacc.net) gave a slide show on the latest industrial logging now taking place on state land, Sealaska land and other land grant interests. The slideshow consisted of images from 'Google Earth' satellite overviews of Sealaska lands on the Cleveland Peninsula, and also on P.O.W.'s Election Creek and other examples. Needless to say, the push to privatize land from the Tongass National...
Grandparenthood is just as good the second time around. A bit over five years ago our first grandson, Craig, arrived. Last Friday, as in Friday the 13th, our second grandchild was born. Abby Jo was born to the daughter who had proclaimed that motherhood was not on her agenda. Don't plan on it. Things seldom go as planned, and we're so happy about that. As is customary with Petersburg babies, they're born someplace else. Casey and Beth have spent several weeks in Juneau awaiting the arrival of...
It’s appalling that since 2006 the ranks of the Petersburg Alaska Army National Guard (AANG) have dropped from 11 members to 2. Worse yet, as in Petersburg and Wrangell, the AANG facilities in many rural communities across the state sit empty. How did the leadership in the AANG allow this to happen? Our report published this week, exposes some of the reasons, and possibly excuses, for this downturn. Budget cuts, higher recruiting standards and lack of recruiting effort all are a part of the reason. Why is Guard leadership allowing the 761st M...
Produce comparison To the Editor: Each week Ron and Anne graciously send me a copy of this newspaper. I enjoy reading it, especially the grocery ads. We moved to Ketchikan in 1970. I will never forget my first visit to the grocery store. I walked through the produce aisle with a picture of shock on my face when I saw the prices An employee walked over and said "you just moved here, right?" Well, today When I read the ads, there is little difference in prices from our local Publix store. In come cases yours are less. I did love living there,...
