LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
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The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka Police Chief Loses Seat on Marijuana Board

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
and The Associated Press
    Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt has been removed from the state Marijuana Control Board, where he was the public safety member. He said he was not given a reason.
    “I didn’t ask,” he said, about the phone call he received last Thursday from Gina Ritacco, transition director for Gov. Mike Dunleavy, informing him his services were no longer needed. “I have no idea what their reasoning was.”
    Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow told The Associated Press by email that for “various reasons” Dunleavy’s boards and commissions director chose to reopen the search for applicants. Shuckerow said the decision was not based on prior policy positions.
    Ankerfelt said he was surprised, and felt strongly about the work being accomplished by the board. He wrote to his four fellow board members and MCB staff, telling them of the phone call “informing me I was no longer needed as the Law Enforcement representative on the Marijuana Control Board”:
    “I want to thank all of you for being so wonderful,” he said in his message to the other board members. “It has been a real privilege to have been associated with all of you. I really enjoyed my time with you all. Please know that you always have a friend in Sitka and that I will be cheering you on!”
    Ankerfelt has served on the board since last May, which meets quarterly to approve marijuana permits, and set policies.
    “I was so impressed by the function of the board and its people,” he said today. “They’re nice people to be around, and they’re forward-looking.”
    The chief said the decision to replace him may have simply been the result of a change in administration – and the fact the new governor does not know him – or it could have been influenced by his vote at the December meeting in favor of setting rules for on-site marijuana consumption.
    The vote was 2-2 when Ankerfelt cast the tie-breaking vote in favor.
    “My voting probably bothered some people,” he said. “I’m just guessing.”
    He clarified that his vote in favor of setting rules for on-site consumption at permitted shops was not necessarily in favor of such establishments, but to leave it in the hands of communities.
    “It was to continue to generate that dialogue and discussion and open it up for broader community debate,” he said.
    Ankerfelt said he’s enjoyed his time on the board, and felt the work was important in a state that has decriminalized the recreational use of marijuana.
    “I wanted to move the bar forward,” Ankerfelt said. “Over the course of 30 years I’ve seen the cost of (the war on) this drug. In my previous job, it was a great preoccupation of mine to keep young people from killing each other over a drug, while the middle class smoked away. Meanwhile, kids are killing each other over it. I tried to keep it from happening. I’ve seen all kinds of suffering and sadness.”
    Ankerfelt said he also felt the time and money spent enforcing laws against marijuana use could be better spent on fighting meth and heroin use, or on education, mental health counseling and drug treatment. He said the laws against marijuana also prevented research into use of the drug for medical purposes.
    Ankerfelt plans to retire July 1 as Sitka’s police chief. His term on the marijuana board was scheduled to expire in 2020. Ritacco told Ankerfelt that he wouldn’t be needed for the February MCB meeting.








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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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