Author: Melissa Marconi Wentzel

Scientists in the lower 48 say they’ve found a way to help increase the survival of released rockfish. It’s called re-compression, and it could mean the difference between life and death for innumerable fish. Two researchers recently presented their findings to sport and charter fishermen in Sitka. They, and at least one Sitka scientist, hope the technique will catch on in Alaska. The presentation was co-sponsored by the Alaska Conservation Foundation, the Sitka Conservation Society, and the Sitka Marine Stewardship Roundtable.

Representatives from Sitka went into a full-court press to try and win better ferry service for the community next winter, but received little in the way of assurances from state marine transportation officials. The department of transportation held a one-and-a-half hour teleconference this morning (Thu 5-15-08) on the proposed 2008 fall/winter schedule for Southeast Alaska. Testimony from Sitka dominated the proceedings.

The Sitka assembly took a first look at some innovative options for development on the benchlands at its regular meeting last night (Tue 5-13-08), but struggled with how to fund them.

The fast ferry Fairweather pulled into port at 12:30 PM Monday (5/12), and Sitka dignitaries were there to meet it. They turned out to celebrate the Alaska Marine Highway’s summer schedule – being hailed as the best the city has seen in years. And the star of the schedule is the Fairweather, which will sail between Sitka and Juneau 5 days a week.

The City of Sitka is hoping the Alaska Marine Highway will re-think its draft fall-winter-spring schedule. Officials are calling the schedule “a new low in service to Sitka”. As it now stands, travel to and from Sitka will require layovers of up to a week. Sitka will see four vessels a week until March. The fast ferry Fairweather will connect Sitka to Juneau on Mondays and Fridays, the mainliners Taku and Columbia will make stops on Tuesdays, the Taku traveling northbound and the Columbia southbound. Beginning in March, the Fairweather will be put into drydock and Sitka service will be down to the two mainliners once a week.

The Forest Service is opening up a number of small and large timber sales in the Iyouktug (eye-YOU-tug) area on northeast Chichagof Island – about 12 miles east-southeast of the small village of Hoonah. Over the course of about ten years, the agency expects to log close to 42-million board feet of timber, or about 33-hundred acres. The agency released the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for the Iyouktug (eye-YOU-tug) timber sales on May 3rd. As Melissa Marconi Wentzel reports, the controversial project is one of the largest the region has seen in recent years,

Charlie Rutkowski believes public transit is here to stay in Sitka. Rutkowski is the assistant director of the Community Transportation Association in Washington, DC. He first came to Sitka ten years ago to help establish the “Community Ride”; he was back last week (5-6-08) to help institutionalize it. Rutkowski says that, having added a third fixed route, the Community Ride is beyond the tipping point between experiment and acceptance, and is now looking at sustainability. KCAWs Robert Woolsey spoke with Rutkowski about how small-to-mid-range transit systems like Sitka’s keep themselves going.

Alaska kids are walking across Asia. Well, they’re actually walking across a very large map of Asia. National Geographic’s “Traveling Map of Asia” has come to Alaska, and it’s touring the state’s schools. It’s a hands- and feet-on approach to geography, and its visit is just about over. Melissa Marconi Wentzel stopped by Sitka’s Blatchley Middle School, where 7th graders were using the map to explore some complex ideas.

The Sheldon Jackson Board of Trustees has set a 90-day deadline to identify a purchaser for the core campus, the college’s most valuable piece of real estate. If no buyer is found, the Board could consider subdividing the property for sale.

Sheldon Jackson's unsuccessful tax appeal was based on two assumptions: the first that, although there are no students on campus, a "teach-out" and administration remain in place for thirteen students studying elsewhere. Second, many of the buildings on the core campus are being rented out for community purposes like a childcare and wellness center. An excerpt of college president David Dobler's defense before the board of equalization.