Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

ADF&G says herring fishery unlikely this spring

The Sitka Sac Roe Herring Fishery likely won’t happen this year. That’s according to a statement released today (2-28-20) by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Assembly won’t take further action on citizen’s complaint

Sitka assembly members aren’t happy that Mayor Gary Paxton included an unauthorized letter in a packet to Alaska’s congressional delegation last year, but they see no need to censure him for what he admits was a mistake.

‘Climate emergency’ resolution gets chilly reception from assembly

The Sitka Assembly is not ready to declare a “climate emergency,” or to take specific action to reduce carbon emissions in local government.The controversial resolution had significant support from the public -- especially students -- but the standing-room-only audience at this week’s assembly meeting (2-25-20) couldn’t persuade a majority of members to agree to the strongly-worded document.

After a year off, Assembly budgets for utility rate increases

After a break from rate increases last year, Sitka residents may be paying more for utilities this year, across the board.

Murkowski circles up with Pacific High students

US Senator Lisa Murkowski took time during the congressional recess to make a swing through Sitka this week. She did all the expected things, like addressing the Chamber of Commerce and meeting with community leaders to discuss funding priorities. And the senator did one unexpected thing: She spent the afternoon in a talking circle with just over a dozen students at Pacific High School -- where one of the most influential voices in Washington had to wait her turn.

Questions emerge following delivery of Sitka’s Roadless resolution

A lengthy delay in delivering Sitka’s official position on the proposed “Roadless Rule” exemption to Congress has left some residents wondering if city hall hoped to downplay the resolution. Recently-released public records indicate that only one member of Alaska’s delegation received the “No Action” resolution following a vote by the Sitka Assembly last fall, and it was delivered with a letter that had not received assembly approval.

City settles suit with former jailer for $30,000

The city of Sitka has paid $30,000 to settle the second of three lawsuits brought by former police department employees. Noah Shepard had sued, claiming he was pushed out of his job at the Sitka Police Department.

Assembly looks to sell city-owned Marine Services Center

The Sitka Assembly is looking to sell the city-owned Marine Services Center. When the assembly met on Tuesday (2-11-20), it voted to draft a Request for Proposal, but even those who voted on the process weren’t married to the idea of off-loading the facility.

New tiny house code inches forward, with changes

The Sitka Assembly wants to make room for tiny houses in city code, but the process to create regulations around them is moving at a snail shell’s pace. At a meeting on Tuesday (2-11-20) the group passed an amended version of new rules and regulations for tiny houses, but now the code has to come back to the assembly two more times.