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A federal judge issued an order Tuesday that appears to close an iconic Southeast Alaska salmon fishery for at least the summer season - a decision that threatens hundreds of jobs and a $30 million industry in response to a conservation group's lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by the Washington state-based Wild Fish Conservancy, seeks to protect endangered orcas off the coast of the Lower 48 and British Columbia - whales that feed on some of the same salmon harvested by Southeast Alaska troll... Full story
The Petersburg School District announced last Friday that it has hired Gustavus High School Principal Brad King as the new principal of Petersburg High School and Mitkof Middle School starting next year. According to the school's announcement, King has over 30 years of experience in education ranging from teaching, administration, curriculum development, budgeting, coaching, and more. "Mr. King will bring a calm, steady hand to our school, and a wealth of educational experience," the district...
Metlakatla Indian Community Mayor Albert Smith wants everyone to spread the word-the invasive European green crab has arrived on the shores of Annette Island and their arrival spells trouble. Southeast Alaska's abundant estuaries and tidal salt marshes are ideal for the predatory and destructive little crabs to become established, as they have along much of the Pacific Northwest's coast. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the number of green crabs caught in the Pug...
They may be small, but the mighty Viking Swim Club turned up big at the Alaska Swimming State Championships in Anchorage last weekend. VSC only took six swimmers to the meet but managed to finish ninth overall as a team in the 14 and under division. "We may not have taken quite as many swimmers but we sure did compete," Head Coach Scott Burt said. Petersburg went up against 320 swimmers from 19 teams across the state who had to pass through stringent time requirements to attend the competition....
May 4, 1923 – While the tale has not become public property, and while the principal actor in the drama probably would not want it known, the fact remains that Walter Frederickson was lost for four days last week and wandered across Kupreanof Island in his travels. Walter, who is an old time trapper and counted one of the best trail finders in this section, has been camping somewhere in Rocky Pass this past trapping season. Last week he started out from camp and four days later, after having been in the woods without food in the meantime, a...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly discussed potentially hiring an independent specialist to review the borough's current hiring practices and safety policies during Tuesday's meeting. Over a dozen people spoke and even more crowded the assembly chambers, filling it so much that some had to stand along the perimeter, to show support for a review. The assembly ultimately voted to direct borough staff to contact Alaska Public Entity Insurance-the borough's liability carrier-along with The Safety...
Most Alaska state budget watchers follow oil prices, fully realizing that they can bounce around like a small plane on a windy day, creating that same stomach-churning queasiness when they drop. The estimated difference between Alaska North Slope crude averaging $70 per barrel over the next fiscal year is $650 million less in state general fund revenue than at $80. That’s close to 10% of the general fund budget and enough to either leave a gaping hole in the spending plan or add some extra money to savings. Oil down at $60 per barrel means an a...
A solution to a problem To the Editor: This is a message to the retiring tradesmen. Please help our next generation learn your trade. You have the talent, equipment and the time to teach a few people the basics and maybe a bit more. I hear complaints every day about how few technical tradesmen and other skilled laborers that we have in this town. I would gladly have my kids participate in a workshop to learn some of your skills. Who is going to do fabrication work on the boats, diesel mechanics and shipwrights? How many licensed contr...
The Taku River is usually the most productive wild salmon river in Southeast Alaska and one of the most prolific on the west coast of North America that is also vitally important to Petersburg and other Southeast Alaskan fishermen and processors. For over 60 years the abandoned Tulsequah Chief mine has been spewing toxic acid mine drainage into the Taku River watershed. For over 20 years Alaska Tribes, fishermen, elected leaders, tourism operators and many others have been fighting to get the British Columbia (B.C.) government to close down...
April 26 – An officer spoke with an individual on South Nordic Drive. An officer responded to a report of dogs at large on Lumber Street, but could not locate them. The owner of a vehicle blocking access on North Nordic Drive was contacted and moved their vehicle. Hunt Parr Sr. was remanded for alleged parole violation. A driver on Scow Bay Loop Road was issued a warning for speed. Petersburg Police Department (PPD) received a report of a propane odor on North Nordic Drive. An on-call officer and the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department (... Full story
The Petersburg High School baseball team took on unfamiliar competition at the Buddy Dale Invitational last weekend as they continued their pursuit of a state tournament bid. The Vikings played four games in Wasilla, winning one. "It was a great opportunity for us to compete against really good teams, teams that we don't face every day," Head Coach Jim Engell said. Petersburg opened against the Eagle River Wolves, the eventual tourney winners, last Thursday, losing 17-2. The Vikings held a 2-1 l...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously during Tuesday's meeting to approve the borough's FY24 budget in its first reading. No amendments were made to the budget, though some are expected to be introduced in successive readings. During the meeting, Assembly Member Dave Kensinger proposed an amendment to increase the funding for Mountain View Food Services to $43,000, though it failed in a 3-4 vote with Assembly Members Kensinger, Jeff Meucci, and Scott Newman in support. The proposed...
Legislative leaders focused on the Permanent Fund dividend and taxes as they described the budget choices facing lawmakers trying to find a combination that will win enough political support to balance state spending. “The dividend has been the massive rock in the middle of the road,” making it difficult to find an affordable path to a long-term state fiscal plan, Anchorage Sen. Cathy Giessel, the Senate majority leader, said during an online discussion with Alaska Common Ground last week. “The dividend provides a lot of benefits to Alask...
(Alaska Beacon) The Legislature has passed and is sending to the governor a bill intended to reduce the cost of Alaska-made lumber for housing projects. The state House on Monday overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 87, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, of Nikiski. The Senate passed the measure without opposition on April 26. After it is signed into law by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, the legislation would set up a quality testing system for lumber produced by Alaska sawmills. Currently, that lumber must be tested and graded by a national standards... Full story
Pete and Chelsea Keutmann of Petersburg's Sea to Shore Seafood Company recently won a Good Food Award for their smoked pink salmon tins. The national award from the Good Food Foundation recognizes food producers who bring together the principles of social and environmental responsibility and exceptional craftsmanship and flavor. The product prepared by Tonka Seafoods beat smoked tinned king and sockeye salmon in a blind tasting. Chelsea remembers, "When Pete said, 'I want to try smoking and cann...
A press release this week announced that Petersburg Medical Center Youth Programs will offer expanded summer programming to better meet the community's needs by providing additional options for childcare. Kinder Skog, the popular outdoor forest school, will expand to include a "Forest Kindy" program designed specifically for five and six year olds. Following a recommendation from the State of Alaska Childcare Program, Kinder Skog will transition from a licensed childcare program to a recreationa...
This year's sac roe herring fishery in Sitka Sound held unusual challenges for the fishing fleet, with vast schools of fish on their annual run settling in places tough for purse seiners to operate in during that critical period just before spawning, longtime seine skipper Jamie Ross told the Sentinel. Ross, whose home port is Homer, has fished for more than three decades in Sitka's seasonal herring fishery. This year's fishery was possibly his last. "This was a very complex year; the fish were...
Wrangell may not be on the road system, but that doesn’t mean it’s not connected to the rest of the world. Last month, a U.S. Forest Service project put Wrangell on the map — the Motus map. The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international collaborative research network that uses radio telemetry technology to study the migratory patterns of birds and other animals. After scientists put a nanotag on a bird, its movements can be tracked by hundreds of Motus antennae all over the world. These tags can weigh less than a gram. The program’s res...
DILLINGHAM – Bristol Bay saw a record-breaking harvest of more than 60 million sockeye last summer. The fishery provided roughly two-thirds of the global sockeye supply. It also made up most of the state’s largest harvest on record, which was up 40% from the year before. “That's a lot more fish to sell through the system,” said Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association’s executive director, Andy Wink, at a virtual presentation on market conditions last month. The huge volume of sockeye from 2022 means companies are still selling o...
The Alaska Division of Elections improperly removed Al Gross, an independent candidate for U.S. House, from last year’s special election ballot, the Alaska Supreme Court said in a ruling published Friday. Gross withdrew from the race after finishing third among 48 candidates in the special primary election that was the first step in filling the House seat left vacant by the death of Congressman Don Young. Democrat Mary Peltola, who finished fourth behind Gross in the special primary, won both the special election in August and the regular g... Full story
Thousands of new mothers will receive extended Medicaid coverage under legislation proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and passed by the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday. The Alaska House of Representatives voted 35-3 to approve Senate Bill 58, which now returns to the Senate for a procedural vote before being sent to Dunleavy’s desk for final approval. In a separate action, the House also approved a permanent extension to the state’s renewable energy grant fund. House lawmakers had previously approved a 10-year extension, and the Senate changed tha... Full story
