Author: Robert Woolsey

Sheldon Jackson College has graduated its last students. The 130-year old Sitka institution closed its doors in 2007, but a handful of students were able to complete their degrees through an arrangement with the University of Alaska. The success is bittersweet. With no more students and no more programs, Alaska’s oldest educational institution is officially gone.

The Secretary of Commerce is taking public comment on a proposed rule that would establish a limited-entry system for the guided sport halibut fleet in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. The rule was published today (Tue 4-21-09) in the Federal Register. If approved by the Secretary, it will create a permit system for halibut charter boats similar to limited entry permits already in place for Alaska’ commercial fisheries.

With some notable exceptions, the economy of Southeast Alaska may have improved over the last year. In a presentation to the Sitka Economic Development Association on Thursday (4-16-09) Juneau economist Eric McDowell said that the national economic downturn has kept more people living – and working – in Southeast.

A naturally-occurring bacterial infection has delayed the opening of a new coho hatchery in Sitka. The Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association – or NSRAA – says efforts to collect broodstock from a lake on southern Baranof Island have been stymied by the high incidence of bacterial kidney disease. It’s meant a two-year setback for the highly-anticipated project.

The seiner Alice H was instrumental in helping gather and distribute herring eggs when it was owned by Sonny Enloe. Sonny passed on and Steve Demmert bought the boat, named it the Julia Kae, and continues Sonny's legacy, harvesting eggs and distributing them to villages in the region.

The Sitka police department plans to move tour bus parking off of main street this summer. The Sitka assembly Tuesday night (4-14-09) agreed to allow the department to create bus parking on Harbor Drive, along the sidewalk behind Wells Fargo bank. The assembly also passed on first reading an ordinance giving the Police Chief regulatory authority over taxi permits and rates.

Oregon author Ellen Waterston is the Island Institute writer-in-residence for the month of April. She’ll be teaching a writing workshop this Saturday (4-18-09) at the Pioneer Home manager’s house called “The Story You Came to Tell.” KCAW’s Robert Woolsey spoke with Waterston about her writing, and her plans for the workshop:

The definition of an island recreation cabin will be coming back for another look in two weeks. The assembly last night (Tue 4-14-09) voted down the definition of the structure as proposed by the Sitka planning department. The deliberation was intense, and often confusing. But a later in the meeting, the opposition asked for reconsideration to allow more discussion of the cabins.

Jr. and Sr. Marine Biology Students at Mt. Edgecumbe High School had the opportunity this week (4-8-09) to perform a necropsy on a sea lion that was found floating near Thomsen Harbor. The National Marine Fisheries Service allowed the students to take samples from the animal, for both education and possibly to discover the cause of death.

Alaskans got their first look at “The Spirit of Alaska Statehood” today (Thu 4-9-09). The Boeing 737 was painted with a design created by Sitka high school junior Hannah Hamberg for Alaska Airline’s statewide “Paint the Plane” contest. The airline unveiled the plane in Seattle this morning, and then took Hamberg and her family on board for a private flight back to the state. KCAW's Robert Woolsey sends this audio postcard from the plane's reception in Sitka. For a larger image of the plane, click on this story's title, then on the word "more."