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MPH.News
Kookesh session issues: Water, sewer, clinics
Angoon Senator Albert Kookesh focused on rural water and sewer issues this session. That, school meal programs and transportation issues are of interest to his district. That’s because it includes more than 100 villages and small cities from southern Southeast to Prince William Sound and into the Interior. more
Cissna: Turning TSA indignation into DC dialogue
Around one-hundred Sitkans turned out Saturday (5-5-12) to scrub, scrape, haul, and hammer at the second annual volunteer day on the campus of Sheldon Jackson. But there was at least one non-Sitkan in the crowd: Representative Sharon Cissna, an Anchorage Democrat, who was testing the waters for a run for congress this summer. more
Ferry connection reunites communities
The resumption of ferry service between Sitka and Angoon was more than just a scheduling decision. The two communities have family relationships going back literally thousands of years. Tribal leaders from both communities used the Fairweather’s arrival to reconnect the ancient peoples of Baranof and Admiralty islands. more
Troller “Igloo” aground near runway, crew safe
A troller is hard aground after cutting the corner too close at the south end of the Sitka runway. A passing skiff notified the harbor department shortly after 1:30 this afternoon (Fri 5-4-12) that the 43-foot wooden troller “Igloo” was aground and in trouble. The Harbor Department and Search and Rescue assisted the skipper and deckhand off the vessel. A salvage operation is planned before tonight’s tide. more
Budget session: 2013 to be unlucky year for rate payers
At an assembly budget work session last night (Thu 5-3-12), city finance director Jay Sweeney announced that four of Sitka’s enterprise funds would be looking for rate increases next year. The four funds affect everyone in one way or another: electric, water, waste-water, and harbors. more
Sitkans prefer a more modest proposal for library
Despite a promising budget picture, Sitkans are opting for a smaller library expansion than originally envisioned. At a planning meeting this week (Wed 5-2-12), residents overwhelmingly favored increasing the size of the local library by only 60-percent, even though the state might foot all or part of the bill for something bigger. more
Stedman: Projects could help region’s economy
Sitka Senator Bert Stedman was a key player in this year’s oil-tax and gasline battles. And he managed the capital budget as co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
He also focused on projects and issues in his district, which includes Sitka, Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg. more
Blatchley to ‘unblock’ its schedule for 2012-13
The school is rearranging the way it structures its day. Administrators told the Sitka school board that it will improve the experience for students. more
Fast ferry reconnects Angoon with Sitka
Direct ferry service between Angoon and Sitka resumes this week.
The communities lost that connection in 2006 when the small ferry LeConte changed its schedule. more
After harvest, Sitka Tribe renews herring concerns
This year’s lower-than-expected herring harvest has renewed calls from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to change the fishery. The Tribe sees it as validation of a long-held concern. But a state biologist says although this year definitely requires some study, the model used to manage the fishery is still good. more