Alaska Workforce Investment Board Meets in Ketchikan
I’m happy to announce that on January 23rd and 24th, the Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) will meet in Ketchikan for the first time ever. The AWIB advises the Governor regarding Alaska’s career and technical education system needs in order to meet industry demand and provide quality employment opportunities for Alaskans. This is a great opportunity to provide the Board with a firsthand understanding of Southeast Alaska’s employment trends and workforce needs. Ketchikan’s AWIB members, Doug Ward, Terry Wanzer and Chas Edwardson deserve a big thank you for making this event possible. The meetings will be held in the Sunny Point Conference Center at the Best Western Landing Hotel. A complete agenda is available online at: http://labor.alaska.gov/awib/2013-jan-mtg-binder/agenda.pdf.
NMFS Observer Program
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently implementing a restructured observer program for the small vessel fishing fleet between 40 and 57.5 feet, impacting around 1,400 community based vessels and their crews. Many of these fishermen are my constituents who shared their concerns with me. On their behalf I wrote a letter back in October to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) detailing those concerns. Click here to see a copy of my letter and here to see NOAA’s response.
Alaska Board of Game Meets in Sitka
I was pleased to see that the Alaska Board of Game held their Southeast Region meeting in Sitka from January 11th – 15th at Harrigan Centennial Hall. The board considered over 40 proposals regarding hunting and trapping regulations for the Southeast region. The meetings were open to the public and well attended. For more information about this and other Board of Game meetings, go to: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo.
Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce Award Ceremony
On January 12th, my staff attended the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Ceremony. Highlights included the following awards: Citizens of the Year, Jim and Connie Wingren; Business of the Year, Scanlon Gallery and Custom Framing; Entrepreneur of the Year, Creekside Family Health Clinic; Community Service of the Year, The Salvation Army; Youth Leader of the Year, Jim Meiresonne; Lifetime Recognition Award, Dorothy Benson (Dorothy passed away in December and her daughter Kay Simms accepted the award); Young Professional of the Year, Erica Caudill; and President’s Award, Charley Starr. Thanks to the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce for promoting a healthy business climate and taking this opportunity to publicly recognize outstanding individuals and businesses in the community. Congratulations to all the award recipients.
Ketchikan Library Grand Opening
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| Senator Stedman cutting the ribbon at the Ketchikan Public Library Grand Opening. Ketchikan Daily News photo by Hall Anderson, reprinted with photographer’s permission. |
It was an honor to receive an invitation from Ketchikan City Mayor Lew Williams to serve as the keynote speaker at the Grand Opening Ceremony for the new Ketchikan Public Library on January 19th. I was a strong supporter of the enabling legislation that passed in 2008 creating the library construction matching grant program. The City of Ketchikan was fortunate enough to benefit from this grant program and the new library is the result. I want to thank Mayor Williams and all involved for hosting a great event. At the ceremony, I was awarded an honorary lifetime library card which I will put to good use.
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