Author: Ed Ronco

True Alaska Bottling Co. has been trying since 2006 to tap into water at Blue Lake, and sell it in bulk. Doing so could mean big money for Sitka. Tuesday night (1-26-10), the Sitka Assembly gave the company more time to get the water moving, but not before making a few changes to the deal and asking a lot of questions.

The U.S. Coast Guard gave its Meritorious Public Service Award to the Sitka Mountain Rescue team during a Wednesday ceremony, for its efforts in a dangerous October rescue.

More than 300 Sitkans gathered for a Coast Guard-sponsored run/walk to raise money for Haiti. The effort raised about $6,000. Here's an audio postcard from the event.

It’s been a mild January in many parts of Southeast Alaska so far. That’s been great for hiking and other outdoor activity. But it’s been bad for hibernation. State wildlife officials have received reports of bear activity around Sitka, though there have been no confirmed sightings.

A one-man play is coming to the Sitka Performing Arts Center this weekend. It’s called "NE 2nd Avenue," and it portrays life in Miami. The show’s sole performer, Teo Castellanos, has been an instructor at Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Student reporter Ryan Apathy, also a Fine Arts Camp alumnus, has this preview.

An Illinois woman is awaiting extradition to Alaska on charges of murder and tampering with evidence, in a Sitka case from 1988. Jane Limm was arrested Wednesday (1-13-10) after a Sitka grand jury indicted her on charges related to the death of her then-husband, Scott Coville. In a phone interview from her home in California, Scott Coville’s mother talks about her son, and all the years spent waiting for news.

The Monthly Grind – a community talent show in Sitka – celebrated its 100th performance on Saturday (1-16-10). According to a sign inside the door it was, quote, “Seriously Sold Out.” Here’s an audio postcard, in case you missed it, featuring music from Matthew Turner and Kayla Boettcher, the Crescendos, and Tom Begich.

The nation of Haiti is more than 4,000 miles from Sitka. But since Tuesday, when a massive earthquake struck near its capital, Port-au-Prince, the country has become familiar to people around the globe. It was familiar before for one Sitka woman, who holds a special connection to the small Caribbean country.

Emergency crews responded to a fuel spill on Thursday (1-14-10) that started along Halibut Point Road near Peterson Street and ended up flowing into Eliason Harbor.

State senator Albert Kookesh has waived legislative immunity, in order to proceed to trial on charges that he and three other men overfished their subsistence permits last summer. In a hearing in Sitka this morning (Thu 1-14-10), the Angoon democrat said he was willing to “make it happen” if the judge decided to move ahead with a trial during this spring’s legislative session.