KCAW Staff, Author at KCAW - Page 286 of 584

Marine reptiles used to dominate tropical Southeast Alaska

The only vertebrate paleontologist in Alaska will give a seminar tonight (1-16-14) about what we can learn from Triassic era rock found all over Southeast Alaska.

E-l-e-c-t-r-i-f-y-i-n-g-!

In what was one of the most tightly-contested spelling bees in recent memory, 27 grade-level finalists at Blatchley Middle School in Sitka spelled their way to word no. 208 on the official Scripps National Spelling Bee list Wednesday night (1-15-14). In the end it boiled down to eighth-grader Kyle Vidad and defending champion Abigail Fitzgibbon. The two went head-to-head for eight rounds, until Fitzgibbon tripped on "matriculation" and Vidad successfully spelled "smithereens" to win the round, and then "aerodynamic" to win the championship. Test a friend on these words Abby and Kyle spelled with nearly one-hundred fans looking on:

Stedman says hydro funds tight, otter bill will change

There won’t be many appropriations for Southeast Alaska projects this legislative session. That’s the word from Sitka Senator Bert Stedman, who represents most of the region.

Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational to rock Sitka this weekend

Andrew Friske, athletic director at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, says 19 teams will be in Sitka this weekend for the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament. Although this is a tournament for adult basketball teams from around the state, all proceeds benefit the activities programs at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. Games start Wednesday evening (1-15-14) on two courts at the BJ McGillis Gym on campus. Tournament passes and individual game tickets available at the gate.

Water Fund may go under without rate hike

Sitkans may be looking at additional increases in water rates in the near future, despite a series of recent hikes to keep the fund afloat. City finance director Jay Sweeney told the Sitka Assembly in a work session last night that unanticipated expenses had derailed a five-year master plan, and the Water Fund was looking weak. He also had concerns over the Solid Waste Fund.

Sweeney named to new administrative post

Sitka's finance director is now the "Chief Financial and Administrative Officer" for the city. The assembly Tuesday night (1-14-14) unanimously approved a recommendation from administrator Mark Gorman to give Sweeney the new title, and to move the Information Services and Human Resources departments under his supervision.

Rain causes landslide in Sitka

If you’re driving around Sitka today (1-14-14) you might notice that things look a little different. For instance the moose sculpture at Swan Lake is up to its antlers in water. And what was the Indian River trailhead parking lot is now a shallow pond.

Trail makeover

Three days of heavy rainfall has generated serious runoff problems, even in areas outside of Sitka. The Herring Cove Trail was first damaged by runoff during an unusual rain/snowmelt situation about five weeks ago, when water carved a new channel in the trail just below the log bridge at the upper falls. Now, water has filled that channel again, as local naturalist Bill Foster discovered this morning (Tue 1-14-14).

Sitka’s first iconography workshop: windows into heaven

Jeff Budd and Dr. Ana Dittmar discuss an upcoming iconography workshop sponsored by St. Michael's Cathedral and the Greater Sitka Arts Council.

Tues Jan 14, 2014

Ketchikan's borough mayor delivered a State of the Borough Address. Organizers of a downtown revitalization effort in Sitka are taking a look at an unconventional approach to bringing new energy to the community: by keeping it the same. The Sitka assembly will hear a request from municipal administrator Mark Gorman to restructure city hall.