Author: Robert Woolsey

The state’s top small schools DDF student says a tie was a “great way to go out.” Sitka High School senior Berett Wilber was the top-scorer at this year’s state Drama, Debate, and Forensics tournament in Anchorage. Her fifteen-member team shared the overall title with perennial DDF powerhouse Whitestone in their first matchup in the small schools division.

Three unfilled teaching positions are among the factors helping to balance next year’s Sitka School District budget. The School Board voted Monday (3-15) to approve the $17.4-million spending plan.

Below-normal precipitation in January and February is not expected to compromise the Sitka’s ability to generate power in the drier months of April and May. The low rain and snowfall of the mid-winter was also accompanied by warmer temperatures, which lowered demand on the town’s hydro system.

Last year was a busy trail-construction season for the Sitka Ranger District and the northern Tongass. This summer could be even busier. Federal stimulus funding has moved projects like the re-routing of the Beaver Lake trail to the front burner alongside other already-budgeted projects like rebuilding the Gavan Ridge trail.

Sitkans proved to be just as divided as other communities over a Sealaska Corp. lands selection bill now in committee in the US Senate. At a packed hearing in Sitka's Centennial Hall last Friday (03-11-10), Sitkans on both sides of the issue shared their views for almost four hours. In this second of two stories, KCAW's Ed Ronco provides a look at the testimony from those opposed to the bill.

Sitkans proved to be just as divided as other communities over a Sealaska Corp. lands selection bill now in committee in the US Senate. At a packed hearing in Sitka's Centennial Hall last Friday (03-11-10), Sitkans on both sides of the issue shared their views for almost four hours. In this first of two stories, KCAW's Robert Woolsey looks at testimony offered in support of SB 881.

The U.S. Forest Service plans to get rid of its Sitka Ranger boat, and it could shed another one of its remaining two Southeast boats if their use diminishes. Forest Service Sitka District Ranger Carol Goularte announced the news at Tuesday night's Sitka Assembly meeting.

The Sitka Assembly on Tuesday approved hundreds of thousands of dollars to study hydro electric projects on two lakes on Baranof Island. For one of those projects, officials say spending a few hundred thousand now could save millions later.

A town hall meeting on SB 881, the Sealaska land selection bill, will be held in Sitka at 7PM Friday March 12 in Harrigan Centennial Hall. To help frame the discussion, KCAW's Robert Woolsey asked two residents to share their views on the bill. Davey Lubin is a wildlife charter operator who recently advocated against the bill during a trip to Washington DC.

A town hall meeting on SB 881, the Sealaska land selection bill, will be held in Sitka at 7PM Friday March 12 in Harrigan Centennial Hall. To help frame the discussion, KCAW's Robert Woolsey asked two residents to share their views on the bill. Dale Williams is a Sitka Tribal Council member, and a Sealaska shareholder.