Author: Shaleece Haas

Musical acts from around the country came to Sitka to perform at the annual Skilletfest this weekend. On Friday night the opening act was a local talent – a young performer influenced by the people, places and cultures of Southeast Alaska. KCAW’s Shaleece Haas sat down with hip-hop artist, Halfsmoked, and brings us this profile.

100 years ago, Teddy Roosevelt set aside St. Lazaria Island as a wildlife refuge. Today the island is the nesting site for more than half-a-million sea birds. To celebrate its centennial, local agencies teamed up to lead the first-ever public walking tour of the island. Last month 24 birdwatchers and nature buffs embarked on a rare adventure, one that may signal an opening of the island to public visitation. To watch a SLIDESHOW of the tour, click on this story's title and then on the word, "more."

Officials from the Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are warning visitors to beware of increased brown bear activity at Redoubt Lake, south of Sitka. KCAW’s Emily Schwing reports.

Sitka based marine operator Allen Marine is working with the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on an effort to develop an inter-island ferry based on a model currently in operation in Southern Southeast Alaska. However that effort has been stalled after the Sitka Assembly, Tuesday night, again postponed a vote to approve a resolution in support of the initiative. KCAW’s Emily Schwing reports.

The National Park Service has signed an option to buy 3 acres of undeveloped Sheldon Jackson campus property. Sitka National Historical Park superintendent Mary Miller told the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday (7-8-09) that while no deal had yet been struck, the park wanted to acquire the additional property along the Indian River, which many assume is already included in the park. Miller said some SJ tidelands would also help buffer park resources. She suggested that the National Park Service would frown on any development of the SJ Campus that was inconsistent with its status as a historic landmark. Here’s a brief excerpt of her remarks:

Six native plant gardens are now free of invasive species after a two day intensive weeding of the beds. KCAW’s Emily Schwing met with Sandy Russell, manager of the Forest Service gardens at Starrigaven Recreation area to find out more about local invasive weeds.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Thursday that the first Chinook salmon opening of the general summer commercial troll season will close at midnight on Friday. KCAW’s Emily Schwing reports.

Elderly and disabled Alaskans seeking Medicaid coverage for home-based care are going to have to wait. And no one knows how long. Last week, the federal agency that oversees Medicaid, told Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services that they must stop accepting new applications for personal care and home-based services. But what they haven’t clarified is what the department needs to do to get the program started again. KCAW’s Shaleece Haas reports.

A string of art thefts in Sitka over the holiday weekend left one gallery owner scratching his head and the owners of a yacht wondering where a valuable one of a kind mask went. KCAW’s Emily Schwing reports.

A little over a week ago, three cargo containers went overboard on their way through Milbanke Sound, off the coast of British Columbia. Two of the containers are still missing, but the loss could make for some interesting beachcombing. KCAW’s Emily Schwing has more.