Author: Robert Woolsey, KCAW

Power was out briefly in Sitka this afternoon (Wed 9-21-11) after high wind gusts knocked down a pair of power lines on Lake Street, across from the Westmark Sitka, but no other major damage was reported. There was an upside: The heavy rains boosted reservoir levels two- to three-feet.

This year’s race for three Sitka Assembly seats includes just three names on the ballot, but also two people who are hoping voters will PUT them on the ballot. Phyllis Hackett and Gary Paxton are running as write-in candidates. Printed on the ballot will be the names of Pete Esquiro, Mike Reif and Andrew Traugutt. Paxton was out of town Tuesday, but the other four took listener questions during an on-air forum at Raven Radio.

Members of Sitka’s medical community say there were some important lessons learned during Thursday’s ammonia leak at Silver Bay Seafoods, but that by and large, response to the incident went well.

Silver Bay Seafoods is operating again, after an ammonia leak forced the evacuation of its Sitka plant and bunkhouses Thursday evening (7-21-11). Although no one was seriously injured, the number of workers evacuated was higher than previous estimates.

Things are looking up at Sitka’s Redoubt Lake for fishermen – of both the two-legged and four-legged varieties. State and federal fisheries managers have reopened the popular sockeye run to subsistence and sport fishermen (as of 12:01 AM Sat Jul 23). And the local bear population is also benefitting from the recent surge in returns.

One-hundred and fifty workers were evacuated from their bunkhouses last night (Thu 7-21-11) after ammonia leaked at a Sitka seafood processor.