Author: Ed Schoenfeld

Candidates for Southeast’s District 2 House seat are now focusing on the November 2nd general election. That’s because Republican primary challenger Steven Samuelson of Petersburg last week conceded the race to incumbent Peggy Wilson of Wrangell.That puts Wilson up against Sitka Democrat Reber Stein, who faced no primary opposition.

Sitka Mountain Rescue pulled two hikers off a steep hillside Sunday afternoon. The rescue occurred on one of the mountains in a group known as “The Sisters,” up the Indian River Valley.

Ballot questions facing Sitka voters in October will shape the future of the city’s electrical and educational infrastructure. And on Sept. 8, city and school district officials made a public pitch for support on the measures.

A fish processer with its main plant in Sitka is being recognized for its quality and marketing efforts. Seafood Producers’ Cooperative recently won a Governor's North Star Award for International Excellence.

A small cruise line known for its intimate Alaska sailings is in trouble. Seattle-based Cruise West is reorganizing and has laid off staff and stopped booking reservations. That’s left some cruises -- which include Alaska, Europe and Central America routes -- in doubt.

Lieutenant Governor candidate Diane Benson was in Sitka over the weekend promoting a plan to allow residents to invest in a natural gas pipeline. Benson is running on the Democratic ticket for governor with Ethan Berkowitz.

A new Sitka School District technology program aims to boost student skills by the end of eighth grade.The program is funded by a $100,000 federal Enhancing Education Through Technology grant. It trains teachers, who in turn help students develop their skills.

Jack Ozment is seeking a second term on the Sitka Assembly. The municipal election is Oct. 5.

Jack Ozment says there are several projects that have been started during his time on the Sitka Assembly that he’d like to see through to completion. Ozment is seeking a second term on the Assembly, one of four contenders for two seats.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka medevacked two men from a beach in Lisianski Inlet 80 miles north of Sitka early Sunday morning. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, two men reportedly suffered multiple injuries after their 19-foot skiff ran aground. A third man on board escaped injury. A nearby good Samaritan vessel, the Shoreline Scow, responded to the grounding and called the Coast Guard for assistance. Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center received the call for assistance just before midnight Saturday. The helicopter launched from Air Station Sitka at 12:30 AM. A professional EMT aboard the good Samaritan attended the two injured men until the rescue crew arrived. The helicopter crew safely transported Moss and Strahm to Sitka, where local EMS personnel transferred them to SEARHC hospital. The weather at the time of the rescue was 48 degrees with an east wind of 12 mph, gusting to 17.