President Obama’s visit to the landslide in Oso, Washington, this week (Tue Apr 22) was timed to refocus the nation’s attention on this disaster, long after the headlines have moved elsewhere. Former Sitkan Barnaby Dow is the external affairs manager in the King County Office of Emergency Management in Seattle.
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Mt. Edgecumbe wrestling coach Mike Kimber and athletes Deirdre Creed (Sr), Brittany Woods-Orrison (Jr), and Blatchley 8th-grader Sydnee Kimber discuss their success at the Reno World Wrestling Championships.
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6 months into his tenure as municipal administrator, Mark Gorman says Sitka is going to become more self-reliant -- through a combination of increasing local revenues and exploiting economic opportunities. Gorman spoke to the Sitka Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon (4-23-13). He discussed the unrealistic expectations Sitkans may have about the community’s relatively low tax rates, as more and more of the burden of paying for services shifts to local taxpayers. But Gorman also pointed out opportunities for efficiency and growth.
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Sitka’s high school principal has resigned. PJ Ford-Slack met briefly with district superintendent Steve Bradshaw and his successor, Mary Wegner, before Monday night’s school board meeting and indicated that she would not sign her contract for next year. Tuesday morning it became official.
The Sitka school district will not lay off any teachers next fall, but at least two programs -- Home Ec and shop in Blatchley Middle School -- could be cut. The Sitka school board Monday night (4-22-14) passed its final budget for the coming year, with conservative assumptions on enrollment and state and federal revenue. But it’s not likely that any of the cut programs would be restored, should additional funding come in.
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The Sitka Tribe of Alaska welcomed a new general manager last week. Lawrence Spottedbird replaced Ted Wright after a lengthy search. Council members and the public formally welcomed Spottedbird at the Tribe’s monthly meeting last Wednesday (4-16-14).
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Tracy Gagnon and Mary Wood from Sitka Conservation Society discuss Earth Day activities, starting with cleaning up garbage caches this afternoon (4-22-14).
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The Sitka Assembly will hear updates on Harrigan Centennial Hall renovation and Blue Lake dam expansion during its work session tonight (4-22-14). A loan to complete the Blue Lake dam expansion is in limbo as lawmakers wrestle with the issue. Crewman rescued after troller ran aground in Sitka Sound. Supporters organized a sit-in protest, and the Alaska Senate voted to make 20 Alaska Native languages official state languages. Sitka Representative, and primary sponsor, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins reacts to Alaska Senate passing House Bill 216.
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Sitka Little League softball and baseball players, coaches, officials and fans gathered on Saturday at Moller Field to celebrate the opening day of the 2014 season. This is the 51st year for Little League in Sitka with over 350 youth signed up to play ball this year. Games for some divisions began April 19 and will continue through June. For more information visit sitkalittleleague.org.
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Two crewmen were rescued safely after their troller ran aground in heavy seas in Sitka Sound early this morning (Mon 4-21-14). The 52-foot steel-hulled troller Mirage radioed a distress call at about 3:30 AM. The boat had gone aground on the southern shore of Low Island, in surf and strong southerly winds.
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