Joe Viechnicki, KFSK - Petersburg
Joe Viechnicki is a reporter at KFSK in Petersburg.
Stream restoration near Petersburg aims to improve fish habitat
The goal is to mimic natural processes to bring back topsoil and improve fish habitats.
Bar service returns to 2 Alaska ferries
Ferry managers were looking for ways to improve the travel experience, said a state transportation department spokesman.
Petersburg high school students calculate a glacier’s advance
The LeConte Glacier student survey was started in 1983 by Petersburg High School teacher Paul Bowen and has happened almost every year since then.
Petersburg reports large COVID outbreak at borough’s assisted living facility
As of Monday, the outbreak at the borough’s Mountain View Manor assisted living wing involved one death and at least 10 people testing positive.
Commission boosts fishing limits for halibut
The commission approved this year’s total coast-wide limit at 41.22 million pounds, more than a 5% increase from last year.
Deep snow hampers Mitkof Island deer study
Southeast Alaska's heavy snowfall hasn't been easy on deer — or for the people who study them.
Board of Fish Southeast meeting moved to Anchorage in March
Anchorage’s larger hospital capacity played a role in the decision to move the meeting as the state sees COVID case numbers set new record highs this month, says the Board of Fish executive director.
Petersburg COVID cases drop to single digits for the first time since October
Petersburg’s active COVID-19 case count dropped to single digits this week, the lowest total since late October.
Senators reintroduce bill that would grant land to Alaska Native communities in Southeast
The bill would grant just over 23,000 acres of land that’s now national forest to each of the five new corporations.
Chinook catch falls short in first Southeast troll opening
Southeast’s commercial troll catch of king salmon fell short of its target in the first summer opening in July. The fleet gets another shot at those chinook in a second fishing period that starts Friday, Aug. 13.
Canadian border workers strike, warn of delays at crossings
Just days before the relaxation of some travel restrictions at the U.S.–Canada border, Canadian workers are warning of long delays at the border because of a labor dispute.
House finance committee considers extending COVID-19 disaster declaration
Supporters of a disaster extension say it would allow health care providers to continue to offer alternate sites for screening and testing and continue to use telemedicine during the pandemic.
Petersburg ranks as fourth-worst spot for COVID-19 in US
The Southeast Alaska town ranks fourth of any counties in the U.S., according to a New York Times analysis.
‘Use words to make a difference’: The legacy of Elizabeth Peratrovich
For many, civil rights icon Elizabeth Peratrovich is more than a historical figure. For Diane Benson, a Tlingit woman living in Petersburg, learning of Peratrovich changed her.
US Forest Service mismanaged Tongass timber sales, report says
Mistakes meant $2 million less for habitat restoration work on the Tongass National Forest, according to the internal audit by the US Forest Service.
COVID-19 takes half-billion dollar bite from Alaska commercial fisheries revenue
A federal agency has put some dollar amounts to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial and charter fishing industries nationwide in the first part of last year.
Rare white orca spotted in Southeast Alaska
A Petersburg-based whale watching and charter company documented the white orca in the Inside Passage this summer. It’s been sighted frequently in British Columbia and Washington state as well.
Petersburg mourns four killed in crash
Four people died in a vehicle wreck south of Petersburg. It’s believed the late model SUV went off Mitkof Highway sometime Monday night.
Alaska clarifies new rules for ferry travel, no test required for short trips
The Alaska Marine Highway System announced the new coronavirus-related protocols on Sunday. Three days later, it sent out a statement tweaking some of them.
Due to COVID-19, spring bear hunting isn’t happening for non-residents
After announcing there would be no spring bear hunting in the state, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has partially changed its mind. All non-resident brown and black bear hunts will remain closed through May 31. Spring bear hunting for Alaska residents remains open during that time.