Author: Robert Woolsey

A bear cub found dead in Sitka’s Starrigavan Valley last week appears to have been killed by another bear. The cub is believed to have been one of a pair of twins who spent the summer feeding with a sow in the estuary adjacent to the campground.

Sitka voters have given seats to a new mayor, Scott McAdams, and one new assembly member, Phyllis Hackett. The race for a second assembly seat has a three-vote margin, and will be settled by absentee counting next week. Mollie Kabler and Tim Fulton won terms on the school board.

Much of the debate in congress last week leading up to the passage of the Economic Stabilization Act used words like “crisis,” “panic,” “greed,” and “bailout,” to describe what the nation was facing. Also prominent was the feeling that this crisis would ripple out from Wall Street to Main Street. James Wileman is the CEO of the ALPS Federal Credit Union, just off main street in Sitka. He spoke recently with KCAW’s Robert Woolsey about how his customers are responding to the dire rhetoric from Washington.

Despite the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act last Friday (10-3-08), national and world financial markets have continued to wobble. In the congressional debate leading up to the passage of the $700-billion dollar bailout, voices on both sides of the issue warned that “main street” and taxpayers would bear the brunt of inaction. Now that the US Treasury is due to buy up quantities mortgage-based assets, “main street” is looking for some reassurance that things will improve. Steve Dalquist is a financial advisor in Sitka. He spoke with KCAW’s Robert Woolsey about how ordinary people should view the evolving situation in the financial market.

Public radio in Alaska lost a dear friend and colleague over the weekend. Steve Will, lately the program director of KCAW in Sitka, died Sunday from injuries he sustained in a bike accident about six weeks ago. Robert Woolsey has this look at his career in broadcasting.

Sitkans turned out at various venues for the only Vice Presidential debate that will take place before the November 4th election, between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden. Within minutes pundits posted critiques of the debate on the internet and two polls by CNN and CBS News judged Biden the winner, although the CNN Poll found a large majority of people thought Palin did better than was expected. At a Republican Rally in Sitka, almost all in attendance seemed pleased with the Alaska Governor, while down the street at the Westmark, a standing room only crowd was a little less enthusiastic.

My name is Lillian Feldpausch and I would appreciate your vote on October 7th for Sitka School Board. I am sorry that I have not been able to take part in the debate process as I currently am recovering from a recent surgery/illness. My family (my husband Jeff, sons Jonathan and Seth, and daughter Morgan) and I have settled in to call Sitka home. One child has graduated and the other two are currently enrolled in the local schools. We enjoy being involved in the many activities that our Community and Schools continue to offer from Football (High School and League), Wrestling, Track & Field, Baseball (Little League), Band, and Soccer. As many activities that our children and the children that we work with, we put Education as a Priority. We continually encourage our children to reach for the stars, letting nothing stand in their way. As parents we always want more for our children, which is why I am running for School Board. I am an honest, fair, and equal individual who will always put the needs of our children first. My experience managing the Boys & Girls Club and as Associate Judge for Sitka Tribal Court, as a Parent and Volunteer helps me understand the needs of the youth in our community.I would appreciate your vote!

Call-in forum for school board candidates on Sep 30, 2008, featuring Mollie Kabler and Tim Fulton. Lillian Feldpausch was unable to participate due to a family medical emergency. The municipal election is Tuesday, Oct 7.

Candidates for Sitka assembly offered their views on a range of civic issues in an hour long forum broadcast over KCAW this week (9-29-08). Overall, the candidates shared more similarities in how they felt the city should be run, but there were some key differences.

Call-in forum for School Board candidates on Oct 1, 2008.