Author: Robert Woolsey

The Sitka police department says the city’s nuisance bear ordinance is unenforceable. The ordinance was adopted just over two years ago (April 2008), and the department has yet to write a single citation under the new law, despite a steady increase in the number of nuisance bears.

A fourth ballot proposition will also head to second reading next Tuesday. The assembly last night unanimously approved putting an advisory question before voters, seeking their opinion on whether the city should bond for $50 million to expand the Blue Lake hydro project.

Sitka voters will likely get a chance this fall to decide the future of the Hames Athletic Center. The assembly passed on first reading last night (8-10-10) three ballot propositions that would ask voters to purchase and improve the facility, and raise property taxes to pay for the deal.

A second aircraft sent to Sitka on Sunday to replace Alaska Airlines Flight 68 after it was grounded by an eagle strike, also hit an eagle on takeoff. The Department of Transportation confirms that the substitute aircraft struck the bird on the runway, but was able to proceed normally with its flight to Seattle.

A man is safe after becoming separated from his hiking party in thick fog on Harbor Mountain over the weekend. Sitka Mountain rescue located the man near the Gavan Loop hiking shelter in the early afternoon on Saturday, after instructing him via cell phone to stay put until they arrived.

State Rep. Peggy Wilson represents Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and the surrounding communities in the Alaska House of Representatives. The Wrangell Republican is seeking her sixth term, and will be competing for the party's nomination with Steven Samuelson, of Petersburg. Wilson spoke with KCAW's Ed Ronco earlier this week about some of the issues on the campaign trail.

A former member has decided to give the assembly another try. Thor Christianson filed this afternoon (Friday 8-6-10) for one of two open seats on the assembly. He was the only last-minute candidate to get his paperwork in. The filing period closed at 5 PM today.

With less than three weeks before primary election day, the two Republican candidates for the 2nd District state House seat made their presence known in Sitka this week. Steven Samuelson is challenging incumbent Representative Peggy Wilson for the GOP nomination to the state House. He spoke with KCAW’s Ed Ronco recently about some of the issues in the campaign. (An interview with state Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, will be posted soon.)

During World War II, the southern tip of Kruzof was an observation post for the U.S. Navy. A 26-year-old sailor named Bob Vollmer was among those stationed there.He’s now 93 years old and living just south of Indianapolis, Indiana. He returned to Sitka this summer, and KCAW’s Ed Ronco was there as Vollmer set foot on Kruzof for the first time in 67 years.

A big Hollywood break could be just around the corner for some local actors. An Anchorage film services company will hold a casting call in Sitka tomorrow (Fri 8/6), as part of a statewide series of auditions for the movie “Everybody Loves Whales,” which will be filmed by Universal Studios in Alaska later this fall.