Emily Kwong, KCAW, Author at KCAW

City postpones hospital town hall to reconsider process

The city has postponed Monday’s town hall meeting on the proposed merger of Sitka's two hospitals. The Assembly was set to take questions from the public, when an unexpected offer changed the conversation.

Longtime radio host Larry Snider retires

Larry Snider taped his final hour of "Problem Corner" today, closing out a 50-year career in commercial radio to enjoy retirement in Washington. He'll be hosting two music shows before he departs on the ferry.

Hotel owners interested in buying Sitka hospital

The owners of a local hotel and restaurant are interested in purchasing Sitka Community Hospital. Their inquiry comes less than two weeks before the Assembly is scheduled to consider a competing offer by the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.

With letter cancelled, Sitka hospital open to outside offers

Sitka Community Hospital has cancelled its letter of intent to combine operations with SEARHC. Hospital leadership also recommends the board maintain the obstetrics and surgery programs, until an outside consultant weighs in.

Q&A with Phillip Messina, Sitka’s interim administrator

Phillip Messina is Sitka's interim administrator, chosen by the Assembly to manage city affairs for the summer. Messina is semi-retired, with nearly three decades of municipal management experience in the Pacific Northwest.

With leak fixed, Green Lake dam back in service

Sitka’s Green Lake hydro plant is back in business, after the city discovered a leak in an electrical conduit and shut it down for nine days.

Coast Guard medevacs cruise ship passenger

The Coast Guard medevaced a cruise ship passenger on Tuesday (06-27-17), after he reported a leg injury. He was transported to Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka.

Shareholder unrest shapes Shee Atiká meeting

Tension between a Native village corporation and its shareholders has reached a boiling point. Shee Atiká called Sitka police to their annual meeting, saying threats had been made against staff and the board. But shareholders have a different story: one of raising their voices against a corporation in financial freefall and calling for new leadership.

City to pilot downtown people-mover for summer tourism

The Sitka Assembly has given interim city administrator Phillip Messina his first homework assignment: to work with local agencies to pilot a downtown shuttle for tourists. The also passed, on final reading, a critical areas ordinance that allows property owners to waive geotechnical requirements in known landslide zones.

June 27, 2017: Tonight’s Assembly meeting

Tonight is the first public meeting for Sitka’s interim administrator, Philip Messina. The Sitka Assembly will consider new development regulations in landslide zones, a downtown shuttle for tourists, and raise rates in compliance with the new budget.