Ed Ronco, KPLU - Seattle
Ed Ronco is a reporter at KCAW in Sitka.
AK: Holiday Brass
Some of the nation’s top brass musicians appeared in Sitka this week. The trumpeters, trombonists and more performed Monday night at the community’s performing arts center. All 6xx seats regularly sell out for the concert which has become something of a holiday tradition in the southeast community.
Sitka Schools: Stability, Calm Important After Conn. Shooting
Friday’s shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut has raised questions for teachers and parents across the country: How do you help children understand what happened, and how do you make them feel safe at their own school?
Sitka Herring Harvest To Be Lower in 2013
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game announced the guideline harvest level for the 2013 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery Wednesday. It is 11,055 tons. The harvest level, also known as the GHL, determines how much the commercial fleet is allowed to catch.
Mt. Edgecumbe Senior Sues AK Over Climate Change
The snow is coming later in Kipnuk. The river doesn’t stay frozen all winter. And the riverbank is quickly eroding. Those are just a few of the changes 18-year-old Nelson Kanuk says he sees in his western Alaska hometown.
Sitka Dock To Get First Regular Visits In 2013
A businessman who spent millions of his company’s money to build a cruise dock outside of Sitka two years ago will finally get his first regular customers. The Seven Seas Navigator and the Regatta have both announced plans to dock at Halibut Point Marine in 2013. For Chris McGraw, it means his wait for business is finally over, but the work of moving thousands of people is just beginning.
Thomas Files Recount Request
State Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, said Tuesday that he was “99.9 percent sure” he’d ask for a recount in the race to keep his seat in the Legislature. On Wednesday, he chipped in the 0.1 percent.
Sitka Looks To Tighten Laws On Smelly Trash
Sitka police could get tougher on trash under a measure advanced Tuesday night by the Assembly. City law right now says residents must wait until their designated trash pick-up day before they put smelly garbage outside. The days of a friendly warning for violators might soon be over.
Leone Part 3: ‘Come Back Right Now’
When Coast Guard helicopter 6017 crashed in 2010 on its way to Sitka, co-pilot Lt. Lance Leone was the only member of the four-person crew to survive. Lt. Sean Krueger, Petty Officer 2nd Class Brett Banks and Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Hoke, died in the crash. This week we’ve been bringing you a three part interview with Leone.This third and final part begins in a Seattle hospital, where Leone was recovering from a broken collarbone and other injuries in the days after the crash.
Final HD 34 Ballots In: JKT 4,123; Thomas 4,091
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins appears to have won a seat in the Alaska House of Representatives. The 23-year-old Sitka Democrat remained ahead of Haines Republican incumbent Rep. Bill Thomas after the final absentee ballots were counted today.
Leone, Part Two: ‘A Rapid, Liquid Stop’
This is the second of our three-part conversation with Lt. Lance Leone, the only survivor of a fatal helicopter crash in 2010, in which three people from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka died. Leone was the co-pilot aboard Coast Guard helicopter 6017 as it flew back to Sitka from Astoria, Ore.
Leone: CG 6017 ‘Hit Something We Never Saw’
This is the first of a three-part interview with Lt. Lance Leone, the sole survivor of a 2010 Coast Guard helicopter crash, in which three people from Air Station Sitka died.
Two Votes Separate House District 34 Race
Two votes. That’s the latest report from Juneau where absentee ballots were counted Tuesday in the race for House District 34. Haines Republican Representative Bill Thomas now holds a two-vote lead over Sitka Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
Stedman: Rural Voices Softer In New Legislature
State Sen. Bert Stedman says rural Alaska’s voice will be diminished in the upcoming Legislative session. The Sitka Republican lost his position as co-chair of the powerful Senate Finance committee when the Republican majority picked its new leaders for the 2013.
Shut Out From Finance, Stedman Accepts Health Chair
State Sen. Bert Stedman will chair the Senate Health and Social Services committee when the Legislature convenes in January. The Sitka Republican, who sailed to an easy re-election on Tuesday night, had been co-chairman of the powerful Senate Finance committee since 2007. But he lost that position when the new Senate Majority formed on Wednesday.
Republican Majority Ousts Stedman From Leadership
Senator Bert Stedman of Sitka is the only Republican coalition member who hasn’t joined the new majority. Sitka officials say Stedman losing his chairmanship on the powerful Senate Finance Committee is bad news Southeast Alaska. But they’re not quite sure what the exact impact will be.
House District 34: Kreiss-Tomkins Holds Small Lead Over Rep. Bill Thomas
It’s still too close to call for Republican state Representative Bill Thomas and Democratic challenger Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in Southeast’s House District 34. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Thomas trails Kreiss-Tomkins by 44 votes. That’s less than a full school bus of voters. Absentee, early and questioned ballots will have an impact in this race.
New Faces Coming To Alaska Legislature
Alaska was assured of new faces in the Legislature, as redistricting pitted incumbents against one another. But that was just the beginning of the changes. As usual Alaska went overwhelmingly Republican for President, and only one state-wide office was in contest. Republican Congressman Don Young had no trouble defeating Democrat Sharon Cissna and will go on to pass Ted Stevens record of 40 years representing Alaska.
Group Wants Input To Improve Sitka’s Downtown
Since the start of the year, at least four stores have closed in downtown Sitka. Fewer visitors are coming aboard cruise ships, sales tax revenues are declining, and business owners have long expressed concerns about the financial health of Lincoln Street.
Assembly Gives Final Green Light To Blue Lake
The Sitka Assembly gave final approval Tuesday to begin work at Blue Lake. The dam is one of two hydro projects generating electricity for Sitka. Increasing its height by about 80 feet should boost the capacity to make power.
Family Urges Help In Finding Sitka Woman
The family and friends of a missing Sitka woman have urged anyone with information to come forward as local authorities continued their search Monday.