Author: Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

In his first visit to Sitka since being elected, Senator Mark Begich was peppered with questions from Sitka residents, on everything from health care to management of the Tongass to improved benefits for Veterans.

Herring season in Southeast Alaska opens with the sac roe fishery each March and April in Sitka Sound. Fifty permit holders this year competed for a near-record harvest worth millions. The fishery is well known for its intensity… but every day biologists work quietly behind the scenes to try and ensure that everything runs smoothly. The biologist in charge of the fishery is Dave Gordon. KCAW student reporter Ben Gordon spent a day with his Dad on the fishery last Tuesday (3-31-09), and sends this audio postcard:

Waking up to fresh snow every morning this time of year feels like an April Fools’ hoax. It might be Nature’s way of playing a prank on anyone who put a snow shovel away too soon, or even worse, started a garden. NOAA weather forecaster Joel Curtis has checked the climate records for Sitka and discovered that a snowy April is no joke. He spoke with KCAW’s Robert Woolsey about what’s going on with the delayed spring:

Members of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action want the legislature to support renewable energy projects in the state. This week, they hope to present a petition that will get that message across. Photo: Mt. Edgecumbe Senior and Statewide campaign leader Stephanie Thompson.

Seiners harvest the last 900 tons left of the 14,508 ton Guideline Harvest Level in just fifteen minutes.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced yesterday (3-13-09) that the 20009 King harvest quota based on the revised Pacific Salmon Treaty will be 218,800 fish.

Mt. Edgecumbe’s Molecular ecology students are sweeping science fairs and symposiums across the state, with their work on DNA and DNA extraction in the muskeg ecosystem of the Tongass. The Molecular Ecology Program at Mt. Edgecumbe High School is funded by the Alaska Rural Research Partnership education outreach of the Alaska EbSCOR Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the USDA CSREES Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program.

Author Ben Mikaelson has been to Alaska before to research his novels – but this March he paid his first visit to the state to discuss his life and writing with his audience. The award winning author is one of the leading writers of literature for young adults. He stopped in Sitka on a statewide tour to have a picnic with students at Blatchley middle school, and to share his thoughts on the powerful role writing can play in all our lives. KCAW student reporter Ryan Apathy has the story:

Sawmill Cove Board is looking for proposals from the private sector to develop a marine services industry at Sawmill Cove Industrial Park. The assembly approved the “request for proposals” resolution this week on first reading.