Dave Kiffer - Alaskan Poet, Historian, Humorist

  Hot Diggity Dogs !!! I recently read something on the internet, so it must be true. The only thing truer would have been if it had been told to me by my friend's brother's sister-in-law's aunt's second cousin. You know "they say" that us modern folk just don't connect like previous generations. But any time you can get good solid information from your friend's brother's sister-in-law's aunt's second cousin, that sounds pretty darn connected to me! But I digress. Anyway, the internet info was about something I truly love. Hot dogs . No, not wiener dogs , although I do like dachshunds. Hot dogs . Those supecalifragilistic cylinders of processed meat with dubious origins. Yes, I remember the hilarious George Carlin routine about the FDA measuring "filth" levels in hot dogs which would lead to brands advertising that "our hot dogs have fewer roach droppings" than competing brands. But it's the ultimate ...

  SOUTHEAST LOG 10-9-21 Borough manager resigns WRANGELL - Borough Manager Lisa Van Bargen has resigned. Van Bargen's last day will be October 29. She was hired in 2017. THE WRANGELL SENTINEL Woman dies in fire, explosions WHITEHORSE - The RCMP investigating multiple explosions and a fire which killed a woman near Dawson City last week. Cam Sigurdson, 62, died at her Old Bonanza Road home. THE WHITEHORSE DAILY STAR District still first in testing SKAGWAY - For the fifth year in a row the Skagway School District has placed first statewide in math and English language arts tests. For four years it has also led in science, but this year's sciences results have been temporarily delayed. THE SKAGWAY NEWS COVID patient evacuated in middle of the night HAINES -   A Coast helicopter had to evacuate a 70-year-old Haines resident to Juneau at three am last week. Officials said man was suffering from COVID 19. It was the first reported COVID evacuation for a local r...

  THE RAINY SEASON   Has been going on For decades now, Or so it seems When your ears Hear the drums Even before Your eyes open   When you sleep The rain continues, Unabated by time Or even the Meteorologic fact That even the sky Must someday Go dry  

  . THE POETS OF AUTUMN . . Clearly don’t live in Ketchikan, With all their Indian Summer sighs And prattling over a leaf's hue. . Clearly don’t live in Ketchikan, As they hail the soft fall weather And the subtle shift of seasons. . Clearly don’t live in Ketchikan, Where fall arrives not lamblike But in the raging creek, and wind.

  The Drs. Dickinson   Husband and wife doctors Served Ketchikan for half a century George Dickinson , who practiced for 50 years in the First City, may not have been Ketchikan's first doctor, but he was Ketchikan's "first Medicine Man" according to those that knew him. In 1980, Dr . Arthur Wilson, Sr. was interviewed by James Lindstrom, a young medical student. Wilson had come to Ketchikan in 1931 and knew Dickinson who practiced for more than half a century in the First City. "George Dickinson was one of the last traveling medicine men," Wilson told Lindstrom in 1980. He said that Dickinson had traveled in the interior of Alaska for many years before coming to Ketchikan with Dr . Henry Story in 1899. Wilson said that Dickinson practiced - at least in his early days - without a license, which was in stark contrast to his wife Beatrice who was a graduate of the Northwestern University Medical School and one of the first female doctors in the Chi...

  SOUTHEAST LOG 10-2-21 One contested Assembly race WRANGELL - Two three-year borough assembly seats and one one-year seat are up for grabs in the Oct. 5 election. Dave Powell and Don McConachie Sr., are vying for the one-year term.  Bob Dalrymple and Jim DeBord are unopposed for the two three-year terms. THE WRANGELL SENTINEL Incumbent seeks different seat COFFMAN COVE - Things are a little confusing in Coffman Cove as all three incumbents are seeking re-election but not necessarily to the same seats. Incumbent Mikael Ashe and Perry Olson are both seeking Seat C. Joel Buchanon and Dawn Rosenlund are seeking Seat D which is currently held by Yvonne Drozdowicz-Shultz who is challenging incumbent Brian Wilson for Seat E. Janie Wainscott is also seeking Seat E. THE PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND POST  Crowded Assembly ballot PETERSBURG - Eight people are running for two seats on the borough assembly. Dana Thynes, Marc Martinsen, T...