Month: January 2008

Sitka's long-range energy plans may not require a new hydro project at Lake Diana after all. At a worksession with the Sitka assembly on Tuesday (1-8-08), system engineer Dean Orbison explained that a consultant had identified much more potential at Blue Lake than the 23-feet of additional height planned by the dam's original designers.

Sitka’s first police dog, Justice, was the victim of an alleged assault this past weekend. Detective Mark Hake, the dog’s handler, responded to a drunk and disorderly complaint Friday night at the Lakeside Grocery store. According to court documents, after being escorted off the premises, the defendant allegedly stopped at the marked police canine vehicle and punched the left rear window where Justice was housed. The defendant was also allegedly shouting while he struck the vehicle. He was placed under arrest and charged with “Harming a Police Dog” in the second degree, a misdemeanor offense. The defendant was also arrested on one count of resisting arrest. KCAW’s Melissa Marconi Wentzel talked to Detective Hake about the incident and about the state statute protecting police dogs:

The Sitka assembly met in special session on January 4th, to choose a short-list of candidates for the position of City Administrator. Six candidates were chosen.

Sealaska, Southeast's regional Native corporation, met with Sitkans on January 3rd to discuss a proposed bill which would transfer to the corporation about 85-thousand acres of Southeast Alaska rainforest.

A female green sea turtle found dead near Sitka last week traveled thousands of miles to reach Southeast Alaska shores. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the turtle likely originated from Mexico or the Galapagos Islands. About four weeks earlier, a sea turtle was recovered near Ketchikan, bringing the total number of strandings of this protected species within the last decade up to seven.