Best. Finish. Ever. Christmas Story Contest Winners • 4 Finalists, 2 Champs for Kayhi, Announced, See Page 6 Page 2

Best. Finish. Ever. Christmas story contest winners • 4 finalists, 2 champs for Kayhi, announced, See page 6 Page 2

46º/42º Weather, page 3 $K1.00 ETCHIKAN MONDAY, DEC. 15, 2014 TWITTER.COM/KDNNEWS DAILY N WWW.KETCHIKANDAILYNEWS.COMEWS 12 PAGES Walker talks Shipyard marks start to ferry project $101.5M deal budget, lawsuit to last 4 years By NICK BOWMAN closely, but I'll need to confer with my Daily News Staff Writer legal counsel on what the state is By MATT ARMSTRONG Gov. Bill Walker had no comment going to do on that.” Daily News Staff Writer on Ketchikan’s education lawsuit Walker chose his law partner of The Ketchikan Shipyard marked the while in the more than 10 dawn of a new era for its operations as First City on years, Craig Gov. Bill Walker, other state officials Saturday. Richards, as and Vigor Alaska held a laying of the After his his attorney keels ceremony Saturday afternoon for speech during general. the two new Alaska Class ferries that the Ketchikan T h e will be built at the facility over the Shipyard lay- K e t c h i k a n next four years. ing of the keels Gateway Bor- Vigor Alaska — which operates the ceremony on ough filed a Alaska Industrial Development and S a t u r d a y , l a w s u i t Export Authority-owned shipyard — Alaska’s new against the was awarded the four-year, $101.5 mil- governor dis- state in Janu- lion contract in September by former cussed the ary seeking to Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration. state’s ongoing strike down a Keel laying ceremonies mark the budget crisis, statute that start of a ship’s his relationship requires mu- construction, with the nicipalities to and laying the Alaska Legisla- Alaska Gov. Bill Walker speaks Saturday pay a portion two ferry INSIDE: keels “is the ture and the ed- during a laying of the keels ceremony at of their ucation suit. school dis- realization of The ferry project by the Ketchikan Shipyard in Ketchikan. a shared goal the numbers, “I have been Staff photo by Taylor Balkom trict’s annual advised by my o p e r a t i n g to keep state Page 3 attorney general that I need to defer to costs. spending and my attorney general on those things,” In November, Ketchikan Superior jobs” in Alaska, Walker told the Daily News at the Court Judge William Carey sided with according to a Vigor news release. shipyard. “I did speak on it … during the borough on a key section of its Adam Beck, president of Vigor the campaign, and I will watch it See ‘Walker,’ page 2 Alaska, sai d that, while there is a his- tory of shipbuilding in this region that dates to the early 1900s, Saturday’s event was “about the future” of shipbuilding. Medicaid expansion “Now, in addition to beginning the life of the new ferries, what this project does is it brings four years of stable State looking at July start date work to Ketchikan and the Ketchikan By BECKY BOHRER Shipyard,” Beck said. “This allows us Associated Press to build our work force, to build our JUNEAU — State health commissioner Valerie Davidson said it could be July efficiency, our productivity, (and it) po- before the state is in a position to begin enrolling Alaskans under expanded sitions us to be ready for the next op- Medicaid coverage. portunities that are coming as we look Davidson said issues need to be worked out with a Medicaid eligibility system to recapitalize the Alaska fishing indus- as well as with a Medicaid payment system that has been plagued by problems try, as well as what’s on the horizon for since going live in 2013. Both are being converted from one technology system the oil and (other extraction indus- to another, she said. tries).” “We want to make sure that we are successful on day one. And in order to do Walker, during his comments, said that, we have to have systems that are capable of accepting new Medicaid ex- that he uses Ketchikan as an example pansion enrollees,” Davidson said in an interview with The Associated Press. of what Alaska is capable of when he “So we’re thinking probably we’ll be ready in July.” goes to other parts of the state. He also The state in September filed an administrative complaint against the vendor talked about the first time he toured it had hired to implement the new Medicaid payment system. That matter is the shipyard “some years ago.” pending. “I thought I had rediscovered As of earlier this month, there were about 230 defects in the system, down Alaska,” Walker said. “I went to a from nearly 870 last December, but some of those were resulting in claims not Chamber of Commerce meeting, and being paid or not being paid correctly, Davidson said. In addition to working the room was packed. I thought I had out the payment issues, the state expects to get a corrective plan from the ven- rediscovered Alaska. I had not seen dor by the end of this week that it will then review for possible approval, she See ‘Ferry project,’ page 3 said. To accept expanded coverage, Gov. Bill Walker’s administration also will need Vigor Alaska president Adam legislative approval to receive and spend accompanying federal dollars, she Beck addresses a crowd Saturday said. For states that have opted for expansion, the federal government is ex- during a laying of the keels cere- pected to cover the cost through 2016 and the bulk of the cost indefinitely, with mony in the Ketchikan Shipyard. the states contributing. Staff photos by Taylor Balkom See ‘Medicaid,’ page 2 Forecast is Rein Mouse ‘avatars’ used to test cancer drugs Personalized cancer treatment By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer Scientists often test drugs in mice. Now some cancer patients are doing the same — with the hope of curing their own disease. They are paying a private lab to breed mice that carry bits of their own tu- mors so treatments can be tried first on the customized rodents. The idea is to see which drugs might work best on a specific person’s specific cancer. The mice may help patients make what can be very hard choices under dif- ficult circumstances. Studies can suggest a certain chemotherapy may help, but patients wonder whether it will work for them. Often there’s more than one choice, and if the first one fails, a patient may be too sick to try another. So Above, Poco, a 12-year-old reindeer, stands amid hundreds of people have made “mouse avatars” over the last few years to test twigs and branches Sunday at the Alaska Rainfor- chemotherapies. est Sanctuary. At left, Amy Johnson holds Sophia “What I’m doing is personalized cancer treatment. It’s the wave of the future,” Johnson, 2, up so she can feed Poco at the Alaska said Eileen Youtie, a Miami woman using mice to guide care for her hard-to- Rainforest Sanctuary. The Sunday event invited treat form of breast cancer. “Part of this is trying to eliminate chemos that are children to feed Santa’s reindeer. It was co-spon- not going to work on me. I don’t want to waste time taking them and poison sored by the Alaska Wildlife Foundation, and also my body.” offered a tour of the historic Herring Bay Lumber But there are no guarantees the mice will help. Co., sawmill. Participants were invited to bring “There’s not a lot of science” to say how well this works, and it should be canned food as part of a food drive. considered highly experimental, said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical Staff photos by Taylor Balkom officer of the American Cancer Society. See ‘Personal cancer tests,’ page 3

Ketchikan, Alaska SPORTS • WORLD • ALASKA • NATION Today’s Trivia: Who has state Rep. Dan Ortiz hired for his ©2014 Page 3: OceansAlaska to appear before Assembly VOL. 86 NO. 292 legislative staff? (USPS 293-940) www.ketchikandailynews.com Answer, Page 2 Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 KETCHIKAN DAILY NEWS LOCAL/ALASKA 3 OceansAlaska meeting with Assembly on Monday By NICK BOWMAN the past year. tentially, outfits along the West Coast. The borough contracts the company There are several other items on the building, which requires an architect as Daily News Staff Writer He also supported OceansAlaska’s re- Two financial reports from September to clear the septic systems in the bor- Assembly’s relatively busy Monday a subcontractor to the main contractor, OceansAlaska will make its first ap- quest for a loan before the Assembly. and October included in the meeting ough. All homeowners pay into the pro- agenda: Wisewood Inc. The change order would pearance before the Ketchikan Gateway The terms of the loan are being negoti- agenda are available at the borough’s gram, but about half refuse the service, • A public hearing is set for a potential increase the cost of the contract by Borough Assembly since a $600,000 ated by the borough and OceansAlaska website, borough.ketchikan.ak.us, under according to the borough. rezone of 12.9 acres of property in the $20,339. loan to keep the nonprofit afloat was ap- this fall, and the positions, while already the “government” tab. As a result of increased costs, the As- White Rock Estates Subdivision, in the • A $346,062 increase to the proved. offered, depend on the loan agreement OceansAlaska’s current operations are sembly will consider raising sludge Point Higgins area, from the Future De- Ketchikan School District’s spending au- Tomi Marsh, president of being approved by Borough Manager being funded with an existing borough pumping fees by $5 per quarter. velopment zone to the Suburban Resi- thority. The district has received several OceansAlaska’s board of directors, will Dan Bockhorst. The exact terms are grant, some of which will be repaid Assembly members also will consider dential zone. The rezone would allow for grants and, consequently, has matching discuss the organization’s recent activi- nearly completed, according to the bor- within the loan. a $552,715 contract with Ketchikan two-family residences on the property. expenses. The change would bring the ties during the Assembly’s regular Mon- ough. Costs to the public for sludge pump- Ready Mix to resurface athletic fields at • A change order for a $42,830 bio- total spending authority to $48.4 million day meeting. The Assembly gave Bockhorst the going services in the borough are likely to Ketchikan High School at Houghtaling mass heating project at the Ketchikan In- for the 2014-2015 school year. Included in her report is the news that ahead to negotiate a loan on Sept. 15. increase in the next year. The borough Elementary School. ternational Airport would increase the There will be time for public com- Ron Zebal and Conor Eckholm have Zebal would manage the hatchery, has negotiated a new contract with Ketchikan Ready Mix would resurface cost of the project by 48 percent because ment at the beginning of the 5:30 p.m. been offered positions as and Eckholm, currently the production Shoreline Septic Services, its contractor, and update Dudley Field and Houghtal- of a change in the location of the boiler Monday meeting at 1900 First Ave. OceansAlaska’s permanent staff. manager at Humboldt Bay Oyster Com- that raises the cost to the borough by 10 ing Field before April 15. from the airport terminal to a nearby [email protected] Zebal, a mariculture expert who oper- pany, would work as a hatchery techni- percent. The funding for the project, most of ates a shellfish farm in Mexico and has cian. On Monday, Assembly members will which would go to improve Dudley consulted on the industry in several OceansAlaska hopes to raise oyster decide whether to agree to the new, Field, comes from the $5.5 million countries, has worked with the non- and geoduck seed to sell to Southeast three-year contract with Shoreline Septic school improvement bond approved by profit to update production process in Alaska farmers and nurseries and, po- Services worth $627,450. voters in 2012. List Your Holiday Bazaars FREE Four-wheeler falls into river: Three missing in the Ketchikan Daily News! ANCHORAGE (AP) — Three people are missing after authorities say their four-wheeler was recovered from the Kuskokwim River. Every Friday beginning November 14 through Alaska State Troopers, in a dispatch, say the missing — two men and a woman December 19 we will have a listing of local — were reported overdue at about 5 p.m. Friday. Search efforts also began Fri- day. Bazaars. If you are an organization hosting Bethel Search and Rescue, on its website, said a set of all-terrain vehicle one, please call display advertising with the tracks were seen leading to an open hole. It said a four-wheeler, matching the description of the vehicle that the missing individuals were using, was recov- day, time and location at 225-3157. ered from beneath newly formed ice. *some restrictions apply KTUU reports the search and rescue agency previously issued warnings about travel on the river due to thin ice and areas of open water.

Personal cancer tests Continued from page 1 There are some early encouraging re- drugs and spend $10,000 to $12,000, ports, he said. One study of 70 patients said Champions’ chief medical officer, found the mice generally reflected how Dr. Angela Davies. well patients responded to various Youtie spent $30,000 “because I want drugs. But there is no evidence that them to test all the possible drugs,” even fat stan’s using mice is any better than care based some for other types of cancer. on medical guidelines or the gene tests That approach helped Yaron Panov, a SPORTS BAR & PIZZERIA that many patients get now to help pick 59-year-old Toronto man diagnosed four drugs. Mouse testing costs $10,000 or years ago with liposarcoma, a soft-tissue more, and insurers don’t cover it. It cancer. No specific drugs were recom- takes several months, so patients usually mended, and “I was given six months to Happy Hour Specials have to start therapy before mouse re- live,” he said. sults are in. Tests on his avatar mice suggested the “I do see promise, but it’s very time- first drug he was prescribed would not People examine a ship keel Saturday at the Ketchikan Shipyard. consuming, it’s very expensive. For the work but that one for colon cancer LARGE PIZZA 75¢ STROMBOLI 10”PIZZA & a Pitcher WINGS & a Pint 1/2 Staff photo by Taylor Balkom average patient, standard care is going to might. only PRICE be the way to go,” said Alana Welm, a “It was working on the mice so I knew $30 $4 PINTS $14 AK WHITE $10 APPY’S Continued from page 1 cancer researcher at the Oklahoma it would work on me,” he said. “It’s such During Seahawks Ferry project Games from 4-7PM from 4-7PM from 4-7PM from 4-7PM Medical Research Foundation. She gave a boost of confidence” and it makes it this elsewhere in Alaska, this kind of a talk on mouse avatars last week at the easier to endure side effects, said Panov, passion, this kind of, ‘We can do it, The Ketchikan Shipyard San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. whose cancer is in remission. * * * Wine Boxes Still Available! * * * we can build something’ (mentality). It was the third major cancer meeting Reuven Moser, a 71-year-old man “I’m so, so honored to be a part of project by the numbers this year to feature work on customized from Tel Aviv, Israel, said his avatar mice LOCAL SPECIAL: this, a small part of this,” Walker cancer mice. confirmed that drugs prescribed for added, recognizing the work that 2: Number of Alaska Class ferries Several labs breed these mice but the colon cancer that had spread to his liver Parnell had done to ensure the fer- being built for the Alaska Marine High- main supplier to patients has been were a good option. Buy any large takeout pizza ries will be built in Alaska. “ ... I said way System at the Ketchikan Ship- Champions Oncology, a company based “Most of the time the oncologists want throughout the campaign that, if we yard. in Hackensack, New Jersey, that also op- to follow a protocol, but they don’t know receive 50% OFF the second pizza can do in Alaska what’s going on in erates in London, Tel Aviv and Singa- how it will affect the patient,” Moser Ketchikan, what a great state we 4: Length, in years, of the construc- pore. About 7,000 mice are kept in a said. “It was very reassuring.” That’s 2 large pizzas for only $36 would have. You’re actually building tion contract. Baltimore lab with six rooms that resem- Youtie said she does not feel guilty 247-WINE things in Alaska.” ble stock rooms of a shoe store, with tall about using the mice. 247-9463 • 330247-9463Open SPRUCE Mon.-Sat. MILL 10am-Late WAY #6 • OPEN DAILY Walker also joked that it was excit- 53: Number of standard size vehi- shelves that hold row upon row of plas- “Animal abuse? I don’t look at it that ing for him to be in a setting where cles that will fit on each ferry. tic cages labeled with each cancer pa- way,” she said. “It’s not testing cosmet- he didn’t have to discuss the price of tient’s name. ics. It’s trying to save my life.” oil. 80-90: Projected number of new Most mice are white-haired females “This is very positive,” Walker said jobs at the Ketchikan Shipyard. with beady red eyes, but others are hair- about the ferry project. less. Some live alone while others climb Washington State The Rev. Scott Settimo, of the Holy Length, in feet, of each new over one another and sleep in small piles. Adopt A Pet 280: Name parish, blessed the keels to ferry. All have easy access to food and water, start the ceremony. Alaska First Lady and many bear signs of the tumor graft LOTTERY Donna Walker — one of the ship’s 300: Number of passengers each — a shaved portion of hair, an incision Saturday’s Lotto numbers sponsors — was on hand to “weld” ferry will be able to accommodate. scar and a lump growing off one side. her initials onto a keel. Antoinette Patients have a tumor sample sent to 03-15-17-24-26-45 Mary Mallott, the wife of Lt. Gov. 101.5 million: Dollar amount Champions, which charges $1,500 to Byron Mallott and the sponsor of the of ferry contract. bank it, plus $2,500 for each drug tested Hit 5 numbers second ferry, was unable to attend. in groups of mice implanted with bits of 02-09-10-11-32 “I’ve come a long way since eighth-grade shop,” Donna Walker joked. the tumor. Most patients try three to five WEATHER Ian KETCHIKAN AND METLAKATLA LOCAL ALMANAC Bubba Sunday high/low...... 51/46 Sunday precipitation...... trace Do what you can to get some Vi- to 20 mph. Normal high/low ...... 40/31 ‘14 precip. through Dec. 13 . . . 164.19” tamin D this week, because you Tuesday rain is likely, with highs Record high ...... 58 in 1962 Monday sunrise ...... 8:08 a.m. ANIMAL PROTECTION sure as heck won’t get much from around 44 and a southeast wind at 1111 Stedman Street • 228-6660 Record low ...... 8 in 1964 Monday sunset...... 3:16 p.m. the sun. 10 to 20 mph. Tuesday night will be [email protected] or ﬁ nd us on Monday will be cloudy. There will mostly cloudy with a chance of rain Facebook: Ketchikan Gateway Borough Animal Protection be a chance of rain, with highs and lows around 37. There will be a LOCAL TIDES around 44 and a southeast wind at southeast wind at 10 to 15 mph. CATS CATS 10 to 20 mph. Monday night will Wednesday will be mostly cloudy. Monday Tuesday High 6:52 a.m./13.4’ 7:25 p.m./11.0’ High 7:48 a.m./13.9’ 8:39 p.m./11.3’ 1. “Babe” male semi-long hair orange 15. “Starla” female short hair 8 month rain. The lows will be around 38 and The highs will be around 42. Wednes- Low 0:14 a.m./4.2’ 1:27 p.m./4.9’ Low 1:16 a.m./4.7’ 2:33 p.m./3.9’ there will be a southeast wind at 10 day night will be mostly cloudy. 2. “Chubby” male long hair orange old brown tabby. 3. “Pandora” spayed female black. 16. “Garﬁ elda” female short hair 6 ALASKA U.S. TEMPERATURES 4. “Cally” spayed female short hair 4 month old orange tabby/white year old torbie. $50 17. “Skittles” female short hair 5 By The Associated Press 5. “Sparkles” female short hair adult month old orange tabby. High/low/precip/snow By The Associated Press Evansville 49 44 0 Rain Portland,Maine 46 34 0 Clr Fairbanks 23 B03 0 Cldy Portland,Ore. 51 37 0 Cldy tortie 18. “Ian” male semi-long hair 3 month Anchorage 32 23 T 4 High Low Prcp Otlk Fargo 47 39 .03 Clr Providence 47 30 0 PClyd Annette 52 47 T Flagstaff 40 23 0 Cldy Raleigh-Durham 58 31 0 Clr 6. “Annabell” female short hair adult old brown tabby. Barrow -9 -14 T 4 Albany,N.Y. 39 34 0 Cldy Grand Rapids 47 39 .04 Cldy Rapid City 39 35 0 Snow black cat 19. “Charlie” male short hair 3 month Bethel 14 3 T 2 Albuquerque 45 32 .42 Clr Great Falls 31 30 .11 PClyd Reno 45 26 0 Cldy Amarillo 57 45 .06 Clr Bettles 13 1 0.06 13 Greensboro,N.C. 59 30 0 Clr Richmond 60 26 0 Cldy 7. “Buffy” female short hair adult old brown tabby. Anchorage 33 25 0 Cldy Hartford Spgfld 46 24 0 PClyd Sacramento 53 45 0 Rain Birchwood 34 18 0.00 Asheville 56 30 0 Clr Helena 32 32 .14 PClyd St Louis 63 49 0 Rain brown tabby/white. 20. “Eli” male semi-long hair kitten Cold Bay 40 36 0.48 Atlanta 57 34 0 Clr Honolulu 77 69 .01 Clr St Petersburg 68 54 0 Clr 8. “Willow” neutered male long hair 7 21. “Sasha” short hair 3 month old Cordova 45 39 0.37 Atlantic City 45 31 0 PClyd Houston 76 58 0 Cldy Salt Lake City 38 33 .05 Cldy Dillingham 34 10 M Austin 76 59 0 Clr Indianapolis 48 41 0 Rain San Antonio 73 63 0 Clr year old seal point Siamese. $50 brown tabby. Dutch Harbor 43 38 1.45 Baltimore 52 29 0 PClyd Jackson,Miss. 69 38 0 Rain San Diego 65 50 0 Cldy 9. “Skooter” male semi-long hair 8-10 22. “Little Dude” male short hair adult Fairbanks 23 -4 0.00 8 Billings 36 34 .09 Snow Jacksonville 71 31 0 Clr San Francisco 61 49 0 Rain Birmingham 59 32 0 PClyd Gulkana 10 -3 0.00 Juneau 46 34 .01 Rain San Juan,P.R. 90 75 0 Rain year old Siamese lynx point grey tabby. Bismarck 31 22 0 Cldy Kansas City 62 53 0 Rain Santa Fe 43 30 .02 Clr Homer 46 33 0.11 Boise 42 26 0 PClyd Key West 71 63 0 PClyd St Ste Marie 38 34 0 Cldy 10. “Adena” spayed female semi-long Juneau 46 34 0.01 Boston 45 33 0 PClyd Las Vegas 56 40 0 Cldy Seattle 55 36 0 Cldy Kenai 35 24 0.00 Brownsville 79 65 0 Cldy Little Rock 69 42 0 Cldy Shreveport 73 48 0 Cldy hair Siamese lilac point. $50 DOGS King Salmon 36 13 0.00 Buffalo 38 35 MM Cldy Los Angeles 66 47 0 Cldy Sioux Falls 55 50 .02 Snow 11. “Jade” female short hair adult 1. “Bubba” 2 year old neutered Kodiak 45 37 0.77 Burlington,Vt. 34 23 0 Cldy Louisville 49 44 0 Rain Spokane 41 29 0 PClyd Kotzebue 1 -5 0.01 2 Casper 32 31 .35 Snow Lubbock 62 48 .01 Clr Syracuse 35 31 .04 Cldy Siamese lilac point. male tan/white lab/border Charleston,S.C. 69 33 0 Clr Memphis 66 43 0 Rain Tampa 67 44 0 Clr Mcgrath 9 -8 0.00 8 Charleston,W.Va. 43 36 0 Cldy Miami Beach 76 57 0 Clr Topeka 62 54 0 Rain 12. “Starla” female short hair tabby. collie mix. $45 adoption fee. Nome 14 2 T 12 Charlotte,N.C. 63 29 0 Clr Midland-Odessa 67 53 0 Clr Tucson 59 38 .01 Cldy 13. “Cricket” female short hair black. Northway -7 -16 0.00 10 Cheyenne 32 31 0 Clr Milwaukee 49 44 0 Rain Tulsa 63 53 .53 Cldy 2. “Mila” adult spayed female Palmer 41 26 0.00 Chicago 50 45 0 Rain Mpls-St Paul 50 43 .02 Rain Washington,D.C. 57 34 0 PClyd 14. “Daisy” female short hair black. black/tan shepherd mix. Petersburg 52 43 M Cincinnati 46 43 0 Cldy Nashville 52 42 0 Cldy Wichita 59 54 .21 Clr Saint Paul Island 38 34 0.77 Cleveland 49 38 0 Rain New Orleans 70 46 0 PClyd Wilkes-Barre 40 33 0 Cldy Columbia,S.C. 69 29 0 Clr Seward 42 32 0.03 New York City 46 38 0 Cldy Wilmington,Del. 47 32 0 PClyd Sponsored By: Columbus,Ohio 46 42 0 Cldy Norfolk,Va. 53 29 0 Cldy Sitka 49 45 T Concord,N.H. 39 27 0 Clr North Platte 47 34 .45 Snow National Temperature Extremes Talkeetna 39 28 0.00 Dallas-Ft Worth 67 60 .09 Clr Oklahoma City 63 57 .11 Clr Valdez 37 27 0.27 Dayton 47 43 0 Cldy Omaha 59 52 .06 Rain • High Sunday 83 at Kingsville Nas, Texas Wasilla 37 23 0.00 Denver 33 30 .08 PClyd Orlando 71 41 0 Clr • Low Sunday 9 at Stanley, Idaho Whittier 43 30 M Des Moines 58 52 0 Rain Pendleton 34 28 0 Cldy Detroit 53 42 0 Cldy Stonetree Veterinary Clinic Yakutat 43 37 1.65 Philadelphia 47 37 0 PClyd ——— Duluth 41 39 .01 Rain Alaska temperature extremes. Phoenix 63 46 0 Cldy El Paso 59 42 0 PClyd Pittsburgh 44 34 MM Cldy m — indicates missing information. • High of 52 at Annette Island, Klawock, OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 8-5 Petersburg • Low unavailable. 907.247.6051 989 Stedman Street [email protected]