Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

20 Sitka nonprofits accepting support through ‘Pick. Click. Give.’

Come January 1, those filing for a 2020 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, have the option to donate to local nonprofits through "Pick.Click.Give."

Assembly looks for more public input on haulout, land swap

The Sitka Assembly is testing the waters on a proposal a local business made to build the city a marine haulout in exchange for 17 acres of city-owned land, valued at around $2 million dollars.

City boosts tour bus subsidy, puts contract out to bid

Sitka’s privately owned cruise ship dock, Halibut Point Marine, is six miles out of town, so if passengers want to come downtown, there are shuttle buses. And for the past six years, the city has subsidized those shuttle trips using cruise passenger fee revenue.

State sets herring harvest level for 2020

State managers intend to double the commercial harvest level for the Sitka Sound sac roe fishery. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, today (12/23/19), announced the target for the 2020 season would be just over 25,000 tons.

Assembly begins FY21 budget talks

Thursday’s meeting was meant to be a 30,000-foot view of the 2021 budget- this early in the game there are still many unknowns. Nevertheless, the Sitka School District remains the biggest expense on the city balance sheet, just ahead of public safety.

Sitka museum not for sale in proposed budget, but fees could rise

Governor Mike Dunleavy’s budget was released last week, and it’s a mixed message for The Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka. The governor has removed the museum from a proposed list of assets to sell. But the price of admission is likely to increase.

Sitka Americorps a finalist for national volunteer award

Sitka Americorps volunteer Ashley Hart Nessler is a finalist for a national award- Corpsmember of the Year. Nessler and Americorps coordinator Sarah Lawrie joined KCAW's Erin Fulton in the studio to discuss Nessler's work at Sitka High School.

Sitka joins other Alaska cities to create online sales tax collection system

In a move intended to help level the playing field for local merchants in competition with online retailers, the Sitka Assembly on Tuesday approved a resolution to join the Alaska Remote Seller Sales Tax Commission.

Assembly considers Lincoln Street upgrades again

A $2 million-plus makeover for Sitka’s downtown main street is back on -- maybe. The Sitka Assembly voted last summer to postpone the project for a year for additional study, but at a work session Tuesday night (12-10-19) city staff said that postponing the project came with its own caveats. And some residents are just antsy to get it done.

After second dog fatality, state to eliminate problem bear

At a time when bears should typically be denning up for winter, Sitka has actually seen an uptick in bear activity. Two dogs have been killed in the last month, prompting Fish and Game to adopt a more active strategy in dealing with the bears.