Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 922
Why I decided to run for Mayor To the Editor: I have given a lot of thought about whether I should run for Mayor. I have asked my wife and many friends and acquaintances that question. It has not been an easy decision. I believe strongly in our community and have invested lots of time to help make it a community that will grow and prosper during these times of great change. I believe we will see a shift of costs from both the State and Federal governments to the local level. We will need to be more self-reliant on local issues like housing,...
In last week’s edition of the Pilot, the byline was missing from the guest editorial. That was a production error during the page layout. The writer of that opinion piece was Larry Persily. Thank you to the several people who were alarmed by the publication of an unsigned editorial. That was an unintentional omission and the Pilot apologizes for the production mistake. A few weeks earlier there was another opinion-signing error, this time it was an error of editorial judgment. A letter was signed by “Mitzi the Bear.” Thank you to the folks...
History Echoes To the Editor: August 23rd is observed in many European countries as a day of remembrance for one of the most cynical political actions in Western history and is recognized by many, including our Canadian neighbors, as Black Ribbon Day. This Saturday marks the 86th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Stalinist Soviet Union and Hitler’s Nazi Germany. A secret portion of this mutual non-aggression treaty was an agreement between the two powers to partition the independent countries that lay between them. The G...
Help Wanted: Unique opportunity to lead the largest state in the country, with more miles of coastline, taller mountains, more fish and game, more dreams and less reality than those other 49 pipsqueaks. Dynamic, convincing decision maker with strong personality needed to lead the second youngest state in the nation into the future, albeit without enough money to meet all its needs. It’s a fixer-upper job; the current employee has let a lot of things go bad, never learned to get along with co-workers, and hasn’t been working all that hard. Whi...
Drop The Charges To the Editor: I applaud and thank Mr. Hankins for his initiative and action in disposing of the bear on Rambler St. That particular bear was an ongoing problem and danger to our neighborhood. It was continually using our fence line as a path. Numerous calls and police response failed to deter it. State law must be changed to include the rights of a community to dispatch bears within their jurisdiction when found to have the real potential to cause harm. Our trampoline is within a couple of feet of that bear’s pathway. My k...
We Deserve More Than Shrugs To the Editor: I’m writing because my patience has completely run out. For months, my garbage cans have been pillaged by bears while the troopers and Fish and Game do absolutely nothing – unless you count shrugging, handing out useless advice as ‘action’ and threats of fines. Frankly, I’m tired of watching my street turn into a dumpster buffet for wildlife while the powers that be don’t lift a finger. It’s bad enough that I have to spend my mornings cleaning up after oversized, uninvited guests. Worse, our kids have...
The state is taking money that was appropriated for one bad idea almost a generation ago and spending it on an equally wasteful idea. Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Department of Transportation, which manages the Alaska Marine Highway System, has signed a $28.5 million contract to start work toward a new ferry terminal at Cascade Point, 40 long road miles north of downtown Juneau. The money is coming from a kitty left over from a long-ago appropriation to build a longer road between Juneau and Haines or Skagway. The billion-dollar road was never b...
To the Editor: At the July 21, 2025, assembly meeting, I should have recused myself on the vote regarding the application by Mr. Ohmer to purchase property on Haugen. I didn’t. I should have and I was wrong. Prior to that meeting, I had studied the agenda and thoughtfully considered if this proposal in particular would be a conflict of interest for me. I determined it was not as it would not benefit me financially, substantially or otherwise, regardless of whether or not this proposal passed or not. What I failed to do in this situation was con...
Vice Mayor Donna Marsh violated the public's trust during Monday’s assembly meeting. When presiding over the assembly’s decision whether or not to sell two borough lots for development into duplexes for affordable rentals, Marsh did not disclose that the neighbors fervently opposing the land sale are her parents-in-law. Instead of disclosing the potential conflict of interest and recusing herself from the decision, she voted to block the land sale. I recognize the difficult decision the assembly members grappled with on Monday: Should the bor...
Among all the sections in the so-called Big Beautiful Bill that will drive up the federal deficit, pour billions into defense and border security and cut federal spending on Medicaid is one item that shows Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was thinking ahead. The senator said she successfully negotiated to add a provision that delays until at least 2028 new federal penalties on Alaska for its shamefully high error rate in processing SNAP benefits (food stamps) for needy people. The penalties — if the state cannot solve its problems and reduce its e...
Support Public Media To the Editor: As I write this, the House of Representatives has passed H.R.4, a ‘rescission package’ that includes eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This would mean no federal support for radio stations like KFSK – 30% of the station’s budget. This drastic cut to our community station would not only devastate the institution, it would cause immense harm to a key piece of our emergency response. I hope you join me in calling on our Senators Murkowski, at 202-224-6665, and Sullivan, at 202-224...
Alaska’s Most Valuable Resource To the Editor: Politicians like to talk about Alaska’s vast and valuable resources, but they seem to forget that our most precious resource is our children. Children’s opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive are short-lived, and every single day matters. Year after year, we watch Governor Dunleavy veto funding for Alaska’s students. I keep thinking about the damage that’s happening to our children every minute that our Governor continues to kick this can down the road. Our children and our schools cannot af...
by Philip Hofstetter There is no question: the federal budget reconciliation now under Senate review would severely harm Alaskans, especially in rural communities. As CEO of one of Alaska’s last three community-owned critical access hospitals, I see the consequences firsthand when people lose healthcare coverage. This bill adds layers of bureaucracy and new Medicaid restrictions that threaten to choke off care entirely. Fortunately, our senators can choose to block it. If the Senate rushes this legislation through, an estimated 33,918 A...
To the Editor: This past weekend over 125 people gathered at Sandy Beach as part of the largest national day of demonstrations in American history (per analyst G Elliot Morris) to say ‘No Kings.’ To everyone who came, contributed a dish and helped it be an event full of neighborly civic engagement, we say thank you! For anyone who missed out but wants to learn more about how to stay connected with others concerned about the state of our democracy, email us at petersburg.neighbors.ak@proton.me or join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, Jun...
Gov. Mike Dunleavy used his veto powers last week to take away $50 million in state funding approved by the Legislature for local school districts across Alaska. He said low oil prices had cut into revenues, and the state could not afford to spend the money. He used the same oily excuse for his other budget vetoes, including cutting two-thirds of the money legislators had appropriated for major maintenance work at nine schools in Alaska, leaving behind $13 million in funding for just three projects from a list that exceeds $300 million....
No surprise, but the state ferry Matanuska, once the stalwart of the fleet, needs more than 120,000 pounds of new steel to replace extensive sections of rust on the ship. Launched in 1963, the Mat has endured decades of saltwater and seas. But no more—it is tied to the dock in Ketchikan, serving as floating housing for ferry workers. It has been held out of service since late 2022. The citizens advisory board that watches over the Alaska Marine Highway System has recommended the state “make all due effort” to officially remove the ship from...
Hot dogs and inalienable rights To the Editor: Silos and echo chambers are comfortable, especially for folks on the far right or far left. The discord we see in the federal government does not belong in a community such as ours. Although we can agree to disagree, isn’t it better to find common ground instead? If you are uncomfortable with difficult conversations, there still is a way to meet part way. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with someone and chat about all the things that make us human. Ask questions and listen. So many of our concerns a...
Thank you all! To the Editor: I want to express my most sincere and heartfelt (literally) thank you and appreciation for the rapid and exemplary care I received from our local EMTs/ambulance crew, all of the PMC ER nurses, doctors and hospital staff and the Petersburg Police Department last Wednesday. You all very well may have saved my life. I also want to give a shoutout and thank you to the Airlift Northwest nurses and crew on the medevac flight to Anchorage. The care I received on that flight was also exemplary. We are truly blessed in...
Community support for Beat the Odds To the editor: Petersburg Medical Center Foundation’s Beat the Odds provides resources in Petersburg for people with cancer. Our generous sponsors helped raise over $37,000 during our last fund drive. We acknowledge the contributions of Petersburg Mental Health Services and an incredibly special gift from the late Scott Olson. Thank you to First City Council on Cancer in Ketchikan, Wrangell Cancer Care, and Cancer Connection in Juneau. In 2024 over $35,000 was provided to assist with expenses for P...
News diversity makes us smarter To the Editor: Like many of you, I value the Pilot for its fair coverage of local news and views. In its pages we see the facts of our local issues, so that we can make decisions together despite our various political leanings. Unfortunately, this consensus reality breaks down as soon as we zoom out beyond the island, turn on cable news, or lock into our social media and video algorithms. When it comes to national news, most of us are more influenced by monied interests than we care to admit, even when we think...
Alaskans who want a larger Permanent Fund dividend, more state funding for K-12 education and the university, more money for child care services, highway maintenance or harbor improvements, more state aid for water and sewer projects, the state ferries or mental health services, or additional tax incentives to encourage business investment have a limited number of choices. They can cut from one area to divert money somewhere else. They can take more money out of the Permanent Fund, spending today but having a poorer tomorrow when the available...
Empowerment Through Education To the Editor: This past weekend, 11 determined women gathered with certified handgun instructors Cheryl and Dave from Citizens Firearms of Haines for a powerful and inspiring experience in firearm safety and self-defense. The training began Friday evening with an engaging classroom session focused on the fundamentals of handgun safety. Early Saturday morning, despite pouring rain and overcast skies, the group reunited at the Petersburg Rod and Gun Club for a full...
The president’s budget proposal for the federal fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 is full of bold moves, big changes and controversy. That was expected. But one proposed spending cut stands out as closer to home than others. The budget office proposes to reduce federal funding for the nationwide Essential Air Service program by 52%. Among 177 small communities in the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the program covers daily air service to Wrangell, Petersburg, Yakutat and Cordova. What is particularly aggravating is the budget office’s explanation of...
No one else more fit for the job To the Editor: We first just want to congratulate Coach Rick Brock on his retirement from teaching and extend a thank you to him for all the time he has spent in the classroom dedicated to his students. Aside from this, Coach Brock has dedicated an unmatchable amount of time to the boys high school basketball program, bringing back many successes and awards, including another state title and coach of the year award just this past year. He has shown up for the team year in and year out for way too long to now...
The Legislature is in its 10th year of struggling to balance Alaskans’ wishes and wants for a large Permanent Fund dividend with the checkbook reality that is much less than the wants. It’s been an annual political and fiscal battle ever since Gov. Bill Walker in 2016 bravely cut that year’s PFD in half after legislators had approved an unaffordable dividend while the state budget was in a deep billion-dollar deficit, made worse by low oil prices. Mike Dunleavy, who was then a state senator, vowed to push legislation to undo the gover...
