Month: May 2009

The Forest Service is questioning visitors and locals using the central and southern parts of the Tongass. Up to 30 staffers are surveying hikers, picnickers, cabin-users, and others through October. It's similar to a survey done in Sitka and Hoonah last year.

Sitka's Assembly is buying a parcel of Sheldon Jackson College land for a recycling center. And it's granting a continued rent discount to Fortress of the Bear.

Sitka Senator Bert Stedman says the legislature will not overturn Governor Sarah Palin's decision to reject stimulus funds tied to energy standards. But he says she should accept the funds. And he says concerns about "strings attached" were overblown.

Alaska Natives with roots in five Southeast communities would get their own village corporations under new federal legislation. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced the landless Native bill as part of a package aimed at improving the region’s economy.

The recession has cost Sealaska tens of millions of dollars. Leaders of the Southeast-based regional Native corporation says it’s still strong, with new businesses entering new markets. But its investments have dropped in value, which will affect shareholders’ dividends.Click on "more" to find a link to Sealaska’s annual report.

A cruise ship carrying a woman who had the H1N1 flu virus sailed into Sitka today (Tuesday). But state health officials say she’s recovered, and is not contagious. We talked with health official Jay Butler about the situation. Here's part of that interview.

Mt. Edgecumbe High School graduated eighty-eight students on Thursday (5-7-09). The state-run boarding school in Sitka serves students from towns across Alaska. It was standing-room only in Sitka’s performing arts center, as families and friends turned out to support the new grads. KCAW’s Robert Woolsey attended the ceremonies, and sent this audio postcard:

The Sitka school board voted to lift restrictions on the distribution of religious promotional materials in schools on Wednesday (5-7-09). Members also learned about beautification at Blatchley Middle School, rising lunch prices, and a fifth grader's views on freedom.

The first cruise ship of the season arrived in Sitka on Wednesday (5-6-09) with about 1,700 passengers aboard. Many came ashore at Crescent Harbor to do a little sightseeing and shopping. KCAW's Chris Todd sends this audio postcard from the docks.

The Sitka School Board plans to spend about half of its federal stimulus funds on technology. The district has almost $900-thousand dollars in mostly unrestricted stimulus funds coming.