December 2010 - Page 4 of 4

"XTRATUF" author puts the style in "lifestyle"

If you live in coastal Alaska, chances are you already know that XTRATUF boots are a way of life, but it is nice when an author takes the time to confirm your suspicions. Juneau writer and photographer Larry Johansen has documented the ongoing relationship between Alaskans and their footwear in his new book, “XTRATUF: An Alaskan Way of Life.”

Extended audio: Boots kickstart a photo career

Larry Johansen is the author of "XTRATUF: An Alaskan Way of Life." He spoke with KCAW's Robert Woolsey at the Sitka Artisans Market last weekend (12-4-10).

Hedden steps down after 17 years as coach

The wrestling teams from Sitka and Mount Edgecumbe high schools took first and second place respectively over the weekend at the regional tournament in Craig. Sitka earned 224.5 team points and Edgecumbe had 163.5. For Sitka’s team, the regional tournament had special significance. It was the last time the whole team wrestled under the leadership of Coach John Hedden. He’s stepping down at the end of this season, after 17 years of coaching wrestlers at Sitka High.

Sitka outlines project priorities

The Sitka Assembly approved its list of funding requests for capital projects. The list is developed annually and sent to lawmakers in Juneau.

Port Alexander museum preserves coastal history

After three years and countless hours of work, the Port Alexander Historical Society has opened a museum. Almost a century ago, the now-tiny community on the southern tip of Baranof called itself “The King Salmon Capital of Alaska” with a population of over two-thousand people. The museum is a rare glimpse into early twentieth-century life along the Southeast coast.

Assembly hammers out tidelands deal

It’s not quite a done deal yet, but more than five acres of tidelands near the Sitka National Historical Park could soon be under the care of the Southeast Alaska Land Trust. The move puts the tidelands into conservation status, which comes with special restrictions about what can and can’t be done. All of this is happening because of a project at Sitka’s Rocky Gutierrez Airport.

Sablefish quota expected to increase

It looks like longliners will get to catch more sablefish in 2011. Scientists’ projections are expected to lead to an overall 5 percent increase in the quota for the deep-water species, also called black cod. And Southeast fishermen could see their allocations jump 14 percent.It’s good news for a gear group that includes many halibut fishermen in Southeast, where that fishery’s limit may be cut almost in half.About 835 people have permits to harvest Alaska sablefish, commonly called black cod. Around half of them are in Southeast. And for the past few years, harvest numbers have been down.

Utilities, street replacement loom large in 5-yr plan

The Sitka Public Works Department has over $135-million in capital projects planned over the next five years. A substantial portion of the work is ongoing maintenance and replacement of Sitka’s aging water and road systems, but there are a few big ticket items too, like the expansion of the library and a new police station. Public Works Director Michael Harmon presented a line-by-line analysis of his department’s five-year plan to the Sitka Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday (12-1-10).