Author: Robert Woolsey

The city of Sitka has hired a historic preservation consultant to update the community’s preservation plan. The document, when completed, should qualify Sitka for a variety of federal and state matching grants for protecting its historic structures and landscape. An interview with Historic Preservation Commission chair Peter Gorman, and consultant Deborah Abele.

A search and rescue team combed Mt. Verstovia Tuesday night (9-1-09) for a possible person in distress, but no one was found. It’s likely that the signals seen on the mountain from several locations around town were not distress calls. However, authorities are still not sure exactly of the source of the pyrotechnics.

About seventy-five Sitkans on Saturday (8-29-01) took part in a face-to-face meeting with a pair of high-level appointees of the Obama administration. The purpose of the all-day session was to explore ways to help sustain a diverse rural economy in the Tongass National Forest.

Two incumbents are running unopposed to re-claim their seats on the Sitka School Board this October. Cass Pook and Tom Conley are both multiple-term veterans on the board. They hope to engage the community the coming year in a conversation about the importance of school funding in a difficult economy. KCAW’s Robert Woolsey sat down recently with both candidates to discuss the issues:

A pair of top officials from the US Department of Agriculture will be in Sitka this weekend. They’ll be gathering information on what the USDA’s Rural Development Agency and the Forest Service can do for Sitkans. The goal of the meeting, which takes place Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM at the Community House, is to explore "new ways for the Tongass National Forest and for the USDA as a whole to support a diversified economy in Southeast Alaska."

Whether you call it “marathon,” “cold water,” or even “naked” swimming, immersing ourselves without any dry- or wet-suit in the frigid Pacific ocean water is something most Alaskans generally try to avoid. Not the case, though, for visiting cold water swimmer Claudia Rose, who completed a challenging swim across Sitka Sound last weekend (8-22-09). KCAW’s Chris Todd reports:

The late Senator Edward Kennedy toured Alaska in 1968. He addressed the state democratic party convention in Sitka on April 7th, just three days after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Rare video footage of Kennedy’s speech was made available to the public for the first time in January of this year, with the debut of the state library’s digital archival collection. KCAW’s Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock covered the release of the historic video. The following is an encore presentation of her story. To watch the video, click on this story's title, then on the link "Watch the video here."

The Sitka School board Monday night (8-24-09) postponed final action on a policy that would give the district administration the discretion to permit the promotion of religious activities in schools. Board policy 1325 “Advertising and Promotion” was tabled until November. In addition, the board announced that it would push for continued state and local funding despite the down economy, and welcomed new student member, Berett Wilber.

Sitka celebrated its “culture of baseball” last night (Tue 8-25-09). The Sitka assembly recognized the achievements of both the Little League’s major league all-star team, and the senior league all-star team, in winning their respective Alaska State championships. And while they won’t be going to the Little League World Series, the Sitka teams still have plenty to brag about.

Assembly member Cheryl Westover believes Sitka is headed for one of its toughest budget years ever. Westover earlier this month filed to run for a second term on the assembly. Barring a write-in campaign, her seat will be uncontested. KCAW’s Robert Woolsey met with Westover to discuss her decision to throw her hat in the ring for another term.