Month: March 2009

With three bolt-together catamarans in production in its Sitka yard, Allen Marine is weathering the economic downturn, and maintaining a winter payroll of $400-thousand dollars a month. Company VP John Dunlap discussed the company's history in boat building and touring as it nears its fortieth anniversary, in a presentation to the Sitka Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday (3-18-09).

The Alaska Supreme Court has thrown out the latest University lands transfer measure as unconstitutional. Nearly two hundred thousand acres, including three dozen parcels in Southeast Alaska, recently transferred to the University must now be reconveyed back to the State.

With more than 500 songs in his catalogue, folk singer David Mallett has come a long way in the thirty years since he penned the Garden Song. Top artists like Emmylou Harris continue to cover his material. Mallett spoke with KCAW's Robert Woolsey before his Sitka concert on 3-11-09.

The Sitka Community Hospital board has signed a management services contract with Nashville-based Quorum Health Resources. While the overall budget and day-to-day operation of the hospital will remain under local control, the board hopes its relationship with QHR will provide some badly-needed long-term financial stability – and a little clout, too.

Hames Athletic and Wellness Center has a new lease that will enable it to keep operating, at least until voters decide whether or not to support the facility in the next election. Last night, (3-10-09) the Sitka City and Borough Assembly narrowly approved the new lease agreement on a four to three vote.

The City and Borough Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday night that will try to reach the goal of 25% reduction by 2020. Sitka’s CO2 emissions are about half what most US cities emit, and on par with Norway’s per capita emissions, according to information given to the assembly Tuesday (3-10-09) by members of the Climate Action Task Force.

Blatchley Middle School is a lot more colorful these days, thanks in large part to a new mural which was installed this week. (March 4) Sitkan Lisa Busch spearheaded the grant process in order to bring Ketchikan artist, author and printmaker Evon Zerbetz to town, as this year’s Artist in the Schools.

The senate transportation committee has signed off on a bill that would allow the operation of low-speed electric vehicles in some Alaskan communities. A revised version of Senate Bill 59, introduced by Sitka senator Bert Stedman, was approved by transportation members Monday afternoon (3-3-09) and referred to the judiciary committee.

Like all competitions, there are winners and losers in drama, debate, and forensics. But there is a lot more to these events than winning medals. KCAW student reporter Ruby Gale is on the JV team at Sitka High School. She went behind the scenes, and sent this audio postcard from the state DDF meet in Sitka: