Author: Melissa Marconi-Wentzel

Thirteen days after “western” Christmas on the 25th of December, Orthodox Christians around the world – and in Alaska - celebrate the nativity on January 7th. St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sitka is the traditional seat of the Alaskan Orthodox Diocese. Two years ago, KCAW’s Melissa Marconi-Wentzel was invited to accompany the congregation of St. Michael’s as they went “starring” to Orthodox homes throughout the community. This is an encore presentation of her story:

Sitkan Bill De Armond was born here 70 years ago in 1938, grew up and went to school in Sitka as well as Pelican, Ketchikan, and Juneau, where he finished high school. He is the son of historian and journalist R. N. De Armond and the late Dale De Armond, a noted artist who worked in woodcut and wood engraving, among other media, and was well-known as an illustrator. KCAW's Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock spoke with Bill De Armond about his recollections of the heady days a half-century ago when Alaska went from U.S. Territory to State of the Union.

Sitka High Junior Hannah Hamberg won the grand prize in the Alaska Airlines "Paint the Plane" competition, open to all Alaskans in grades K-12. Hamberg's winning design was unveiled Saturday (1-3-09) as part of the Alaska's statehood celebration in Anchorage, and will adorn an Alaska Airlines 737 later this year. See Hannah's design at www.painttheplane.com

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced the state hunting season for Sitka black tailed deer will close on December 31, 2008

The Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence is suing to stop a last-second Bush administration change that would allow people to carry concealed, loaded guns in most National parks and wildlife refuges, including the Sitka National Historical Park.

Politics, power, homicide, and fish topped the news in Sitka in 2008. Robert Woolsey has this look back:

The announcement from the National Geographic Society listing Sitka as one of the world's top historic destinations was not enough to persuade the Sitka assembly to put up $10,000 in matching funds for the Sitka Historic Preservation Commission. Chair Peter Gorman says it took five years for the commission to win the $25,000 grant from the state, which requires a 40% match.

Richard and Nora Marks Dauenhauer have won a 2008 American Book Award for their latest publication "Anóoshi Lingít Aaní Ká: Russians in Tlingit America, The Battles of Sitka 1802 and 1804." As KCAW’s Robert Woolsey reports, the Dauenhauers, along with their co-editor, the late Lydia Black, have compiled what is likely the most diverse examination to-date of the struggle for control of Southeast Alaska:

Extended interview with Richard Dauenhauer, co-editor along with Nora Marks Dauenhauer and Lydia Black, of "Anóoshi Lingít Aaní Ká: Russians in Tlingit America, The Battles of Sitka 1802 and 1804," winner of the 2008 American Book Award. With KCAWs Robert Woolsey.

"Bucky" Bernanke (no relation), the CFO of the North Pole, calls this year's exceptionally long naughty list a "coincidence," and not a cost-cutting measure to spare Santa an embarassing government bailout. With KCAWs Robert Woolsey.