Author: Robert Woolsey

Sitka has taken a big step forward – and a small step backward – in securing its energy future. The Sitka assembly last night (9-23-08) authorized the electric department to request $2-million dollars in grant funding for the study of a new hydro project at Takatz Lake, on eastern Baranof Island. A few minutes later, they overwhelmingly declined to put up $13-thousand dollars in matching funds to study wood heat for city buildings.

The surface layer of the world’s oceans has been acidified by 30% in the last 60 years due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Continued unconstrained CO2 emissions may triple ocean acidity by 2100. That’s according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research scientist Jeff Short, addressing a teleconference sponsored by the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy

Sitka residents came out en masse to participate in International Coastal Clean-Up Day Saturday [September 20th], beach combing for garbage on a nearby island, in Sitka National Historical Park and even underwater, dumpster diving in one of the local harbors. The event was sponsored locally by the Sitka Conservation Sociey, the National Park Service, The Sitka Global Warming Group, and the Sitka Chapter of Turning the Tides.

Sitka once again has a seat on the Marine Transportation Advisory Board. Lifelong resident and former Tribal Council member Gerry Hope was named to the panel by Governor Palin last week (9-12-08). The appointment ends an absence of nearly two years on the Marine Transportation Advisory Board – also known as the MTAB – of a Sitka representative.

Nancy Cavanaugh is a candidate for mayor. The municipal election is Tuesday, October 7.

Mary Magnuson is a candidate for mayor. The municipal election is Tuesday, October 7.

Heidi Raffaele is a candidate for assembly. The municipal election is Tuesday, October 7.

While low fish returns are tough on fishermen, they’re also tough on hatcheries, which generate a significant portion of their revenues from “cost recovery”—or harvesting and selling some of their adult fish returns. Southeast’s regional non-profit hatcheries can weather low fish returns because they receive some income from the state’s salmon enhancement tax, (SET) which fishermen pay on all fish caught. But non-regional non-profit hatcheries don’t receive the SET tax so without a cost recovery harvest, they have a much harder time making ends meet.

Candidates for the Sitka school board shared their views on everything from maintaining diverse programs in the face of declining enrollment, to paying for extra-curricular activities, in the first of three municipal election forums sponsored by the Sitka Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday (9-18-08).

At a hearing this morning (Tue 9-16-08), defense attorneys for Jason Abbott announced that they will ask to move the 19-year-old’s homicide trial outside of Sitka. They also gave formal notice of a possible insanity defense. Abbott is accused of first degree murder in the stabbing deaths of four family members in a Sitka neighborhood this March.