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KCAW Local News
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Giant Asia map tours Alaska's schools
Melissa Marconi Wentzel
Image by Melissa Marconi Wentzel
7th grade students at Blatchley Middle School learn Asian geography with National Geographic's "Traveling Map of Asia".
Timeline set for sale of Sheldon Jackson's core campus
Melissa Marconi Wentzel
Image by Robert Woolsey
Most buildings on Sheldon Jackson's core campus are deserted and boarded-up for protection.
SJ tax appeal: College still striving to educate
Robert Woolsey
SITKA, ALASKA (2008-05-06) Sheldon Jackson's unsuccessful tax appeal was based on two assumptions: the first that, although there are no students on campus, a "teach-out" and administration remain in place for thirteen students studying elsewhere. Second, many of the buildings on the core campus are being rented out for community purposes like a childcare and wellness center. An excerpt of college president David Dobler's defense before the board of equalization.
Sheldon Jackson campus subject to property taxes
Robert Woolsey
SITKA, ALASKA (2008-05-06) Sheldon Jackson College is going on the Sitka tax rolls.
The $22-million dollar campus traditionally has operated under an educational exemption in state law.
According to Sitka’s tax assessor, Jim Corak, that ended last summer when the college closed its doors and subsequently lost its accreditation from the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education.
The Sitka assembly, acting as a board of equalization, delivered the bad news to college officials near the conclusion of a four-hour hearing Monday night (5-5-08). The financially-strapped institution – barring any successful court appeals – will have to come up with $129-thousand dollars to pay its 2008 property tax bill. An excerpt of Jim Corak's view of the college's position.
The $22-million dollar campus traditionally has operated under an educational exemption in state law.
According to Sitka’s tax assessor, Jim Corak, that ended last summer when the college closed its doors and subsequently lost its accreditation from the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education.
The Sitka assembly, acting as a board of equalization, delivered the bad news to college officials near the conclusion of a four-hour hearing Monday night (5-5-08). The financially-strapped institution – barring any successful court appeals – will have to come up with $129-thousand dollars to pay its 2008 property tax bill. An excerpt of Jim Corak's view of the college's position.
Audio postcard: Sheldon Jackson Teach-Out students graduate
Melissa Marconi Wentzel
Image by Melissa Marconi Wentzel
UAS/Sheldon Jackson graduating class of 2008. The first four grads in the first row are Sheldon Jackson students. Commencement exercises were held Friday, May 2nd, at the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi. For a photo of Honorary Doctoral Degree recipients Carolyn Servid and Doric Mechau at the ceremony, click on the story and then click on "more".
Tongass visitor survey goes far afield
Robert Woolsey
Image by Robert Woolsey
Mary Beth Nelson, and her counterparts in Hoonah, will survey 200 sites before October.
On the Tongass, the nation’s largest forest, this seemingly straightforward work is complicated by the fact that there is not a single turnstile or ticket booth on any of its seventeen million acres.
In the Sitka and Hoonah Ranger districts, recreation planners instead are relying on statistical modeling – and old-fashioned legwork – to find and interview visitors on any of two-hundred bays, lakes, cabins, and trails.
All but one city enterprise fund budget in black for '09
Robert Woolsey
SITKA, ALASKA (2008-05-02) With the exception of Sawmill Cove Industrial Park, the city’s enterprise funds are all budgeted in the black next year.
The Sitka assembly Thursday night (5-1-08) took their first look at the '09 budgets for the electric and water departments, solid waste, harbors, the airport, and the marine services center.
The Sitka assembly Thursday night (5-1-08) took their first look at the '09 budgets for the electric and water departments, solid waste, harbors, the airport, and the marine services center.
Yakutat spring troll fishery cancelled - again
Melissa Marconi Wentzel
Image by photo courtesy of Alaska Department of Fish and Game website
A troller fishes for salmon off the coast of Alaska.
Charlie Walls: Plan now for Sitka's oil-less energy future
Robert Woolsey
Sitka, Alaska (2008-05-02) Sitka electrical director Charlie Walls has observed that only a fraction of the energy consumed in Sitka is produced by our two hydro plants. The lion's share of energy, by far, comes from oil -- as fuels for homes, cars, and boats. During an assembly budget meeting Thursday (5-1-08) Walls defended his department's research budget for wind and geothermal power, arguing that the time is now to plan for life with less petroleum. An excerpt from his assembly presentation.
Sitka, state embark upon summer ferry campaign
Melissa Marconi Wentzel
The Alaska Marine Highway's "Fairweather". The "Fairweather" is a catamaran-hulled high speed ferry.
But city officials fear, if Sitkans don’t use the improved service, they may just lose it. So, the City is kicking off an intensive marketing campaign to encourage ridership. It just happens to coincide with a similar effort on the part of the Alaska Marine Highway.
Sitka joins national ranks of "bike friendly" communities
Robert Woolsey
SITKA, ALASKA (2008-05-01) One year after launching a community-wide effort to raise awareness and improve safety, Sitka is officially a bike-friendly community.
The Washington DC-based League of American Bicyclists today (5-1-08) awarded Sitka, and seven other communities around the country, a bronze designation for bike friendliness.
The awards increase the number of official bike-friendly communities nationwide to eighty-four, in thirty-one states. Sitka is the first community in Alaska to win the designation.
The Washington DC-based League of American Bicyclists today (5-1-08) awarded Sitka, and seven other communities around the country, a bronze designation for bike friendliness.
The awards increase the number of official bike-friendly communities nationwide to eighty-four, in thirty-one states. Sitka is the first community in Alaska to win the designation.
Sitka as played by Rockport
Ken Fate
Image by Peter Webber
A temporary totem pole stands above the "Welcome to Sitka" sign in Rockport's Dock Square.
Tax cuts, unions put '09 budget in the red?
Robert Woolsey
SITKA, ALASKA (2008-04-25) Despite a substantial municipal revenue sharing package from the state, Sitka’s budget for next year is starting out in the hole.
The Sitka Assembly heard a first reading of the 2009 municipal budget at a special meeting Thursday (4-24-08) in Harrigan Centennial Hall.
The featured speaker of the evening was city finance director Dave Wolff, who gave a blow-by-blow of the anticipated general fund deficit, which stands now at just over $400-thousand dollars.
The Sitka Assembly heard a first reading of the 2009 municipal budget at a special meeting Thursday (4-24-08) in Harrigan Centennial Hall.
The featured speaker of the evening was city finance director Dave Wolff, who gave a blow-by-blow of the anticipated general fund deficit, which stands now at just over $400-thousand dollars.
Sitkans recycle more plastics
Melissa Marconi Wentzel
Image by Melissa Marconi Wentzel
Sitka's new #1 plastics bin at the Katlian Street Recycling Center is piled high with empty food and beverage containers.
State financial disclosure excessive for local officials?
Robert Woolsey
SITKA, ALASKA (2008-04-24) Elected officials in Sitka are proposing a ballot question asking voters to exempt them from state financial disclosure requirements.
The Sitka assembly Tuesday night (4-22-08) passed on first reading ballot language that would allow local officials to file the shorter disclosure forms used before the overhaul of state ethics laws last year.
If it passes, the Alaska Public Offices Commission says Sitka would be the largest community so far to opt-out of the tougher rules.
The Sitka assembly Tuesday night (4-22-08) passed on first reading ballot language that would allow local officials to file the shorter disclosure forms used before the overhaul of state ethics laws last year.
If it passes, the Alaska Public Offices Commission says Sitka would be the largest community so far to opt-out of the tougher rules.


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