2015 red salmon return on Kvichak River was a success; please keep return high
This past July, my husband and I subsistence-fished for red salmon at our Lake Clark residence, as we have for over 20 years. We've never seen the fishing so good. In 2014, we had to struggle to get 35 fish, the number that allows us to pressure-can several cases for winter, plus eat salmon for a few weeks before they start to deteriorate in fresh water.
Why was the 2015 season so spectacular? It's all about escapement. In 2015, 7 million sockeye made it up the Kvichak River from Bristol Bay, as opposed to 2 million in 2014 (the state's minimum escapement goal.) 2015 also saw 730,000 reds up the Newhalen; in 2014 only 170,000 were counted. For Lake Clark residents, the Newhalen numbers are striking.
I'm not sure who to thank for the 2015 numbers, because many factors made this a hallmark year -- including Nature herself. But I would applaud any efforts from ADF&G to increase the minimum escapement for the Kvichak. It is important to sustain this incredible fishery and allow the subsistence folks at the end of the gauntlet their small quotas. Please, Gov. Walker and Commissioner Cotton, let's help keep these strong runs coming!
-- Anne Coray
Port Alsworth
Krugmans opinion well worth publishing
Some guy from Eagle River wants ADN to stop publishing Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist and columnist. In a letter to the editor, this Eagle River guy called The New York Times writer's work "garbage" and went on to spew other labels that are more self-revealing than informative about Mr. Krugman.
This angry guy, who apparently is not bothered with facts, concludes with a call for "evenhanded, thoughtful opinion pieces" in our newspaper. I guess for him that does not include letters to the editor.
-- Jeff Silverman
Anchorage
Kentucky clerk agreed to follow laws of the land; she should be fired
Michael Carey's commentary (Sept. 15) is spot on. Simply stated, Ms. Davis swore an oath to uphold the laws of Kentucky and the United States when she accepted her position as clerk. She volunteered for her position as clerk. Therefore, if she now feels she answers to a "higher authority" on which laws to enforce, she effectively has failed in fulfilling her responsibilities to her position and has ultimately failed to fulfill her responsibilities to her "higher authority." Ms. Davis should be relieved of her authority for failing to execute the authority she was entrusted to carry out.
As a public officer, she does not have the right to pick and choose what is the will of the people or the law of the land. She is to execute her authority based on the law of the people whether she personally agrees or not. She has failed in her public obligations.
-- Douglas W. Johnson
Anchorage
Please dont ask Christians to support practices they believe to be sinful
I just read the Sept. 5 article by Devin Kelly, and I have a couple of comments if ADN wishes to incorporate them into their letters to the editor.
First off, I appreciate the information contained within the article. Thank you for being informative instead of inflammatory.
Secondly, I am a Christian, and like many other Christians, I do not actually have anything personally against members of the LGBT community. That is not the point of our opposition to so-called anti-discrimination laws.
We do, however, have reason to be concerned that Christians and other people of other faiths will be forced, against their wills and consciences, to support and/or condone practices that they believe to be sinful or potentially damning. Most of us Christians actually believe that God is going to judge us one day and hold us accountable for our actions, so in our minds, we need to be careful regarding what we do.
If a gay couple needs a photographer for their wedding, they have the right to solicit the services of whomever they choose, but they do not have any right to force a Christian or Muslim photographer to participate in the event by supporting it against his/her conscience. Should we force an atheist to take an oath by invoking God's name or force a Muslim to work at a liquor store against his/her beliefs? If we should not force either scenario on the grounds of freedom and consideration for others.
I appeal to any reasonable person to recognize that Christians only ask for the same consideration whenever any anti-discrimination laws are passed. Otherwise, the vast majority of us Christians ultimately desire peace with the LGBT community to the extent that we are not forced to deny Jesus Christ by condoning and/or supporting the lifestyles that Jesus condemns.
-- Nolan Willis
Eagle River
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.