Forever Grateful
Dear Editor: Sasha and I want to thank our beloved Sitka community and all our friends and family and all of your friends and family beyond Sitka, for the support and love that we have received. There have been so many ways that people have reached out and extended themselves, both out front and anonymously, that there is no way we would be able to thank you all individually. We are forever grateful.
I am writing now because I want to relieve any of you over your possible feelings or wondering about the suffering of William in his final time as a living person. We, ourselves, have been tormented by such concerns and various friends have acknowledged having also had some similar feelings.
I recently took steps to get clarification about this because I felt that I needed to understand better what William went through and my thoughts and feelings hurt so much. I spoke with Rob Janik, the EMS Captain, and Lieutenant Lance Ewers, the lead Investigative Police Officer on the recovery effort. They had been present at the slide site through the entire recovery process and were enormously helpful to us. They both met with me last week and explained the findings of the Medical Examiner as well as what happens in a landslide fatality. “Unlike an avalanche, a landslide has no air pockets,” they explained to me. “No one survives a landslide burial – ever. Immediate, intense compression by the weight of the slide material prevents the intake of mud, water or dirt into the body. Blood and air flow are cut off immediately, rendering unconsciousness. This entire process takes seconds,” they explained. This was confirmed by the findings of the Medical Examiner’s report which I read while they were there to answer my questions and support me.
We are, of course, still grief stricken and miss William intensely, but it has been a great relief to be able to let go of this enormous impediment to our simply grieving our loss of William. I hope that any of you who have been suffering and speculating are able to get some relief, as Sasha and I have.
My sincere and kindest wishes to all of you.
Libby Stortz and Sasha Stortz
‘Be Bright at Night’
Dear Editor: Sitka Community Hospital and the Sitka Community Hospital Foundation would like to thank everyone who has supported our fall “Be Bright at Night” injury prevention campaign. Wells Fargo and the State of Alaska provided funding so that we could get our safety message out to walkers and bikers who are traveling Sitka’s streets when the light it low. Part of the grant money went to buying display coats that will ultimately be raffled at the end of the month. Thanks to Murray Pacific for giving us a generous discount and for accommodating exchanges.
We’d also like to thank all of the host sites who facilitated the contests, got lots of people thinking and even put together eye catching displays to help promote visibility: The White Elephant Thrift Shop, Hames Center, Sitka Public Library, Blatchley Middle School, Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School, the University of Alaska Southeast- Sitka Campus, the Swan Lake Senior Center and Sitka Community Hospital’s Employee Wellness Team. Also thanks to Samantha Cox with Sitka Chatters and Larry Snider with KIFW who found unique ways to do paperless raffles. Everyone in town can enter in-person or on-line, most of the drawings will be on Oct. 29 and 30.
Finally, we’d like to give a big thanks to everyone who is staying active AND doing it safely by incorporating lights, reflectors and high visibility jackets into your evening walks and bike trips. Together we can preventing injuries before they happen.
Ann Wilkinson, Doug Osborne
Dewey Recognition
Dear Editor: I was happy to see Dewey Torgeson recognized in the paper the other night! It made me realize how overdue Dewey and Joann were for their other accomplishments.
In all my years as a teacher and wrestling coach, I have never encountered a more supportive family as the Torgesons. Their generosity and caring were simply unmatched. For many years, Dewey and Joann covered the costs for every single wrestler – Tsunamis, BMS, and SHS – who could not afford to travel, pay fees, or afford gear. Their support was bottomless and unquestioned. Whatever was best for kids, they were there 100 percent.
I also remember struggling to obtain textbooks as a social studies teacher (the district had no funding) and they agreed to purchase the necessary books. That was awesome! As soon as the district heard that, suddenly funding was found! I cannot begin to count the number of students and athletes that Dewey and Joann have made a positive difference in their lives.
I had to share these experiences. Dewey and Joann have helped many, many students achieve success in Sitka, both in sports and in the classroom. I am proud of Dewey for being an exemplary fisherman, but I am most proud of Dewey and Joann for being outstanding human beings we can all look to for making Sitka the best it can be.
Tom Henshaw, Sitka
Alaska Day Desserts
Dear Editor: How many pies and desserts does it take to complete an Alaska Day celebration? About 225 – of all flavors and types! Now it is time to say thanks to all who donated the delicious desserts – members and friends of the Women of the Lutheran Church. Thanks also to those who helped with the planning, setting up, serving up and cleaning up.
In addition, a big thanks to those who came, bought, and enjoyed fellowship at this annual event.
The proceeds will go toward energy investment projects and other building improvements at Sitka Lutheran.
Thank you and God bless.
Kathleen Brandt, Sitka
Ferry Schedule
Dear Editor: I am deeply concerned about the AMHS abandoning Sitka to one (round-trip) per week.
Let me give you an example: In late January (or early February) 1987, I was told that our first-born kid had a heart problem. We could not afford a float plane at that time so my dear wife took the AMHS Ferry Aurora to Ketchikan for the post-natal checkup from our floathouse in Crab Bay. Had this affordable service been unavailable at that time, who knows ...?
At age 7 weeks our first kid had open heart surgery at children’s hospital.
So, citizens of Sitka, Gov. Walker, Lt. Gov. Mallott, Sen. Stedman, Rep. Kreiss-Tomkins, etc. – change the schedule.
Wayne C. Bowers, Sitka
