Author: Sam Woolsey

In what might be described as a contest of acute mentality, nineteen Sitka junior high class champs – and two elementary standouts -- competed this past Tuesday night (1-15-08) in the local round of the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee. In a tense inter-grade showdown, sixth-grader Chaya Pike overtook three-time finalist and eighth-grader Richard Bekeris, winning the right to represent Sitka at the Anchorage Daily News Spelling Bee this February in Anchorage. An audio postcard from student reporter Sam Woolsey.

And then, there were two... At a special meeting last Thursday evening (1-17-08), the Sitka assembly acted quickly to narrow down its choice of administrator candidates to two: Greg LaFond, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and James Dinley, of Newnan, Georgia. The speedy session was not without dissent; at least two assembly members want current administrator John Stein to stay in his job.

Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) co-chairs the senate finance committee and oversees the drafting of the state’s capital budget. Before heading to Juneau to begin the legislative session, Stedman took a few minutes to talk with KCAW’s Robert Woolsey about his strategy for advancing this year’s capital project list for Sitka, and for restoring the capital items removed by veto from the district last year

Four candidates for the job of city administrator offered their views on their qualifications during telephone interviews with the Sitka assembly Sunday afternoon (1-13-08).

A proposal for an affordable housing apartment complex at the old city shops site provoked strong reactions from the public at a special assembly meeting Thursday night (1-10-08). Questions about the proposal's suitability for the site, its impact on traffic volume and land values, and its proximity to a known slide area dominated the evening. But, there was also strong support for allowing the developers to revise their plans to address the major concerns.

Southeast Alaskans commented on the Alaska Marine Highway's proposed operating plan and summer schedule during a regionwide teleconference Thursday (1/10). About ten Sitkans lined up at the Legislative Information Office Thursday to have their say about the summer schedule, and for the first time in many years, their comments were mostly positive. They were pleased with the proposed five fast ferry runs a week between Sitka and Juneau, saying the frequency of service would fix many of the community’s transportation woes. But Sitkans also renewed their call for direct ferry connections to the villages, a request echoed by other communities.

Sitka’s first police dog, Justice, was the victim of an alleged assault this past weekend. Detective Mark Hake, the dog’s handler, responded to a drunk and disorderly complaint Friday night at the Lakeside Grocery store. According to court documents, after being escorted off the premises, the defendant allegedly stopped at the marked police canine vehicle and punched the left rear window where Justice was housed. The defendant was also allegedly shouting while he struck the vehicle. He was placed under arrest and charged with “Harming a Police Dog” in the second degree, a misdemeanor offense. The defendant was also arrested on one count of resisting arrest. KCAW’s Melissa Marconi Wentzel talked to Detective Hake about the incident and about the state statute protecting police dogs:

Sitka's long-range energy plans may not require a new hydro project at Lake Diana after all. At a worksession with the Sitka assembly on Tuesday (1-8-08), system engineer Dean Orbison explained that a consultant had identified much more potential at Blue Lake than the 23-feet of additional height planned by the dam's original designers.

The Sitka assembly wasted little time acting on the electric department's recommendation to pursue significant expansion of the Blue Lake hydro project. During their regular meeting Tuesday night (1-8-08) they authorized the restructuring of the electric fund's debt, and the creation of a capital fund to begin preparatory work on the project.

The Sitka assembly on first reading narrowly passed an ordinance granting the state a right-of-way to construct a roundabout at the Swan Lake intersection. Newly-appointed member Heide Raffaele held the swing vote. She chose to pass the issue on to second reading, and buy time to study the issue.