Month: June 2009

The first documented case of the H1N1 swine flu in Southeast Alaska was reported at the SEARHC clinic in Haines yesterday (Thu 6-4-09). The state virology lab has confirmed that a preteen examined at the Haines clinic for flu-like symptoms had contracted the novel H1N1 virus.

The prolonged warm, dry weather enjoyed by Southeast Alaskans so far this summer comes with a price: increased fire danger in Tongass. The typically damp environment can dry out quickly when temperatures move into the 60’s and 70’s. Land managers are braced for what could be another busy fire season in the rainforest.

The Coast Guard will conduct normal annual service on buoys across the region, but thanks to recent visits from NOAA ships Rainier and Fairweather, the Coast Guard will be fine tuning the location of some of their navigational aids this summer.

After seven years without a professional curator, the Sitka Historical Museum has hired Ashley Kircher to fill the position. Kircher is a native of Colorado and an outdoor enthusiast familiar with small Alaskan coastal communities. She studied comparative religions at Harvard and recently completed a Masters degree in Museum Studies at San Francisco State University. She sat down for an interview with KCAW’s Emily Schwing to talk about her new position.

$228 million dollars in federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be doled out to National Forests in 31 states. $8-million of that will go to the state of Alaska. US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement on Tuesday (06-02-2009). Some of the money will go to fund a project on the Sitka Ranger District. KCAW’s Emily Schwing reports.

On Thursday, a federal judge in Washington refused a request for an injunction on to stop a change in the daily bag limit for guided sport fish. Charter operators have vowed to proceed with a lawsuit. KCAW’s Emily Schwing talked to charter customers on the docks of Crescent Harbor in Sitka.

Sawmill Cove Industrial Park has turned up two potential buyers for the so called “stores building.” If an agreement is reached with one of them, the city of Sitka could be spared paying for the improvements required to bring the former APC mill maintenance building up to current standards. The Sawmill Cove board of directors will consider proposals next week. KCAW’s Emily Schwing Reports.

Vicki Baggen has won her second salmon derby in seven years. The 2009 Sitka Sportsmen’s Association Salmon Derby rounded up this weekend. Emily Schwing has the results.