Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
This summer's commercial Chinook trolling fishery is in jeopardy following the recent release of a judge's recommendation to suspend the fishery as part of an ongoing lawsuit, leaving Southeast trollers in uncertain waters. Western District of Washington Magistrate Judge Michelle Peterson's report, released in December 2022, concludes that the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS), also known as NOAA Fisheries, violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act...
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took an unusually strong step Tuesday and blocked a proposed mine heralded by backers as the most significant undeveloped copper and gold resource in the world because of concerns about its environmental impact on a rich Alaska aquatic ecosystem that supports the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. The move, cheered by Alaska Native tribes and environmentalists and condemned by some state officials and mining interests, deals a heavy blow to the proposed Pebble Mine. The int...
February 2, 1923 – The halibut boat Flora was wrecked on the morning of January 24th on Whale Rock in Danger Pass, between Duke and Mary Islands and is a total loss. The seven men in the crew at once took to the dory and started for shore, but when still a mile away, the overloaded dory swamped and they were forced to swim back to the wrecked gas boat where they sought what meager shelter they were able to find. They were taken off the wreck the next day and taken to Ketchikan. The wreck was caused by a blinding snowstorm. The men lost e...
Unsettled Science To the Editor: This letter is in response to Sam Bunge’s response to my letter two weeks ago. The contention is based on the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) petition. Sam’s letter states according to Wikipedia.”The authenticity and methods of the petitioners as well as the signatories credentials have been questioned, and the project has been characterized as a disinformation campaign engaged in climate change denial.” My response: according to the University of Pittsburgh Library system,...
Sen. Lisa Murkowski succeeded in convincing her colleagues that the Alaska Marine Highway System deserves more federal funding. The proof of her success in helping to write last year’s federal spending legislation is the $284 million in grants announced last week for new ferries, repairs to old vessels, dock improvements and better service to small communities. The state will need to put up about $105 million in matching funds for the grants. Some of that already has been appropriated and the rest can come during this year’s legislative ses...
January 25 – A driver on Mitkof Highway was issued a warning for inoperable tail lights. An officer spoke with an individual on South Nordic Drive concerning a civil issue. Timothy Taylor was arrested at Sandy Beach for alleged misconduct involving weapons, fourth degree. An individual checked in to serve time in the Petersburg Police Department (PPD) jail. PPD received a report of suspicious behavior at Sandy Beach Park. January 26 – Extra patrol watches were conducted downtown. An alarm activated at pump station #3. Water Wastewater (W/WW) wa...
January 5, 2023 In the Petersburg District Court, Magistrate Judge Rachel Newport presided over a bail hearing for Jason Lapeyri. The defendant's request was granted and his electronic monitoring and alcohol detection device were removed. He must check in before departure and upon arrival with the Pretrial Enforcement Division, send an itinerary to the Pretrial Enforcement Division Officer and submit to a portable breath test if directed by the officer. All other conditions remain the same. A call was set for February 8. January 9, 2023...
The state Board of Game has approved a proposal to reopen an elk hunt on Zarembo Island, though the odds that a local could nab a tag and take a bull will be low — a small number of tags will be available and the drawing will be open to hunters nationwide. The first drawing will likely take place this fall, with the hunt set for fall 2024. There hasn’t been an elk hunt on Zarembo for nearly 20 years, due to concerns about the small population’s sustainability, explained Petersburg-based state Fish and Game biologist Frank Robbins. “The last ye...
Wrangell — After a three-year closure blamed on weak chum returns, Seattle-based Trident Seafoods plans on running its Wrangell processing and cold storage plant this summer. “We’re going to operate in July and August,” focusing on chums and pinks, employing a little over 100 workers for the season, said Shannon Carroll, Trident’s director of public affairs, on Jan. 26. That would be a smaller payroll than in past years, he said. Chum salmon returns to Southeast have improved the past couple of years. In advance of running the processin...
After the heat wave-induced collapse of the Bering Sea snow crab fishery, some fishermen were looking, with hope, at the upcoming tanner crab harvest out of Kodiak. The nearly 6-million-pound quota was the highest in decades. And some people spent more than $100,000 to buy a permit to fish this year, said Kevin Abena, one of the leaders of the Kodiak Crab Alliance Cooperative. But fishermen’s hopes for a banner season are now in limbo, as the 130 boats in the Kodiak tanner crab fleet are on strike — holding out for higher prices from the sea... Full story
The Petersburg High School girls basketball team fell twice at home last weekend against the seasoned Craig Lady Panthers. Though the Lady Vikings have yet to chalk up a win this season, they showed considerable growth over the two games. Craig won Friday's game 54-19, led by top scorer Alissa Durgan with 22 points. Petersburg scored consistently in the first half, netting six in each quarter, and were only down 18-12 at the half. Though the Lady Vikings maintained their offensive aggression in...
The Petersburg High School boys basketball team took care of business last weekend, claiming two wins over visitors Craig. The Vikings hit double digits in each quarter they played against the Panthers as they maintained their perfect record in conference play. "I thought both nights we did a much better job of looking for the openings instead of trying to force the basketball," Head Coach Rick Brock said. Kyle Biggers set the tone in Friday's 59-38 win, netting a season-high 27 points....
Clausen Museum Director Cindi Lagoudakis and local artist Suzanne Fuqua are both participants in the first "Portable Southeast" traveling art exhibition on display at the Clausen Museum through Saturday, February 25th. Lagoudakis was selected to be on a six member curation panel, representing diverse experiences and skill sets, to review submissions from artists around Southeast Alaska. Suzanne Fuqua's painting 'Forest Floor' was selected to be in the show and will be traveling through June for...
Colleen Nicholson was born on November 7, 1928 in Idaho Falls, ID, the eldest child of George “Bud” and Alice Mortensen. Her father was a cook and butcher by trade who ran restaurants in western Montana. Her brother Buddy (Jim Mortensen) and sister Ruthie (Rhoden) rounded out the family. The restaurant business was especially tough during the Great Depression, so the family moved often, living in Sheridan, Dillon, and Butte, MT. With the onset of World War II, her father heard of an opp... Full story
The federal ship has come in for the Alaska Marine Highway System, carrying more than $284 million for upgrades to old vessels, money to help pay for a new ferry, dock repairs, additional service to small communities and even a proposed electric-powered ferry for short runs. The Federal Transit Administration announced the awards last week. The grants were awarded under a competitive application process, but Alaska’s congressional delegation wrote the provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2022 with the intent of s...
Alaska’s backlog of untested sexual assault examination kits has all but disappeared after a five-year, multimillion-dollar effort, according to a report presented to the Alaska Legislature. The kits, colloquially known as “rape kits,” are used to collect physical evidence after a sexual assault. Figures published by the Alaska Department of Public Safety and dated Nov. 1 show only 75 untested kits, all at the state crime lab. In 2017, a statewide survey found almost 3,500 untested kits across the state, many held by local police depar... Full story
