Local News

SEARHC land transfer bill ready for President’s signature

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Dec 11, 2018

A bill transferring 19 acres of federal land on Japonski Island in Sitka to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium has passed the US House of Representatives, and is on its way to the White House for the President’s signature.

Enrollment drop pushes Sitka’s schools into $100,000 deficit

by Robert Woolsey, KCAW | Dec 11, 2018

After an unanticipated enrollment drop this school year, the Sitka School Board will be forced to make a significant budget adjustment in January -- at a time when it usually begins to look ahead to next year’s budget.

December 11, 2018: What’s happening at tonight’s Assembly meeting?

by Katherine Rose | Dec 11, 2018

When the Sitka Assembly meets tonight they’ll consider authorizing city staff to design and construct a secondary water treatment plant. The project, which would cost around $18 Million, would provide a secondary water source in the event that the Blue Lake penstock is unavailable, due to maintenance or emergencies.

State to allow higher herring harvest next year, STA promises ‘drastic action’

by Robert Woolsey and Enrique Pérez de la Rosa, KCAW | Dec 7, 2018

Despite a poor season last spring, the forecast for the 2019 Sitka Sound Sac Roe Herring Fishery is up. Biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game expect a spawning biomass of just over 64,000 tons of herring in Sitka Sound next March, about 9,000 tons greater than was forecast for this year. That means the state will allow more herring to be taken next year. In light of this news, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska announced they would take “drastic action” to protect the herring population from their fear of overfishing.

The Morning Interview

Boys Run 5K set for Saturday, December 15

Dec 13, 2018

SAFV's Boys Run Program is gearing up for its annual 5K Fun Run, 10 a.m. Saturday, December 15. This year's theme is Color Run! Participants in grades 3 through 5 and coaches discuss what they have learned this year, and invite Sitka to join their celebration this weekend.

The troubling rise in domestic violence over the holidays

Dec 12, 2018

Peg Blumer, with Sitkans Against Family Violence, and Sitka Police sergeant Gary Cranford say that the rise in domestic violence is noticeable around the holidays. Financial stress, family demands, and other factors can contribute to emotional abuse -- and even physical abuse.

Sentinel Sports: Girls, boys excel at Region V Wrestling tourney

Dec 11, 2018

Daily Sitka Sentinel sports editor Klas Stolpe attended the Region V Wrestling tourney in Juneau over the weekend and reports Mt. Edgecumbe High School and Sitka High will be represented at the state meet this weekend -- by both girls and boys. With KCAW's Robert Woolsey.

One week left to enroll for affordable health insurance

Dec 10, 2018

Andrea Thomas is the Patient Health Benefits Manager at SEARHC. She and her staff are available to help anyone enroll in Medicaid or other health plans available in the ACA Marketplace. The deadline to enroll this year is December 15. Depending on your age and income level, you could have a premium as low as $1 per month.