Support
Dear Editor: Our family is deeply thankful for the support we have received from so many in the community as we work through the painful loss of our brave dog Rascal. Many, many thanks to everyone who has shared sympathy and tears, or brought us meals, flowers, plants, cards and love over the past week.
Thank you to the Sitka Police Department – dispatcher and officers – who answered my call for help; their response was immediate, professional and compassionate. Thank you to Dr. Vosburg, who was instantly prepared to help and met us at the clinic with warm sympathy. Thank you to Ken Buxton for his sweet note in the pet corner.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to the friends who came to the mountain to help, placing themselves at risk and to the friends and family who have been our lifeline through this past week, dropping everything else to be with us when we needed strong arms to hold us. Thank you all. We are so very grateful.
The Behnken-Barkhau family
A Wakeup Call?
Dear Editor: Our governor projects dire consequences for Alaska if we don’t put our state budget on life support and slice and dice it down to its bare bones, preserving “only” the PFD and the rich Energy Corporations’ TAX CREDITS. Services like schools, ferries, senior care, mental health support: the services government is supposed to do – cut, cut, cut…
But there will be no cut for the “road to nowhere” north out of Sitka. No, the road is underway! The trucks have arrived on the ferry. The company doing the work is from Oregon—not even from Alaska. (Where will the ferry be to take them away when they finish the job? Ha!)
It was budgeted in 2012 for $14 million but with no money available, was sensibly delayed. Now it’s a go – for even more money that’s still not available – a “mere” $31 million?) Somehow they found the money.
No such “windfalls” for our schools, ferries, senior care … etc. etc.
Shame on our governor and his officials for another very WRONG DECISION.
We Alaskans need to wake up, stop being sheep, and demand responsible, fair government. WE need to vote these boondogglers OUT!
Ann Stephenson, Sitka
