Sorted by date Results 576 - 600 of 911
Teen issues statement on harassing game charge To the editor: Dear Community of Petersburg, I very much regret many of my recent decisions, totally wishing I could turn back the clock and and have acted differently. I’m learning the hard way that life simply doesn’t work that way, and that other people and living beings were harmed by my behavior. I feel ashamed of myself, and want to do whatever it takes to change. My commitment to myself, my family, and my community is; to be better, to be more thoughtful and kind, to help rather than hur... Full story
Citizens Expect Integrity To the Editor: Recently the citizens of Petersburg voted to define the eligibility of seniors to receive sales tax exempt status. This definition was that all citizens of the Petersburg Borough age 65 years or older qualify for sales tax exemption. No place on the recent ballot was there wordage of a fee requirement for an exemption card. Nor was there wordage stating that the seniors of the community are a burden and must pay for an exemption the voters determined they had already earned. Earned, as beneficial,...
Experience always matters Despite the borough assembly vote, I strongly support advertising for a successor for Joe Nelson, PMP&L’s former electrical superintendent. The demands from an ever-expanding residential/business/tourism customer base, plus SEAPA/Crystal Lake hydro are too important to relegate to a 1/2-time Public Works-PMP&L reorganization scenario. Relevant technical experience always matters. Suzanne Wood...
As discussion continues on the Power and Light reorganization, it’s important to quantify the savings and identify where they will be placed within the borough budget. Saving money in the Power and Light Dept. will not help the borough’s general fund. It will only bring savings to the Power and Light fund. The funds cannot be transferred to the general fund on an ongoing basis. Since the PMP&L fund is a self-supporting enterprise, it operates independent of the borough’s general fund. In other words, it pays its own way, as do the sanit...
To the Editor: With tough economic times come difficult decisions. Some services may be reduced, we must stretch the dollars that we have, and in some cases, we might have to pay a little more to keep things going. That being said, the last group of people who should bear this increase in burden are the members of our elder community. The proposed $100 fee assessed to seniors who want a tax exempt card is, for lack of better words, wrong. While there are those in the community who can afford to maintain a residence in town and a winter home...
Was last year’s election for naught? We thought voters made their feelings well known by voting Brandi Thynes Marohl and Mark Jensen into their respective positions on the Assembly. Last week’s decision to revisit the Power and Light management plan in a continued attempt to save money is ill advised. Cut corners somewhere else. Many have said, “Everything is going well. We don’t need a high salaried superintendent.” One assembly member even suggested that everyone at Power and Light was getting along well and singing Kumbaya together....
When ownership of a newspaper or broadcast outlet changes, it’s big news. It’s the lead story of the day. Everyone wants to know who the new owner is, and what changes will be made to the organization. In the case of KSTK, Wrangell’s public radio station, the proposed ownership change was advanced with barely a whisper to the public. With approximately 234 letters mailed to active supporters and bits of information shared with a few others, minimal notification was made of changes that were coming to Wrangell’s station. This newspaper stumble...
I am writing in support of the Alaskans for Integrity ballot initiative. I am one of three statewide co-chairs for this initiative and I am excited to share why this initiative is as good as — maybe even better — than sliced bread. When I first showed up in the legislature, there were some things that didn't make sense to me. Like why there's a culture of lobbyists wining and dining legislators over 25-dollar-an-entree meals at downtown Juneau restaurants. Why city or borough elected officials are required by state law to adhere to a far mor...
Lack of support from KSTK public radio listeners and businesses in Wrangell may bring ownership changes to the station. A public notice published in last week’s Wrangell Sentinel foreshadows the transfer of radio station assets to CoastAlaska in Juneau. CoastAlaska provides administrative support and other services for seven Southeast public radio stations including KSTK. Reductions in grant revenue and local donations, has made the station’s financial situation untenable. We’re not convinced that moving the station’s operations to CoastAl...
Pay present debts first To the Editor: A recent news story mentioning an upcoming study to be done by BDO (I think these are the letters for the company doing the study) concerning building vs remodeling our hospital has me very concerned. This company, supposedly did a study for our neighbors in Wrangell and came to the conclusion that Wrangell could afford to build a $52 million new hospital. Unless I'm not hearing news correctly, I thought that the Wrangell Medical Center has had to go to the Wrangell Assembly for over $250,000 in loans to...
Do the job To the Editor: I have been on the Petersburg City council for years dating back to the late 90s. That was a time when the timber industry was in its last gasp for survival, which for the most part died. There was a lot of disagreement and discussion with meetings that went past midnight on many occasions. The thing I remember most about those times was that no matter how much we might have disagreed over resolutions, ordinances or appointments, there was always the willingness to get the subject on the floor for discussion and...
End confusion To the Editor: So there is no confusion over the marijuana excise taxes that have been paid: Since July of this year, The 420 has paid in over $9,200 in excise taxes for product that was brought into town from elsewhere. The 420 has also paid over $12,000 in sales tax revenue. We have a great relationship with the financial office and things have gone very smoothly since the onset of business. I felt that the comments from Judy Tow, amid the article about Morgan, lead people to assume the money was all from Morgan’s business when...
Despite the clearly decisive results of the October election, the borough assembly appears to let politics decide their votes on important electrical issues. The vote to confirm the mayor’s selection to the Southeast Alaska Power Agency seats should have been voice votes, not secret ballots. The public is entitled to know how the assembly voted. It’s all about transparency. To select an inexperienced person to the voting seat for Petersburg, undermines Petersburg’s standing in the organization. John Jensen has served for years on the SEAPA...
to the Editor: I live in the trailer park on Lumber St. I am writing this letter to let everyone in on what all the good neighbors have had to put up with because of certain neighbors being on really bad drugs. We have had our places ripped off, some broken into and gas stolen, and people speeding up here. At my place they have been stealing outboard parts. Two of them have been completely stripped and we’ve had gas stolen from our skiffs in Hammer Slough. Anyone who lives near there, if you see anyone that isn’t Byron Lyons, Gordy Lyons or...
Community strong To the Editor: The evening of November 11th helped me realize again what a fantastic town I live in. The community held a fundraiser for a wonderful family. Hundreds of people showed up donating monies, time, talent and much hard work to put on an evening of giving, fun and togetherness. For all of you that attended you know that any words will fall short of the camaraderie, the sense of neighbor coming together for neighbors and the enjoyment of doing something for someone other than ourselves. Thank you Petersburg for...
Run Borough like a business o the Editor: At the last Borough Assembly meeting there was a discussion about forming a tax committee. It was mentioned that "nothing came of the last tax review committee." I was a member of that committee. We spent countless hours and several weeks reviewing every line of the tax ordinance and made several recommendations for change, most of which were implemented, and we thought improved the ordinance. A better summation of our efforts might be that we determined Petersburg residents were already taxed out. If...
Earned not won To the Editor: Your reporter stated that the Girl Scout gold award is a prize to be “won.” It is not. It is earned through hard work. It takes many hours to complete the task. I have 2 daughters who are both recipients of the award, and both worked very hard to meet the requirements. You should not trivialize the effort put in by these young ladies..it’s not a participation trophy given to everyone. James Dreisbach Trashy eyesore To the Editor: Now while Arnold is cleaning up that boat mess it would be nice if he cleaned up hi...
Fish and Game board process is a public process To the Editor: Dear Alaskans, As your chairs to the Alaska Boards of Fisheries and Game we want to take this time to update you on our upcoming meeting season for 2017-2018. For those new to Alaska or our state’s fish and game regulatory process, the Boards of Fisheries and Game are composed of seven individuals from around Alaska who meet each year to enact changes to your fish and game management system. For example, by passing a regulation the Board of Game might open a new moose hunt in wester...
Glacier research To the Editor: Thank you for the article covering our research at LeConte Glacier. We wish to acknowledge the decades-long collaboration with Petersburg High School (PHS), without which our research program would not have been possible. Indeed, Paul Bowen, who initiated PHS studies of LeConte Glacier, is the true “grandfather” of LeConte research. Inevitably, inaccuracies can creep into newspaper reporting on research activities. In this case, the temperature in the fjord has not increased by 7° Celsius, rather it is wate...
Some readers have suggested that this newspaper make exceptions to the public record. A retired doctor from the Virginia Mason Medical Center stated our report of a lawsuit brought against local doctors and the Petersburg Medical Center should not have been printed until the lawsuit was settled. In another case, WAVE representatives told us the names of those seeking protective orders should be omitted from our reports. Neither can happen. Because we are a newspaper, we print the public record. Legally, it defines our purpose as a...
A public thank you I’d like to personally and publicly thank Bob Lynn and Cindy Lagoudakis for their service to our community. Our assembly is losing two highly qualified individuals who gave countless hours to the complex and often unappreciated undertaking of keeping Petersburg moving forward. I appreciated their level headed way of approaching issues. Good listeners and always prepared, it seemed to me their only agenda was keeping Petersburg a strong community with an eye on the future. They will leave some big shoes to fill and I hope t...
Listen to health care professionals To the Editor: The Petersburg election this next Tuesday, Oct. 3 is very important to the dental health of the young people in this community. The fluoride incorporated into the enamel as the permanent teeth are formed is essential to lower the incidence of tooth decay, not only at the younger ages, but also through their lives. The opposition to water fluoridation mainly relies on scare tactics to get people to vote against it. The water system is closely monitored and never has had any problems concerning...
Fluoride used as rat poison To the Editor: Fluoride - originally used as rat poison still used in China as rat poison. Clearly marked on toothpaste as not to swallow. Known to encrust the Pineal Gland and dull the sense. The pineal gland is known as the third eye and is your instinctual ability to sense danger. Adolph Hitler used fluoridation in his T-38 health program to insure less resistance from the German people. Operation Paperclip was instituted in the United States and the top Nazi scientists were brought in and continued their...
All is not clear To the Editor: This is regarding your article in the August 31, 2017 edition “PMC & physicians face wrongful death claim". I am sorry to see this kind of reporting and journalism in your paper. There are many issues in a case like this and much emotion, obviously. The reporting of a claim that has not been settled in the court, by judge, jury and peers of those involved such as this results in, loss of confidence in your local medical institution and staff without due process, that would have been fair. Thus, I think that y...
To the Editor: Community Water Fluoridation(CWF) has been proven by reputable scientific sources to be effective and safe. These studies are Evidence Based Science Research, and Peer Reviewed, where all evidence and data pertaining to the subject is studied, and can be confirmed by other professionals in the field to be accurate and complete. In any research, data can be omitted to gain a desired outcome, that is how negative studies on CWF get their results. Last week, in a Letter to the Editor, the writer shared about decay rates declining...
