Author: Robert Woolsey

The remodel of a downtown store has raised concerns over the safety of a neighboring historic structure. The Wilmac Corporation, owners of Russell’s Clothing, is planning to add on to its downtown building, narrowing the alleyway between it and the adjacent Log Cache from about 10 feet to a little under 4 feet. For the first time in its fifteen-year history, the Sitka Historic Preservation Commission has become involved, but remains uncertain about what its final role will be in this and future property disputes.

The assembly Tuesday night (2-26-08) postponed until March further action on a resolution opposing Sealaska’s picks – on the understanding that the regional Native corporation will make substantial revisions to its selections in the Sitka area, and that those changes will find their way into the language of a bill pending in the US House of Representatives.

With little discussion, the Sitka assembly last night (Tue 2-26-08) removed Jim “Steff” Steffen from the Long Range Planning Commission. The move marked the second ouster of a high profile commission chair in the last year. Planning & Zoning chair Pat Hughes was replaced last April.

Extended testimony of Herman Davis, Coho Clan leader, before the Sitka assembly Tuesday night (2-26-08). Davis, and other tribal elders, characterize Sealaska's new land selections as part of an ongoing repatriation effort.

This January the Forest Service released the first major revision of the Tongass Land Management Plan in a decade. The conservation community is disappointed in the amended plan, and believes the Forest Service missed a chance to reassess its management strategy in a new economy where timber plays a far smaller role than in the past. Sitka Conservation Society director Andrew Thoms speaks with KCAWs Robert Woolsey (for the Forest Service perspective, see the interview with forest supervisor Forrest Cole).

The so-called TLMP "adjustment" was the direct result of a 2005 ruling from the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which found that the Forest Service had significantly overestimated the market demand for Tongass timber. Tongass supervisor Forrest Cole talks with CoastAlaska's Ed Schoenfeld about how he believes the amended plan remains a vital tool for diverse management (for the environmental perspective see the interview with Andrew Thoms).

Southeast Alaska’s regional Native Corporation, Sealaska, is making major changes to a controversial lands transfer bill. While the Sitka Tribe of Alaska has endorsed the bill, the legislation has met significant opposition from the wider Sitka community. Hoping to earn broader support, Sealaska has withdrawn its claims to two land selections within the Sitka Community Use Area and is doing away with 15-mile access zones around Native Enterprise Sites.

About fifteen Sitkans turned out Wednesday evening (2-20-08) to hear one of Gov Palin's three gasline teams explain the basics of AGIA -- the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act. The team covering Southeast this week included Commissioner of Revenue Pat Galvin, and Kurt Gibson, the deputy director of the Division of Oil & Gas.

History has just turned a corner in Southeast. A little over a month after two electric ZENN cars debuted in Kodiak, one of the “Zero Emmission No Noise” vehicles has appeared in Sitka. But, as Robert Woolsey reports, the new ZENN is not the first electric car in Sitka. That prize was awarded over thirty years ago.

The assembly's decision to give Silver Bay Seafoods five acres of industrial waterfront property in Sawmill Cove had few fans among the public who testified at Friday's (2-15-08) meeting. An excerpt of some of the testimony.