Word of salmon derby victory quickly turned to big letdown

Just so everybody knows, I did not win $490, an Alaska Mint coin and an ulu in the Slam'n Salm'n Derby, even though I was listed as the winner on the official leader board as well as on the derby's Facebook page and in Daily News coverage.

I was very excited when I received an email telling me where to pick up my prizes for catching the 49th fish. I promised my 7-year-old diabetic daughter she could have the coin. Four days later, I was notified I wasn't the winner, due to some inputting error by the derby secretary and the chairman. I had to hold my daughter while she cried, she was so upset.

The derby did offer a consolation prize -- at first, four burgers at Arctic Roadrunner and a gift certificate. After much arguing, they finally gave me a check for $100. I had already spent some money I shouldn't have, thinking I had $490 coming.

This is an example of how you can't count on anything until you physically have it in hand.

-- Roger Peterson

Anchorage

Taxes aren't pleasant, but neither is paying others' way

The Supreme Court's recent ruling regarding the ACA or "Obamacare" has the potential to save many people's lives. By no means is it perfect nor will it to be a cure all to our dysfunctional health care system; changes like these do come with a cost, whether we like them or not.

The GOP's threat to repeal this law is counterintuitive. By requiring people to have health insurance makes people accountable for their own health. While no one likes paying taxes, neither does anyone like picking up the tab for people who go to the ER and never pay. So it's your choice. You can complain about being "taxed" though it is not implicitly written as that in the ACA bill for not buying health insurance or you can continue to complain about "those irresponsible people" who go to the hospital and don't pay their bills, hence costing taxpayers more.

Indeed no one likes being told how to live, but I tire of paying for the uninsured self-righteous and self-entitled.

-- Kari Singsaas

Anchorage

Driving a vehicle is a full-time, not a part-time, undertaking

Has the Department of Motor Vehicles stopped requiring the knowledge to know how to drive, or just lowered the standards? Have traffic police stopped worrying about traffic? I do not put hundreds of miles on the road but see traffic violation after violation.

1. Speeding, rushing up to the next light only to slam on the brakes. No wonder Midas is a national chain doing well!

2. Turning a corner and crossing three lanes to go forward.

3. Why is it a driver going down the Turnagain Arm goes 45 mph until they get to a three-lane passing section then speeds up to 65 mph?

4. Do most not understand what the solid line and dotted line means, even on that three-lane, move right.

5. Running stop lights. Is the risk worth your life? Or try living with, "I killed or maimed someone because I was in a hurry."

6. You can hear studded tires everywhere.

7. Texting, holy moose, stop it, Pay attention, driving is full attention sport not a part-time deal.

-- Dan Anderson

Anchorage

Flags welcomed for Fourth

Just wanted to send out a very big thank you to my neighbor Michelle Scannell for putting the American Flags out in our neighborhood for the Fourth of July.

-- Cindy Coonrad

Anchorage

Senator could better spend her time than on mountain

It is very disappointing to note the time and energy spent on renaming a mountain that has existed quite nicely with its current identity for more than 100 years. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, could put her time to much better use than to engage in such a petty squabble. It has been, currently is and should remain Mount McKinley. What's next? Rename Cook Inlet?

-- Mike Koskovich

Wasilla