Month: March 2009

Mt. Edgecumbe’s Molecular ecology students are sweeping science fairs and symposiums across the state, with their work on DNA and DNA extraction in the muskeg ecosystem of the Tongass. The Molecular Ecology Program at Mt. Edgecumbe High School is funded by the Alaska Rural Research Partnership education outreach of the Alaska EbSCOR Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the USDA CSREES Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program.

Author Ben Mikaelson has been to Alaska before to research his novels – but this March he paid his first visit to the state to discuss his life and writing with his audience. The award winning author is one of the leading writers of literature for young adults. He stopped in Sitka on a statewide tour to have a picnic with students at Blatchley middle school, and to share his thoughts on the powerful role writing can play in all our lives. KCAW student reporter Ryan Apathy has the story:

Sawmill Cove Board is looking for proposals from the private sector to develop a marine services industry at Sawmill Cove Industrial Park. The assembly approved the “request for proposals” resolution this week on first reading.

Sitka has joined Petersburg in signing on to the Alaska Coastal Communities Climate Change Compact, recognizing that CO2 levels contributing to ocean acidification are of considerable concern to fisheries and coastal communities that depend on the health of the ocean.

The fifty dollar cruise ship head tax that the state charges passengers that visit Alaska has hurt the industry. That’s what Fred Reeder, of Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska told the Sitka assembly last night (3-24-09) at its regular meeting.

Four men were rescued by the Coast Guard and Sitka Mountain rescue Monday night (3-23-09) after their 16' boat capsized in Silver Bay. Persistent text messaging by the distressed party helped aid the rescue effort.

National Native HIV/AIDS awareness Day is March 20th, coinciding with the first day of Spring, its meant to draw attention to the high rates of Alaska Natives and American Indians diagnosed with the disease every year. At the same time, organizers say it’s also about looking forward with hope for the future.

With roots going back almost thirty years, the Bobs remain one of the most vibrant, original bands in contemporary music. Richard Bob Greene, Dan Bob Schumacher, Amy Bob Englehardt, and Matthew Bob Stull performed on Morning Edition before their Sitka concert on Friday (3-20-09). With KCAW's Robert Woolsey.

A retired school district librarian will head up Sitka’s public library. The Sitka assembly earlier this month (3-10-09) confirmed the appointment of Sarah Jones as the director of Kettleson Memorial Library. Jones retired from the school district in 2003, after working twenty-six years in the libraries. She came to Sitka shortly after earning her master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Oregon. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Japanese Language and Literature. KCAW’s Robert Woolsey spoke with Jones recently about her plans for one of the state’s most active libraries:

Former School Board President Scott McAdams reacts to Palin turning down nearly 90 million dollars in education funding for Alaska.