February 2014

Sitka youth need foster parents

Youth Advocates of Sitka are looking for more families to volunteer for their therapeutic foster care program. Executive Director Annette Becker and Program Coordinator Jessica Clarke discuss the details.

Fri Feb 28, 2014

Representative Sam Kito III, replacing Beth Kertulla, was sworn in Wednesday. A vessel sank during an oil spill response drill. A Ketchikan automotive teacher is retiring. There's a new infusion suite for chemotherapy patients in Ketchickan.

Thurs Feb 27, 2014

Sitka's Blue Lake Dam expansion project will cost more than expected, by several million dollars. A bill sponsored by Sitka Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins to establish a Walter Soboleff day in Alaska cleared the state House Committee last week. Republican Senator Bert Stedman submitted his own bill aimed that fixing SB21.

Cost overruns add up to a bigger bill for Blue Lake

Sitka’s Blue Lake Dam hydro expansion project will cost about $3.6-million more than expected. The total project -- not including new backup diesel generators -- was originally estimated to cost about $142-million. It is now up to about $145-million, Utility Director Chris Brewton told the Sitka assembly Tuesday night. Brewton later told KCAW that this is the only major cost overrun the project has seen so far.

Assembly postpones smoking decision – again

The Sitka Assembly once again took up the question of whether children should be prohibited from entering businesses that allow smoking, even during non-smoking events. And, once again, they postponed a decision. For some assembly members, the question came down to finding the right balance between public health and individual freedom

Teachers, technology in spotlight as board closes $1.5-million budget gap

The Sitka School district appears headed for some budget cuts next year. This was the message Monday night (2-24-14) at a public hearing held at Pacific High School. The board has offered no specific cuts, yet. The hearing was one of several planned to help them take the public’s temperature on district programs in the arts and technology.

Tue Feb 25, 2014

Sitka Assembly to vote on tightening the community's smoking law. Audio postcard: Orthodox Diocese installs new bishop in St. Michael's Cathedral. NPS biologist Tania Lewis makes breakthroughs in the study of Glacier Bay's bears. Sen. Bert Stedman's resolution seeking the transfer of Tongass timber lands to the state generates controversy.

Herring Festival coming!

Jessica Gill, with the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and Jeff Budd, with the Greater Sitka Arts Council, outline plans for Sitka's first-ever Herring Festival, March 23 - April 25.

LISTEN: Town Hall Meeting on Sitka’s finances

Are you concerned about Sitka's finances? Maybe you have some ideas to help the town work better? Listen here to the February 27 TOWN HALL meeting, where city administrator Mark Gorman, a panel of Sitka's previous administrators, and a live audience debated Sitka's future challenges.

Orthodox Bishop of Alaska installed in Sitka

On Sunday(2-23-14), the Orthodox Dioceses of Sitka and Alaska installed Fr. David Mahaffey as its 16th Bishop. Dressed in golden ceremonial robes, Mahaffey paraded from the Russian Bishop’s house to St. Michael’s Cathedral, alongside other Orthodox bishops and clergy. Over a century has passed since America’s first Orthodox Bishop, St. Innocent, walked the same route for his installation ceremony.