Sorted by date Results 1001 - 1025 of 1098
To the Editor: Recently I went on a steelhead fishing trip to a nearby stream. The day was partly sunny and the watershed was in good shape to fish. In short time I was into a beautiful fish that put on a great show, shortly after that I was playing another fish. This is one of Southeast Alaska’s great treasures. It was a perfect day until it was time to leave, while crossing the stream my feet went out from underneath me and I fell hard into the water. I sustained minor injury but the point is this would not have happened had I been wearing my...
To the Editor: My 77th Birthday came and went recently, and unfortunately I’ll never see it again. That’s how birthdays are; just another day. An example of Time passing. As a friend of mine said many years ago, over the rim of his glass (his portable horizon—-), “Wayne, do you realize that our lives are passing by at the rate of one minute per minute?” Clever observation. But this birthday was a unique blessing because a Wrangell Lady, one of my first friends, took a long time to assemble a book of birthday greetings from you folks at Home (Wr...
To the Editor: The April 11, 2013 issue of the Wrangell Sentinel contains a quote by me regarding the need for Thomas Bay General Manager qualifications that have been interpreted by some to cast a negative opinion of SEAPA. In the clarity of hindsight, I certainly wish I had phrased my statement differently as that was not my intent. When going into the process of filling the vacant General Manager’s position there was some discussion as to the qualifications that the Commission deemed necessary to move Thomas Bay Power Authority forward a...
Welcome to my last Peggy’s Corner for the 2013 session. We have worked diligently in both houses of the Legislature on many pieces of legislation that will affect our state for many years. Throughout the process this year we have been trying to keep our eye to Alaska’s future. We all knew that if we didn’t manage to do something about our oil decline, we would be committing the ultimate crime against the next generation, our children. The cost of doing nothing was simply too great. We need oil production to increase, otherwise, it won’t...
The fourth Sunday after Easter is known in some churches as Good Shepherd Sunday, and Psalm 23 is included in the Scripture readings. The image of the Lord who cares for people as a shepherd cares for sheep was one the Psalm writers knew the Hebrew people would understand. Perhaps this SE Alaska version of Psalm 23 will provide a fresh look at this well-loved Psalm of comfort and hope. The Lord is my captain, I will not be lost. The LORD guides me to sandy beaches where clams and mussels abound and navigates me to calm waters. You refresh my so...
To the Editor: I had the distinct pleasure of attending a TBPA board meeting the other day, open to the public, I was the public. I find it astounding to the point of recklessness that no one ever attends these types of meetings. Then again no one pays attention, to anything except American Idol, after all look what's in the White House. From my perspective, here is a group of hardworking, conservative, concerned citizens working for your benefit. A thankless job, done for free, on your behalf. They strive to keep costs down, and a prudent eye...
Welcome to this week of Peggy’s Corner of the House. We have entered our last week of the 90 day session so as you can imagine the pace has quickened in order to try to complete the states’ business in our allotted time. We will often work late into the night from now until the end. For the past four years I have been advocating for an Alaska Transportation Infrastructure Fund (ATIF). In FY14 79% of our transportation budget will come from the federal government – this is down from 84% in FY10. We currently have a 20 billion dollar backl...
Welcome to this week of Peggy’s Corner of the House. Several Ketchikan and Wrangell constituents stopped through my office this past week and I appreciate the time that you all take to give me your insight. As you have most likely seen in the news, the Legislature has many bills being heard in committee that pertain to education in Alaska. The bill that I introduced (HB 21) for a 4 day pilot program is currently in the Finance committee. 4-day school weeks have been around for many years in other states and have a proven track record of i...
THANK YOU The WRANGELL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT is to be commended for their superb handling of Dennis Eastaugh from home to the hospital. Several obstacles impeded the way: a steep incline in the path which was partly paved and partly loose gravel, tight corners within the house and a steep pitch to the driveway. Nothing insurmountable but certainly difficult. You entered the house and did what needed doing in a most professional way. You worked well together as a team, not just smoothly but flawlessly. How kind of you to have driven so cerem...
Hello and welcome back to Peggy’s Corner of the House! The House passed the state-operating budget after vigorous debate this past week. There has been tremendous work done on the budget since session started -many long days and nights have been spent trying to accomplish this in the very short time period that we are allotted. I actually wish we were back to a 120-day session. Over the last ten years, the General Fund (GF) portion of the departments’ operating budgets has grown an average of...
Just read the latest on SEAPA, says some are mystified by why we would want them out. Okay I can help with that, with the publicly available dollar numbers that have been available to every person in Wrangell. Broken down to the basics, based upon population SEAPA in Wrangell costs each person almost $30.00 a month. Purchasing Thomas Bay would cost each person slightly more than $15.00 a month. This debt would be paid off in 20 years. SEAPA is an ongoing expense, with no expiration date, no pay off date. We are always in debt for maintaince...
As a school administrator I have had a great career, and am one of those people who can say they have truly enjoyed their career field. Although, at times it becomes difficult, it hasn’t been a job, but a passion, and I still look forward to trying to make a difference in the educational setting every day. The current budget down turn and diminishing opinion of public education has been disappointing. I believe the public school is the only place other than the church that says you all come. It is our responsibility to continue to meet the n...
To the Editor: I am writing this message in hopes the information will spread as far as the Wrangell Sentinel goes. This is a very inexpensive and fairly easy way to help not only those in our country but to the farthest reaches of the world. Knit for Kids is a nationwide program that unites thousands of volunteer knitters to fight poverty with their knitting needles. With every stitch, together we give hope and warmth to vulnerable children living in poverty or other difficult situations around the globe. The hub of Knit for Kids is the...
This last week the House passed HB 52 that helps to address residency issues that have come up in regards to the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. We hope to correct an unintended consequence from prior legislation that disallows our service men and women from being equally eligible for the PFD as our members of Congress. Once an Alaskan chooses to serve in the military, and is sworn into service, they do not have the option to choose to be physically present in Alaska. This bill will bring...
To the Editor: I am writing this message in hopes the information will spread as far as the Wrangell Sentinel goes. This is a very inexpensive and fairly easy way to help not only those in our country but to the farthest reaches of the world. Knit for Kids is a nationwide program that unites thousands of volunteer knitters to fight poverty with their knitting needles. With every stitch, together we give hope and warmth to vulnerable children living in poverty or other difficult situations around the globe. The hub of Knit for Kids is the...
Hello again from Juneau. We have completed the first thirty days of this session. We have all dug in and are working very hard. With significantly lower projections for oil prices and production, our state is confronting its first budget deficit in many years, and the need to constrain spending is very clear. There is a growing sense of urgency at the legislature this session, and we will face one tough decision after another as we build and review the budgets for the coming fiscal year and beyond. Many worthy programs and projects across the s...
To the Editor: I see that SEAPA was all over our last paper. They spoke of gathering to regain their focus, and draft a mission statement. I found it quite telling that they emphasis that they would spend the rate payers monies for this excursion in Alaska. They stated it like they where sacrificing for all of us the little people, their valued customers. Is this because these letters to the editor are exposing your BS throughout the local service area? Is this because these proceedings, as well as these letters have been read by the governor?...
Many Christians around the world will celebrate Ash Wednesday this month on February 13. Ash Wednesday begins the roughly 40-day period known as Lent that leads up to Easter. Lent is traditionally a time of reflection and preparation, and has often been observed by fasting, devotion to prayer, repentance, moderation and spiritual study. Lent and Ash Wednesday figure more prominently in some denominations. I didn’t grow up observing Lent, except for a couple of years while I was in college and denied myself desserts for a little over a month. L...
By Representative Peggy Wilson Hello again from Juneau. Another busy week has passed and my staff and I are settled into a routine or as close to a routine as is possible in Juneau. We are charging forward in the Resources Committee with a lot to accomplish this session. This week we have been thoroughly reviewing legislation that is designed to expedite the construction of an in-state natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to consumers in the rail belt region and to a saltwater terminal. We...
To the Editor: Hospice of Wrangell is interested in you. We are stretched thin to meet the needs of our community. We need your help. Organized in 2001, we've supported those living with a life-threatening illness and those at the end of life. Hospice philosophy believes that the end of life is not a medical experience, it is a human experience that benefits from supporters bringing comfort, self-respect, and tranquility to people in the final experience of life. Hospice of Wrangell is an all-volunteer program. Volunteers offer their time,...
Hello and welcome to week two of Peggy’s Corner of the House. This has been a busy week with the beginning of the Session, startup of Committees and a high volume of visitors through my office. We have quite a few new faces here in Juneau and the energy level is very high. We all realize that the decisions being made this session will affect our state for a very long time to come. As many of you may have seen in the news or on the Legislative site, there has been a flurry of bills introduced by the Governors’ Office, Senators and Rep...
To the Editor: On Saturday evening, January 12, 2013, my seventeen year-old son took a brutal beating that involved at least two, if not three people. To make matters worse, my son was not even conscious when the beating took place. He had been at a party with at least five other kids where unfortunately there was drinking involved. The suspects waited until my son passed out and beat him nearly to death. As if this isn’t bad enough, pictures were taken of the assault as it was happening. I have only been able to get a hold of one of these p...
Hello and welcome to Peggy’s Corner of the House. I’m excited to be back in Juneau representing our new District 33 in the State House. This is my third year serving as House Majority Whip. Through this leadership position, I assist the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader to coordinate ideas and garner support for proposed legislation, and whatever other help they may need. If the majority leader is absent I fill in for him in the House Chambers – I once even filled in for the Speak...
To the Editor: As I sit looking out my window I clearly see gathering storm clouds upon the horizon. These clouds are formed from indifference — do they belong to you? With the ending of Paul Southland’s contract at Thomas Bay, we are headed for a fiscal cliff of our own. This opening could result in a weak leader at Thomas Bay, someone not suited to stand up to the hostile take over that SEAPA represents. These SEAPA carpet bagger would fire all of our home grown skilled labor. Deprive this community of $500,000.00 worth of income from the...
To the Editor: Being relatively new to Wrangell, it has been my pleasure to begin to know and understand this portion of Alaska. However reflecting upon this great and new to me area I must ask, why is there a web site called Work Place Alaska, when no employer seems to use it? Several jobs that I have applied to stated this lack of usage to the point of ignoring it altogether. We finally have a school that is warming up food in it's own kitchen to serve our students, hurrah for them, is it more then just defrosting and opening cans? I ask...