Author: Robert Woolsey

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.

Sealaska, Southeast's regional Native corporation, met with Sitkans on January 3rd to discuss a proposed bill which would transfer to the corporation about 85-thousand acres of Southeast Alaska rainforest.

The Sitka assembly met in special session on January 4th, to choose a short-list of candidates for the position of City Administrator. Six candidates were chosen.

A female green sea turtle found dead near Sitka last week traveled thousands of miles to reach Southeast Alaska shores. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the turtle likely originated from Mexico or the Galapagos Islands. About four weeks earlier, a sea turtle was recovered near Ketchikan, bringing the total number of strandings of this protected species within the last decade up to seven.

The Federal Subsistence Board closed the subsistence doe season in Unit 4.

Sitka mayor Marko Dapcevich has withdrawn his candidacy for House District 2 because of conflicts with the Hatch Act.

In Sitka, 2007 was marked by two major events – a plane crash that claimed a New Jersey family and the closure of the state’s longest running educational institution. Melissa Marconi Wentzel takes this look back at the top stories that shaped our community

Handsome, smart rodent pair EEK & SQEEK return to the air with the Christmas Eve edition of Raven News. Phone interview with Saint N. himself on this year's assembly gift lineup; a daring rodent protest at the Sitka Nutcracker; Gov. Palin's anti-corruption war chest; and much more. Heard during the regular local news slot on Raven Radio, Christmas Eve, 2007.

During the holiday season, student reporter Leah Mann explains why Sitka wouldn't be Sitka without its license plates.