KCAW Staff, Author at KCAW

Angoon receives multi-million dollar grant to boost local tourism

The Admiralty Island village of Angoon has received nearly 2 million dollars in federal funding to build a visitor center. The relief money is meant to combat economic impacts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Local leaders hope it will boost a homegrown cultural tourism industry.

Sitka Trail Works offers full schedule of summer hikes

As summer approaches, Sitka is coming alive. The Tongass is abuzz with birds and insects. Flowers are blooming, and the forest floor is blanketed with green. Sitka Trail Works is gearing up for a full summer season of hiking trips. Lee House and Lynne Brandon joined KCAW's Erin Fulton to talk about summer hike offerings, Sitka Trail Works' projects including the Cross Trail expansion, and a look toward the future.

A year after Sitka made space for tiny homes, no one is building them

Tiny homes have gained traction in recent years as an affordable housing alternative, but building them legally poses challenges in many communities. Sitka was one of the first cities in the country to introduce a set of tiny home friendly code changes last year. But, a year after passing the groundbreaking ordinance, no one is building them.

Tongass Tiny Home finds a home in Juneau

The Tongass Tiny Home project, a six-year collaboration between the Sitka Conservation Society and Sitka High School, has finally come to an end. The student-built tiny house was sold to a buyer in Juneau this spring. As part of KCAW’s Building Solutions series about affordable housing, Sitka Conservation Society’s Chandler O’Connell spoke with KCAW’s Erin McKinstry about lessons learned and the possibilities tiny homes hold for Sitka.

Man arrested following car crash

One man was arrested following a car accident early Tuesday morning on Halibut Point Road. Sitka Police Department spokesperson Serena Wild said a man allegedly hit an unoccupied Dodge Dakota and then reported the accident to the police just after 4 in the morning.

Nothing ‘odd’ about it–Sitka High School’s ‘Odd Couple’ features leading women

Actors Zia Allen and Izzy Williams join Director Christian Litten and KCAW's Erin Fulton to discuss Sitka High School Theater's upcoming production, "The Odd Couple."

Angoon reports first coronavirus case in six months

The Southeast Alaska town of around 500 people hasn’t reported a new case since last October. Angoon’s schools moved to online learning Friday morning.

Sitka’s getting its largest apartment complex in over two decades. But the developer says it doesn’t pencil out.

When land is scarce, one way to make housing more affordable is to increase density by building apartment complexes and multi-family homes. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to work. In Sitka, the largest apartment building in over two decades is going up, but the ten units will be more costly than the market average. A developer behind the project says the economics just don’t pencil out.

SEARHC’s ‘Move for a Cause’ campaign encourages hiking, biking, walking and running in May

Throughout the month of May, SEARHC is inviting community members to hike, bike, walk or run for a cause. Health educators Heleena Van Veen and Doug Osborne joined KCAW's Peter Apathy to discuss the campaign.

New federal program to help remote Alaska communities with renewable energy infrastructure

Concerns around energy independence and high costs have led many places in rural Alaska to look for renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. The Department of Energy recently announced a new program to help remote communities find clean energy solutions. The Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project or ETIPP will help five Alaska towns explore everything from hybrid fishing vessels to reducing reliance on diesel.