Author: Ed Ronco

Propositions 3 and 4 on the ballot are for bonds to perform major maintenance at Blatchley Middle School. School officials say Prop 3 deals with the bare essentials that must be completed and Prop 4 deals with additional repairs that would improve the learning environment at Blatchley. Prop 5 will extend Sitka’s 1 percent seasonal sales tax to pay for repairs to Pacific High School.

With Sitka’s October municipal election just two weeks away, Raven Radio is hosting forums to discuss the various issues and candidates on the ballot. Monday (9/20) night's forum included a discussion on Sitka’s smoking ordinance.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has announced her re-entry into the U.S. Senate race, as a write-in candidate.

The former chief operating officer of ALPS Federal Credit Union in Sitka has admitted to stealing money from the institution.

Sitka is finally getting a dock that can accommodate large cruise ships. It’s being built by a private developer near the Southeast community’s ferry terminal.Small cruise ships can already tie up at a downtown facility. But larger vessels have to anchor up and carry passengers to shore on small boats, a process called lightering.Previous efforts to build a large dock have stopped or stalled. The developer of the new project says it will be big enough to accommodate full-size ships. But there’s no guarantee they’ll use it.

John Stein is running for mayor of Sitka. This is the extended version of his interview with KCAW's Ed Ronco.

One of the two contenders to be mayor of Sitka has been a mayor before, though not in Sitka. John Stein was mayor of Wasilla from 1987 until 1996. If elected mayor of Sitka, Stein says he’d look at ways to streamline city government.

Sitka’s Assembly has voiced support for a wetlands mitigation project that would protect tidelands near Crescent Harbor and the Sheldon Jackson College campus.The deal is needed for the Sitka Airport Improvement Project. It’s part of a mitigation effort that allows development in one area in exchange for protection of another.

Sitka’s Assembly made a major move toward expanding the community’s hydroelectric capacity Tuesday night.Its members voted to buy a $12-million turbine generator for the Blue Lake Expansion Project. A 10 percent contingency fund also approved brings the cost up to $13.2 million.

Congressional candidate Harry Crawford is campaigning in Southeast Alaska this week. The Anchorage Democrat stopped in Sitka today (Tuesday) to talk about his run against incumbent Republican Representative Don Young.