Sorted by date Results 826 - 850 of 911
Big adventure ahead To the Editor: The newly created Petersburg Borough stands poised at an epic transformation. The big question is: How can we achieve unity in the overall populace? No other organized borough in Alaska hails any ethnic group as a component in it’s composition either in it’s name or group as a component in it’s motto/slogan/by line/ tag line. Why? It would be devisive and discriminatory, degrading every other person outside the named group. Our new organized borough now includes lands and waters and people far outside the t...
Can’t kill our way out of mess To the Editor: If we’ve reached a new biological cliff and are turning to preditor control as our last tool in the toolbox, it means we’ve failed. We’ve failed to manage ourselves and the need for a scapegoat. The reality is a number of human factors have led to dramatic declines in deer populations and we can’t simply kill our way out of this mess. The state manages deer for maximum huntable populations. The problem is, the forest service manages the land for industrial clear cutting using a 30 year old faulty de...
We were surprised to hear that 337 mail-in ballots remain to be counted by the Division of Elections. We guessed that 100 to 150 more ballots would be the likely number of late returns for the borough election whose deadline was Dec. 18. We doubt the election outcome will change, as approximately two-thirds of the final ballots would have to be cast against borough formation, to alter the outcome. — George and Florabelle Rice stopped by to show us their White House Christmas card. They supported President Obama’s re-election and received the...
If you believed everything in the news about the dysfunctional U.S. Senate, you’d agree it can’t get anything done. I certainly share the frustrations of most Alaskans and Americans that Washington, D.C., is broken and must be fixed. That’s why I ran for the Senate four years ago – to get things done for our state and nation. If you look beyond the headlines, the Senate and occasionally even the U.S. House have passed significant legislation to create millions of jobs for Americans and address some of our nation’s serious problems. Just last...
While we’re elated that the initial election results favor the formation of the new Petersburg Borough, we will enjoy even more the silenced debate over the divisive topic. Those on both sides of the issue expressed passionate positions on the proposed borough. As we await final ballot tallies, we hope all residents of the borough will contemplate the new possibilities Tuesday’s election has brought forth. The formation of a borough government will take time, as administrators transition from a city to a borough, as vacant elected pos...
Don’t stomp on the process Letter to the Editor: Ahhh, Mr. Will Ware…ever the silver tongued speaker. My comments are in regards to last week’s letter to the Pilot. You’re certainly a born preacher…. but, someone I feel is qualified to give me lectures on dignity, integrity, honor and respect? …not so much. Your self-appointed role as moral compass for the tribe, is really the true “foolishness”, here. My grandmother, Amy Hallingstad, was instrumental in forming the Petersburg Indian Association as well as in writing the original by-law...
Remember to fill-out your borough ballot and return it to election officials by next Tuesday, Dec. 18. The election for the Petersburg Borough will go down in history as the single most significant referendum to be decided for decades to come. Juneau officials hope Petersburg’s borough formation proposal fails because the door will be flung open for them to expand their borough boundary well into Petersburg’s back yard. Petersburg will lose rights to: • 1,700 acres in state land that will be granted to the borough. • $600,000 in transit...
Lifelong Alaskan, Steven Edward Clausen, 61, died at home peacefully of liver cancer on December 4, 2012, surrounded by family. Steve was born in Petersburg on September 9, 1951 to Phillip and Darlene Clausen. He was the first of three, followed by his brother Terry, and his sister, Joni. He attended Petersburg High School, and graduated in 1969. Steve was a third generation fisherman and a lifelong mariner. As a child in Petersburg, Steve loved the outdoors and learned to fish at an early age o... Full story
The key to unity is listening To the Editor: I’m glad that Petersburg has a new asset in its toolbox, called “Let’s Talk”. Half of communication is listening, and since so many of us, myself included, want to talk about just what’s important to us, we could all use some lessons in listening to others who’re normally outside our personal comfort zone, expanding our understanding of the full current, that flows within our brotherhood. Let’s Talk provides us with that deeper connection, just as iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens anot...
Voting on the formation of the Petersburg Borough is underway with the arrival of mail-in ballots provided by the State of Alaska Division of Elections. The state, not the city will conduct the election. Voters have the opportunity to vote in person at the city council chambers beginning on Monday, Dec. 3, or they may vote the ballot that was mailed to them and return the executed ballots by mail. The deadline for all voting is Tuesday, Dec. 18, which is the date all mail in ballots must be postmarked, to be counted at the Division of...
Borough will benefit surrounding area To the Editor: I believe formation of the borough is a good thing for the people of Petersburg and the surrounding area. The people living in this region want a say in what goes on around us. We’ve seen many instances throughout Alaska of activities by State and Federal government and private industry that have definitely not been to the benefit of the people. Having the area’s important resources within the Petersburg Borough gives us a stronger voice over how those resources are managed. Borough for...
Thank you from VSC To the Editor: A big heartfelt thank you to the community of Petersburg for helping celebrate Viking Swim Club’s 40th Anniversary at the annual auction on Saturday. Viking Swim Club truly is blessed with an amazing community of supporters through donations, well wishes, and encouragement of swimmers in all of their endeavors. Over 40 years as a club, Viking Swim Club has seen hundreds of swimmers take their first dip in the pool and has encouraged their growth as athletes. Viking Swim Club swimmers have achieved personal b...
It’s good that the borough election will get underway next week. Following months, even years of discussion, the electorate now will have their say as ballots are cast and the fate of the city’s borough formation effort is decided. At this point, we find the arguments for and against the borough very repetitive, almost to the point that some feel if an opinion is repeated just one more time, it will carry more weight than the first time it was presented. During months of debate both the city and specific individuals have been vilified. For...
Let’s Talk continues To the Editor: Imagine a community where your viewpoint is heard and where a variety of different opinions are valued and respected. Last Wednesday nearly 60 people took part in “Let’s Talk Petersburg: A Community Conversation”. The event, hosted by the Petersburg Public Library and the Petersburg Community Foundation, focused on having respectful, open conversations and sparking discussion about the issues that are important to our community. We tackled some difficult issues. Small towns can be cliquish and gossip oriente...
Promotional fact To the Editor: I enjoyed the quote from Mr. Giesbrecht in the October 25, 2012 Pilot “We need to make sure that all of our promotional information is based on fact.”So now we have fact to support a crumbled foundation. The foundation that I refer to is the Charter and Petition. The Petition makes promises which are not carried into the Charter. Once the vote is taken the Petition is meaningless. Charter provisions important to those living outside Petersburg were removed or changed. Public meetings were held early on to sel...
We’re surprised at the lack of candidates filing for elected positions within the borough. We thought a few “outliers” would throw their hats into the ring and become a part of the government process that many outliers are opposing. The entire system works on participation, both from outside and inside the borough chambers. Following our most recent comments on revenue sharing for the new borough, the city finance office reports the numbers are even higher now. Conservatively, the new Borough has budgeted to receive an estimated $300,000 in add...
Promotional Facts To the Editor: I enjoyed the quote from Mr. Giesbrecht in the October 25, 2012 Pilot “We need to make sure that all of our promotional information is based on fact”. So now we have fact to support a crumbled foundation. The foundation that I refer to is the Charter and Petition. The Petition makes promises which are not carried into the Charter. Once the vote is taken the Petition is meaningless. Charter provisions important to those living outside Petersburg were removed or changed. Public meetings were held early on to sel...
There are 2 sides to every coin To the Editor: I’ve noticed some things other boroughs have done that have drawn attention to themselves. Wrangell’s hospital board recently were called to task by a resident for a possible Open Meetings Act violation on Sept. 19, after walking out on people attending the board meeting to go on a guided tour of the facility out of the presence of the public in attendance. Mat-Su is trying to sell their $80 million fast ferry which was supposed to transport commuters from Anchorage to the Valley. It’s never even...
With the establishment of the State’s borough formation election in December, people are asking questions and the city is working to provide factual information as they answer those queries. One person this week commented that some don’t realize the City of Petersburg will go out of existence if and when the borough is formed. There will be no more city government. The only remaining city within the borough will be the City of Kupreanof. Were the City of Petersburg to remain in existence, we would not favor borough formation. Having lived in...
It’s no wonder borough formation efforts have taken more than 10 years to culminate in a determining vote in December. Initial council discussions over borough formation began about 2002 as the body debated whether to annex land into the city’s corporate limits or to establish borough boundaries. This week a letter writer charges that this newspaper and the city failed to correct information that was printed, challenged and corrected over two years ago. There is certainly enough information in the city’s borough petition that provides fodde...
More borough government To the Editor: Is now the time for more government? It sounds like the City of Petersburg is having trouble rounding up candidates for the proposed borough Assembly. Who would be foolish enough to sit on an Assembly that is dead set on more purchases and more spending? That person would be eaten alive if he or she tried to stop the spending. Why extend this kind of government to a huge borough area that will require more government? Extra staff will be needed for such a large area. That will only be the beginning; there...
Eva, a longtime resident of Anchorage passed away peacefully of natural causes October 2012. Surrounded by her loving family at Alaska Regional Hospital. Eva was born in Petersburg to Jesse Woods, (Berkeley), Keanu and John Keanu Sr. on March 8, 1933. She attended Petersburg Elementary and attended high school at Sheldon Jackson Junior College graduating in 1953. She loved basketball, being a cheerleader and song queen. She was often a soloist in the high school choir. In 1953, she married her high school sweetheart Gary H. Tennison. In June,...
Freedom on the Last Frontier To the Editor: “Daddy, thanks for bringing us all to the cabin for the weekend. I love it here. Seeing the deer and mink on the beach when we set the crab-pot was really cool. What shall I do first? Can Muttley and I play in the woods?” “Yes, but you have to keep him on his leash now.” “That’s lame! Well, can we build a brush-fire? And roast hot-dogs? Can I ask the neighbor around the point to have supper with us? I like him; he tells great stories about the old days. Later, can we set off the fireworks we saved fr...
Once again, incorrect information was cited to justify opposition to the formation of a Petersburg Borough. Tom Reinarts wrote in a published letter that Wrangell’s borough government had added 29 employees since its formation. In two letters in this week’s Pilot, both Reinarts and Wrangell’s Borough Manager correct the information stated in last week’s letters column. In September, letter writer George Cole apologized for an error where he stated the Petersburg Borough could raise sales taxes without a vote of the people. The Pilot has a f...
An irresistible source of borough revenue To the Editor: I find it inconceivable that anyone in Petersburg would even consider voting “yes” for the borough petition which gives the Borough Assembly the power to levy personal property tax without a vote (page 4, subsection 11-B). This would include taxing cars and private and commercial boats. Because fishing is so vital to the local economy many believe that the possibility of personal property tax on boats is very remote. But how remote is it when borough costs are projected to exceed the reve...
