Robert Woolsey, KCAW - Sitka
Robert Woolsey is the news director at KCAW in Sitka.
A weather forecaster returns to Sitka’s slide: ‘We were snakebit’
In part 1 of a 5-part series looking back on the Sitka landslide, National Weather Service meteorologist Joel Curtis returns to the scene of “one of the major events” of his professional life. Listen now
Small earthquake adds to Sitka’s holiday blast
A small earthquake rattled dishes along the outer coast of Southeast Alaska Monday evening. The US Geological Survey reports that a magnitude 3.6 quake occurred about 20 miles west of Whale Bay off the coast of Baranof Island, at 7:20 PM. The epicenter was located at a depth of about 21 miles below the surface of the earth.
Linda Behnken to represent Alaska on halibut commission
Longtime Sitka resident Linda Behnken has been appointed to the six-member International Pacific Halibut Commission. Listen now
In a flash, Girl Scouts resolve HPR crosswalk issue
If you want to get something done, ask the Girl Scouts. After years of government inertia, the Girls Scouts of Troop 4140 in Sitka have spearheaded the installation of flashing crosswalk signs along some of the busiest state road in town.
Meeting federal regs, Sitka treats water with UV light
Some of the best drinking water anywhere may be just a little bit better now. Sitka officials on the 19th of May cut the ribbon on a new, $8 million dollar ultraviolet disinfection plant for the town’s water supply.
Bear attack survivor: ‘Grace was extended to me’
The survivor of a brown bear mauling near Yakutat on May 13 said the animal was startled, and attacked instinctively. Download Audio
Anchorage man mauled by a bear near Yakutat
An Anchorage man was mauled by a brown bear near Yakutat over the weekend. Download Audio
Severed cable in Kansas hampers test grading in Sitka
Alaska’s star-crossed educational testing system suffered another setback Tuesday when a fiber-optic cable near the University of Kansas was severed at about 1:30 Central Daylight Time. Download Audio
Sitka basketball team rescues six-plex occupants from fire
Quick thinking by the Sitka boys basketball team averted tragedy Wednesday morning, when a six-plex in the Anchorage neighborhood where they were staying caught fire. The boys and their coach woke and rescued 11 occupants before firefighters arrived. Download Audio
It’s herring season! Sitka sac roe fishery opens on short notice
The commercial herring season opened Thursday, more abruptly than in past years. Herring seiners had about 2-days’ notice to get to Sitka. And then about another 4 hours’ notice to prep their gear.
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Sitka settles with tasered student
Sitka has settled out of court with a high school student who was tasered in the city’s jail in 2014. Franklin Hoogendorn will be paid $350,000 by Sitka’s insurance carrier. Download Audio
Sitka police arrest fugitive hiding in tunnel system
A fugitive from justice in Sitka was arrested Tuesday evening after police located him hiding in a tunnel system he had dug under a trailer park. It took eight officers to extract the man, who had been missing just over two weeks, and who had apparently spent much of that time burrowing.
Driver plows into Sitka post office
Police are investigating a woman for drunken driving after she crashed her SUV into the Sitka’s downtown postal substation Tuesday night.
Sitka Library settles in at new digs
It’s official: the contractor handed off the keys to the newly renovated Sitka Public Library this week, and the Sitka Library Commission moved right in.
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Young fishermen’s summit courts the next generation
The Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program recognizes that fishing is a complicated business to understand, and a challenging one to enter. This year the program is hosting its 6th Annual Young Fishermen’s Summit at the end of the month in Juneau to introduce newbies to the industry.
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Whale research center comes ashore in Southeast
A whale research foundation working in Southeast Alaska for the last 20 years is coming ashore. The Center for Coastal Conservation has acquired the former general store in Warm Springs Bay, on eastern Baranof Island, and has plans to expand its research programs beyond humpback whales.
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Sitkans, police review tasing event in community ‘talking circle’
While police issues continue to divide communities and make national headlines, the Sitka Police Department is trying to restore confidence locally, after disturbing video from the Sitka jail surfaced on social media this fall.
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The real Sitka journey of Steinbeck’s ‘Doc Ricketts’
A new collection of essays about one of the most iconic figures in American literature has been published, shedding new light on his connections to Alaska. "Ed Ricketts, from Cannery Row to Sitka, Alaska" explores the relationship between the noted biologist of the title, and John Steinbeck, the Nobel-prize winning author who immortalized him.
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Sitkans, DOT look for solutions to ‘bleak’ ferry schedule
Sitkans turned out in force last week for a lunchtime brainstorming session to address the proposed ferry schedule, but the Department of Transportation couldn’t make any promises that things would improve.
Halibut commission weighs 2016 harvest recommendations
Commercial and sport fishing fleets in some parts of Alaska will be allowed to harvest more fish, under recommendations presented to the International Pacific Halibut Commission.