Sorted by date Results 651 - 675 of 911
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...
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...
